Today’s edition of the Wrestling Globe Newsletter suggests that Awesome Kong has been unhappy in TNA for some time before the incident with Bubba the Love Sponge this past weekend. Mike Aldren reports:
Awesome Kong has requested her release following the events of this past week. She noted to friends that the altercation with Bubba the Love Sponge at Monday’s television taping was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She had been unhappy for some time. The company has not responded to her release request thus far and are hoping that she will change her mind. “Kong is really disappointed in the fact that this company that once had class has turned into a paranoid backstabbing contest because people in management are too worried about keeping their jobs to really voice their opinions or represent the talent appropriately,” said one source. “They sold all the talent that they were a team [before Hogan/Bischoff arrived]… but then moved forward without rewarding anyone, and benched half of the original roster on top of that.” Regarding the actual altercation, Kong admitted fault saying she had planned to give Bubba a piece of her mind due to his remarks on Haiti, but things quickly got out of hand. She cited lack of sleep, noting that she had spent her free time last weekend raising funds for the victims of the earthquake, and was also dealing with the loss of her mentor, wrestling promoter Ed Chuman. She said delirium took over and she ended up smacking Bubba instead of talking to him. One of Kong’s friends also noted to us that she is furious with Bubba for ripping her on Howard Stern, and for attempting to make an angle out of the situation on his own radio show. She is now back at home pondering her future. She was originally booked for the upcoming European tour but won’t be making those dates any more.
It’s been well noted here at Diva Dirt some of the disparaging comments that have been made about Kong by Bubba the Love Sponge and most recently, Hulk Hogan on Bubba’s radio show. I can’t imagine wanting to work for a company where it’s allowed to speak about a fellow employee like that, let alone a member of management getting in on the act, perpetuating the drama instead of dealing with it in private like professionals.
I can’t say I blame Kong for wanting out as TNA’s scenario is becoming the wrestling equivalent of the maligned NBC. Very public ‘scandal’? Check. Top star wanting out? Check. All we need now is an awards show where TNA is the butt every joke ala the Golden Globes.
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19 Comments
Its a sad day for woman wrestling. Thats all I say
I do not blame Kong at all for wanting to leave and she probably won’t be the only talent to leave because of the new directiont TNA are taking. I never liked Hogan but I did respect him, after his comments he made about Kong I am pretty annoyed at him and TNA management for allowing him to insult her like this. Dixie needs to start caring about her talent and not who can get the most ratings for her show.
I’m glad that Kong admitted fault in hitting Bubba. Also I can’t blame her (or Melissa) for wanting leave TNA. I used to have respect for Hulk Hogan, but after hearing what he said on the radio show that is no longer the case. I give Kong credit for not talking about what happened backstage . On the other hand, it was completely unprofessional of Hulk Hogan to go on Bubba’s radio show and talk about the situation while insulting her in the same breath. And it is also ridiculous for Dixie to just sit back and let him do it. She mine as well sign the rights of TNA over Hogan because it’s quite obvious that she’s no longer in control.
from what i gather watching that video she uploaded yesterday, she wasn’t sure she wanted to do the uk/european tour due to ed’s passing, hence the “i told tna that i would think about it”. they probably didn’t let her think about it (“all they had to do was wait ten minutes”) and that too likely led to her handing in her notice. it’s all conjecture on my part, of course. i’m just trying to make sense of it all. she comes across as a really well put together and brought up lady, as much as her possibly not being around tna anymore is sad news for me, i respect whatever reason/s she has and am proud of her for standing up to the company i’m losing interest in week by week.
hogan should be ashamed of himself. bubba, you kinda expect it from somebody like him, but somebody who essentially employs you (i’m not too sure on hogan’s tna status management-wise) should know better.
darkraven: Dixie needs to start caring about her talent and not who can get the most ratings for her show.
the irony is, one five minute kong match would probably draw higher ratings than any twenty minute hogan promo! also wasn’t hogan basically DISSING tna? saying they were NOTHING before he came along? i used to appreciate dixie (mainly ‘cos she’s a somewhat powerful woman and i’m a total feminist to the core) but she’s starting to do my nut.
I wonder if Dixie and TNA management will remember that their knockouts have had the highest ratings in many of their shows. If TNA try to take the WWE head on and keep putting all their trust into Hogan and Bishoff then I’m afraid that we may no longer have the TNA the fans have grown to love and respect.
TNA needs to get their shit together, TNA needs to focus on THEIR OWN TALENT and stop pushing ex WWE losers like the nasty boys, val venis, Mr kennedy, orlando jordan, etc
bye kong
WWE needs to smarten up and use this opportunity to improve themselves. Apparently the Hogan/Bischoff era is doing more harm than good, and TNA is loosing very good performers.
