Spike VP Clarifies Company’s Current Status With TNA

Partial Source: Pwinsider

UPDATE: As previously reported, Spike Senior VP of Communications David Schwarz commented earlier today about the company’s relationship with TNA in light of recent comments by Vince Russo. During that statement, Schwarz said that “we enjoyed a great relationship, a very collaborative relationship with Dixie Carter and her team over the years.”

The past-tense status of that sentence led some to believe that the two might have broken off negotiations, but it’s not the case. Mike Johnson spoke with Schwarz and asked if Spike and TNA were in discussions still, to which he said, “Yes we are – I just meant we have always enjoyed a great relationship.”

ORIGINAL: Yesterday, an interview recap was posted where Vince Russo claimed that, “SpikeTV is a horrible partner. Why TNA would ever want to partner with Spike is beyond me unless there were no other options.” Today, David Schwarz, the Senior Vice President of Communications with Spike TV, released the following statement on the matter…

“I want to start by saying we enjoyed a great relationship, a very collaborative relationship with Dixie Carter and her team over the years. We took TNA from a late night spot on Saturday nights, doing 500,000 viewers, to a two-hour time slot that did two million viewers over time. Spike went out of its way, not in just adhering to its contract, but above and beyond the contract. We paid Hulk Hogan, we paid Eric Bischoff, with our money. We financed many shows. We financed U.K. shows. We helped promote. We gave TNA a prime time slot of Thursdays from 9-11 p.m. I think his comments are way off base. Clearly, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s somebody who thinks more of himself than really exists. Vince Russo never meant anything to Spike TV. He had nothing to do with negotiations. Nobody cares about Vince Russo at Spike TV. Nobody cares or knows who he is. We have a great relationship with TNA. We went above and beyond for them, as they did for us. Dixie helped promote our shows. What Vince Russo is saying is complete nonsense.”

Vince Russo **RESPONDS** And It’s Getting NASTY – WHOA!!!