10 WWE Icons Who Had Totally Forgettable TNA Runs
From A-Shows to AWOL, these former WWE megastars went missing in TNA
They may have a great relationship in the modern era, but there was a time when TNA was the only viable competition for Vince McMahon's wrestling monolith. In a time before Tony Khan brought AEW to screens, the Impact Zone provided some great (and a lot of not-so-great) years and workers to screens in an attempt to shake up the wrestling world.
While the likes of AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, and Samoa Joe thrived in those years, TNA was guilty of bringing in a lot of ex-WWE guys who didn't cut the mustard. Some of these superstars were given stories so bad that they walked in and out of the company faster than a Grandpa Simpson meme; others were so past their prime that the situation was never going to work out for either party.
Be it one-off appearances, awful character changes, or being ill-equipped to roll back the years to their glory days, this is a look back at some of the most iconic names in WWE history to pass through TNA's doors without making a splash for the company or themselves.
10. Cody Rhodes
It is completely justified that so much importance is placed on Cody Rhodes's run on the indies after leaving WWE and before the start of AEW. Rediscovering himself in Ring of Honor, showing the world how much natural character and charisma he has, and his comedic turns on Being The Elite are all vital parts of the story that Cody finished at WrestleMania 40.
However, nobody ever mentions Cody as part of TNA's legacy and vice versa. Cody and Brandi Rhodes (and Burnard the Business Bear, if you're so inclined) worked closely together during those pre-AEW years, with Mrs Rhodes being heavily featured in Cody's storylines. TNA decided to lean into this further by feuding the pair with Mike and Maria Bennett on their arrival.
After this flat start, things only went downhill from here. After being attacked by Bobby Lashley, 'The American Nightmare' was written off TNA programming, with Brandi staying in the company to work alongside Moose. Cody then returned to TNA to attack Moose because, of all of the scintillating crimes he could have committed to cause this beating, he had Brandi's phone number. These rubbish stories are why Cody and TNA have no real acknowledgment of having had dealings with one another.