Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

TNA (Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) launched in 2002 following the shutdown of WCW and ECW. Founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father, Jerry Jarrett, the promotion emerged at a time when WWE stood as the only major wrestling company in the U.S. The Jarretts wanted to create a legitimate alternative for both fans and wrestlers looking for something different than what was being offered by WWE at the time.

Initially operating under the name NWA: Total Nonstop Action (NWA-TNA), the company was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and debuted with a unique approach. Rather than securing a traditional television deal, TNA produced two-hour weekly pay-per-view events every Wednesday night.

The first show aired on June 19, 2002, featuring a mix of established veterans and up-and-coming talent, with a presentation that leaned more adult and edgier than WWE’s programming at the time.

TNA quickly built a reputation for innovation, introducing a six-sided ring, placing a spotlight on its high-energy X Division, which featured athletic, no-weight-limit competition, and blending homegrown talent like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels with former WWF/WWE and WCW veterans such as Sting, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, and Christian Cage.

Over the years, the company faced its share of financial struggles and management shakeups, but it remained one of the largest wrestling promotions in the United States throughout the 2000s and early 2010s.

It moved from weekly pay-per-views to cable television, expanded its international reach, and continued to offer a distinct product with creative risks and memorable rivalries.

In 2017, the company rebranded as Impact Wrestling, but in 2024, it officially returned to its original TNA branding, bringing its legacy full circle. Despite its ups and downs, TNA has consistently played a major role in shaping modern wrestling outside the WWE system.