What Happened to Impact Wrestling on TV?By Coder| September 1, 2023 Wrestling Impact Wrestling, formerly known as Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling, has had an interesting journey on television. Over the years, the promotion has faced numerous challenges and undergone several transformations. Let’s take a closer look at what happened to Impact Wrestling on TV. The Early Years: TNA Wrestling Founded in 2002 by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry, TNA Wrestling aimed to provide an alternative to WWE programming. Initially, the promotion struggled to secure a consistent television deal. It aired its early shows as weekly pay-per-view events. However, in 2004, TNA Wrestling secured a spot on Fox Sports Net (FSN). This gave them access to a wider audience and allowed them to showcase their roster of talented wrestlers. The partnership continued until 2005 when they moved to Spike TV (now known as Paramount Network). The Spike TV Era Spike TV proved to be a turning point for TNA Wrestling. With the new TV deal, the promotion gained more exposure and saw an increase in viewership numbers. They introduced popular programming such as “TNA Impact!” which became their flagship show. During this era, TNA Wrestling signed notable talent including Kurt Angle, Sting, and Samoa Joe. They also introduced innovative concepts like the X Division and the six-sided ring that set them apart from other promotions. The Rebranding: Impact Wrestling In 2010, TNA Wrestling rebranded itself as Impact Wrestling. The name change represented a shift in focus towards building their own brand identity rather than being seen as an alternative to WWE. Impact Wrestling continued airing on Spike TV until 2014 when they faced another major change. The Destination America Era In 2014, Impact Wrestling signed a television deal with Destination America. This partnership allowed them to reach a wider audience but faced challenges due to the channel’s limited availability. Despite this, Impact Wrestling managed to produce engaging content and introduced new talent like Ethan Carter III and Bobby Lashley. However, their time on Destination America was short-lived. In 2015, the promotion announced that they would be moving to another network. The Pop TV Era In January 2016, Impact Wrestling made its debut on Pop TV. This partnership brought stability and allowed the promotion to continue growing its fan base. They introduced new storylines, showcased exciting matches, and built on their existing roster of talented wrestlers. Despite the success on Pop TV, Impact Wrestling faced financial difficulties in 2017. This led to changes in management and restructuring within the company. The Pursuit Channel and AXS TV In 2018, Impact Wrestling signed a deal with the Pursuit Channel after their contract with Pop TV ended. However, this move resulted in a decline in viewership due to limited access to the channel. In October 2019, Impact Wrestling reached a new agreement with AXS TV. This marked another significant turning point for the promotion as they gained access to a larger audience through AXS TV’s wider distribution. The Present and Future As of now, Impact Wrestling continues airing on AXS TV. They have continued their tradition of showcasing talented wrestlers from around the world and producing compelling storylines. With an ever-evolving landscape of professional wrestling on television, it’s important for promotions like Impact Wrestling to adapt and find innovative ways to engage viewers. Bold text: Impact Wrestling has undergone several transformations on TV. Underlined text: TNA Wrestling rebranded itself as Impact Wrestling in 2010. In conclusion, Impact Wrestling has faced numerous ups and downs on TV. From struggling to secure a consistent television deal to rebranding and changing networks, the promotion has managed to adapt and continue providing entertaining content to wrestling fans.
