SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
3/21 UPDATE: Eric Young publicly commented on the “wrestling business” side of his TNA run getting in the way of his “wrestling” career, causing the relationship to end. EY noted to the Busted Open satellite radio show that he was enjoying his heel persona, but his relationship with TNA was no longer favorable to him.
“Things end because they’re not the way they’re supposed to be. Things weren’t the way they’re supposed to be for me in my opinion, so it was time for me to step away and do something else,” Young told Busted Open.
“It has nothing to do with feeling stale for me (referencing Roode’s comments). It was just time, professionally, to move on. It had nothing to do with in-ring. Often, the problems of the wrestling business get in the way of wrestling. That’s what it comes down to. The wrestling business got in the way of me being happy and things being right so it’s time for me to go do something else.”
EY said he is working on various TV projects and post-TNA wrestling opportunities. He said he’s open to WWE/NXT, even though he feels like a “TNA guy” because of how long he was with the company. “It’s exciting to say that I’m going to open another chapter. I’ve got a good foothold in pro wrestling and it’s cool to kind of be able to choose and have that ability because not everyone gets the choice. It’s a very cool thing, very flattering,” Young said.
3/20 UPDATE: Bobby Roode publicly commented on feeling that it was time to move on from TNA. Roode told his hometown newspaper that TNA no longer seemed like a good fit for him after 13 years with the company.
“It felt like it was the right time,” Roode told the Peterborough Examiner on Sunday night. “After almost 13 years in a wrestling company I felt like there was nothing really left for me to do there. I wanted to mutually part ways. I have nothing negative to say about TNA Wrestling. They treated me very, very well. It was just a matter of me being in a part of my life where I’m not sure TNA was the right fit for me anymore. The brand has been stale for the last little while and the growth wasn’t there as it was in the early years.”
***
3/19 UPDATE: PWTorch learned Saturday night that Bobby Roode and Eric Young decided to leave TNA over their contracts.
Both asked for pay raises and were turned down. As a result, Roode and EY gave their notices and finished up at Saturday’s Impact TV taping in Orlando.
***
TNA’s roster was dealt a blow this weekend. TNA, Bobby Roode, and Eric Young announced Saturday that Roode and Young are leaving the promotion.
TNA’s statement: “Impact Wrestling has come to terms on the release of veteran wrestlers Bobby Roode and Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz). Bobby and Eric have been valuable members of The Impact Roster since 2004 and we wish them nothing but the best in their careers going forward.”
Bobby Roode’s statement: “To the guys and girls I got to work with for the past 12 years, Impact Wrestling, the office, and everyone associated with me getting to live this dream, I say thank you. It is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life. This has been amazing.”
EY’s statement: “Thank you. Thank you to everyone who watched me for the past 12 years. Thank you to Impact Wrestling. I wish everyone here nothing but the best going forward.”
TNA is advertising Roode and EY’s final matches on the upcoming TNA Impact episodes. Young currently holds the King of the Mountain Title.
Two greats, and this is sad. But of TNA can survive without Hogan, Flair, Nash, Booker, Sting, and Angle…well, they’ll survive without Roode or Fritz.
So When are Roode and/or Young going to debut in NXT? Just a thought since Roode has been in WWE before (Heat and Velocity mostly in the early 2000s before his TNA run). Young also appeared on Heat and Velocity (teaming at least once with Roode). These 2 (especially Roode) would be a great asset to anywhere they choose to go to.
I expect them both in ROH. Had Roode been interested in NXT, Storm would have stayed there. Enough of the “everything revolves around WWE.” It doesn’t.
Actually, it kinda does Terrance since WWE is the biggest company in the business. The reason Storm signed with TNA instead of WWE is because TNA offered more money. Triple H told him that Vince authorized him to offer a certain amount and that he did not have the power to match the TNA offer. The only reason Roode is not in WWE already is because the last time his contract with TNA was about to expire he put out feelers to WWE but apparently they weren’t interested in him and the time, so he re-signed with TNA.
WWE can afford to outspend TNA and ROH, so if they really want Roode or Young, they’ll end up in WWE/NXT.
Not always true.
WWE really wanted Sting for YEARS. They could offer him more money than TNA. But, for YEARS Sting chose to work for TNA.
There are also people who choose to NOT work for WWE because they prefer a different type of schedule. Some don’t like the politics. Some don’t like the style they would have to wrestle. Then there are the guys who don’t want to go along with the WWE’s demand that they change their name to some stupid WWE created and owned name.
“I have nothing negative to say about TNA…………..TNA has gone stale.”