BROOKE HOGAN TO JOIN TNA’S “IMPACT WRESTLING” ON SPIKE TV STARTING THURSDAY, MAY 31

New York, NY, May 17, 2012 – Television personality and recording artist Brooke Hogan is joining the cast of the highly-rated weekly wrestling program, TNA’s “IMPACT WRESTLING” starting Thursday, May 31 on Spike TV. Brooke’s role will be as the Executive in Charge of the female wrestling division, The Knockouts.

Brooke will join a star-studded cast of the biggest names in professional wrestling, including her father, wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. TNA’s flagship series, “IMPACT WRESLTING,” telecasts on Spike TV and is one of the network’s top-rated series on Thursday nights with young men and currently ranks among the top shows on cable in its timeslot with Men 18-34.

In addition to overseeing the traditional duties of the Knockouts Division, Brooke will bring a new energy and direction to the role working with the girls in a variety of capacities.

“I have really gotten to know Brooke by working with her on her music career this past year and a half,” said Dixie Carter, President of TNA Wrestling. “When we did talk wrestling, I not only loved her passion and knowledge of it, but the fresh, creative ideas she would come up with. She is very savvy. I asked if she would consider teaming up with me in this capacity while she also worked on her music, and I was thrilled when she said ‘yes.’ A big personality runs in her genes, obviously, and I know she is going to take an already exciting division of Impact Wrestling to another level.”

Brooke is heading to New York next week for a media tour to promote her addition to the IMPACT WRESTLING team. Brooke will also promote “IMPACT WRESTLING’s” move to 8 PM and that the series will telecast LIVE for the summer starting Thursday, May 31. TNA’s 10th anniversary SLAMMIVERSARY pay-per-view-event is set for June 10th in Dallas, Texas.

The TNA roster features many of the top names in wrestling including the aforementioned Hulk Hogan, Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, Bobby Roode, Sting, James Storm, Rob Van Dam, and the lovely and lethal Knockouts.

Brooke Hogan, a native of Tampa, Fl, is a successful television personality, singer and songwriter. Brooke starred in two acclaimed non-scripted shows on Spike’s sister network, VH1, including “Hogan Knows Best” and the spinoff, “Brooke Knows Best.” Both were #1 rated shows for the network. Brooke has also released two albums, “Undiscovered” in 2006 which peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “The Redemption” in 2009. Her song, “Everything To Me,” peaked at #1 twice on Billboard’s Top Single Chart. Hogan’s film credits include “Little Hercules in 3D,” “Sand Sharks,” and “Devour.”

– Earl Hebner has announced that he signed a deal to stay with TNA through 2013.

– Brooke Hogan will be doing TNA media appearances in New York City. TNA hopes that her reality show name and allure will get the company some attention with the media. They’ve already accomplished that with TMZ.com covering the signing.

Brooke Hogan is following in her father’s giant yellow footsteps … TMZ has learned she just inked a deal to join the TNA Wrestling family.

Carter tells us, “Brooke is such a great talent who’s really sharp and will make a great addition to the TNA family.”

Brooke will be “an executive who will be tasked to develop female talent.”?!?!? I hope that’s a joke.

According to a source, this is being done during the summer as a “test run” to see if ratings increase by going live. If ratings increase, they’ll stay live full-time. The show will still be taped in Orlando.

More as we get it.

TNA PRESS RELEASE:

TNA’S IMPACT WRESTLING CELEBRATES SUMMER 2012 BY GOING LIVE!

“We are excited to take IMPACT WRESTLING Live! all summer long, and have our first Live! summer show launch our new 8:00pm/ET time slot,” says TNA President Dixie Carter. “Summer of 2012 is going to be remembered as the most momentous time in our company’s history-to-date. Stay tuned.”

– As noted earlier here on the site, X-Division wrestler Tony Nese requested and was granted a release from TNA Wrestling. Nese posted the following to his Twitter about leaving the company: I have recently been approached with an opportunity to step in the ring with The Great Muta, a wrestling legend, and one of All Japan Pro Wrestling’s top wrestlers Kai. This is an opportunity that I feel with help me further my goals and career. This event will be provided via IPPV and unfortunately my TNA contract did not allow me to perform on such events. I requested that an exception would be granted given my lack of appearances but was denied. My next action was to request a release as I think it will be in my best interest. I would like to thank TNA Wrestling for helping me achieve one of my goals as it is very few in this business that are able to say they have. I would also like to thank all the people that support me as this is just a small chapter coming to an end in my career and I have many more exciting opportunities in my future to come.

– Velvet Sky is the star of the Montgomery Gentry music video filmed this week in the Impact Zone.

Saturday, June 16, 2012 – Houston, TX
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Central
Bayou Music Center
520 Texas Ave.
Houston, TX 77002
DEADLINE: Monday, June 4, 2012 12 p.m. Central

Saturday, June 23, 2012 – Oshawa, ON
Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Eastern
General Motors Centre
99 Athol St. East
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1J8
DEADLINE: Monday, June 11, 2012 1 p.m. Eastern

TNA’S IMPACT WRESTLING CELEBRATES SUMMER 2012 BY GOING LIVE!

“We are excited to take IMPACT WRESTLING Live! all summer long, and have our first Live! summer show launch our new 8:00pm/ET time slot,” says TNA President Dixie Carter. “Summer of 2012 is going to be remembered as the most momentous time in our company’s history-to-date. Stay tuned.”

Reports surfaced earlier this month that Ashley intended to follow in the footsteps of her legendary father as she was training to become a professional wrestler. She is expected to report to the company’s Tampa, Florida based developmental training facility in the summer.

Ashley is the third Flair child to enter the professional wrestling industry. David notably competed for World Championship Wrestling from 1999 to 2001 while Reid currently wrestles on the independent circuit.

Ashley was a star volleyball player in high school, leading her team to two state titles in North Carolina. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelor of Arts and is an ACE® Certified Personal Trainer. She also attended Appalachian State University where she was a Division-1 Full Scholarship Athlete in volleyball.