Taz Quits TNA – Who May Replace Him?

Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter

UPDATE x 4: According to sources, Al Snow received a tryout to be a TNA announcer recently.

As previously reported, Snow did practice session voiceovers in studio with Josh Matthews after Taz’s issues with TNA began and he refused to take his scheduled flight to Nashville, TN to do voiceover work for the episode of iMPACT! that airs this Friday night on Destination America.

As you all likely know by now, Taz quit the company earlier today. He issued several tweets thanking the company (see below). Also, TNA’s Head of Talent Relations, John Gaburick, commented on the TNA departure of Taz. Gaburick tweeted the following:

After 5+ years TNA & Taz have mutually decided to part ways. A champ in the ring & on the mic, we wish him nothing but success! @OfficialTAZ

— John Gaburick (@JohnGaburick) April 15, 2015

UPDATE x 3: Taz has quit the company. He tweeted the following moments ago:

Like to thank TNA Wrestling for the opportunity to apply my craft for past several years. Best wishes to them in the future.

— TAZ (@OfficialTAZ) April 15, 2015

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A special thanks to the great TNA roster of wrestlers. And thank u TNA fans worldwide.

— TAZ (@OfficialTAZ) April 15, 2015

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UPDATE x 2: According to sources, Taz and TNA are at odds, reportedly over pay issues. Taz did not come to a planned voiceover session in Nashville, TN this past Thursday. This session was set up so that they could lay down commentary for several weeks of iMPACT! episodes. The pay issues led to Taz effectively refusing to get on his flight from New York. The pay issues for TNA employees was something originally reported back on April 12th. Earlier today it was reported that TNA talents have started to receive checks.

Taz has removed all mentions of TNA from his Twitter, which some say is to send a message to the company. Josh Mathews did commentary for Friday’s episode solo, but that could be changed as they have until Thursday to record new audio and get it to Destination America to air on Friday. The site also adds that TNA recently gave Al Snow a tryout as an announcer.

< b>UPDATE: Here is the latest regarding the story about TNA talent having issues receiving their pay. the issue was resolved over the weekend and TNA talents have now started to receive checks. TNA sends out paychecks on the first of the month and employees usually get them several days later around the fourth. After the eighth day and no checks being received by the talent, people were starting to get concerned.

Also, a source in TNA management stated that talents would be receiving their March checks earlier than scheduled to try and make up for the recent delay.

< b>ORIGINAL: Despite settling in on a new channel with Destination America, TNA’s internal issues are far from over. According to reports, TNA Wrestling is currently dealing with some behind the scenes issues with the talent roster. The trouble is that TNA is allegedly behind on paying its wrestlers. According to the reports, many talents have anonymously reached out to several internet sites and claimed that TNA is behind on their payments.

One wrestler went as far as claiming that TNA is behind two pay periods. Another has claimed that there are wrestlers who are still owed money going as far back as February. Currently, TNA does not have any dates scheduled until the next live episode of iMPACT! Wrestling, which is set for May 8. The pay issue is becoming a growing source of frustration for the roster, who are now working more independent wrestling dates in order to supplement their income.

Also, TNA office sources in Nashville, Tennessee are confirming that the pay issues are legitimate. In addition, even though a source allegedly denied that TNA was behind on two periods, the source did admit that TNA has recently been behind on getting paychecks to roster talents. TNA is said to be in the process of trying to get a handle on the pay issue. TNA’s paychecks are sent via Dallas, Texas and not in Nashville where TNA is headquartered. Dallas is the home of TNA’s billion dollar parent company, Panda Energy. Another issue is the result of Panda Energy moving its offices, which is still currently ongoing. However, the Panda department that issues TNA office and roster paychecks was reportedly “completely closed.” This is what apparently led to there being a backlog of checks for TNA in recent weeks. It’s not that the company is having money issues before those rumors begin.

The recent taping of numerous One Night Only PPV events in Orlando, Florida reportedly caused a lot of payroll expenses as well. The company was not getting revenue from those PPV tapings because they were free, since they were taped at Universal Studios. This was another factor for the backlog of checks that have not been paid out to the roster.

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