I’m sure there’s some sort of pun here, but TNA Knockout Winter had some very positive things to say about former WWE Diva Sunny in an interview with Sports Vibe.

Sunny, often known for controversial Facebook comments nowadays, dazzled the chilling Knockout with her “microphone skills and character”. Further on in the interview, Winter discussed the differences between WWE and TNA.

Q. Were there any female wrestlers that inspired you to get into the industry?
At the time I was watching there was only really Madusa and she was awesome, but she hardly got to perform when I first started watching. Later on there was Sunny, who I thought was phenomenal. She didn’t wrestle but her microphone skills and her character were great – looking back at YouTube videos of her I still go ‘wow’.

Q. Since coming to TNA you have held the TNA Knockout’s tag titles as well as the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship – do you feel you would have ever got the opportunities to win titles in the WWE?
I think it was possible for me to have the opportunity but I didn’t for whatever reason. I could blame them and say they didn’t give me the opportunity or I can maybe it’s something I didn’t do, its just something I’ll never know. I did have a title shot once in the WWE against Mickie James and that was amazing, I would have liked to have got more opportunities.

You can read the full interview here.

WWE.com interviewed a bunch of SmackDown Superstars and Divas to find out what was at the top of their Christmas lists. They caught up with Natalya, Alicia Fox, Tamina and more. Read on to see what they had to say…

AJ Lee:

“For me, it’s not about personal stuff. I’d be happiest if every homeless dog could get a home, if every dog in a shelter could get adopted. And while Santa’s handing things out, I would also like a Skip-It. That’s for me.”

Alicia Fox:

“My Christmas wish this year is to have a bigger closet. My clothes are about to run me out of my house. There’s way too much stuff in too small of a space. I would love for Santa to come in with his toolbox and build me a bigger a closet.”

Natalya:

“What I want most is a Slammy Award, but from a stocking stuffer standpoint, I would love to have another pair of Christian Louboutin shoes. I need more. I have five pairs, so I’d like at least another five.”

Rosa Mendes:

“I want success. I want to drive two Mercedes-Benzes, one BMW. I want a house in San Tropez, a house on the French Riviera, a huge mansion in Vancouver on the water, and houses in Miami, Czech Republic and Paris. And two dogs for each house, one guard dog and one lap dog that I can take shopping with me.”

Tamina:

“The Divas Title. But that’s not something I wish for because it’s something I can go ahead and take. As for a Christmas wish, I want a strong man.”

Dual Knockout Champion Gail Kim got a slice of the media action when she was interviewed by Zoo, a lad’s magazine in the UK. They discussed British food, women’s wrestling – where she mentions the likes of Victoria, Jazz and Trish Stratus – and more. To read the full article click here.

What are your thoughts on how women’s wrestling is represented in WWE?
Well, it always changes. I was very fortunate to be part of a great era where there was Trish Stratus, Victoria and Jazz. Just now it seems that the women’s division has hit a bit of a lull. But the ‘Knockouts’ division in TNA has really rejuvenated women’s wrestling. It became an overnight success. We just had this magically chemistry with the fans, they just loved it. I think fans just wanted serious women’s wrestling because it wasn’t there.

You were among the first group of women to establish the ‘Knockouts’ division. How does it feel to be back in TNA?
It was like I had been on a long vacation. I definitely believe that everything happens for a reason. Put it this way, if I didn’t leave TNA the first time for the other company then I would never have met my fiancée. Now I am rejuvenated and, I am ready to help and contribute, maybe spark a fire under all of us to have some kick-ass matches.

The direction of the ‘Knockouts’ division shows how important and how serious the company takes women’s wrestling. The fact that we have tag-team belts as well as the main title really represents how much talent we have in the ‘Knockouts’ division. TNA appreciates us and that is shown with how strongly we are represented. We want to change how people think of women’s wrestling. Unlike other companies we get the exposure, time and the opportunity to go out there and wrestle for the fans.

Hardcore Country Knockout Mickie James joined TNA Superstar Magnus for an audio interview with British newspaper The Mirror.

The duo crossed the pond to the Mag Daddy’s home country to promote TNA with fan interaction parties, signings – including the one I attended! – and a bunch of press interviews, such as this one.

TNA Impact Wrestling’s Nick ‘Magnus’ Aldis and Mickie James bring the compelling banter (and the occasional impression of Sir Bruce Forsyth) as they join Rob Leigh for their most exhaustive, comprehensive and straight up daftest interview ever…

Ahead of the latest TNA fan party hosted by JB in Glasgow, King of the Spin Cycle Nick and pre-eminent Knockout Mickie demonstrate how important British wrestling fans are to the promotion as they chat about a wife range of topics, including:

• The significance of changes in the working environment with creative operations headed up by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff

• The frustrations of “waiting in line” as emphasis is placed on established names and other concerns that Nick identifies as the “blessing and hindrance of being viewed as younger”

• Whether Mickie’s full-throttle and committed approach has been an effective riposte to the manner of her storyline departure from WWE, which included digs about her physique

• The pressure on Mickie to constantly innovate and reinvent herself during six years at the top of women’s wrestling – covering the chances of adopting a ’darker side’ approach to… tap dancing and jazz hands

• How Randy Savage, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, the Midnight Express, Ric Flair and the stars of Georgia Championship Wrestling provided Mickie with some memorable bonding moments with her dad

Plus, how else will you get to hear Mickie attempt saying “bloody awful” in her best attempt at an English accent as we as natter about subjects as diverse as a Jesuit priest and martyr, doughnuts, deep fried Mars bars, a defender of Rorke’s Drift, funnel cake and “Old Fish Pie Lady” (as she is known to Mickie) Delia Smith?

