Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
| File:TNA Wrestling.JPG | |
| Company type | Privately held limited liability company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional wrestling Sports entertainment |
| Founded | May 10 2002 |
| Headquarters | Nashville, Tennessee, USA |
Key people | Dixie Carter, President Jeff Jarrett, Vice President Chris Sobol, Vice President of Operations |
| Parent | Panda Energy International |
| Website | TNAwrestling.com |
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May 2002. The current majority share owner is Panda Energy International.[1] The company, which trades as TNA Entertainment, LLC, operates out of Nashville, Tennessee, with an office in Orlando, Florida.
Upon its formation, TNA was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, with the company known as NWA Total Nonstop Action. TNA was granted exclusive rights to both the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship. TNA withdrew from the NWA in 2004, but was permitted to continue to use the championships until the NWA abrogated the agreement in May 2007.[2]
TNA is the first American promotion to exclusively use a hexagonal ring as opposed to the more conventional four-sided ring (although they did originally use a four-sided ring). The organization also employs the unconventional rule that a championship can change hands as the result of a disqualification or countout. In addition, two separate entrance ramps are used for heels and faces.
History
The beginning—weekly pay-per-view shows
After World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) purchased World Championship Wrestling, it became the largest and most influential professional wrestling company in the United States and this prompted Jerry Jarrett and his son Jeff Jarrett to start a new wrestling company, named JSports & Entertainment, in May 2002 in conjunction with the National Wrestling Alliance and with HealthSouth as their financing partner.[3] In October 2002, Panda Energy International bought the controlling interest in the project and replaced HealthSouth after they pulled out due to financial problems.[4] The company was renamed TNA Entertainment.
The original TNA business model was different from that employed by WWE in several key ways. By not touring like other major federations have done, TNA was able to keep costs down. Until the introduction of the syndicated show, TNA Xplosion, in late 2002, TNA's weekly show was provided over pay-per-view to act as their main source of revenue, in place of monthly pay-per-view events used by other promotions.[5] These shows started on June 19 2002 and were held mostly at the Nashville Fairgrounds to lower production costs.[6] Although the weekly TNA shows were priced at much less than the monthly WWE events, they achieved low buy rates. After 27 months, TNA felt that they had a fanbase that would support three-hour pay-per-views and ceased their weekly shows on September 8 2004.[7] TNA held its first three-hour monthly pay-per-view, Victory Road, on November 7 2004 but still achieved low buys.
TNA Impact!
TNA began airing TNA Impact! on June 4 2004 on Fox Sports Net and it soon replaced the weekly pay-per-views as their primary broadcast while the monthly events became the main source of revenue.[8] The contract was not renewed one year later with the show getting consistent low ratings. This left TNA with no television deal other than the monthly pay-per-views, so on July 1 2005, TNA turned to broadcasting Impact! from their official website, while seeking a new television outlet.[9][10] TNA would finally secure a deal with Spike TV and air its first episode on October 1 2005.[11] Since the move, Impact! achieved considerably higher ratings and was moved twice, now having a primetime slot on Thursdays.
Expansion
Apart from their weekly shows, TNA started running house shows on March 17 2006[12] and in October, TNA started holding some of their monthly pay-per-views outside of their central filming location. TNA has also expanded into other areas with the development of a video game with Midway Games, titled TNA Impact!, scheduled for release in 2008.[13] In April 2006, TNA announced a partnership with YouTube that would see TNA supply YouTube with exclusive video content in exchange for hosting, leading to the production of internet shows. In January 2007, TNA's mobile content deal with New Motion, Inc. led to the introduction of TNA Mobile and mobile fan voting.[14]
In August 2007, live events coordinator Craig Jenkins stated that TNA intended to expand Impact! to two hours by October 2007 and to stage eight pay-per-views and 96 house shows outwith Orlando, Florida in 2008. [15]
Celebrity involvement
Since its inception, several celebrities have appeared with TNA in a variety of roles. The inaugural TNA pay-per-view featured country musician Toby Keith and NASCAR drivers Hermie Sadler and Sterling Marlin, with Sadler later wrestling several matches for the promotion. [16] [17] In September 2002, actor Dustin Diamond appeared with the promotion, competing in a boxing bout, while in October 2002, comedian Chris Rock was interviewed during a TNA pay-per-view. [17] In July 2004, NASCAR personality Jeff Hammond joined the promotion as a color commentator, wrestling a match before departing in 2005. [16] In the same month, basketball player Dennis Rodman accompanied the 3Live Kru to ringside during an episode of TNA Impact!. [18]
