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Former wrestling manager Dutch Mantell has revealed an anecdote of the internal workings of TNA that will dumbfound even the most hardened wrestling fan. That anecdote reveals why a former Women's Knockouts Champion left the company.
The former champion in question is Awesome Kong. She was associated with TNA Wrestling from 2007 to 2010 and left in March of that year. She even refused to take part in the 2013 Knockouts Special Pay-Per-View, though she had a brief return to TNA in 2015. On his podcast, Story Time with Dutch Mantell, he revealed the exact timeline of events that saw Kong out of TNA in 2010.
"Kong asked for more money. You know what they told her? Yeah that's what they told her. We can't afford it and I read the letter, Kong said read this, it wasn't a letter, it was like an e-mail and it made sense, very, very nice. She just said I think I deserve a pay raise. And Dixie, in her ultimate wisdom, and it was her money, I will say that. She denied it. She said 'No.' And not long after that, I think Kong turned her notice in and left," Mantell said. [4:47 - 5:32]
Post her TNA career, she went on to have a two-year stint with WWE from 2010 to 2012 and then went to the indie circuit. She was also with AEW for three years, from 2019 to 2021.
Dutch Mantell believes WWE will bring back CM Punk at Survivor Series
Dutch Mantell is one of the most outspoken wrestling personalities in the world, and he has weighed in on the future of CM Punk and the role of WWE in it. On his podcast, Story Time with Dutch Mantell, he said that The Straight Edge Superstar will return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023.
Punk had a great run in the Stamford-based company until he left in 2014. After seven years, he joined All Elite Wrestling. The Best in the World had everything going for him in AEW as well until he had to leave the Tony Khan-led company under controversy in 2023.
Will CM Punk return to WWE at Survivor Series 2023? Tell us in the comments section below.
Please credit the Story Time with Dutch Mantell podcast and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use any quotes from this article.
