Exposing The Myth: TNA Was A WWE Rival

2. The Winds Of Change

TNA Hulk Hogan Impact Monday Night Raw WWE
ImpactWrestling.com

The switch back to a Thursday night for Impact! was one that was necessary as it soon became apparent that TNA, at that point of time in 2010, could never rely on averaging over 1.5 million viewers each and every week. Since taking themselves out of direct competition with WWE, TNA - now known as IMPACT Wrestling - has had its fair share of ups and downs.

While Hogan and Bischoff would depart the promotion as 2013 rolled into 2014 - with both of them later throwing plentiful shade TNA's way - Dixie Carter's company had to deal with ownership issues with Jeff Jarrett, a potential merger with Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling, major talent departures, failed ventures like Ring Ka King, Billy Corgan's attempted takeover, and Anthem eventually taking 85% ownership of TNA in 2017.

As for those talent departures, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Sting, Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, EC III, Bobby Lashley, Kurt Angle, Drew McIntyre, Bully Ray, and Nick Aldis are just a selection of former World Champions who headed for the TNA exit door to compete elsewhere before the Anthem buyout.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.