Partial Source: The Wrestling Observer Newsletter
UPDATE: According to sources, a lot of talent is frustrated within Lucha Underground at this time. There has been no news on a possible second season, which is causing them issues. This is the time that the talents need to set their bookings for August, September and October. Many don’t want to fill their calendar because they do not want to have to pull out of dates that they book is Lucha Underground then adds TV tapings. Many talents have started to book through the end of August as they wait for news.
ORIGINAL: According to several sources within TNA, many talents (including some veterans) are afraid that the company’s July TV tapings will be their last. The tapings are set to take place from July 22nd through the 29th, with many of the days being used to film two weeks worth of TV. That’s enough to take the show into September, which is when previous reports have suggested Destination America intends to opt out of their agreement with the company to air iMPACT! Wrestling.
The subject of TNA being cancelled on Destination America is a “hot topic scenario” inside the company as much as it has been outside, adding that talent is concerned that the heavy number of July dates have talent concerned that they won’t get paid for at least a month after the tapings. The company has been dealing with several well-publicized issues getting talent paid on time, and while the company delivered on a promise this past Friday to overnight late payments via FedEx, the number of times this has happened is compounding concerns.
Talent is said to be upset about the fact that the company has lateness in pay considering they have fewer expenses due to a lack of touring. The extra week of iMPACT! taping dates also means that several members of the roster had to cancel their previously-scheduled indy bookings for that week, all of which they would have been paid in advance or on the night of the show.
Emails being sent to talent are keeping an optimistic tone and say that the upcoming tapings are for both domestic and international TV broadcasts. However, there’s fear that if the show does get cancelled, they won’t be able to get a new TV deal due to being “damaged goods.”
