It was just a few years ago that TNA Wrestling (then known as “Impact”) and All Elite Wrestling were partners, with talent from each promotion appearing on the other’s show.
But as TNA eyes its next media rights deal, it appears it could also be jumpstarting a real-life rivalry with AEW.
According to a new report from Sports Illustrated‘s Jon Alba, there has been recent momentum for TNA Wrestling to land with an unspecified WWE-affiliated network. Not only that, but it appears the move could also result in TNA’s weekly show moving from Thursday to Wednesday nights, where it would oppose AEW’s flagship program, AEW Dynamite.
As far as which network it would be, The CW — which is currently the home of WWE NXT — seemingly stands out as the likeliest landing spot.
“Multiple independent sources tell The Takedown on SI that there have at least been discussions of TNA moving to a WWE-associated network, and that the company is even open to shifting from Thursday to Wednesday nights to go head-to-head with AEW Dynamite,” Alba writes. “While it was not directly indicated that the destination would be The CW, it was expressed to The Takedown on SI that The CW’s interest in the promotion is legitimate, and that some WWE stakeholders would like TNA to be a part of the network.”
Such a move would mark a significant shift for TNA, which has existed in various forms and names dating back to 2002. Although TNA was once considered a challenger to WWE, it has become less prominent over the course of the last decade, thanks in no small part to AEW’s emergence as pro wrestling’s clearcut No. 2 promotion.
After previously partnering with AEW throughout the better part of 2021, TNA established a multi-year partnership with WWE this past January. That pact has largely included TNA talent appearing on WWE NXT and vice versa, although viral TNA star Joe Hendry did make surprise appearances at both the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania.
The possibility of TNA landing on a platform already tied to WWE would certainly add a new layer to their partnership, especially if such a move involves counterprogramming AEW. As for a timeline for all of this, Alba reports that TNA — which currently airs on AXS TV in the United States — is hopeful to have a new deal in place by October.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.