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Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

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TNA Entertainment
Type Privately held limited liability company
Founded May 10, 2002
Founder(s) Jeff Jarrett
Jerry Jarrett
Headquarters Nashville, Tennessee
Orlando, Florida
Key people Dixie Carter - President
Jeff Jarrett - Vice President
Dean Broadhead - CEO[1]
Andy Barton - Senior Vice President, Licensing and International television[1]
Terry Taylor - Director of Talent Relations [1]
Industry Professional wrestling
Sports entertainment
Lucha libre
Parent Panda Energy International
Website Official website

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is a privately controlled integrated-media (focusing on television, internet, and live events) and sports entertainment company, dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from product licensing, and direct product sales. Dixie Carter is the president and chairwoman of the company and co-founder Jeff Jarrett is the vice president. As of 2005 Panda Energy International owns the majority of its shares.[2]

The company has its headquarters in Orlando, Florida; its trading company TNA Entertainment LLC operates out of Nashville, Tennessee. The company was previously known as NWA Total Nonstop Action at the time of its formation as they belonged to the National Wrestling Alliance. 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.[3]

TNA became the first American promotion to make exclusive use of a hexagonal wrestling ring (as opposed to the more conventional four-sided ring). The organization also employed the unconventional rule that a championship can change hands as the result of a disqualification or countout, but has slowly phased out this rule. TNA's business focus is on professional wrestling, a simulated sport that consists of wrestling combined with acting and theatre. It is currently the second largest professional wrestling promotion in the United States, behind World Wrestling Entertainment which is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation

The concept of TNA Wrestling originated on a fishing trip shortly after the end of WCW on which Bob Ryder, Jeff Jarrett, and Jerry Jarrett contemplated their futures in the business of wrestling. World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) remained the only wrestling product on U.S. national television (following WWE's March 2001 purchase of World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy that same year). Ryder felt that this situation led many television stations to regard wrestling as bad for business, and suggested a company that does not need television, but rather just goes straight to pay-per-view. Of the three, only Jeff Jarrett took the discussion seriously (the other two thought of it as "just fishing talk"). Eventually, Jarrett found help in believing himself.

The Jarretts found the help they needed, and the company had its first show on June 19, 2002. This night, however, they needed help in a different manner, because in a dark match just before they went on the air, a 450lb wrestler named Cheex hit the ropes with so much force that one of them broke. The estimated repair time was 30–60 minutes, which they did not have because the schedule called for them to go live in a few minutes, whether the ring was ready or not. Backstage, the producers shuffled the schedule so that some non-wrestling segments went first to give the ring crew some more time, but they did not have many of them. Fortunately, the ring crew came up with a creative way to fix the rope with the help of Ron and Don Harris, and everyone went live hoping for the best.[4]

[edit] Weekly pay-per-view shows

The original TNA business model differed from that employed by WWE in several key ways. By not touring like other major federations had done, TNA could 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 Tennessee State Fairgrounds in Nashville to lower production costs.[6] 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.

[edit] TNA Impact!

Main article: TNA Impact!
The Impact! Zone, where TNA currently holds most of its televised shows

TNA began airing TNA Impact! (officially typeset "TNA iMPACT!") on June 4, 2004 on Fox Sports Net, and it soon replaced the weekly pay-per-views as TNA's 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. As a result, TNA was left 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 later secured a deal with Spike TV and aired 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. Impact! expanded to a two-hour format on October 4, 2007.[12]

[edit] Expansion

Apart from their weekly shows, TNA started running house shows on March 17, 2006.[13]

In October 2006, 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!, released in 2008.[14] In April 2006, TNA announced a partnership with YouTube where TNA supplied 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.[15] TNA has also launched the TNA U program to help promote the brand and has started airing podcasts through YouTube which they call TNA U TV.[16]

In August 2007, live events coordinator Craig Jenkins stated that TNA intended to stage eight pay-per-views and 96 house shows outside Orlando, Florida in 2008.[17] In 2008 TNA conducted its first tour of the UK, with all shows selling out.

