Jim Cornette on Working For TNA

From Episode 218 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@t-bro9529]

I use to enjoy watching TNA back in 2004-2009. When Hogan joined the company it went downhill fast.

[@volodymyrbilyk555]

Aces and eights storyline was fun for what it was.

[@wallyjackson9543]

You’re saying something everyone has been saying the last decade.

[@FirstLast-yh7gj]

@@volodymyrbilyk555 Agreed I thought it was going to be stupid af at first but then Bully Ray came along

[@Kingofthekop1]

@@volodymyrbilyk555 Only for Bully Ray to drop the belt and end the angle to Chris sabin of all people.

[@michaelramone9262]

@@volodymyrbilyk555 bullet club rip off

[@ProfJasonX]

loved the repeated "YUP", it's like i'm watching storage wars.

[@ShadowStructure]

**sips sprite** yuuuup

[@MrSpeed-lt8gr]

Tremendous! Yuuuuuuuuuuup!!!!

[@Ability-King-KK]

Except Jim has more personality than Dave.

[@tigerhockey7]

Dave Hester is the electric factory 🏭⚡️

[@crowns9966]

Lmaoo damn haven't watch that show in a while

[@paranoidewok6772]

"Fireworks in a broom closet" This line kind of sums up the entire history of TNA.

[@TheRustedShackleford]

Say what you want about Shark Boy, but his tag team with New Jack was some of the funniest TV I've ever seen.

[@CornBreadtm1]

And ironically it was a punishment for New Jack because he couldn't go on TV and not say "Fuck!" lol.

[@badstr33tusa]

I totally agree!

[@PIP-zf9yb]

Tna was so bad during this time not that it was ever good. Sad and pathetic sums it up

[@msoileau83]

I guess...

[@Tittymaster]

@@PIP-zf9yb Not ever good? X-Division, Knockouts, Tag Teams in 2005-2008? MCMG, Beer Money, Angle, Sting, Christian, Konnan, Monty Brown, Steiner on the mic?

[@chuckycheesechucky]

The irony is, if Vince McMahon saw the sick in bed segment with Shark Boy, he would have absolutely loved it and tried to figure out how to copy it the next week on RAW or sign Shark Boy himself.

[@sacredsteeler]

Anything that makes money, Pal

[@msoileau83]

He would have put Paul London or Brian Kendrick in a similar suit (but red) and called him "The Pirahna" or something.

[@RoomofMima]

Oh look another knowing vince person.

[@georgemaranville3305]

Thank God Jim will never run out of amazing stories

[@dannymcelroy922]

He could just start over and no one would care, bc he goes into such detail... Or I wouldn't. Lol

[@MrSircharles05]

I could listen to Jim shit on Russo all day and never get tired of it

[@w00llee14]

I thought the Shark Boy Steve Austin was pretty good, a decent comedy bit. Even Shark Boys time with New Jack and then later on with Curry Man was also great! Gimme a Shell Yeah!

[@michaelgray4218]

Yeah I liked Shark Boy too. He was pretty funny 🙂 an that's a funny line, gimmie a shell yeah, Lol 🙂

[@Myrzghe]

What is Cornette's view of Curry man? Because I think most people like that stuff if they like any comedy in wrestling. And it's not like Jim is very consistent when it comes to stuff like that. He'll love some "magic midgets with wigs" but most other comedy is making fun out of the business

[@Spoeism]

Don't forget that Dixie took advantage of Billy Corgan, taking his money while making false promises.

[@brianfinn6800]

Right.. why doesn’t anyone talk about that.

[@Spoeism]

@@brianfinn6800 he’s an outsider in their eyes? Some folks like Cornette are territorial and hate being called what he is.. A performer

[@evansmootracing.81]

Shark Boy lives literally right down the street from me lol. Had the pleasure of wrestling with him in the local Indys in 2011-2012ish

[@SimbolicProductions]

That’s crazy. as a teenager I lived 2 doors down from the invisible man

[@MarcoNegrisEye]

@@SimbolicProductions and a single nights sleep from the boogie man

[@MilMaska]

"Now I needed to do better than my best to counter balance Vince Russo's badness. But ofcourse I overestimate myself because not even I am that good" - Jim Cornette

[@billhicks6449]

Sorry Jim. Stone Cold Shark Boy is in my boy stable. Way, way over with me.

