By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
The following press release was issued on Saturday to announce that Impact Wrestling is returning to its Total Nonstop Action name.
TORONTO CHICAGO – October 21, 2023 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a global, multi-platform media company, announced today that its professional wrestling company, IMPACT Wrestling, is returning to its iconic Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling name, at “Hard To Kill,” its first pay-per-view event of 2024, which will originate for the first time ever from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The announcement was made Saturday night at the end of the “Bound For Glory” pay-per-view, which aired live around the world in front of a standing-room-only crowd in Chicago.
TNA will launch 2024 with Hard To Kill on Saturday, January 13, with a second night of action-packed professional wrestling – the “Snake Eyes Extravaganza Show” – at The Palms on Sunday, January 14. The Snake Eyes Extravaganza Show will be taped to air on the company’s flagship weekly TV show, Impact!, airing every Thursday night on AXS TV (8 p.m. EST).
“We still hear the ‘TNA’ chants wherever we go,” said IMPACT Wrestling President Scott D’Amore. “Fans have longed for TNA Wrestling, so that’s what we’re bringing back in 2024: TNA Wrestling, we’re back!”
Tickets for both Hard To Kill on January 13 and the Snake Eyes Extravaganza Show on January 14 will be on-sale on Friday, November 4, at www.Impactwrestling.com
Company officials confirmed that the new year will launch a new-look TNA Wrestling that runs from the entrance ramp to turnbuckles in the ring to larger, more prestigious venues and much, much more. Further details on the TNA Wrestling return will be revealed on Tuesday, October 24, when D’Amore sits down for an exclusive interview with Tom Hannifan that will air live on IMPACT’s Facebook page, starting at 12noon EST. The Q&A will include questions from worldwide pro wrestling media.
TNA Wrestling launched in the summer of 2002 and has long been known as the most innovative professional wrestling company in the world. TNA is known for its high-risk, action-packed X Division matches that have run with one simple motto: It’s not about weight limits, it’s about no limits. Stars of the X Division have included Chris Sabin, with a record 10 title reigns; A.J. Styles, the first-ever champion; along with Jay Lethal, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, Petey Williams, Frankie Kazarian and Trey Miguel, among others.
TNA is also the home of the prestigious Knockouts Division, widely regarded as the best women’s division in all professional wrestling. The Knockouts Division features Trinity, Deonna Purrazzo, Mickie James, Jordynne Grace, Gisele Shaw, Masha Slamovich, KiLynn King, Jessicka and Courtney Rush, among others. Legendary past Knockouts include Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, The Beautiful People, Taya Valkyrie, ODB, Tara, Traci Brooks and so many others.
Powell’s POV: Ugh. I was happy to see the TNA name disappear. In fact, I felt the company should have taken it a step further by coming up with a new name as opposed to going with the Impact Wrestling name because it was too closely associated with TNA. While I’m sure some fans will enjoy the nostalgia, this does nothing for me.
What a terrible idea to return to that pun. Move onward!
A 6-sided ring and confusing gimmick matches were not innovative, they were turn offs.
The Knockouts ruled, but again, why go back to “TNA” then?
If this is the best they can do, they seriously need to fire their marketing and PR dept. (and anyone at the top for approving this stupid move and press release).
“The TNA company name now has a nostalgia element for many fans who grew up watching the various incarnations of the company from the Jarretts early years to the Carter family ownership years to the Anthem years.” Seriously?
Great move. Love it or hate it, the TNA name has greater brand awareness than Impact simply due to the size of its fan base during the TNA hey day. Maybe some of those fans will return to see what’s going on with this relaunch and they’ll be greeted by a strong product.
Agreed … I love that they brought back TNA
Sure it’s TNA again,but they’ll keep on doing what they’ve been doing lately with quality programming.