Backstage TNA News: Knockout Flips Out, Trigg Released, Kaz Out 4 Months
? Former TNA Knockout Shelly "Salinas" Martinez was seen at the Midway event for TNA's iMPACT video game the day before their Hard Justice pay-per-view and was in very bad shape, even shouting at one point that she was stoned and did not give a f***. This was done in front of at least one TNA employee and word spread quickly. There were also other issues with members of the company. Shelly had also been complaining as of late that they wouldn't send her to live event with LAX and only paid for her appearances in Orlando at the iMPACT Zone.
? As noted earlier here on the website, TNA has no plans to use Frank Trigg at the moment. However, it's not due to his match with AJ Styles at No Surrender flopping in front of the live Toronto crowd. Some people in TNA were upset with the Toronto crowd as they believe he did a great job and that they wouldn't give the match a chance. Trigg isn't going to be used for the time being because he doesn't fit into current storyline plans. With him as Kurt Angle's friend, he doesn't fit in with the new battle of respect storyline between the older and younger wrestlers. He doesn't fit well on the older side either since he's new, and the feeling is that he can only be used as a heel. He may be brought back should something arise.
? Frankie Kazarian/Kaz, who will be playing the Suicide character which was created as part of the new "TNA Impact" video game, had surgery on September 22 in Orlando for torn triceps. Kazarian was injured in May in the triple threat at the Sacrifice PPV against Samoa Joe and Scott Steiner, but worked on it for a while and was told by a doctor that the triceps were almost completely torn off the bone. He is estimated to be out of action for another four months.
? TNA originally wanted the Suicide character to start doing a run-in or some sort of entrance within the next few weeks but with Kazarian being out of action for four months, things are obviously changing. No decision was made as of this week but they could put another person in the gimmick or have Kaz debut as him now and limit his physical interaction until he is cleared to wrestle. The original plan was for Suicide to debut in some way like a quick live glimpse at Bound For Glory and then be pushed as a character by the end of October.