D'Amore sent acquisition offer for TNA from Jericho cruise balcony
"I started sending text messages before the show was over, like looking for people that might want to support and invest in an acquisition of TNA. So then I worked on that for a few weeks, and I remember I sent the the offer to Len Asper, uh, from the balcony of the Jericho cruise."
About this episode
Scott D'Amore, veteran wrestling producer and current head of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, joins the show to discuss the promotion's historic TSN debut and his tumultuous exit from TNA Wrestling. D'Amore reveals that TSN executive David Bross personally shelved MLP's original broadcast pitch due to bandwidth constraints, only reviving talks after witnessing a sold-out Maple Leaf Gardens show in person. The discussion delves into D'Amore's firing from TNA in early 2024, disclosing that he assembled a buyout offer for the company within 20 minutes of his final taping and formally submitted it to Anthem owner Len Asper from the balcony of the Jericho cruise. D'Amore describes TNA as six feet under when he arrived in 2018 and chronicles the company's COVID-era survival, revealing he coordinated production across six states simultaneously while executive orders changed daily. The interview covers D'Amore's early career, including enhancement talent work for WCW and WWF at age 18, training under the Canadian Destroyer, and cornering Dan Severn in UFC fights despite no formal martial arts background. D'Amore discusses his childhood connection to Maple Leaf Wrestling through Saturday afternoon broadcasts and his acquisition of the Tunney family footage library around 2012. He addresses TNA's aborted 2023 rebrand plans, originally slated for Slammiversary but delayed to Hard to Kill 2024 due to funding issues. D'Amore praises the current MLP roster and production team, including announcer Mauro Ranallo and producer Keith Mitchell, while expressing cautious optimism about the 12-episode TSN deal and October 3rd return to Maple Leaf Gardens.
Key takeaways
- Scott D'Amore reveals TSN executive David Bross personally killed initial Maple Leaf Pro broadcast negotiations before reversing course after attending a live show.
- D'Amore assembled a TNA buyout offer within 20 minutes of his final taping and submitted it to Anthem owner Len Asper from the Jericho cruise balcony.
- The wrestling executive claims TNA was six feet under when he and Don Callis took over in 2018, worse than publicly known.
- D'Amore coordinated TNA production across six states during COVID, monitoring executive orders daily and deciding truck destinations hours before departure.
- TNA's rebrand was originally planned for Slammiversary 2023 with an unannounced cold open reveal but was delayed due to funding constraints.
- D'Amore worked as enhancement talent for WCW and WWF at age 18, cornered Dan Severn in UFC fights, and has no formal martial arts training.
- Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling debuts on TSN2 tonight at midnight Eastern with 12 one-hour episodes culminating at Maple Leaf Gardens on October 3rd.