8 Times TNA Turned Trash Into Treasure
7. Dixie Carter: From Dixieland To Hammerstein Ballroom
In 2013 and 2014, TNA president Dixie Carter went the Mr. McMahon route and became the heel authority figure TNA neither wanted nor needed. Showing all the acting acumen of a Kardashian loaded up on Southern Comfort, Dixie drawled and stumbled her way through segment after segment, offering more "go away" heat than proper heel heat.
She hounded AJ Styles out of the company (in kayfabe and reality). She introduced her nephew Ethan Carter III (one of the few good moves in TNA's latter days), feuded with MVP over control of "wrestling operations," and generally continued to be the most annoying person on the planet.
This eventually led to a Lethal Lockdown match between her handpicked team and MVP's team, with Bully Ray appointed special guest referee to ensure Team Dixie's victory. But Bully Ray betrayed Dixie and helped MVP's team win, delivering the first blow against Dixieland in months.
Dixie, in turn, screwed Bully Ray by helping Bobby Roode defeat him in a tables match. Bully Ray replied as only he could: he promised to put Dixie Carter through a table.
It took four months, as he and his hardcore allies worked their way through MVP, EC3, Rockstar Spud, Rhino, Snitsky(?!), Ezekiel Jackson(?!), and every other obstacle Dixie threw in their way.
Finally, in Hammerstein Ballroom, the locker room united, and Bully Ray put Dixie through a table. The storyline cemented EC3 as a top-tier player in TNA, reaffirmed that Bully Ray could carry any program, and put a supremely annoying heel out of action.