TNA hires former WWE writer Dave Lagana as Director of Creative Writing

by Geno Mrosko on Oct 15, 2011 1:18 AM EDT in TNA

Former WWE writer Dave Lagana has been hired by TNA as its Director of Creative Writing. Lagana spent a long period of time, 2002 to 2008, which is much longer than most writers make it, working with Vince McMahon and company.

After leaving WWE, he was hired by Ring of Honor to produce its show on HDNet TV, as well as run its social media department. It's been rumored that Lagana has wanted to get back into writing and now he's accepted this position with TNA.

From IWantWrestling.com:

I leave Ring of Honor Wrestling to tackle new challenges. I've accepted a position as Director of Creative Writing with TNA Wrestling. My duties will be to focus solely on the development of new wrestling shows beyond the Impact Wrestling show. I'm excited to see what the future holds and thank everyone for the support over not only the last nine months of this site but through my entire career.

Details have come out that he will not be writing the Impact Wrestling show but instead be in charge of such TNA endeavors as the project in India and the All Wheels Wrestling offshoot.

The Wrestling Observer notes that Lagana's name has come up as a possible replacement for Vince Russo if it were ever to come to pass that Russo is finally let go. After all, Lagana has worked with Bruce Prichard, who recently took over as head of Creative, in the past and actually has a mind for pro wrestling.

Lagana was initially rumored for a potential spot inside TNA last year when negotiations with Paul Heyman were getting hot and heavy and it was clear that Heyman wanted to bring in Lagana as Russo's replacement because he absolutely didn't want to work with Russo. As it turned out, that was a major sticking point with Dixie Carter, who is known for her misguided but fierce loyalty to Russo.

Is it possible that the self proclaimed antichrist of professional wrestling is slowly but surely being phased out behind-the-scenes? We shall see.

For the time being, though, everything will remain business as usual. You Cagesiders like this move by TNA? To that end, how about the general direction of the company? Things seem to be looking up, no?

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

So…Dixie could have had Lagana and Heyman instead of Russo and Prichard? That’s like trying to decide between Laurel and Hardy or Kutcher and Scott.

by Nikhil Baliga on Oct 15, 2011 1:42 AM EDT reply actions

Just like Bruce Prichard brings with him baggage, so too does Lagana having been fired by WWE for attempting to solicit sexual favours from then ECW undercard wrestler Kevin Thorne. Thorne’s friend The Undertaker rightfully made a big stink about it to WWE management and it’s hard to know whether Lagana is repentant over the sorry situation. As an assistant to Heyman, I think he’d be fine, but as another voice in an increasingly bloated TNA creative team, then I think this will be the case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. Even though he was the lead writer of both Smackdown and ECW during his time in WWE, he really failed to make a lasting mark on their product.

by Keith Harris on Oct 15, 2011 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

To be...

Fair, Kevin Thorne is a cutie patootie.

Overall, I don’t think this is the catalyst that will turn TNA around but I do think it’s a sign that they are moving in the right direction.

Tumblr / Twitter

by Sergio Hernandez on Oct 15, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope so, but TNA has had many false dawns in their near decade existence and there are still a lot of bad cooks in their kitchen. I do worry that the elder Carters will lose patience and that small steps in the right direction aren’t going to cut the mustard at this stage.

by Keith Harris on Oct 15, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions