Tito Ortiz & TNA wrestling?

[mata-leao]

TNA SIGNS TITO ORTIZ TO APPEAR AT "HARD JUSTICE" PPV
By: Joey Styles
4/26/2005 4:30:56 PM

TNA has signed Tito Ortiz, one of the most controversial names in the mixed martial arts world, to appear at the Hard Justice pay-per-view event scheduled for May 15.

Dusty Rhodes is expected to make the announcement tonight at the iMPACT tapings and will explain Ortiz' involvement on the broadcast set to air this Friday.

source: http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=22511

[K++s]

That didn't take long since his "breakup" with the UFC.

I wonder if this is the reason for his frosty reception at UFC 52.

[( o Y o )]

I wonder if this is the reason for his frosty reception at UFC 52.

It would make sense considering the timing of this announcement would mean they had to have been pretty far into negotiations by then

[ducati]

TNA? Why not WWE?

[Water]

I never even heard of TNA

[Fozzy]

TNA is some cheapass offspring of old WCW if i remember correctly, it had some of their old wreslters like Jeff Jarret on it... man i'm so over wrestling. Tito wont do anything for the sport if you ask me..

~Foz

[Charuto]

I never even heard of TNA Ken Shamrock was in it for a little bit. I think they might have even put the belt on him but I don't remember. Hopefully they'll give him some good lines because his shit talking game is extremely underwhelming.

[( o Y o )]

Fielding would no doubt have some thoughts and info on this, though he probably wont see it now until Monday.

[Cracked_Knuckle]

I wonder if they are paying $350k per event?

[mata-leao]

what's funny is that tito's been talking about his "BRIGHT" future now that he's officially over with UFC.

[Paul T]

hugh. stupid me, i assumed he was going to PRIDE!

[Paul T]

Credit: WrestlingObserver.com

At tonight's TNA Impact! tapings, it will be announced that former UFC Light Heavyweight champion "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz will be the special guest referee for the Jeff Jarrett vs. A.J. Styles match at the Hard Justice pay-per view.

The entire card will have to be made clear tonight, since they tape three weeks worth of shows in a single night, but it's believed that there will be some sort of gauntlet style match. Tito Ortiz is a big pro wrestling fan and has been in negotiations with WWE in the past, and is good friends with several pro wrestlers including Bill Goldberg and Rey Mysterio.

[MZN]

Funny is that TNA has been broadcasted on eurosport, perhaps I'll see Tito do some reffing in the future :).

[K++s]

I never even heard of TNA

It's been around for about 3 years. It was a spring off of the WWE / WCW castoffs when the merger first happened.

For the first year or two, all their weekly shows were only on PPV. Late last year, they got a TV deal with Fox Sports net so they're on once a week. Limited exposure. PPV once a month.

The roster is a lot of younger but really good workers and WWE rejects (Jarrett, Nash, Billy Gunn, etc.)

All i have to say is that if you're going to sell out, c'mon Tito, at least sell out to the Show!!!

[( o Y o )]

All i have to say is that if you're going to sell out, c'mon Tito, at least sell out to the Show!!!

And thats the bottom line. Some two-bit wrestling show is far "I`ll show you" stuff....

[nycfreefight]

I guess it's come to that for him, but then again he did it to himself, he out bid himself in a sport that doesn't pay $350,000.00 USD per fight to anyone as of yet. Tito Ortiz is a prime example of biting the hand that feeds you...
While greed is good.... you need to pick and chose when to be greedy

[K++s]

I guess it's come to that for him, but then again he did it to himself, he out bid himself in a sport that doesn't pay $350,000.00 USD per fight to anyone as of yet. Tito Ortiz is a prime example of biting the hand that feeds you...
While greed is good.... you need to pick and chose when to be greedy

Or at least know your negotiating position, Silva and Fedor had K-1 in the background but it seems like Tito really didn't have either Pride or K-1 in the background.

[Paul T]

Ortiz is friends with the boxer Ferocious Fernando Vargas.
I have spoted Ortiz in vargas's corner for at least 2-3 fights.

Tito should have used his name and connections to get into boxing
:-)

[FieldingMellish]

Ortiz doing something with TNA makes little sense for a couple of reasons:

1.) TNA is so far under the radar this won't do much for Ortiz
2.) Ortiz is only really a name to MMA fans. He's not any kind of real celebrity so his involvement means very little.

As for how much he's getting, well considering the amount TNA pays, I'd be VERY surprised if he was earning more than $5000 for this. I very much doubt this is long term. Particularly as TNA are in something of desparation mode these days.

For those asking why he didn't go to WWE - he had some pretty serious negotiations with them last year and they stalled because WWE wouldn't pay him what he could potentially earn winning 2 or 3 fights a year in UFC.