More details on TNA press conference from earlier today & original plans

Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
On Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 5:14 PM EST

TNA Wrestling held a press conference earlier today in Nashville, TN promoting the Slammiversary PPV in the city next month on June 17 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium.

As just reported courtesy of a TNA press release, it was announced at the press conference that former NFL Tennessee Titans star Frank Wycheck will be wrestling James Storm in a singles match at the PPV. TNA did an angle at the conference where Storm spit beer in Wycheck's face which led to Wycheck hitting Storm with a guitar with help from Jeff Jarrett.

The obvious goal within TNA to do this angle was not not only to get press in the Nashville market for the show, but to garner national attention as well. TNA has done this in the past using MLB stars David Eckstein and AJ Pierzynski to get mentions on ESPN, CNN and numerous other media outlets. For those who remember, Wycheck was among a number of members of the Tennessee Titans back in June of 2002 when TNA did an angle with Jeff Jarrett attacking them at ringside leading to a big brawl.

According to a report by PWInsider, TNA originally had even bigger plans for the angle where they would announce a big NFL-themed match for the Slammiversary PPV. According to these sources, the company was said to have been in negotiations with Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis to come in and team with Storm against Wycheck and Jerry Lynn. However, a deal couldn't be finalized with Lewis and it doesn't appear anything further will be done before the PPV on June 17. The belief is that the company could use this singles match to lead to something bigger down the line involving Lewis or another NFL personality.