TNA tapings update, new TNA direction, TNA extends TV deal, more WWE-Komen work, Interview with Sheamus, new WWE DVD survey, TNA stars seek outside dates, Bischoff absent, Hall update, what's set for next week's Impact, competition for Impact and Questions on Ziggler heat, Cena failing Wellness tests, BFG vs. Raw, Goldust and Samoa Joe

TNA talents will be working Impact tapings near the end of November at Universal Studios. They're seeking to do some tapings there in December as well. The space used will be a different stage from the former Impact Zone.

Update: TNA put out a press release about the new direction for the company. I can't say that some of those ideas aren't good ideas. They need to do something to freshen things up and reprioritize. I really like the idea about new characters and training new talents. Obviously that's going to draw comparisons to WWE's new direction, but that's hardly a bad thing as WWE's really doing well in those regards.

Update: Morale is said to be up after today's talent meeting in TNA.

Here's another press release about their TV deal in France. It's great that TNA is achieving successes around the world.

Everything else from yesterday is after the break.
WWE offered free mammograms in Stamford, CT in conjunction with Susan G. Komen. That sounds great on paper (screen), but there could be some unintended side effects.

Sheamus, missing his signature facial hair, talked about WWE's anti-bullying initiative, his injury and more. He looks like a completely different person! I think his facial hair really helped him stand out. I hope he comes back strong and I imagine WWE does as well.

Here are the options listed in a WWE email for future DVDs. Some of those sound pretty cool. Ideally, they'd be able to get Sting to be a part of his DVD. I believe Sting's TNA contract expires in January or so, so that could happen. I wonder how many votes Vince will give to the "best of big men" idea.

TNA's new "Action Never Ends" initiative was presented as a way for talents to go further with their characters and to get additional exposure. That's great!

Update: This means a lot of videos to be posted on the TNA website and on YouTube. I'm curious to see how that will go.

Some TNA stars are looking to work outside dates to bolster their income. Unfortunately for them, TNA contracts prevent them from appearing on any non-TNA PPVs, DVDs, etc.. I wonder how many people have stayed away from TNA for that reason.

The Impact taping set in Philadelphia for 12/27 will now just be a live event. At least they'll (presumably) still make some money off of it.

Eric Bischoff was not at the most recent set of Impact tapings and is not expected back any time soon. I can picture cheers from wrestlers and fans alike at that development. Notably the show was better without him as head of Creative, though that could just be the fact that they're finally shifting gears from MEM vs. Aces and Eights.

Update: It's been said that Bischoff will be working with TNA "from home". It's unknown what his official status is. Bischoff was also not at BFG.

Here's the latest update on Scott Hall. He sounds a good deal better and he's definitely looked a lot worse. I hope Cody Hall becomes successful.

Set for next week's Impact:
Knockouts Championship: Gail Kim vs. ODB
TNA Tag Team Championship: BroMans vs. James Storm and Gunner
Abyss returns.
Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode
More from the Dixie/AJ angle.

Sounds like a good show!

The next taping for WWE NXT will be 11/21, the first night that TNA will be taping Impact back in the Orlando area. Something's always working against TNA it seems.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. Ziggler's mouth/attitude can definitely get him in trouble. WWE always tells talents to step up, then gets upset when they want to be featured more prominently!

2. IWC pls. I guess it's technically possible, but there's no evidence to support it.

3. BFG would get #REKT. There's a big gap between TNA's audience and WWE's and some of that audience would choose Raw over BFG.

4. Nothing to really add here other than >Golddust. I wonder if we're headed for Goldy vs. Cody at Mania to retire Goldust from WWE. Goldust has wanted that for a while now.

5. I'm sure it'd get stale eventually, but they definitely could have gotten more out of Joe's undefeated streak.

More wrestling tomorrow.