Category: TNA

Scott D’Amore Reveals Why The Six-Sided Ring Will Not Return Under TNA Wrestling

Impact Wrestling will be switching back to TNA Wrestling on January 13, 2024, at TNA Hard To Kill, as announced by Scott D’Amore at Bound For Glory 2023.

Speaking on a recent media call, Impact President Scott D’Amore explained the rationale for maintaining the standard four-sided ring setup.

Many fans had expected to see the six-sided return with the major rebranding, but D’Amore has no intention of reviving the hexagonal ring configuration.

You can check out some highlights from the media call below:

On why TNA has no plans to utilize the six-sided ring: “The six-sided ring question comes up all the time, I get it, I was in the ring when the six-sided ring was brought in. I know it has its supporters. The fact is, at the end of the day, almost to a person, the athletes that have performed in the six-sided ring don’t prefer it. They say it’s harder on the body, it creates more injury, and more than injury, it creates more wear and tear on the body. Doing it night after night is harder on the body. We’re happy to have conversations about how to make the product look the best, but one of the things, unwaveringly, that we’re not willing to negotiate on or compromise is the athlete’s health and safety. We’re going to be a four-sided ring. I know that disappoints a lot of people, but my respectful and honest question to that is, ‘do you really love the six-sided ring more than you love ensuring the health and safety of the men and women who get in the ring and put their health on the line? Do you want to make a more dangerous situation for them?’ It’s wrestling, never say never, there could be changes in the future. It’s a simple one for us, athlete safety is number one, so we have four sides. Take that off the table and anything else is possible.”

On TNA’s development of new production designs: “I know the fans have been waiting for a new set, and some have been waiting very patiently and some have been waiting a little less patiently than others, and it all comes from a point of passion. We’re hard at work designing a new look and new feel for TNA to both honor our history but also to be forward thinking and forward moving.”

Source: eWn

Backstage News On CM Punk’s Reported Appearance At Impact Wrestling Event

CM Punk is a free agent in professional wrestling following his abrupt AEW exit in September, and while questions remain over where he will go next, recent reports indicate that Impact Wrestling, soon to once again be known as TNA, may have his attention. Nick Hausman’s “Haus of Wrestling” is reporting that Punk was backstage for the “IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV” tapings in Chicago, though not for the Bound for Glory pay-per-view event. According to the report, Punk arrived just before the tapings began, around 6:30 pm CST, and was quickly taken to the locker room area. 

Punk reportedly spoke with anyone who wanted to get some time with him backstage, which was said to have included key talent within the promotion. His backstage presence follows a weekend of post-Bound For Glory buzz, which has only gotten stronger since Impact announced it was returning to its original TNA name. There were also reports that his Punk’s friend, Ace Steel, had also been seen working backstage for Impact as a producer. Hausman claims Steel was even considered to wrestle in the “Gauntlet for the Gold” match on the PPV, but Impact didn’t want its fans to assume Steel coming into the fold was a guarantee that Punk would follow, generating potentially unfounded excitement. 

CM Punk left AEW amidst controversy following an altercation backstage at All In, the massive event held at Wembley Stadium back in August. Recent reporting has indicated Punk wanted a return to WWE but his former promotion turned him down. If these reports prove accurate, the newly-rebranded TNA — a name that hasn’t appeared on one of Punk’s checks since 2003 — could end up being a bidder for his services.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Announces The Return Of TNA At Bound For Glory

A big announcement was made during Saturday night’s Impact Wrestling pay-per-view, Bound For Glory. Impact Wrestling will be going back to its original Total Nonstop Action (TNA) name. The rebranding will start on January 13, 2024, with the Hard to Kill pay-per-view.

Below is the announcement video that aired at the end of Bound For Glory. The video features several present and past names including, Eric Young, Frankie Kazarian, Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, Knockouts World Champion Trinity, Impact World Champion Alex Shelley, 10-time Impact X-Division Champion Chris Sabin, and the Impact World Tag Team Champions Ace Austin and Chris Bey.

In the promotion’s first two years, it was known as NWA: Total Nonstop Action. It was in 2004 that it dropped the NWA part and was simply known as TNA. The name would last until 2017 when the company officially rebranded as Impact Wrestling — though, that same year, it was also known as Global Force Wrestling (GFW) for a short span, before rebranding back to Impact Wrestling. That’s just the short history of the company. It’s also worth noting, that while fans have to wait until next year for the official rebranding, TNA t-shirts are already available for purchase.

