TNA… Cross the Line again

[Carbomb]

1 hour ago, RedTwoster said:

Bring back Scott D’Amore. Whenever he’s booked the company, it’s been consistently good. I don’t know why it never lasts for him, but he’s the obvious answer to me, assuming he’s willing to go back. I know he has his own thing going on right now.

If nothing else, I hope this gives AEW a boot up the backside and forces them to avoid dragging their heels when plans go awry due to injuries etc. Plus, another place for wrestlers to earn decent money is never going to be a bad thing. 

That's the thing - it seems like D'Amore and Anthem parted on acrimonious terms, so I don't imagine he'll be back.

I made a point of subscribing to Maple Leaf Pro on Youtube, but I haven't taken the time to properly watch - I don't seem to have much time to watch any wrestling these days. MLPW seems to have decent production values though.

[uklaw]

39 minutes ago, Carbomb said:

That's the thing - it seems like D'Amore and Anthem parted on acrimonious terms, so I don't imagine he'll be back.

I made a point of subscribing to Maple Leaf Pro on Youtube, but I haven't taken the time to properly watch - I don't seem to have much time to watch any wrestling these days. MLPW seems to have decent production values though.

Last I heard/read, they were not too far from some kind of broadcast deal (possibly Canada-facing?) themselves.

[Chili]

Good for TNA. Completely fucking mental the No. 2 promotion didn't have a deal.

[garynysmon]

30 minutes ago, Chili said:

Good for TNA. Completely fucking mental the No. 2 promotion didn't have a deal.

I’m so tired of that silly no.2 narrative.

Its perfectly fine to be a solid North American no.3 with a good and paying TV deal without being used as a pawn by others to feed their online “I hate AEW” gimmicks.

Usually the very same people who ignored TNA up until last year.

Edited December 3, 2025 by garynysmon

[Chili]

1 hour ago, garynysmon said:

I’m so tired of that silly no.2 narrative.

Its perfectly fine to be a solid North American no.3 with a good and paying TV deal without being used as a pawn by others to feed their online “I hate AEW” gimmicks.

Usually the very same people who ignored TNA up until last year.

I'm just taking the piss out the nonsense Santino and Jericho were coming out with. I'm fond of TNA, for a place that's fucked up so much but given such a genuinely good backlog of matches AND survived this long good for them.

But sack Tommy Dreamer.

[Carbomb]

I like the fact that it's there. Haven't watched much TNA since around 2008 to 2013 - caught a bit of Nick Nemeth's arrival and early matches, but haven't kept up. Again, not because of the promotion, but because I don't watch much wrestling in general these days.

But it's good to know there is an actual, solid third promotion. Was there ever a time before when that was the case? I know ECW was the third promotion in the 90s, but could it ever really have been said to be solid, and a reliable choice for wrestlers to go and earn a living in if the WWF or wCw weren't hiring?

EDIT: Actually, scratch that, another Carbomb Brain Fart. Given the sheer multitude of territories, there were plenty of places to go.

Edited December 3, 2025 by Carbomb

[RedTwoster]

I’d love to see them get back to the creative highs of the Scott D’Amore era, but regardless, they’ve been a consistent source of talent and career rejuvenations over the past decade or so; whether it’s Lashley, Drew Galloway/McIntyre, Eli Drake/LA Knight, Matt Hardy and Big Bill  or fresher faces like Joe Hendry, Santana/Ortiz, The Rascalz or Ethan Page, it can only be a positive thing to have them around and in a stronger place.

[Lorne Malvo]

Also, regardless of if creative is slacking or not, them going to a bigger station with a larger reach is that rarest of things - a WWE partnership that is benefitting the smaller company?!

[garynysmon]

7 hours ago, Chili said:

I'm just taking the piss out the nonsense Santino and Jericho were coming out with.

I mean, if you actually work for TNA you've got to be at least seen to be bigging it up and throwing a nugget out there that further growth is always the target. No use going "nah mate, we're happy with our lot, this is as good as it'll ever get".

My issue is the usual bad faith actors online who throw wild claims out there when they clearly aren't bloody true. Bischoff will be at it for months now.

Not once did Carlos Silva claim in an Ariel Helwani interview today that TNA was number 2 or even approaching that, despite Ariel trying to go down that route.

AEW's wage bill for wrestlers it doesn't even use is surely bigger than TNA's entire talent budget, that's clear for anyone to see. It has a US TV contract several times that of TNA's new deal even, international tours, merchandising deals etc.

Its perfectly fine to acknowledge that TNA's TV deal solidifies its position, makes signings/re-signings a bit easier and more realistic, and will gain a further foothold in a crowded market. That's not the same as pretending its overtaking AEW anytime soon.

