Matt Bentley shoots on TNA

[Brain Of F'n J]

Got this from 411:

-Matt Bentley was on last night's Between the Ropes radio show, his TNA contract expires 8.20.07 and he ripped into the company.

-Bentley described that morale in the locker room is poor. The guys feel that they have been working hard, only to be replaced and or shoved down the card by former WWE stars. The company is no longer the fun place it once was to work.

-In regards to all of the talent being brought in, he said that names that are supposed to be big stars are brought to increase ratings and buy rates, but that they never rise.

-Instead of being allowed to go out and work hard, the in ring is restricted and they have to deal with "gaga segments" and things of that nature.

-In regards to the Congressional letter to TNA and drug testing, Bentley said that he was never drug tested by TNA nor has any other wrestler that he knows of working for the company.

-He blames Dutch Mantell for the lack of direction and push for Serotonin because, "Mantell didn't want to be bothered with it." He also said, in regards to Mantell, "That guy needs to be fired. The only way to kick Jeff (Jarrett) in the ass is to kick Dutch in the back of the head."

-Finally Bentley was upset that after his years of service he was just coldly informed that he was done, there was no thanking him for his tenure with the company and or wishing him well.

Credit: Pwinsider.com

Not really anything surprising in there ... still ... not good.

Jed Shaffer
~Now to see if his family connections can pay off.

[Chainsaw]

brainofj said:

Got this from 411:

-Matt Bentley was on last night's Between the Ropes radio show, his TNA contract expires 8.20.07 and he ripped into the company.

-Bentley described that morale in the locker room is poor. The guys feel that they have been working hard, only to be replaced and or shoved down the card by former WWE stars. The company is no longer the fun place it once was to work.

-In regards to all of the talent being brought in, he said that names that are supposed to be big stars are brought to increase ratings and buy rates, but that they never rise.

-Instead of being allowed to go out and work hard, the in ring is restricted and they have to deal with "gaga segments" and things of that nature.

-In regards to the Congressional letter to TNA and drug testing, Bentley said that he was never drug tested by TNA nor has any other wrestler that he knows of working for the company.

-He blames Dutch Mantell for the lack of direction and push for Serotonin because, "Mantell didn't want to be bothered with it." He also said, in regards to Mantell, "That guy needs to be fired. The only way to kick Jeff (Jarrett) in the ass is to kick Dutch in the back of the head."

-Finally Bentley was upset that after his years of service he was just coldly informed that he was done, there was no thanking him for his tenure with the company and or wishing him well.

Credit: Pwinsider.com

Not really anything surprising in there ... still ... not good.

Jed Shaffer
~Now to see if his family connections can pay off.

This jibes with everything else I've heard. I really hope someone wakes up and realizes what a poor job that Mantell is doing running the day to day stuff and cans him.

[mysterydriver]

I listened to that interview and linked to the site where you can download it in another thread.

Bentley explained how weekly contracts screw the workers who have to pay for their own hotel accomendations.

The interview was very interesting to listen, too.

One of my favorite quotes from it (besides the "kicking Dutch in the back of the head" comment) was along the lines of:

"If bringing in Kurt Angle doesn't increase the ratings, why would Test make a difference?"

[ddt]

While I've never been big on Bentley -- though I can't for a second deny his talent, or how over he was with fans ('The Bentley Bounce') -- I'm sorry to see him go. He did a great job in the X Division.

[MetalGearDizzle]

Bentley needs to come to the WWE, and have HBK as his manager. I'm f***ing telling you, people would eat that shit up. Much like Harry Smith is the new Davey Boy Smith, Bentley would be the new HBK. It'd be mint.

[Mozenrath]

metalgeardizzle said:

Bentley needs to come to the WWE, and have HBK as his manager. I'm smurfing telling you, people would eat that crap up. Much like Harry Smith is the new Davey Boy Smith, Bentley would be the new HBK. It'd be mint.

Matt Michaels? Sure, why not?

[Lair of the Shadow MaDaBa]

But HBK isn't DEAD. No disrespect to Davey Boy, Whatever-God-Is-Up-There rest his soul.

[MetalGearDizzle]

mdb913 said:

But HBK isn't DEAD. No disrespect to Davey Boy, Whatever-God-Is-Up-There rest his soul.

Yeah but I mean, he can do a reduced role of wrestling. Maybe do some tags with Shane Michaels (the new name I am dubbing him) but mostly be in a mentor role.

[Mozenrath]

metalgeardizzle said:

mdb913 said:

But HBK isn't DEAD. No disrespect to Davey Boy, Whatever-God-Is-Up-There rest his soul.

Yeah but I mean, he can do a reduced role of wrestling. Maybe do some tags with Shane Michaels (the new name I am dubbing him) but mostly be in a mentor role.

Especially since HBK isn't half of what he used to be in the ring.

[Spankymac is sick of the swiss]

I could see Bentley doing well in WWE. I mean, the guy's got talent, and he can talk, if he's given the opportunity. His relation to HBK would only be icing on the cake for him, in my opinion. I think Shawn would get him the shot, and then he'd make the most of it.

[Mozenrath]

chuckymac314 said:

I could see Bentley doing well in WWE. I mean, the guy's got talent, and he can talk, if he's given the opportunity. His relation to HBK would only be icing on the cake for him, in my opinion. I think Shawn would get him the shot, and then he'd make the most of it.

Plus, since he trained at the HBK school, he might of made friends with London, Cade, or Kendrick. They might put in a good word for him.

[poi zen rana]

maybe if he goes to the wwe and acts like a good little boy they will give him his ring name back.

[Michael Coello]

If he's pissed off at "gaga" segments in TNA, what makes WWE better for him?

[radicalbuttercup]

They really never did Serotonin a chance to be anything more than jobbers. I guess time was better spent on Young/Roode and VKM/Hemme's never ending feud's.

[Chainsaw]

chuckymac314 said:

I could see Bentley doing well in WWE. I mean, the guy's got talent, and he can talk, if he's given the opportunity. His relation to HBK would only be icing on the cake for him, in my opinion. I think Shawn would get him the shot, and then he'd make the most of it.

I could see him getting fired by Vince by accident, because he thought he was Shannon Moore.

[Mr. Mediocre]

sinister1 said:

If he's pissed off at "gaga" segments in TNA, what makes WWE better for him?

I don't always agree with you, Sinister1, but you said exactly what I was thinking there.

[lildude8218]

they should take an old Joey Styles idea from MLW


Joey: "Michael Shane...I'm instructed that everytime he appears on camera I am to remind EVERYBODY that he is the nephew of The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels, he has been trained by Shawn Michaels, blah blah , okay WE KNOW THAT already. Don't be requesting a Best of Michael Shane DVD to be released by MLW. He's had like 4 matches here! It's a wonder that Michael Shane didn't just use the ring name Shane Michaels.'

"I can't get over the fact that, despite the fact that he demands special treatment because he's related to Shawn Michaels, that he is in fact a good wrestler and a future superstar."

"I'm surprised that Michael Shane isn't insisting on being called HB2K. And if he does, I want royalties."

[Chucklehead,baby!!!]

you'd think if they were trying to compete with wwe and bring wwe stars in that they'd kinda idk...BE NICE TO FAMILY MEMBERS OF SHAWN MICHAELS. lollipop and bentley are first cousins of him and they blew it with both.

[ScottHall187]

As most have stated, everything this man says is true. I used to love watching TNA when it was in it's first years but now it is hard to watch as they are brining in guys from WWE that made me stop watching their program.

[Deleted]

Not one thing he said was surprising. Seriously, I don't think TNA will exist by this time next year.