TNA footage is to be seen in the wrestling documentary, Bloodstained Memoirs. [18] On June 21, TNA launched an online video vault subscription service, where subscribers could watch past Pay-per-views by choosing either one of three payment options. [19]

[edit] Celebrity involvement

Since its inception, several celebrities have appeared with TNA in a variety of roles.

Celebrity Date Event Role Refs
Danny Bonaduce April 2009 Lockdown (2009) Competed in a Six Sides of Steel match.
Dustin Diamond September 2002 TNA Weekly PPV Competed in a boxing match. [20]
David Eckstein January 2007 TNA Weekly PPV Briefly "feuded" with A.J. Pierzynski. [21][22][23]
F.I.L.T.H.E.E. August 2008 Hard Justice (2008) Started off the Hard Justice pay-per-view rapping about TNA with Grandmaster Caz.
Grandmaster Caz August 2008 Hard Justice (2008) Started off the Hard Justice pay-per-view rapping about TNA with F.I.L.T.H.E.E.
Jeff Hammond July 2004 TNA Impact! Became a color commentator and wrestled two matches before departing in 2005. [24]
Adam "Pacman" Jones July 2007 Victory Road (2007) Signed a contract with the promotion. In response, the Titans organization sought a restraining order banning him from working with the company. The Titans and TNA had since came to an agreement on Jones participating with TNA, and Jones, with Ron Killings as "Team Pacman", even won the TNA World Tag Team Championship from the team of Kurt Angle and Sting during his brief tenure with the company. [20]
Toby Keith 2002 TNA Weekly PPV Performed "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue" to open the show. Keith then entered the Gauntlet for the Gold main event match to determine NWA World Heavyweight Champion, he proceeded to suplex and eliminate Jeff Jarrett from the match.
Sterling Marlin 2002 TNA Weekly PPV
Jenna Morasca March 2009 TNA Impact! Debuted for the company, claiming that she had been a wrestling fan. [28]
Tito Ortiz May 2005 Hard Justice (2005) Referee [29]
Tito Ortiz October 2005 Bound for Glory (2005) Referee [30]
A. J. Pierzynski December 2005 Turning Point (2005) Served as a manager and interfered in a match. [21][22][23]
A.J. Pierzynski January 2007 TNA Impact! Briefly "feuded" with David Eckstein. [21][22][23]
Andre Rison February 2007 Promoted Pros vs. Joes in an in-ring interview before Abyss "attacked" (kayfabe) him. [31]
Chris Rock October 2002 TNA Weekly PPV Interviewed while filming a scene for the film Head of State. [20]
Dennis Rodman July 2004 TNA Impact! Accompanied 3Live Kru to ringside for a match against Team Canada.
Hermie Sadler 2002 TNA Weekly PPV Wrestled in several matches [24]
Steve Schirripa February 2007 Appeared as a relative (kayfabe) of Team 3D. [31]
Reed Sorenson February 2008 TNA Impact! Escorted Chris Sabin of The Motor City Machineguns (along with Alex Shelley) in a triple-threat match with LAX Homicide (with Salinas, Hernandez and Juan Pablo Montoya) and Jimmy Rave of The Rock 'n Rave Infection (with Lance Hoyt and Christy Hemme).
Jimmy Spencer February 2008 TNA Impact! Joined Don West and Mike Tenay to call a match.
Brian Urlacher January 2004 TNA Weekly PPV Interfered in a match. [32]
Kyle Vanden Bosch June 2007 Slammiversary (2007) Accompanied Frank Wycheck and Jerry Lynn in their tag match against James Storm and Ron Killings.
Frank Wycheck June 2007 Slammiversary (2007) Tagged with Jerry Lynn against James Storm and Ron Killings.
Ace Young May 2008 Slammiversary (2008) Took part in the wedding (kayfabe) of Jay Lethal and SoCal Val.
GRITS[citation needed] May 2009 TNA Impact! Performed A.J. Styles' theme song.

