While 2022 marks the 20-Year Anniversary of TNA Wrestling as an entity, this week marks the 5-Year Anniversary of when Anthem Sports and Entertainment officially announced their purchase of our favorite wrestling organization.
Prior to the acquisition, TNA Wrestling had been on a downward spiral for the past few years. After losing their Spike deal, they also lost their Destination America deal and were on their third network.
Prior to the acquisition, TNA Wrestling had been on a downward spiral for the past few years. After losing their Spike deal, they also lost their Destination America deal and were on their third network.
The company had major turnover with its roster and staff, was borrowing money to make it through their monthly tapings and was involved in a heated court case between Dixie Carter and Billy Corgan. The TNA that existed was not the same one from the days of Spike TV.
Anthem Sports and Entertainment provided a stability that the company needed. After the constant questions of whether this company would survive until the end of the year, Anthem provided structure and resources that would remove those concerns from the minds of fans.
The first year under Anthem was very hit or miss. While they initially solved the identity crisis and officially rebranded TNA Impact Wrestling to Impact Wrestling, they also had the global farce situation with Jeff Jarrett that year. Leading into Bound for Glory, there were members of the upper staff that actually didn't know what the company was called. Between that and issues with the Hardy Family, the new owners were off to a rocky start. It was at the end of 2017 where Anthem announced that they had brought in Scott D'Amore and Don Callis to be the Executive Vice Presidents of Impact Wrestling. It was this business decision that saw the future of the company take shape.
It was a road to redemption for Scott D'Amore and Don Callis. They were attempting to earn the respect back from the audience and from the wrestling industry that had seemingly been lost. A big focus in 2018 was allowing Impact Wrestling to be a blank canvas for the artists of the wrestling industry to come in, create their art and then move on.
Over the next few years, Impact Wrestling gave platform for names like Sami Callihan, Tessa Blanchard, Brian Cage, Kiera Hogan, Deonna Purrazzo, The North and many others. While some of those names are still with the company, all of them should be crediting the company for their current success.
Another of Impact's goals was to break down borders between wrestling companies. In 2018, Impact worked with both Lucha Underground and MLW in crossover events. It was their goal to remove the barriers from between companies. Before it was the cool thing to do, it was an intentional effort from Impact and Anthem. Fast-forward to 2021 and Impact Wrestling became a battleground for wrestlers from AEW, New Japan, NWA, AAA and ROH. One of the golden carrots for Impact Execs was the hard to reach partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was a partnership that had been badly damaged from the TNA years. It took years to re-establish that relationship, one that is now going strong and looks to be stronger in 2022.
The crowning achievement in regards to the Impact and Anthem relationship was the acquisition of AXS TV in 2019. After years of changing networks and timeslots, Impact finally landed a long-term home where they could produce the type of show that they wanted without fear of consequence. AXS TV has been very supportive, offering the company shoulder programming as well as quarterly "wrestle week" shows. Additionally, there was talk in 2020 of creating additional programming before the pandemic hit.
Under the umbrella of Anthem, Impact Wrestling operated during the pandemic. While other promotions took major cost-cutting measures or shut down, Impact Wrestling provided consistent programming for its fans and regular work for its roster.
2022 ushers in a year of potential for Anthem and Impact Wrestling. Anthem recently brought New Japan back to AXS, Impact Wrestling looks to be touring again and it will be celebrating the highs and lows of 20-Years in business, the latter five which could only have been possible with Anthem Sports.
From the Impact Faithful,
Happy Anthemversary!
Anthem Sports and Entertainment provided a stability that the company needed. After the constant questions of whether this company would survive until the end of the year, Anthem provided structure and resources that would remove those concerns from the minds of fans.
The first year under Anthem was very hit or miss. While they initially solved the identity crisis and officially rebranded TNA Impact Wrestling to Impact Wrestling, they also had the global farce situation with Jeff Jarrett that year. Leading into Bound for Glory, there were members of the upper staff that actually didn't know what the company was called. Between that and issues with the Hardy Family, the new owners were off to a rocky start. It was at the end of 2017 where Anthem announced that they had brought in Scott D'Amore and Don Callis to be the Executive Vice Presidents of Impact Wrestling. It was this business decision that saw the future of the company take shape.
It was a road to redemption for Scott D'Amore and Don Callis. They were attempting to earn the respect back from the audience and from the wrestling industry that had seemingly been lost. A big focus in 2018 was allowing Impact Wrestling to be a blank canvas for the artists of the wrestling industry to come in, create their art and then move on.
Over the next few years, Impact Wrestling gave platform for names like Sami Callihan, Tessa Blanchard, Brian Cage, Kiera Hogan, Deonna Purrazzo, The North and many others. While some of those names are still with the company, all of them should be crediting the company for their current success.
Another of Impact's goals was to break down borders between wrestling companies. In 2018, Impact worked with both Lucha Underground and MLW in crossover events. It was their goal to remove the barriers from between companies. Before it was the cool thing to do, it was an intentional effort from Impact and Anthem. Fast-forward to 2021 and Impact Wrestling became a battleground for wrestlers from AEW, New Japan, NWA, AAA and ROH. One of the golden carrots for Impact Execs was the hard to reach partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This was a partnership that had been badly damaged from the TNA years. It took years to re-establish that relationship, one that is now going strong and looks to be stronger in 2022.
The crowning achievement in regards to the Impact and Anthem relationship was the acquisition of AXS TV in 2019. After years of changing networks and timeslots, Impact finally landed a long-term home where they could produce the type of show that they wanted without fear of consequence. AXS TV has been very supportive, offering the company shoulder programming as well as quarterly "wrestle week" shows. Additionally, there was talk in 2020 of creating additional programming before the pandemic hit.
Under the umbrella of Anthem, Impact Wrestling operated during the pandemic. While other promotions took major cost-cutting measures or shut down, Impact Wrestling provided consistent programming for its fans and regular work for its roster.
2022 ushers in a year of potential for Anthem and Impact Wrestling. Anthem recently brought New Japan back to AXS, Impact Wrestling looks to be touring again and it will be celebrating the highs and lows of 20-Years in business, the latter five which could only have been possible with Anthem Sports.
From the Impact Faithful,
Happy Anthemversary!