Almost no-one that was with TNA then is part of the current regime, but 16 years ago TNA were a solid number 2 and profitable before they tried shooting for the sun and going down the Hogan/Bischoff route and going head to head against Raw.

I'd like to think that lessons have been learnt since then.

 

Edited December 3, 2025 by garynysmon

[Infinity Land]

2 minutes ago, garynysmon said:

AEW's wage bill for wrestlers it doesn't even use is surely bigger than TNA's entire talent budget, that's clear for anyone to see. It has a US TV contract several times that of TNA's new deal even, international tours, merchandising deals etc.

That's what i'm wondering about this new deal for TNA. Got some money coming in, what's next? I don't think they've been over to the UK since that small tour just before the rebrand. Some TNA nostalgia, the WWE working relationship to maybe give some extra names. They could come over here and do an arena tour that would look good on TV. 

[Kamran]

TNA also have a PPV this Friday...

MATCHES

• TNA World Championship: Frankie Kazarian (c) vs. JDC
• TNA Knockouts World Championship: Léi Yǐng Lee (c) vs. Xia Brookside
• TNA International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs. Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo
• TNA World Tag Team Championship: The Hardys (c) vs. High Ryze (Tyson Dupont and Tyriek Igwe)
• TNA X Division Championship: Leon Slater (c) vs. A. J. Francis
• TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship: The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay) (c) vs. Tessa Blanchard and Victoria Crawford
• Mike Santana vs. Charlie Dempsey
• Street Fight: Mance Warner (with Steph De Lander) vs. Matt Cardona
• The Rascalz (Trey Miguel, Myron Reed, Zachary Wentz, and Dezmond Xavier) vs. Order 4 (Mustafa Ali, John Skyler, Jason Hotch and Special Agent 0)

On a related note, TNA have released the full Final Resolution 2024 PPV on their Youtube channel yesterday:

 

Edited December 3, 2025 by Kamran

[Chili]

1 hour ago, garynysmon said:

I mean, if you actually work for TNA you've got to be at least seen to be bigging it up and throwing a nugget out there that further growth is always the target.

I'd prefer Santino to say they're No. 1 then as it's wrestling and it's bollocks. Just say your the best then.

I'm sure TNA is alright and has been for a few years (the NXT association reduces my interest), but the little clips I occasionally see seem alright. Though they still peaked for me from 2005-2007 when the one hour Impact episodes with their nice roster of about 35-40 guys were doing a neat little bigger budget version of a weekend studio style wrestling show. 

Edited December 3, 2025 by Chili

[tiger_rick]

TNA are a poor man's NXT. A sorry place for them to end up after some genuine high points 20 years ago but absolutely on brand for the company that just won't die. Whatever they are, it is never a bad thing to have another place for people to earn a living. Especially in an era where WWE make billions of dollars but cut bottom end workers consistently. AEW is the best thing that's happened to wrestling since the 90s and WWE propping up TNA to create another strong alternative is just another reason why. I can't imagine the state of pro-wrestling right now if AEW never starts.

TNA is a great place for people to develop in an environment that mirrors the bigger opportunities they might get from AEW and NXT, and ultimately WWE, giving them a chance to polish an act. Personally, I think it's a pity the big matches are between absolute fucking has-beens or never will bes and not between younger talent with greater upside. I'm not against using established names, ever, it's always a hook and can be fun but if you're going to be a development brand, fucking Kaz and Fandango heading a PPV and a tag team with a combined age of 99 holding your belts isn't it.

[RedTwoster]

42 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

TNA is a great place for people to develop in an environment that mirrors the bigger opportunities they might get from AEW and NXT, and ultimately WWE, giving them a chance to polish an act. Personally, I think it's a pity the big matches are between absolute fucking has-beens or never will bes and not between younger talent with greater upside. I'm not against using established names, ever, it's always a hook and can be fun but if you're going to be a development brand, fucking Kaz and Fandango heading a PPV and a tag team with a combined age of 99 holding your belts isn't it.

Taking the belt off Santana - the one wrestler I genuinely do think AEW fucked up by not doing more with - and putting it on Kazarian is one of the strangest decisions they’ve made in recent years. Whatever they were going for with that - a socking moment, viral online chatter or a misguided attempt at creating more investment in Santana - they’ve utterly failed. Even if he’s on his way to NXT, there was surely a better outcome here than one that has resulted in THAT title match.

[Chili]

25 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Taking the belt off Santana - the one wrestler I genuinely do think AEW fucked up by not doing more with - and putting it on Kazarian is one of the strangest decisions they’ve made in recent years. Whatever they were going for with that - a socking moment, viral online chatter or a misguided attempt at creating more investment in Santana - they’ve utterly failed. Even if he’s on his way to NXT, there was surely a better outcome here than one that has resulted in THAT title match.

Delirious and Tommy Dreamer are booking, we should almost consider that booking as lucky.