Gail Kim Recounts TNA Offering Her $36,000 Deal After Program With Awesome Kong: “All I Wanted Was A Fair Pay Day & I Was Offered $36,000”
She did not want to leave at the time, but felt she had to.
There’s an extensive interview with TNA Wrestling Hall of Famer Gail Kim that was put out by Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas for their HUGE POP! podcast.
As the conversation moved along, Kim told the story of when TNA offered her a $36,000 deal, which was during the Spike TV days and right after she feuded with Kia Stevens (Awesome Kong). Kim ended up departing TNA. She stated that her feud with Stevens had the highest-rated segments, and she wanted a fair payout for it.
“I actually had this conversation with Vince Russo, probably two weeks ago I think now, ‘cause he was the head of creative when I left TNA, right after the success of me and (Awesome) Kong, and I didn’t wanna leave TNA, but they offered me $36,000… we were pulling in the highest ratings, and that was the Spike TV days… And not saying I’m a Kurt Angle, I’m not saying I was Dudley Boyz. But, we were the highest-rated segments consistently, and all I wanted was a fair pay day, and I was offered $36,000. I was like, ‘I owe more money than that, Vince,’ you know? And he didn’t know the number at the time…”
Kim’s comments stemmed from a conversation that was held about former WWE talent Jazmyn Nyx, who shared that she turned down a new WWE contract offer because of financial reasons.
If the quote in this article is used, please credit HUGE POP! with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.
