Hermie Sadler officially joins TNA Wrestling, alongside Kurt Angle, Sting, Kevin Nash and Samoa Joe NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 9
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Former NASCAR driver Hermie
Sadler signed a "Professional Services" contract today with Total Nonstop
Action (TNA) Wrestling, it was announced by the Tennessee-based company.
Terms of the deal were not released.
Sadler retired from the NASCAR Nextel Cup series after the 2006 season and
is now an analyst for NASCAR on SPEED and Direct TV Hot Pass, and TNA has
agreed to sponsor Sadler on Direct TV's Hot Pass. Since TNA's inception in
2002, Sadler has wrestled in past matches, served as a guest referee and also
has sat in as a TNA announcer with broadcasters Mike Tenay and Don West.
"I am a longtime pro wrestling fan and a true supporter of TNA Wrestling;
I really believe in the product. It has been a lot of fun, truly an enjoyable
experience working with the superstars of TNA Wrestling," said Sadler, 38, the
1993 Busch Series Rookie of the Year. "In this new job with TNA, there are
endless possibilities -- both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.
In addition to NASCAR announcing, Sadler also is a weekly guest every
Tuesday on the nationally-syndicated John Boy & Billy Big Show, a morning
radio show which originates from Charlotte, N.C. He regularly discusses TNA
storylines and superstars on the popular radio show.
In addition, Sadler appears on card No. 52 in the 100-card "TNA Impact!"
trading card set, released in June by Houston-based Tristar Productions, Inc.
"When it was first mentioned about having a Hermie Sadler card in our
inaugural TNA Wrestling card set, it was a no-brainer; we definitely wanted to
include him," said Tristar Vice President Mandy Fuerst.
"A little-known fact about the Hermie Sadler card is, it was the absolute
last card added to the set, and we've had as many inquiries about that card as
almost any in the entire set. We've had a number of people asking for an
authentically-signed Sadler insert card, and though there were not any
included in this first set, we're hoping to have Sadler autograph cards for
the next set, which comes out this fall."
The NASCAR scene shifts to Chicago this week as the Chicagoland 400 is
slated for July 12 -- and that is three months to the day from TNA Wrestling's
first-ever Chicago-area show, "Bound For Glory IV," the company's biggest
annual pay-per-view.
TNA Wrestling presents "Bound For Glory IV" live from the Sears Centre
Arena in suburban Hoffman Estates, Ill., on Sunday, Oct. 12, starting at 8
p.m. ET, and it will air worldwide exclusively on pay-per-view.
"We're absolutely thrilled to have Hermie join the TNA Family in a more
formal role," said TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter. "We're excited to be
coming to Chicago with 'Bound For Glory IV,' and though it's still too early
to talk about specifics for our October show, we plan to have Hermie involved
in an integral role on the show."
In 2002, Sadler had a feud with TNA Wrestling star Ron Killings, leading
to a number of appearances and matches as part of a cross promotion between
TNA and NASCAR. TNA Wrestling later sponsored Sadler's racing efforts.
"Hermie's enthusiasm for TNA Wrestling shines through every time he comes
to the arena," said TNA Wrestling commentator Don West. "His ability to
relate what he sees in the (wrestling) ring to his NASCAR experiences is a
great insight whenever he gets on the TNA broadcast."
Cross the line to TNA Wrestling, the most innovative experience in
professional wrestling today. Join Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, "The
Icon" Sting, Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles and the no-limits X-Division in the
six-sided ring of "TNA iMPACT!" every Thursday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Spike TV.
TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately held company headquartered in
Nashville, Tenn.
Spike TV is available in over 96 million homes and is a division of Viacom
International Inc.
Cross The Line at www.tnawrestling.com.
SOURCE TNA Wrestling