[@HAVOCJKD]

He's almost too popular to be a boy....as the lads say he can have a boy passport.

[@DLRX]

Pre Stone Cold gimmick Shark Boy is in my Boy Stable

[@PMOThemadcracker]

@DLRX jack and shark boy for life THE PLANKSTERS

[@christopherstroud190]

I was just in the former impact zone it’s now being used primarily for Horror nights mazes and funny enough AEW Dark tapings.

[@Ramekink]

wouldnt you know who won the pony

[@Voysh2Voysh69]

So you’re telling me a legit wrestling company is only using it for their supplemental show, featuring their jobbers and training prospects? Sounds appropriate

[@danielburger1775]

@@Voysh2Voysh69 What "legit wrestling company"?

[@planetschlock]

Dr. Stevie was such an asinine gimmick but I stand by Shark Boy's fishbowl house.

[@wheneveriwantvideos]

Just makes sense honestly

[@captainthiccnick]

If he is part shark, part boy it just makes sense that he would live in a fish tank.

[@msoileau83]

He got his doctorate from the same school as Tom Prichard...

[@natebaxter9551]

@@msoileau83 lies. Tom earned his degree in desire from a fully accredited university.

[@RobotReg]

Dr Stevie, Abyss, and Daffney were great

[@brodykossler239]

I love Jim’s TNA stories!!

[@ELPRES1DENTE45]

"Pyro in a broom closet." 😂🤣 100% ON-POINT!!!

[@vincethevoice237]

"They didn't know how to wind their ass, or scratch their watch!" 😂

[@chestercopperpot4455]

The fishbowl story had me in stitches.

[@SonOfMuta]

Brian's laugh the moment Dr. Stevie was brought up 😂🤣. The dumbest gimmick

[@Caolan114]

One of my favorite things In TNA was the shark boy steve austin thing, the fish puns were real! "I'm gonna whoop somebody's bass" "Give me a shell yeah!" "And that's the fishin' line cause shark boy said so"

[@J.Giovanni]

When you hear the term "fumbling the bag", TNA comes to mind. National tv, the best roster of in ring wrestlers, WWE was fucking up/losing fans. How did they fuck all that up?

[@thecake6635]

Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff

[@namemcnamerton4249]

@@thecake6635 also hogan and the creative control posse

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

Well, they were paying some chick from Survivor more than the entire undercard combined to do a match with Booker T's wife. Yes, it sucked as much as you'd imagine. Shit like this was not an isolated incident.

[@Tittymaster]

"How did they fuck all that up?" - Three words: Dixie "Douchebag" Carter.

[@robertpaige4505]

When you let Vince Russo convince you of his personal delusion that all wrestling fans want Attitude Era-crash TV.

[@youngzeus87]

Debit card Dixie really lost her company IRL like a TNA storyline

[@rudyrusso711]

Let's all go ahead and ask Scott Hall about that....jeezus fuck

[@ricolewis2949]

Best Nickname Ever 🏆👈

[@dennisregister4173]

I got my grandson hooked on the "Shark Boy" gimmick. We loved the matches he had with Curry Man (Christopher Daniels). It was a horrible work, but when he was 4 years old he loved it. It was funny AF.

[@brandonhorrorfan137]

Christopher Daniels was Curry Man?? I never knew that, that explains a lot though looking back on some of Curry Man and Shark Boy's stuff

[@maddognogood8346]

2006 TNA days were great compared to WWE/AEW 2021!

[@chasincash8594]

3:07 “pyro in a f*cking broom closet” LMFAO

[@ButWhatIfItIs]

I actually started watching TNA as an alternative to WWE way back in 2007. 2005/3006 are often touted as TNA's best years. Personally I really enjoyed the product until 2010. Then once again when they started to heal a little from the damage caused by Hogan etc. But boy has that company seen bad management.

[@ricolewis2949]

3006 was my favorite year too

[@onslaughtmp]

@@ricolewis2949 well, that was the last year before Skynet became self aware and killed the last of the pro wrestlers.