To listen to the full podcast, click here.

iMPACT WRESTLING’s Dixie Carter, a Nashville, Tennessee native, recently granted an interview for The Tennessean, a Nashville news outlet. In the Q &A she talks about the changes in TNA, competing with the WWE, misconceptions about the wrestling business, and much more. Here are some of the highlights from the article:

Carter spoke with Tennessean reporter Bobby Allyn recently about the marketing and business of professional wrestling and the TV market to which it appeals.

What has kept professional wrestling relevant through the years?

Wrestling has been around for centuries. It encompasses action-drama, good guy/bad guy, and good and evil. When you combine all of that with some of the best wrestlers in the world, it’s a recipe for success.

And has how TNA changed with the times?

We’re not just a wrestling company anymore. We do our own booking. We do our own promotion and public relations. We’re a licensing company. We have toys, Halloween costumes, trading cards. We make our own music. All of those things are sold and promoted around the world. But we still do more than 500 hours of television a year.

To read the rest of the article, CLICK HERE.

Candice and I have been privileged to have had the chance to interview former TNA Superstar Amazing Red for our fansite – TheAmazingRed.com (Yay, cheap plug!).

We couldn’t resist adding a sneaky question about his cousin, TNA Knockout Rosita. Red’s response is pretty much the same as Candice’s and mine, it would have been awesome if the two were paired up someway or another on Impact.

Would you have liked to do a storyline with your real-life cousin Rosita?
also, f yea… i thought eventually it was gonna happen, would of been awesome

Instead, Rosita’s tuning up her wrestling skills down at House of Glory. You can watch a video posted up of her training by clicking here.

Former WWE Diva and entrepreneur Maryse is certainly the hot topic at the moment. Slam Sports recently got a little bit of gossip from the foxy French Canadian, where she discussed what got her into wrestling and what it would take to get her back.

According to Maryse, once she was released, her manager said it was time to “start working on the serious stuff”, such as her upcoming clothing/accessory line House of Maryse.

“I knew in my heart that I wanted to leave WWE for a long time. I’m a business woman. I need to build and grow and I didn’t have any interest in the WWE anymore. I was like, next!

“My manager was happy when he heard of my release. He said to me, ‘Now we can start working on the serious stuff.’ I’m ready for a new chapter in my life. I have been with the WWE for six fantastic years, but now I want to do more.

“I would go back to WWE, for a million dollars and a main event match at Wrestlemania. But, no TNA.”

Related links:
• House of Maryse launches in Summer 2012
• Maryse to TNA? As if!

Tough Enough trainer Trish Stratus was recently interviewed by Slam Sports about her Stratusphere DVD and other projects. Tough Enough was brought up and Trish would love to be a trainer again, if it were to return.

At this point, there have only been discussions about doing another [season of Tough Enough], but with the new WWE Network debuting next year, she is hopeful that it will return, and she with it.

“Being a coach on Tough Enough was a perfect role for me to come back in. It fit perfectly with my schedule, too — we were out filming in California for about two months. It was perfect and to parlay some of the knowledge and experience that I’d gained over the years and help these young kids who are pursuing their dreams, it was really cool.”

Double TNA Knockout Champion Gail Kim was recently interviewed by SLAM! Sports and had nothing but positive things to say about the company she recently returned to.

Gail Kim discusses being a heel upon her return and what the newer Knockouts division feels like to her, compared to the division she departed from to return to WWE in 2008.

“The decision for me to become a heel I really liked, I felt it was a nice progression to do that again. I love what I’m doing now, I love working with Karen and Madison. They are very talented, I think Karen is on another level in terms of being a heel, with someone that beautiful it’s usually very hard for them to get heat but she does it well.

“There are so many more talented girls in the division now, the division is stronger, plus the fact that there are more women here now makes it a lot better.”

“I’m just so excited to be back in the company, I can’t speak for anybody in particular but the feeling I got when I came back was that there were no hard feelings about my previous decision to leave. Being back here feels like time has never passed.”

“There’s such a great group of women wrestlers now as well, they’ve all got some character development and all have their own roles within the division, which is good to see.

“I remember when I had my first match back with Tara, I was worried about being rusty, I was worried about my timing but it honestly felt so good to be back in that ring actually wrestling and having a competitive match.

“I’m just so happy to be here and to now be a part of a company once again that actually cares about wrestling.”

The full article can be found here.

Impact Wrestling sensation Gail Kim exclusively revealed to UK newspaper The Sun that she will be part of the Maximum iMPACT Tour line-up.

Gail told SunSport: “I’m so excited. I haven’t been to the UK with Impact Wrestling in almost four years.
“I remember it being an incredible experience last time and I’m sure this is going to be just as good.
“In fact, it will be probably be better as Sting will be making his first appearance in the UK in almost a decade.
“That’s going to be a special treat for the wrestlers as much as the fans. We’re all really excited.”

Gail Kim will be at the 26th, 27th and 28th January shows in Nottingham, Manchester and London, respectively.

The full article can be found here.