[edit] Different features

[edit] Ring shape and locations

Distinctively in the United States professional wrestling promotion scene, TNA utilizes a hexagonal ring as opposed to the traditional square ring. Steel-cage matches, referred to as Six Sides of Steel matches, also take place in the ring; in addition, the promotion holds a now annual pay-per-view called Lockdown which features every match on the card inside the cage. Also, although TNA runs some house shows and a few PPV events in arenas, TNA holds most of its events at a set location, referred to as the TNA Impact! Zone, in (Universal Studios) in Orlando, Florida as opposed to an arena, presenting more of a regional promotion atmosphere.

[edit] X Division

Main article: X Division

The high-flying, high risk style of wrestling had become one of the features of World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late '90s. 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 Sonny Siaki, Samoa Joe, and Kurt Angle, being notable exceptions. 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 2007 and throughout 2009, the X Division is generally regarded as one of the key attractions of TNA and was replicated in several independent promotions.

[edit] 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 controlled and owned exclusively by TNA. Traditionally, NWA World Champions regularly defended their titles against local contenders in the various NWA territories. This did not often happen 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.

On May 13, 2007, the NWA withdrew recognition of TNA's champions, leaving the two NWA titles vacant.[3] TNA invented new titles, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and the TNA World Tag Team Championship, and unveiled them later in that week. TNA credits wrestlers who held the NWA World Heavyweight and World Tag Team championships as former TNA champions; for example, Ron Killings is billed as a two-time TNA World Champion, yet his two reigns were of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Along with this, TNA redesigned the X Division title belt.

The TNA Women's World Championship commenced on October 14, 2007 at Bound for Glory. Gail Kim won a 10-woman gauntlet match to become the first Women's Champion in TNA. She is also the first to hold both the TNA Women's World Championship and the WWE Women's Championship. On October 23, 2008 on a live edition of Impact! from Las Vegas, Booker T opened a briefcase and revealed the TNA Legends Championship and declared himself the first champion. Following the victory of this title by A.J. Styles on March 15, 2009, it established him as the first TNA Grand Slam winner, as he already achieved the Triple Crown. TNA also recognizes when their wrestlers hold a championship sanctioned by New Japan Pro Wrestling.

[edit] Champions

Championship Champion Date won Event Previous holder
TNA World Heavyweight Championship Kurt Angle June 21,2009 Slammiversary (2009) Mick Foley
TNA Legends Championship A.J. Styles March 15, 2009 Destination X (2009) Booker T
TNA World Tag Team Championship Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm) June 21, 2009 Slammiversary (2009) Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon)
TNA X Division Championship Suicide March 15, 2009 Destination X (2009) Alex Shelley
TNA Women's Knockout Championship Tara July 9, 2009 TNA iMPACT! Angelina Love

[edit] Other accomplishments

Accomplishments Latest Winner Date won Event
King of the Mountain Kurt Angle June 21,2009 Slammiversary (2009)
World X Cup Team Mexico July 13,2008 Victory Road (2008)

[edit] Creative team

Jeff Jarrett heads the TNA creative team, which includes Dutch Mantel and Vince Russo (known for his controversial booking styles).[33] 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, while 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]

[edit] Authority figures

Main article: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling authority figures

When TNA first launched, it billed the on-air authority figure as a representative appointed by the National Wrestling Alliance. It did this for storyline purposes only, however, 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.[34] Watts started feuding with Don Callis (billed as TNA Management Consultant), ending with Watts forced to quit. On February 18, 2004, TNA named Vince Russo the new Director of Authority, a position he held until November 7, 2004 when Dusty Rhodes defeated and replaced him.

The NWA Championship Committee, established in 2004, comprised 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 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 while simultaneously acting as on-screen authority figure, booking matches and giving title shots.

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, appeared in the form of "special referee" Earl Hebner, "consultant" Dave Hebner and "messenger" Christy Hemme. The current face of "TNA Management" emerged at Slammiversary 2006 in the form of Jim Cornette, who has been called the "Management Director" in press releases following that pay-per-view. On October 23, on the first high-definition episode of Impact!, TNA announced that Mick Foley had become TNA's (kayfabe) Executive Shareholder.

[edit] See also

Professional wrestling
portal

[edit] References

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