[@adamholt5395]

That was a heck of a shift for the ad at the end. Well done Jim!

[@dlmoney11]

That "yep" said everything

[@antfrancis9941]

Funny how Jim can remember any day of any year dating back to the 60s. Fucking legend.👍

[@tigernorm713]

He remembers some things the way he wants to from time to time....

[@JeromeDoyle]

Please create an Omnibus about Jim's time in TNA. These stories are genuinely appreciated.

[@SAM-ru4vx]

....and than Dixie Carter wanted tv time.

[@shawngreenidge3591]

When he mentioned Shark Boy, I thought he was gonna mention the Fish Market Street Fight between Shark Boy and Curry Man (Christopher Daniels) against the Dudley's / Team 3-D

[@gonzalogca4907]

Imagine how different TNA would have been today if Jeff Jarrett was not sent home after stealing Angle's wife.

[@HEAVYDIAPER]

Imagine if Dixie had made Jim head of creative rather than Vince Russo?

[@MrRjh63]

From what i heard it wasnt stealing Karen that got him sideways with Dixie it was lying to her face about it.

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

@@HEAVYDIAPER Would not have been much different. It's Jarrett that kept re-hiring Russo all the time.

[@connordripps2173]

Aaand wouldn't you know who won the pony, they made the whole Jeff Jarrett stealing Kurt's then ex wife into an angle (no pun intended) on TV which is something they shouldn't have done in the first place. Same thing with Hawk and his demons. Wrestling should NOT involve anything with personal shit behind the scenes being an angle on TV.

[@vict4451]

The ad spots are some of the best parts on both the Experience and Drive-Thru.

[@danielcollins9502]

I just started watching IMPACT this year after not watching for years. I really enjoy what I've seen

[@humanomoly9620]

It’s hilarious how Russo is responsible for sinking 2 wrestling companies, out of the 3 he’s been employed with.

[@alanheyes694]

Well duh, that’s who you call if you wanna kill a wrestling company 😂

[@patrickboian8545]

Whats the 3rd?

[@-JAVY-]

Bro

[@monstermatt3453]

@@patrickboian8545 WWF bro

[@danielburger1775]

Actually, under Russo, Impact got its highest ratings, and made the most money. It was Dixie that sunk it. And that's why nobody takes people like you seriously. You don't like someone, so you make up bs about them. Yes, Russo gave us WCW World Champion David Arquette, but how exactly did he sink TNA?

[@Reallife315]

Hasn’t tna been around longer than wcw at this point?

[@simeonflake]

That would be a sad commentary on society if Impact has been around for that many years. Whoever runs that joint now must have deep pockets....

[@maxxdahl6062]

Not if you count crockett promotions.

[@maxxdahl6062]

@@watchitlive8460 Yeah if you count the crocketts owning it. That was from around the 1930's or 1940's with Jim Sr.

[@vicodin12345]

I was at the TNA ppv where the roof went on fire that was a whole mess I remember staring at roof more than the actual match I think Eric young was on it the good thing is when they send us back in I rush and got better seats

[@theantone7476]

Does anyone else smile when Jim plays the Stephen P New Ad?

[@frankohbk]

not only smile but sing along too!

[@seannetworkblogsandgames7504]

This was literally the first TNA ppv my brother and I ever bought. I remember this delay well

[@patrickboian8545]

Loved Shark Boy. Wish someone would let him do something on tv.

[@Jukeboxster]

I see the [Blank] has taken effect...never gets old.

[@guacamole9199]

Pyro in a broom closet!!

[@DLRX]

I was never the biggest fan of the Stone Cold gimmick but I loved Shark Boy just as himself, reminded me a bit of The Hurricane. And if look past his overall masked presentation he's actually a decent wrestler.

[@Dakatari]

Despite the silliness of the Shark Boy gimmick Jimbo. Dean Matthew Roll was a great wrestler who's impersonation of Stone Cold was actually very spot on.

[@DLRX]

Agreed

[@gothard5]

Was? He still is.

