In the ever-volatile world of professional wrestling, TNA (formerly Impact Wrestling) has been undergoing some significant backstage shake-ups. Last year, Impact Wrestling reverted to its original name, TNA, and soon after, Anthem, its parent company, axed TNA President Scott D’Amore. Recently, more notable changes have hit the company, with backstage figures like RD Evans and Lou D’Angeli either being fired or leaving for various reasons. Wrestling insider Dave Meltzer has the scoop on these developments in his latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
One of the hottest rumors swirling around is TNA going live each week from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. According to Meltzer, Lou D’Angeli was the “point guy” for this deal, but Full Sail’s interest has waned. Despite this setback, there’s still a glimmer of hope that the deal might come through, although some talent are wary about the implications of a weekly live show. Additionally, Anthem hasn’t filled all the positions vacated by recent departures, with plans to possibly outsource some roles.
These internal changes are happening against the backdrop of a new working relationship between TNA and WWE. This partnership kicked off when TNA star Jordynne Grace made a surprise appearance at January’s WWE Royal Rumble. The collaboration seems to be ongoing, with Grace set to challenge Roxanne Perez for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship this Sunday at NXT Battleground.
However, not all news is rosy for TNA. According to Meltzer, TNA officials were disappointed when the latest episode of “TNA Impact!” failed to crack the top 150 shows for the day, despite expectations that Grace’s “NXT” appearance would boost ratings. The show only managed a 0.01 rating in the 18-49 demographic, a sobering reminder of the challenges TNA faces.
As TNA navigates these turbulent times, fans and industry insiders alike will be watching closely to see how these changes impact the future of the company.