In May 2005, mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz refereed a bout at Hard Justice. He returned to TNA in October 2005, refereeing a second match at Bound for Glory. [19] [20]
In December 2005, Major League Baseball catcher A.J. Pierzynski appeared with the promotion, serving as a manager at the Turning Point pay-per-view, where he and outfielder Johnny Damon intervened in a match. Pierzynski appeared with TNA once more during an episode of TNA Impact! in January 2007, beginning a brief "feud" with shortstop David Eckstein that ended in February 2007 at Against All Odds, where a wrestler managed by Pierzynski lost to a wrestler managed by Eckstein. Pierzynski also represented TNA on an episode of Cold Pizza in October 2006. [21] [22] [23]
In February 2007, actor Steve Schirripa appeared on an episode of TNA Impact! as a purported relative of Team 3D. On the same episode, wide receiver Andre Rison promoted Pros vs Joes in an in-ring interview before being "attacked" by Abyss. [24]
In June 2007, American footballers Frank Wycheck and Kyle Vanden Bosch appeared at the Slammiversary pay-per-view, with Wycheck wrestling. In July 2007, suspended American footballer Pacman Jones signed a contract with the promotion. [25]
Style
TNA uses the professional wrestling style of sports entertainment with a balance of storylines and wrestling, popularized during the 1980s. The pay-per-view events often serve as a conclusion to storylines developed over the preceeding weekly shows. Different from other American professional wrestling promotions, however, TNA utilizes a hexagonal ring and holds most of its events in a sound stage as opposed to an arena, presenting more of a regional promotion atmosphere. The TNA roster is divided into the typical heavyweight and tag team divisions and the X Division, all represented by respective championships.
X Division
The high-flying, high risk style of wrestling had been one of the features of WCW and ECW. Rather than emphasizing the fact that most wrestlers who perform this style are under 220 lb (100 kg) by calling it a cruiserweight division, TNA decided to emphasize the high risk nature of the moves that these wrestlers perform. There is no upper weight limit on the X Division or its title, though in practice, most of the wrestlers in this division have been cruiserweights, with Samoa Joe, billed at 280lbs., being a notable exception. To further emphasize this point, the slogan "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits" is used to describe the division. Although it was de-emphasized throughout 2004, the X Division is generally regarded as one of the key attractions of TNA and was replicated in several independent promotions.
Championships
TNA originally recognized the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight and World Tag Team Championships, in addition to the X Division Championship, the only championship created and owned exclusively by TNA. Traditionally, NWA World Champions regularly defended their titles against local contenders in the various NWA territories. This was rarely the case when TNA used the titles, with TNA leasing the titles from the NWA in order to free the champion from these obligations. Wrestlers who win all three titles are said to have won the TNA Triple Crown. Thus far, the only person to have accomplished this feat is A.J. Styles. On May 13 2007, the NWA withdrew recognition of TNA's champions, leaving the two NWA titles vacant.[2] New titles, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and the TNA World Tag Team Championship, were created and unveiled later in that week. Along with this, TNA also redesigned the X Division title belt.
TNA is now displaying the belts of the IGF's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship and NJPW's IWGP World Tag Team Championship on their shows. Both championships, which are non-TNA championships, are currently held by TNA wrestlers (Kurt Angle and Tomko, respectively). The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will also be defended at Hard Justice.
Current champions
| Championship | Current champion(s) | Date won | Date aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| TNA World Heavyweight Championship | Kurt Angle | June 17 2007 | - |
| TNA World Tag Team Championship | Samoa Joe[1] | July 15 2007 | - |
| TNA X Division Championship | Samoa Joe | June 19 2007 | June 21 2007 |
^ Samoa Joe will not choose a partner to hold the other share of the championship.
Creative team
The creative team is headed by Jeff Jarrett and consists of Dutch Mantel and Vince Russo.[26] Prior to this, booking power was typically vested in the hands of a small number of people. Jeff and Jerry Jarrett were initially responsible for booking, followed by Dusty Rhodes, whilst Russo focused more on writing. At times, the position of booker has been coterminous with the on-screen position of Director of Authority.[citation needed]
Authority figures
When TNA first launched, the on-air authority figure was billed as a representative appointed by the National Wrestling Alliance. However, this was done for storyline purposes only and the actual "representatives" already worked in some capacity for TNA.