[@Dakatari]

@@gothard5 I thought he retired

[@aliciasimmons8473]

Another great one Travis!

[@Geniepants]

I love that Jim refers to “shitstain” and we all know who he’s talking about

[@TacoMahstah]

"Didn't know whether to wind their ass or scratch their watch." Classic.

[@JBStyles23]

Here we go..

[@CPCGamer]

Everybody's talking about Dr Stevie and Shark Boy, while I'm over here in awe of the best ad read I ever heard.

[@timfinney1]

8 more wrestlers released from WWE. I remember when it used to be everybody's dream job.

[@662chillin]

Thank you Hulk Hogan (along with Dixie) for completely ruining a pretty decent TNA

[@zalordsguard1880]

I would love for Cornette to listen to a TNA based episode of Jeff Jarrett's My World Podcast. And then do an episode of the Drive-Thru giving his commentary on that podcast. That would be awesome.

[@The765Das]

Brian just cracking at the end trying to segue lmao

[@davyjones2032]

TNA has some great matches and bat shit crazy but fun storylines and gimmicks. Angle, Sting, AJ, Joe Beer Money, Beautiful People, Gail/Kong/Mickie/Victoria to name a few. The fanbase enjoyed TNA more than just " fed = dead" too which was nice. Most of the TNA stories folks tell are always entertaining as well.

[@philliesphan334]

I've been waiting for this

[@kylegoff5331]

I remember them having the shark boy set haha.

[@pillboss1987]

Tetrodotoxin is what Shitstain was too lazy to look up. It was used in the movie Law Abiding Citizen. Gerard Butler’s character used it to paralyze one of the men who he was going to kill. He explained that it causes paralysis, but leaves you conscious and doesn’t block pain.

[@MuggsyMontoya]

If you don't mind me asking, who exactly is Shitstain?

[@kinginthenorth1437]

@@MuggsyMontoya Vince Russo

[@MuggsyMontoya]

@@kinginthenorth1437 thanks

[@KingBudds]

Sharkboy was over af in TNA.

[@GodotOfficial]

I will always miss Meme Era TNA with the godawful storylines like Claire Lynch

[@bigern32480]

I remember hearing a fire alarm during Raw because of the pyro smoke

[@willkenshin]

In my opinion, when Jim was a part of TNA, TNA was the best promotion not named WWE at that time and I could argue that it was way better than both current WWE AND AEW now

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

no doubt

[@Noobie2k7]

I mean it was actually way better than WWE at the time. 2005-2010 WWE was the drizzling shits.

[@rickcobos1724]

He was in a superior federation simultaneously as its authority figure - ROH. Got to be a generally great visceral promo against CZW.

[@TheVoidofNothing11]

@mattm6200 Almost everyone is a parrot in wrestling comment sections my friend. It's pretty gross, especially all the idiots that freely use the term mark. Gives me chills like nails on a chalk board.

[@jamesd4223]

To me TNA always felt like it never hit its stride. It had an ok start despite the weird weekly PPV deal and would almost get going when it got bigger names but, always just stumbled over itself trying too hard in attempts to “go to war”. That’s why I get nervous when Tony Khan tries to take it to WWE so early. Just take your opportunities and let the company grow naturally.

[@natebaxter9551]

Only difference is Khan can actually pay for it.

[@sethputnamsghost]

Corny was starting to sound like that Dave Hester guy from storage wars with the Yups!🤣👍

[@SamA-fy6ie]

"The family is still here, Dr. Fishman is still here, Nurse Bass is still here."

[@DGF2099]

The PPV in question was 2006 Hard Justice, and the fire occured during the Eric Young/Johnny Devine match FYI

[@ShredderSensei]

I was also at the show that involved a roof being lit on fire. I can let you know, Universal Studios was less than pleased. The entire arena was filled with smoke that night.

