TNA Sale Update: Wrestling Promotion Sold To Anthem Sports, Dixie Carter Resigns As President

It was an up and down year for TNA Wrestling. Towards the end of 2016, Anthem Sports and Entertainment stepped in to save TNA from insolvency when Billy Corgan sued to buy the promotion. All signs pointed to Anthem, the parent company of The Fight Network in Canada which airs Impact Wrestling, taking over the company and running the day-to-day operations. However, for the month December there was no news was coming from TNA offices as everyone wondered what 2017 had in store for TNA Wrestling.

Finally, on a week where TNA was airing a live Impact Wrestling, it was announced that Anthem Sports and Entertainment completed its purchase of a majority stake in TNA and will take over the company. As result of the purchase, Anthem created Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC., the company that will oversee the operation of TNA Wrestling. Anthem Sports Executive Vice President Ed Nordholm, who was managing director of Impact Ventures in November, will also become President of Anthem Wrestling in the acquisition.

“We are thrilled to have acquired TNA IMPACT Wrestling,” said Nordholm in a press release. “As we grow Anthem’s linear, digital and mobile platforms globally, top tier content with global appeal is key to that success and this acquisition is a perfect strategic addition to our portfolio. IMPACT has been a dominant wrestling brand around the world for more than a decade and we are confident that Anthem can leverage its assets and strategic partnerships to take IMPACT Wrestling to even greater heights.”

The question after the rumored sale of TNA Wrestling was what the role of TNA President Dixie Carter would be. After the sale became final this week, Carter resigned as president but remained as a minority shareholder of TNA. This effectively strips all power from Carter, a move that many saw coming and a move that many fans were happy to hear about.

After the sale was announced, TNA held their first show since October. The Thursday live Impact Wrestling was a considered a new era for the company, a point that was reiterated by TNA talent throughout the show. There was a definite feel of new ownership as Anthem’s logo was on the turnbuckles and the ring skirt. It was also revealed that a new Impact Wrestling logo was seen during TNA’s live One Night Only show on Friday.

While the Dixie Carter-era of TNA featured high-priced surprises on live shows, this Thursday’s live Impact Wrestling continued their current storylines and stayed the course that they have been on instead of doing something new and unpredictable. One thing TNA cannot afford to do right now is make any drastic moves, like bringing in the toxic Alberto Del Rio which was rumored throughout the week.

With Anthem at the helm, it seems that they will take an inch-by-inch approach to the company. It’s not about home runs for TNA Wrestling, instead it’s about singles and building a brand that has been badly damaged by terrible decision making and atrocious writing over the last few years. Competition is badly needed in professional wrestling and the sale of TNA to Anthem may begin the process of the WWE maybe getting some competition … down the line.