I hope Vince starts making good decisions and hire these girls. It would be an amazing way to start and change the reputation that WWE has about only caring for the girls looks.
But what could expect Awesome Kong from WWE? Losing to girls that are not even half the wrestler she is? She will have to tone down her talent and skills to fit with the diva’s matches standards. I don’t want to see her wrestling in slow motion. Her only consistent opponnent would be Beth, but you can’t have a match between those two every week for ever…
There are guys there and we are talking about the Great Kong. She would kick their asses
That really is too bad. Kong is such a talented performer, and it sucks that she was let down by a company that should have done better for her. The physical altercation with Bubba was a mistake on her part from a professional stand point, but I can’t really blame her. She let her emotions get out of control, sure, but TNA should have tried to diffuse this situation as soon as it happened. They should have sat the two of them down and made them hash it out before it became such a big issue. Allowing Bubba to talk trash on the radio, with Hogan taking his side, is just horrible.
I’m sure she’ll find some way to bounce back from all this, and I wish her all the luck in the world with whatever decision she makes.
Like most of you, I don’t blame Kong for wanting to leave. This whole situation reaks of TNA management’s neglect & unprofessional behavior. When I originally heard about Hogan’s radio comments I just wanted to shout “f*** you Hogan” – it wouldn’t have done anything, but it sure would have helped me deal with the frustration I feel with TNA’s new regime. Oh, and didn;t he praise her a few months ago? I wish Kong the best, and hope TNA will learn from this situation.
this whole thing is gettin really crazy and confusing i hope they resolve their issues and kong decides to stay.
this hulk hogan’s tna thing is reallly getting out of hand each week there is something chaotic happening.tha TNA knockout division has been suffering enough low blows with departues of Gail, Roxxi,and recently the returning Angelina Love.And now we have not only have Alsissa Flash departed…but Awesome Kong who has been there since the begining when TNA decided to revamp the division.
:( i love kong, i hope she stays!!
As I said on an earlier post yesterday, blame Dixie bloody Carter for this shyt that’s going on in TNA. The wrestling world is aware of what a controlling, egotistical hack like Hogan is. Vince McMahon is about the only wrestling promoter with enough bargaining power to negotiate a deal with Hogan where he DOESN’T have more power than him.
For all the changes Dixie made after she sent Jeff Jarrett home, she’s let the power slip out of her hands again and I bet you Hogan will do more damage to TNA than Jarett ever did. At least during Jarrett’s time, the Knockouts division remained one of the few strong aspects of TNA. Now it, like the rest of TNA is on the brink of collapse. All thanks to one idiotic woman named Dixie Carter. For a so-called supporter of women’s wrestling, she’d proven herself to be a completely two-faced fraud. And she will let most of her younger, male talent rot away while Hogan, Bischoff, The Band, Nasty Boys, BTLS and whatever other has been comes into TNA take over.
WWE should make an exception for Kong and sign her despite not having the Diva look. Even if her matches are shorter, at least she deserves better pay than being lowballed by TNA. And Melissa too.
The women’s division on SmackDown in on the verge of picking up and could very likely surpass the Knockouts division at this rate. McCool, Beth, Mickie, Natalya, now Serena. Imagine if Kong and Melissa got signed and went there (and Gail Kim got drafted)….we’d have one hell of a division.
And see, I had forgotten about the fact that her mentor had died. I had been reading her tweets about preparing for his funeral, etc. I mean, when you have a tragic death on your mind of someone you love, to have someone say “eff-them” in regards to a massive loss of life it’s got to do something to you. And based on the kind of person he is, it was probably going to go in that direction anyway, because he does not seem like the kind of person who you could have a rational conversation with, especially if its about something he said. I believe in free speech, but when you allow douchebags to blow out hot air in a public forum it just make them take more chances. This is the same guy who brutally castrated and killed pigs in front of a live audience, if that story is to be believed. The world doesn’t need his kind of hate on the airwaves. What a waste of space. Kong is smart to want to get out of there. I wouldn’t want to be there. Being on national television isn’t everything. She’s a still a wrestler whether millions are watching or not. Wrestling fans who love Kong’ll still be checking for her!
When the maggots show up, it’s usually means the food is spoiled. Bubba is that kind of maggot. It’s a shame you stopped at a slap, Kong. That talentless hack needs a kick in the *ss for every soul lost in Haiti.
TNA got too big. We all know what’s going on and why. Good for you to step up and walk. Most will do ANYTHING to say they’re a “rassler” on the big stage. But at what cost? Many, like has been inferred are gutless suck ups who allow themselves to be walked on by a select few. Hope you make your way to Texas soon. I’d like to shake the hand that slapped the taste out of Bubba’s mouth!
Gator
She’s better than TNA.
If she really is that unhappy then there’s no point her being there.