– Going forward with iMPACT!, fans will be required to line up by 6 PM at Universal Studios in Orlando and people on the company’s VIP list will be let in first. The tapings will be opened to a general seating line outside the theme park near the Blue Man Group Theater if there are seats left. Doors for the tapings will open at 7 PM.

– Earl Hebner has announced that he signed a deal to stay with TNA through 2013.

– The company has released new t-shirts for Jeff Hardy and James Storm, plus an official TNA gym bag.

– Brooke Hogan will be doing TNA media appearances in New York City. TNA hopes that her reality show name and allure will get the company some attention with the media. They’ve already accomplished that with TMZ.com covering the signing.

Brooke Hogan is following in her father’s giant yellow footsteps … TMZ has learned she just inked a deal to join the TNA Wrestling family.

Carter tells us, “Brooke is such a great talent who’s really sharp and will make a great addition to the TNA family.”

Brooke will be “an executive who will be tasked to develop female talent.”?!?!? I hope that’s a joke.

The company issued a press release (below) announcing the change and attributing the announcement to John Cena “via Twitter” during the upfront.

– As noted earlier, TNA has announced that iMPACT! Wrestling will go live this summer. The show’s first live episode will be May 31st, the same day that the show moves up an hour to 8:00 EST on Thursdays. Dixie Carter said in the press release that the show will be live from Universal Studios in Orlando starting May 31st and “continue through the summer.” According to a source, this is being done during the summer as a “test run” to see if ratings increase by going live. If ratings increase, they’ll stay live full-time. The show will still be taped in Orlando. More as we get it.

Both press releases are below:

WWE PRESS RELEASE:

WWE® MONDAY NIGHT RAW® EXPANDS TO THREE ELECTRIFYING HOURS LAUCHING WITH THE 1,000th EPISODE, JULY 23 ON USA NETWORK
@JohnCena Tweets Historic Announcement From USA Upfront Presentation
NEW YORK – May 17, 2012 – WWE Superstar John Cena® announced via Twitter today that WWE Monday Night Raw will expand to a three-hour event 52 weeks a year. The extended telecast will kick-off July 23 at 8/7C on USA Network and marks the 1000th episode of the WWE Raw franchise and a television record – no other series has ever reached this milestone.

The expanded WWE Monday Night Raw will transform television to an unprecedented level of viewer interaction. Fans will have new ways to get involved in the show through WWE.com and social media by deciding matches, stipulations and new character development. WWE will brand this unprecedented fan interaction as “#RAWactive.”

TNA PRESS RELEASE:

TNA’S IMPACT WRESTLING CELEBRATES SUMMER 2012 BY GOING LIVE!

“We are excited to take IMPACT WRESTLING Live! all summer long, and have our first Live! summer show launch our new 8:00pm/ET time slot,” says TNA President Dixie Carter. “Summer of 2012 is going to be remembered as the most momentous time in our company’s history-to-date. Stay tuned.”

– Traci Brooks has left the company. Brooks reportedly is just moving onto something else as opposed to quitting or being fired. She left on good terms with the company. A return is possible down the line, but not anytime soon.

– As noted earlier here on the site, X-Division wrestler Tony Nese requested and was granted a release from TNA Wrestling. Nese posted the following to his Twitter about leaving the company: I have recently been approached with an opportunity to step in the ring with The Great Muta, a wrestling legend, and one of All Japan Pro Wrestling’s top wrestlers Kai. This is an opportunity that I feel with help me further my goals and career. This event will be provided via IPPV and unfortunately my TNA contract did not allow me to perform on such events. I requested that an exception would be granted given my lack of appearances but was denied. My next action was to request a release as I think it will be in my best interest. I would like to thank TNA Wrestling for helping me achieve one of my goals as it is very few in this business that are able to say they have. I would also like to thank all the people that support me as this is just a small chapter coming to an end in my career and I have many more exciting opportunities in my future to come.

– Bruce Prichard and Al Snow attended last night’s Ohio OVW TV Taping to evaluate talent. King Mo will head there to train as soon as he’s physically cleared to.

– Velvet Sky is the star of the Montgomery Gentry music video filmed this week in the Impact Zone.

– The company has announced the following Gut Check tryout dates:

Saturday, June 16, 2012 – Houston, TX
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Central
Bayou Music Center
520 Texas Ave.
Houston, TX 77002
DEADLINE: Monday, June 4, 2012 12 p.m. Central

Saturday, June 23, 2012 – Oshawa, ON
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern
General Motors Centre
99 Athol St. East
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1J8
DEADLINE: Monday, June 11, 2012 1 p.m. Eastern

TNA’S IMPACT WRESTLING CELEBRATES SUMMER 2012 BY GOING LIVE!

“We are excited to take IMPACT WRESTLING Live! all summer long, and have our first Live! summer show launch our new 8:00pm/ET time slot,” says TNA President Dixie Carter. “Summer of 2012 is going to be remembered as the most momentous time in our company’s history-to-date. Stay tuned.”

