Since the company’s inception in 2002, TNA Wrestling has always been the “never say die” wrestling company. After the promotion's first show, everyone said it wouldn’t last three weeks, then three months, and then three years. Fast forward 14 years and TNA is still in business, but by the skin of its teeth. Numerous reports of not paying production staff, paying wrestlers months late and outside companies taking over the company name highlights the problems TNA has faced. I wrote an article months ago stating that TNA President Dixie Carter is the problem as she refused to step aside.
That might all change sooner than later.
In an interview with the New York Post , Smashing Pumpkins frontman and minority owner of TNA Billy Corgan is in talks to buy a majority stake of Impact Ventures, the parent company of TNA Wrestling. Corgan, who owned Resistance Pro Wrestling in Chicago for three years, joined TNA in May 2015 and was named president of the company in August after acquiring a percentage of the company. This news comes on the heels of reports that Carter did not want to give up a controlling interest of the company a few months ago when the company was first announced up for sale.
Corgan is hoping that Bound for Glory, TNA’s biggest show of the year in October, will be the place where this could all be announced.
“I would love nothing better than to stand up in front of everyone and give a clear picture of where this company is and where it’s going,” said Corgan.
The NY Post also reported the WWE and Ring of Honor allegedly made offers to purchase TNA. ROH would want TNA’s television deal with Pop TV and the WWE would only want TNA’s video library. Either company buying TNA would put the company out of business so many are hoping that the sale to Corgan goes through without a hiccup.
There are many great things going on in TNA that no one seems to know about. Over the last few months, storyline continuity is back in place and the focus is on the in-ring product as opposed to mindless talking and time filler. Is this all contributed to Corgan taking a more hands-on role in the company? Maybe, but the differences is startling – TNA had no direction with its stories, matches and even the decisions just one year ago. From moving to Monday nights to signing Hulk Hogan for untold riches with no payoff, the company just lost money every year steadily for years and Carter is to blame for that.
Corgan has a vision, but like his time in the Smashing Pumpkins, he has to make sure his vision is told in a way that will not alienate people. Corgan has been described as a control freak, who would raise hell and drive people away if he doesn't get his way. That said, his work with tag team The Decay and his hand in the Broken Matt Hardy character shows that when given the opportunity, he has creative ideas that work.
Is Billy Corgan the savior of TNA Wrestling? Yes he is. This could the last chance this promotion has to succeed. Approximately 300,000 diehard viewers watch Impact Wrestling every week. In order for that number to go up, TNA Wrestling must deliver exciting matches, stories that make sense and things that move the needle both on television and online. It’s time for this company to come out of its doldrums and reach for the brass ring that has been eluding them for years. They have one year to do it...after that the opportunity to make a big impression for what seems like the millionth time officially goes away.
You will have the company Billy. It’s time to get to work.
