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An issue between TNA and Lucha Underground has led to a number of planned TNA TV segments being pulled from upcoming episodes of Impact Wrestling, storylines being dropped and one recent TNA signing being dropped from the company, PWInsider.com has learned
At the center of the controversy with Shawn Hernandez, who recently returned to TNA and became part of the Beat Down Clan after appearing on the first season of Lucha Underground on The El Rey Network.
TNA sources indicate that Hernandez was signed to a deal by the company after informing TNA that contractually, he was free and clear to do so. After Hernandez made a number of appearances at TNA TV tapings, Lucha Underground approached TNA and informed them that contractually, Hernandez was still their talent, signed to their TV series and that he was not released from his obligations to Lucha Underground, therefore he could not legally appear on TNA broadcasts.
As you might imagine, this put TNA into a legally actionable position where they could be sued. With Impact Wrestling already pre-filmed well in advance as well, it put the company into a terrible situation where their storylines involving Hernandez, which were worked out well in advance, were now useless.
I am told that TNA management attempted to work out an agreement with Lucha Underground that would allow the existing footage to be used, including offering to pay Underground for Hernandez' appearances. We are told that Underground turned down all those attempts. Given that the producers of the Lucha series come from a film and TV background, I was not surprised to hear that.
Since TNA cannot use the footage, the decision was made to pull anything involving the BDC. As of today, all of the current BDC storylines are completed and done as it would be impossible to edit around Hernandez.
The matches and segments that were filmed are completely scrapped and TNA will re-edit all of their TV. In their place, I am told that TNA will be replacing those matches and vignettes with existing material, including using some matches from the TNA Slammiversary PPV a few weeks ago.
TNA also intends to film material at their Orlando TV Tapings later this month that will be used to replace segments that have to be discarded.
Hernandez, obviously, is gone from TNA and he is now in a position where he's losing work as TNA wanted to use him and cannot. Lucha Underground is still working to finance a potential second season, so Hernandez is now stuck off TV until they pick up production again.
As far as the rest of the BDC, MVP, Kenny King, etc. are also effectively off those TV episodes until TNA can film new material with those talents. So, through no fault of their own, a number of TNA talents are now off television suddenly until TNA can work them back in while the talents who wrestled them also find their matches yanked. That hurts no one but the talents involved, all of whom were just doing their job.
Obviously, the TNA editing team has their work ahead of them.
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