Besides the TNA announcement, Bound For Glory also saw NJPW star and IWGP United States Champion Will Ospreay in action — he defeated Mike Bailey. There was a surprise appearance from former AEW star Sonny Kiss during the Call Your Shot Gauntlet match. The winner of that match was Jordynne Grace.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory 10/21/2023 (Results)

Traci Brooks, Mike Tenay and Don West was inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Traci Brooks is known as “The Original Knockout” and for her vital role as part of the most influential women’s division of all time.

 Mike Tenay and Don West were the voices of TNA (Impact) from 2002 to 2009. Don West passed away in 2022 due to lymphoma at the age of 59. Tenay and West’s contributions as the voices of IMPACT will forever be etched in history on this special night. Welcome to the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame!

X-Division Championship Match: Chris Sabin (C) vs. Kenta

RESULTS: AND STILL IMPACT WRESTLING X-DIVISION CHAMPION CHRIS SABIN! Chris Sabin defeats Kenta via pinfall with a Shell Shock!

Monsters Ball Match: PCO vs. Rhino vs. Steve Maclin vs. Moose

Before the bell rang to start the match Steve Maclin attacks Rhino. Then Moose attacks Steve Maclin with his Feast or be Fired briefcase and a brawl breaks out. OUT COMES PCO! During the match, Bully Ray stomps his way to the ring and sends Steve Maclin down from the top rope to a bobbed wired table.

RESULTS: PCO wins the Monster Ball match via pinfall with a PCOsalt to Moose.

Impact World Tag Team Championship Match: ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) vs. The Rascalz (c) (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz)

RESULTS: AND NEW IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS ABC. ABC defeats The Rascalz via pinfall with 1, 2 Sweet on Zachary Wentz.

“Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Will Ospreay 

RESULTS: Will Ospreay defeats “Speedball” Mike Bailey via pinfall with Storm Breaker.

Call Your Shot Gauntlet: Jake Something vs. Dirty Dango vs. Champagne Singh vs. Eric Young vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Brian Myers vs. Shera vs. KiLynn King vs. Jody Threat vs. Bully Ray vs. Joe Hendry vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Kenny King vs. Gisele Shaw vs. Eddie Edwards.

The Call Your Shot Gauntlet is an alternate variation of Gauntlet for the Gold with the same conditions as but with the model of intergender wrestling where either man or woman can win via pinfall or submission. Whoever wins the gauntlet will earn a future title shot opportunity of their choosing and receives a trophy as an additional reward with the stipulation of having one year to cash in on their title shot.

Match rules: Elimination is in the standard battle royal format in which a competitor must go over the top rope and hit the floor in order to be eliminated. If a wrestler falls to the floor without going over the top rope or is thrown over the top but does not fall to the floor, the competitor may re-enter the ring and continue the match.

The final portion of the match consists of the last two competitors squaring off in a regular singles match in which victory must be attained by pinfall or submission.

RESULTS: Jordynne Grace pins Bully Ray with a Grace Driver She is guaranteed a title shot of a championship of her choice. After the match, Jordynne gets on the mic and calls her shot for Hard to Kill in January.

Impact Knockouts World Championship Match: Trinity (c) vs. Mickie James

RESULTS: AND STILL KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPION TRINITY! Trinity defeats Mickie James via submission with Starstruck.

Impact World Championship Match: Alex Shelley (c) vs. Josh Alexander

RESULTS: AND STILL WORLD IMPACT CHAMPION ALEX SHELLY! Alex Shelly defeats Josh Alexander via pinfall with Shell Shock.

Impact Wrestling Bound For Glory 10/21/2023 (Card)

IMPACT Wrestling presents its biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound For Glory, LIVE THIS SATURDAY, October 21st 8pm ET from Cicero Stadium in Chicago.

The biggest event of the year kicks off with Countdown to Bound For Glory streaming LIVE and FREE THIS SATURDAY at 7:30pm ET on YouTube, IMPACT Plus (live player) and FITE.

CARD

Countdown to Bound For Glory:

Traci Brooks, Mike Tenay and Don West to be inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Traci Brooks to be inducted by Hall of Famer Gail Kim.

