8 Things We Learned From GFW's Ed Nordholm On Wrestling Observer Radio
New updates on the company's future, their new streaming service, and more.
Global Force Wrestling are doomed to attract negativity. The promotion formerly known as TNA have been dogged by turmoil throughout their 15-year existence, and while current owners Anthem's custodianship seemed to have steadied the ship after January's full takeover, that all changed last Tuesday.
Their week started with Jeff Jarrett's suspension, then spiralled out of control with whispers of financial meltdown and suggestions that Anthem were selling the promotion, though news of their upcoming streaming service provided at least one reason to be cheerful.
There was a lot to unpack, and GFW President Ed Nordholm appeared on a special Friday night edition of Wrestling Observer Radio in an attempt to do so. His interview with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez touched on the above topics and more, but it wasn't entirely smooth sailing for Nordholm, who did little to ease the fans' concerns throughout.
It was a revealing conversation with a man who doesn't often open up to the wrestling media, and the Observer team weren't shy of asking difficult questions. They covered everything from GFW's long-term future to Ed's background in the business, with Nordholm laying several big issues to rest, but fuelling many others...
8. GFW Is Not For Sale
The biggest story to emerge from GFW's busy news week was that Anthem wanted out of the wrestling business, and were looking to sell the promotion after less than a year at the helm. Meltzer and Alvarez didn't lead with this subject, but gradually drifted towards it as the interview progressed, with Nordholm categorically denying that GFW is for sale.
"We're not selling, we're investing," he said, acknowledging they'd need to inject more funds before seeing an increase in profits. Ed then stated that he feels Anthem have the best attributes required to turn the business around other than "just writing a cheque," but they're not afraid to spend today in order to earn tomorrow.
Nordholm also denied reports that Anthem no longer want to be in the wrestling business. There were various points throughout the interview when the Executive Vice President seemed unsure of himself, but this wasn't one of them. He sounded extremely confident in his answer, and while it'd be wrong to take his words at face value (admitting they were looking for a way out would be a PR nightmare), Nordholm's statement should quell the rumours for now.