From February 19 2003, TNA had no active authority figure until July 23 2003 when Erik Watts made his return to TNA as the Director of Authority.[27] Watts started feuding with Don Callis, who was billed as TNA Management Consultant, ending with Watts forced to quit. On February 18 2004, TNA named Vince Russo the new Directory of Authority, a position he would hold until November 7 2004 when he was defeated and replaced by Dusty Rhodes.
The NWA Championship Committee, established in 2004, was a group of wrestling veterans who acted as arbitrators, determining a winner in the event of a time-limit draw. The committee consisted of Harley Race, Larry Zbyszko and Terry Funk, with Funk later being replaced by Roddy Piper without ever having appeared on TNA television. After Race and Piper left TNA, the Committee essentially ceased to exist as a physical on-screen body, although Zbyszko continued to be referred to as a member of the committee.
In October 2005, Larry Zbyszko began to repeatedly reference an ambiguous authority within TNA known only as "TNA Management". "TNA Management" has, in the past, been represented by "special referee" Earl Hebner, "consultant" Dave Hebner and "messenger" Christy Hemme. The current face of "TNA Management" was revealed at Slammiversary 2006 to be Jim Cornette, who has been called the "Management Director" in press releases following that pay-per-view.
References
- ^ Keller, Wade (2005-05-23). "TNA News: New group makes offer to buy controlling interest in TNA from Panda Energy". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2007-01-01.
- ^ a b "NWA/Trobich strips TNA/Cage/Team 3-D of NWA branded Championships". National Wrestling Alliance. 2007-05-13. Retrieved 2007-05-14.
- ^ Jarrett, Jerry (2004). The Story of the Development of NWATNA: A New Concept in Pay-Per-View Programming. pp. pp. 38-39. ISBN 1412028787.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ Jarrett, Jerry (2004). The Story of the Development of NWATNA: A New Concept in Pay-Per-View Programming. pp. pp. 127, 140. ISBN 1412028787.
{{cite book}}:|pages=has extra text (help) - ^ "Press Release: Jarretts and NWA announce weekly PPVs". Lords of Pain. 2002-05-09. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ "Austin removed from video game cover, NWA/TNA moving to a new arena, more". Lords of Pain. 2002-07-18. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ Wojcik, Alan (2004-10-27). "Interview with Jerry Jarrett". Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- ^ Gray, Richard (2004-05-05). "NWA: TNA's TV deal officially signed, Latest on Hirohito angle, WWE trademarks". Lords of Pain. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ "TNA Officially via Bit Torrent". 2005-06-25. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ "TNA Reaches Deal With Real Broadcast Network To Stream "iMPACT!" News". 2005-06-30. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ Cantor, Brian (2005-07-21). "Breaking News: Spike TV confirms deal with TNA in press release". Lords of Pain. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
- ^ "TNA Announces First Ever House Show". Pro-Wrestling News Direct. 2006-01-17. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ "Midway Acquires Exclusive Worldwide Videogame Rights to TNA Wrestling". Midway. 2005-11-07. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
- ^ "TNA Wrestling Announces Mobile Content Deal - Details". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. 2007-01-12. Retrieved 2007-01-12.
- ^ Marvez, A. (August 3, 2007). "Benoit case could slam promoter growth plans". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Johnson, S. (July 9, 2004). "Impact looks to hook racing fans". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Abreu, D. (March 26, 2003). "Pacman Catching up on NWA-TNA". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Milner, J. "Ron Killings". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Waldman, J. (May 13, 2005). "Countdown to TNA Hard Justice". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Waldman, J. (October 21, 2005). "Countdown to TNA Bound for Glory". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Sokol, C. (December 10, 2005). "Impact: Baseball becomes basebrawl". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Baines, T. (December 18, 2005). "Orton used to running with big dogs". Ottawa Sun.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Sokol, C. (February 11, 2007). "Christian retains belt Against All Odds". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Sokol, C. (February 23, 2007). "Impact: Ladders and a Belting Pot". Canadian Online Explorer.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Pacman Jones, TNA apparently close to deal". Canadian Online Explorer. July 30, 2007.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessmonthday=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Update On The TNA Creative Team, & More Notes". TNA Wrestling News. 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2007-04-02.
- ^ Adam Martin (2003-07-24). "Full NWA TNA PPV Results - 7/23/03". WrestleView. Retrieved 2007-05-31.