Rumors are popping up that Smashing Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan and WWE owner Vince McMahon are battling it out to decide who will buy TNA. In other wrestling news, Jerry Lawler has challenged his old friend and wrestling rival Andy Kaufman to a grudge match from beyond the grave.
TNA wrestling has been in dire straights lately. The struggling organization has reportedly let go of a large portion of its talent, as well as reduced its Pay Per View events to account for its plummeting finances. Now new rumors are popping up that the company is currently up for grabs.
The Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman Billy Corgan is one of the many names rumored to be a potential buyer. Corgan is already the owner of the Chicago-based, independent wrestling organization, Resistance Pro. Corgan started Rpro in 2011, after making several appearances in other organizations. The Rpro roster includes former WWE star Colt Cabana and former ECW pro Rhino. Resistance's current heavyweight champion is aptly named "The Ego." A spokesperson for Corgan released a statement to Newsday, saying:
"There is no reason to comment on rumors. Billy is completely focused on Resistance Pro's upcoming 2nd anniversary [show on Nov. 23].”
WWE mogul Vince McMahon is another name that is tossed around as a potential buyer. The billionaire businessman has already purchased his former competitors, WCW and ECW.
TNA's current owner, Panda Energy CEO Janice Carter, recently released a memo to the press that calls reports of the sale “false rumors.” The memo later adds:
“An unfortunate aspect of this business is that there are wrestling ‘reporters’ who consistently post ‘news stories’ without proper facts. I want to assure you these are just rumors and that I am committed to TNA and its future.”
Meanwhile, Jerry Lawler is rekindling his old feud with Andy Kaufman, even though Kaufman supposedly died in 1884. New reports have surfaced that Kaufman faked his death nearly 30-years ago. The rumors have been called a hoax, however, Lawler is holding out hope that his old friend is alive. Lawler recently spoke with CNN about his old wrestling rival:
"I would like nothing better than to know that Andy was still alive and been with us all this time. But like anybody else, I really don't know any more than what I've heard. It could be a great hoax in his honor, dreamed up by his friend Bob Zmuda and his brother, Michael. That would be something that would be in keeping with Andy's tradition, but who's to say. It could really be legit."
Lawler later added that if Kaufman is alive he would want to step into the ring with him one more time:
"There should be a WrestleMania rematch between Andy and The King. We could rekindle the feud with no problem."
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