[@SamA-fy6ie]

Things about TNA I still wanna know about from Corny: -TNA's X-Division vs today's video game wrestling -Motor City Machine Guns -Agenting gimmick matches like Ultimate X, Terror Dome/Steel Asylum, Tuxedo matches

[@VelocitrapLords]

Shelley specifically. Gargano and Yuta both cite him as a big influence and I’d reckon that could be said for a lot of younger dudes of that grappler strong-style angle. Honestly the PCS jumpstarted my journey into a dirty indy mark lol

[@sinner13halloweenfiend76]

I love sharkboy when he did the stone cold thing was grate oh shell yea lol

[@MegaMadDog88]

I'm just curious because I haven't listen to Jim and Bryan a lot but has anyone emailed or tweeted them to talk about the incident involving Jeff Hardy and Sting at TNA's Victory Road in 2011?

[@enochancient9931]

I would love more Jim cornette watch alongs

[@RyanS881]

The Claire Lynch angle will stand out or anything involving Jeff Jarrett

[@williamwalker8201]

I live for the Steven P News ad

[@lavarivy2259]

I loved Stone Cold Shark Boy 😂😂

[@Am0ment0fB]

Jim got mad again just telling the story about Sharkboy's house. Ha.

[@lukepanda37]

Didn’t aj styles say they wanted to cut my wage in half after hogan that’s not for me brother came in

[@TheGahDamn]

This shit just hurt the hell out of my brain

[@whydoesthisexistpod]

Trying to picture a pot of piss flying out of a window and hitting some poor shrub in the face cracked me up! Oh Jim!

[@grahamryan2481]

Shark Boy was brilliant

[@El_Riplico]

Still pop at the Stephen P. New plug

[@willh1933]

Corny never ceases to amaze "Didn't know whether to wind their ass or scratch their watch."

[@davindavis3085]

Im 30 seconds in, I dont know if Jim mentions this, but I remember this vividly. The fans even chanted "The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire. The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire." First and only time that chant was ever chanted at a wrestling show. Look it up.

[@corwinbrown2643]

Is it really that Important to look up?

[@mfjudge9212]

I remember watching that ppv

[@rodneyfox3427]

What TNA PPV did the pyro catch the building on fire 🔥 lol

[@starshipfame1]

@7:27 sounds like Vince took notes of that 😂😂

[@pierson974]

I honestly loved sharkboy as a kid. He was over for me but i definitely understand jim not being a fan of that gimmick lmao

[@andrewdelgado9099]

Is that the World Class Championship Wrestling theme song

[@hijeans1103]

Can’t wait for his take on the new releases. Like who saw hit row being dropped already

[@FaysalIsGoated]

Watching old TNA/Impact just makes me wonder to myself, imagine if TNA/Impact had Tony Kahn’s money and didn’t get taken over by Hogan and Bischoff. Then they probably would’ve actually been a threat to WWE and we wouldn’t need AEW.

[@SjC420]

Thais happened at TNA Hard Justice 2006 during the opening match between Eric Young & Johnny Devine.

[@ratking1608]

"None of them had a fucking clue whether to wind their ass or scratch their watch." How does he come up with these things on the fly like this? It's incredible

[@tydance8865]

PYRO IN A BROOM CLOSET IS DIRTY WORK 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@therealnickynurotic8930]

The animations always Crack me up

[@MrCamara47]

From a fellow Kentuckian, I laughed everytime Cornette said "Pot o' piss"

[@jmwvirgil]

Yep

[@shaunkenneally7597]

Looking back on it , yeah that totally tells me Vince Russo.

[@citizensnips7949]

Shark Boy 24/7 says "I just bit your ass"

[@BeefLettuceAndPotato]

I agree with Jim plenty.... but I will ALWAYS love Shark Boy hahahah

[@michaeldownstairs]

I liked Shark Boy doing a Stone Cold impression! And the fishbowl set.

[@YourGrandmom75]

I don't know why, but hiring a lawyer to throw piss at people in court is fucking hilarious😀 and the way justice should be

[@horncrownedproductions9675]

The Stevie Richards paralyzing poison story actually goes back to Hitchcock. He wrote a story about a guy presumed dead about to have an autopsy performed on him expect he was still alive but couldn't move or talk and the poison slowed his organs down to where they thought he was dead. Steven King later rewrote that story as well.

[@JM1993951]

Honestly, it is smart to not have searches for paralytic poisons in you google history.

[@stevensingleton6742]

Oh Shell yeah!