After four years of being known as IMPACT Wrestling, the promotion formerly known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling has announced that it is going back to its original name. The rebranding will take effect starting with the Hard to Kill pay-per-view event on January 13, 2024, which will be held at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
The name change was revealed at the end of Bound for Glory, the biggest event of the year for IMPACT Wrestling, which took place on Saturday night at Sam’s Town Live in Las Vegas. A video aired featuring several wrestlers from the current roster, such as Frankie Kazarian, Jordynne Grace, Eric Young, and Eddie Edwards, talking about the need for a change in professional wrestling and the legacy of TNA Wrestling. The video ended with a box being opened that showed the TNA logo and the slogan “We’re back!”.
The decision to revert to TNA Wrestling was not a spur-of-the-moment one, but rather a carefully planned move that was in the works for months. According to PWInsider.com, IMPACT Wrestling originally intended to make the announcement at Slammiversary in July 2023, but decided to postpone it until Bound for Glory. The final decision was made two to three weeks ago.
The reason behind the name change is to “unite the fragmented history” of the promotion, which has gone through several name changes and ownerships since its inception in 2002. The company started as NWA: Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, then became simply TNA Wrestling in 2007, then rebranded as IMPACT Wrestling in 2017, and briefly used Global Force Wrestling as a name in 2017 as well. Some of the company’s international partners and fans still preferred the TNA name and continued to use it to refer to the promotion.
Another factor that influenced the name change was the nostalgia and popularity of the TNA brand among wrestling fans. IMPACT Wrestling had planned to launch a TNA spinoff show in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to cancel it. Instead, they held a one-night-only TNA-themed event called There’s No Place Like Home in April 2020, which featured former TNA stars such as Sting, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, and Samoa Joe. The event was well-received by fans and critics alike, and sparked interest in seeing more of TNA’s past and present.
The rebranding will not only affect the name of the promotion, but also its look and feel. New championships featuring the TNA logo have been commissioned and will be introduced on TV in January 2024. The current champions will use them until then. The company also plans to run larger and more prestigious venues than before, starting with The Palms for Hard to Kill and its subsequent TV tapings.
However, not everything will change with the return of TNA Wrestling. The current storylines and talent will continue as they are, just under a different name. The company will also keep using a four-sided ring instead of a six-sided one, which was a trademark of TNA’s early days but was criticized by many wrestlers for being uncomfortable and unsafe. There were no plans to bring back the six-sided ring at any point during the rebranding process.
The reaction to the name change has been mixed among fans and wrestlers alike. Some have welcomed the return of TNA Wrestling as a way to honor its history and legacy, while others have criticized it as a step backwards and a sign of desperation. Some have also expressed confusion and indifference about the switch, wondering what difference it will make in terms of quality and relevance.
Regardless of how people feel about it, one thing is certain: TNA Wrestling is back, and it will be interesting to see how it will impact (no pun intended) the wrestling landscape in 2024 and beyond.
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