10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Jan 11)

8. Crowbar Pitched A Wrestling Show To Spike TV Pre-TNA

As much as TNA/Impact Wrestling has been lambasted at times over the past 17 years, the company has helped shape modern pro wrestling. No, seriously, it has. A quick look at WWE reveals several TNA alumni in lofty positions (AJ Styles, Samoa Joe etc), and the speedy X Division has become a blueprint for indy work today.

Crowbar, a former WCW mid-carder, almost stole some of TNA's thunder.

In an interview with Wrestling Inc, David Flair's former tag-team partner said he, J.J Dillon and Kevin Sullivan had a meeting with Spike TV in 2005. Their plan was to capitalise on WWE's decision to move flagship programming back to the USA Network that year. Crowbar was the brains behind the idea, and he spotted a gap in the market.

His pitch for a promotion called 'Spike Championship Wrestling' was eventually thrown out when the channel's execs realised they could get their hands on TNA. That and the fact Crowbar didn't have any product to show them swayed Spike towards Impact.