Nese asked organization officials for permission to compete at Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s June 1 online pay-per-view event after being approached with an opportunity to step in the ring with The Great Muta. He was informed that he would not be able to. He then requested his release from the organization, which was granted.

Nese stated on Twitter, “I wanted to be the first to inform everyone that I have requested my release from TNA Wrestling. As a professional wrestler I have many goals and dreams that I work hard to achieve, one of them was to have the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience on national television and I thank TNA Wrestling for providing me with that opportunity. Another goal of mine is to wrestle against some of the top international superstars with the chances to travel the world and work for some of the best international companies that have the best talent in wrestling today.

“I would like to thank TNA Wrestling for helping me achieve one of my goals as it is very few in this business that are able to say they have. I would also like to thank all the people that support me as this is just a small chapter coming to an end in my career and I have many more exciting opportunities in my future to come.”

His profile was subsequently removed from ImpactWrestling.com.

– Anthony Nese has been released by TNA Wrestling. Nese was signed back in December of 2011 but had not been used much recently by the promotion.

Nese had contacted TNA for permission to work the Pro Wrestling Syndicate iPPV in Rahway, NJ on June 1st, teaming with Sami Callihan against The Great Muta and Kai. TNA told Nese he contractually could not work the iPPV. Nese was then offered his release, which he accepted.

– Here are tonight’s confirmed TNA iMPACT! matches:

* RVD vs. Bully Ray
* 10-Man Battle Royal: Featuring AJ Styles, Austin Aries, Robbie E, Robbie T, Devon, Garett Bischoff, Crimson, Magnus, Eric Young and Gunner
* Knockouts Title Match: Gail Kim © vs. Brooke Tessmacher vs. Velvet Sky
* Mr. Anderson vs. Jeff Hardy
* Samoa Joe vs. Kurt Angle

– TNA runs tonight in Hattiesburg, Miss. at Lake Terrace Convention Center, and tomorrow in Jackson, Miss. at Jackson Convention Center with the following matches announced…

* Jeff Hardy vs. Mr. Anderson
* Kurt Angle vs. TNA tag champion Christopher Daniels
* Bully Ray vs. Rob Van Dam
* Samoa Joe & Magnus vs. Motor City Machineguns
* Velvet Sky vs. Angelina Love
* Garett Bischoff vs. Robbie E.

Kurt Angle recently spoke about his recent face turn and possible retirement, here are the highlights…

On His Recent Face Turn: “I’ve been struggling the past couple of years. A couple of times, they tried to turn me bad guy, it didn’t really work out. So, I think now – just keep him the good guy,” Angle said. “It’s kind of hard to be the bad guy now, when the fans have the respect for you.”

On The Possibility of Retirement: “I probably would have retired a a couple of years ago if I wasn’t so good,” Angle laughed. “It sounds very arrogant. I know it sounds very pompous, but yeah, when I started, I didn’t realize I was going to pick it up so quickly.” Now, Angle says he’s re-focused on pro wrestling after battling injuries during Olympics qualifying. “I do have a family. I have a job. And if I’m not working, I don’t get paid.”

The show earned a 0.99 rating among men 25-54, which made it the #2 original primetime cable show in that demographic. It airs Tuesday nights at 9 PM CT, right after Deadliest Catch.

“Highly disappointed with you as a person who claims to care. More disappointed in your handling of the only alternative to WWE,” he wrote. “Been meaning to tell you that since your Co. tried to make it look like I no showed your PPV.”

Waltman was scheduled for a tag team match at the 2010 Lockdown pay-per-view event, but was absent. Waltman reportedly let organization officials know days in advance that he was not cleared to wrestle by the Missouri State Commission due to his hepatitis C diagnosis and was not going to be able to attend the event. He is now denying the story.

Waltman explains, “They knew I wouldn’t be there for over a week. They alluded that I no showed was bcuz I was on a drug binge. They lied to the PPL. The thing is that it’s easy to believe a story like that about me, which makes it even more of a low life move.”

When a Twitter user wrote to Waltman that if he wasn’t a “boozer and a fool,” he might still be employed by TNA, he responded, “@TNADixie Had nothing to do with it. Plus are u serious w/ the crew they have there. Plus, I am sober & never cared 4 booze.”

Waltman then continued railing the organization’s upper hierarchy and made a stark prediction.

“Im just sick of @TNADixie running around playing this benevolent role, when it’s a facade. BTW Congrats on hiring Bruce Pritchard. Perfect fit . Oine of the biggest lowlifes in the business. Treats ppl like shit if he can,” Waltman wrote. “Mark my words TNA will be a part of WWE’s video catalog before the decade is up. I dont hope. I just think it’s a matter of time. Unfortunately. I love the crew over there. Great guys, almost all of them.”