Main Reason Gail Kim Left TNA For WWE, 500 Fans In 8,000 Seat Arena, More

Posted by PWPIX on 08/28/2008

sources: www.pwtorch.com, Wrestling Observer Newsletter

-- The primary reason Gail Kim left TNA for WWE was due to the significant discrepancy between the kind of money WWE offered her and what TNA offered her. According to multiple sources, Kim really didn't really want to leave TNA, but she felt she had no choice but to accept WWE's offer due to the massive difference in money.

Despite being the most consistent TV ratings draws for the company, it appears that no matter how successful the female performers are for TNA, they're still not going to make much money, at least in comparison to the guys. The company still saw the top babyface in the division of what has become, from a television ratings standpoint, their most successful entity, as a low-budget expenditure. TNA offered their top female babyface star well under $100,000 per year, a figure that can only be met if she appears on a target number of shows, so if she gets hurt, she's not getting all the money. TNA's offer to Kim was said to be less than one-third of what WWE was offering - a six-figure downside guaranteed contract for three years. Also, Kim can potentially earn significantly more from appearing on pay-per-views and house shows, not to mention merchandise such as action figures. Additionally, TNA's lackluster offer to Kim probably doesn't bode well for the other girls in the company when their respective contracts come up considering that the top star couldn't even get a six figure offer.

Kim's friends had to talk her into leaving for WWE due to her strong sense of loyalty and happiness with TNA. While Kim loved TNA as well as her friends in the company, she couldn't justify not taking the significantly better offer from WWE. One friend of Kim said she really had no choice but to go for the financial security that only WWE can provide. One TNA source disappointed in her decision said she chose to be unhappy for more money rather than stay happy with the smaller company that made her a star.

There was said to be a huge void backstage at this week's Impact tapings as a number of her friends couldn't believe she was gone, especially without saying goodbye before she left.

One friend of Kim's with knowledge of TNA's apparent lowball offer deemed it to be "insulting" and "possibly sexist." Also, Kim couldn't risk getting hurt or being jobbed out once her decision to leave TNA was made.

-- There were a ton of empty seats at last Saturday's TNA event in Topeka, Kansas as the house show only drew 500 fans to the Kansas Expocentre, which can hold 8,000 seats. Additionally, house shows the week before in Dallas, Texas (8/15) and Muskogee, Oklahoma (8/17) drew poorly as well. However, the 8/16 house show in Lawton, Oklahoma reportedly drew drew okay.

-- TNA has posted a schedule of upcoming wrestler appearances. Velvet Sky, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles Christian Cage and Taylor Wilde are among those listed. For more information, click here.

Click here to see Gail Kim's Matrix WWE video

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