Mike Tenay and Don West to be inducted by Scott D’Amore

–

Bound For Glory

Impact World Championship:
Alex Shelley (c) vs. Josh Alexander

Impact Knockouts Championship:
Trinity (c) vs. Mickie James

Will Ospreay vs. Mike Bailey

Impact X Division Championship:
Chris Sabin (c) vs. KENTA

Monster’s Ball:
Moose vs. Rhino vs. PCO vs. Steve Maclin

Impact World Tag Team Championship:
The Rascalz (c) vs. ABC

Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship:
MK Ultra (c) vs. Tasha Steelz & Deonna Purrazzo

Call Your Shot Gauntlet:
Jake Something, Dirty Dango, Champagne Singh, Eric Young, Jordynne Grace, Brian Myers, Shera, KiLynn King, Jody Threat, Bully Ray, Joe Hendry, Frankie Kazarian, Kenny King, Gisele Shaw, Eddie Edwards, 5 More TBA.
Jake Something is entrant #1, Dirty Dango is entrant #20.

Impact Wrestling Preview 10/19/2023

Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV.

  • Final hype before this Saturday’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view
  • Kenny King (w/Sheldon Jean) vs. Heath
  • Samuray del Sol vs. Mike Bailey
  • No Disqualification Match: Crazzy Steve vs. Black Taurus
  • PCO & Rhino vs. The Most Professional Wrestling Gods (Brian Myers & Moose)
  • Mickie James & Trinity vs. Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans (w/Jai Vidal)

Sting Announces Impending Retirement, Will Wrestle Last Match At AEW Revolution 2024

Current AEW star, WWE Hall of Famer and former WCW World Heavyweight Champion addressed the future of his career on Wednesday’s episode of “AEW Dynamite” in Rosenburg, TX. Sting pointed out that he wrestled his first AEW match at AEW Revolution 2021 and that announced that his retirement match would take place at AEW Revolution 2024. There is no word on when or where AEW Revolution 2024 is set to take place yet.

Sting mentioned at his WWE Hall of Fame induction that “the only thing that’s for sure is that nothing is for sure,” hinting that his original retirement in 2015 wasn’t permanent, but on Wednesday Sting made himself clear saying “the only thing’s that’s for sure” is that the Revolution 2024 match will be his final match. Sting had initially retired after suffering a neck injury at WWE Night of Champions 2015, where he was facing WWE Champion Seth Rollins in the main event. During Dynamite, Sting mentioned that he wasn’t quite satisfied with that retirement and that his AEW tenure helped put a cap on his 30+ years in professional wrestling.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE SmackDown To Go Head-to-Head With AEW Collision Next Month

The latest battle between WWE and AEW was this past Tuesday between NXT and Dynamite, with NXT outdrawing the rival show in the ratings.  

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the next head-to-head ratings battle between WWE and AEW will happen on November 17. 

“The next head-to-head situations will be on 11/17, when Collision is moved to Friday from 8-10 p.m., meaning there will be a live three-hour block from the Forum in Los Angeles with Rampage at 10-11 p.m. So the first two hours will go against Smackdown on FOX.”

AEW can’t air its program in the normal timeslot because of the Full Gear pay-per-view event on November 18th. 

There will also be a head-to-head on November 25 with Collision against Survivor Series and on December 9 with Collision against NXT Deadline from Bridgeport, CT.

Source: eWn

AEW Rampage Preview 10/13/2023

AEW has announced the lineup for tonight’s new Rampage episode on TNT.

  • Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy & Brother Zay vs. Matt Menard, Angelo Parker & Daniel Garcia
  • Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta of Blackpool Combat Club vs. Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona of Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony 
  • Skye Blue vs. Emi Sakura
  • Trent Beretta vs. Jay Lethal

Impact Wrestling Preview 10/12/2023

Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV is all-new. Here are the matches that have been announced for the show:

  • Best of Three Falls Killer Impact Match: Eddie Edwards vs. Frankie Kazarian
  • Impact Wrestling Tag Team Championship: The Rascalz (c) vs. Sami Callihan and Rich Swann
  • Courtney Rush (with Jessicka) vs. Tasha Steelz (with Deonna Purrazzo)
  • Jake Something vs. Champagne Singh vs. Eric Young vs. Dirty Dango vs. Jordynne Grace