10 Big Mistakes TNA's New Owners Can't Afford To Make In 2017

2. Looking To The Past

Matt Hardy Jeff Hardy
Impact Wrestling

It’s often said that TNA never learn from their mistakes, and it’s a compelling argument. This has never been more apparent than when Dixie Carter secretly brought Vince Russo back to the company in 2013. This caused a major rift with Spike TV, who insisted on Russo’s removal the last time he was with the company. Spike pulled out, TNA found themselves without a TV deal, and today, their audiences are less than half what they were on their old network.

If this habit of repeating old mistakes didn’t die when Carter sold her shares, there is no hope for TNA in 2017, and if insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, then Impact Wrestling is the Arkham Asylum of professional wrestling. Carter’s tendency to dip into destructive habits is the main reason that the company have been flirting with bankruptcy for the past few years, and Anthem must learn from her failings.

This means no more Hulk Hogan, no more Eric Bischoff, and no more Vince Russo. The company must kick their obsession with ex-WWE rejects, stop trying to recreate the NWO, and most importantly, never issue another late talent payment ever again. If it weren’t for TNA’s chronic lack of self-awareness, they might be a genuine number two promotion at this point - here’s hoping Anthem realise this.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.