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LOOKING AT THE NEW ERA OF TNA THAT KICKED OFF LAST NIGHT

Looking at the New Era of TNA

For the first time in 8 years, TNA presented a live iMPACT! on Thursday in San Antonio, Texas. It was fresh off the heels of their big Genesis show where they crowned Joe Hendry as their new World Champion and began their official partnership with WWE. It is quite clear that we have entered a new era of TNA and I think they are off to a pretty strong start. A lot of things are in motion as they position themselves for a big 2025. I would like to take a little bit of time to talk about what I’m seeing in TNA - which I believe is mostly positive.

Joe Hendry

Did you believe in Joe Hendry? Do you still believe? TNA believes in Hendry enough to make him the face of this new era and I believe that it’s an excellent choice. Hendry naturally rose to prominence through his own hard work - both in and out of the ring. He went viral on social media and was able to break through in the ring, as well, thanks to the fans eating up his act. Hendry is clearly a driven individual and takes pride in representing TNA.

I love that TNA started the live iMPACT! with Joe Hendry - showcasing him as the face of the company and making it clear that the fans will be seeing him in as many places as allowed as a fighting champion. The opening segment of the live show further established why Hendry is such a good babyface that crowds can get behind - he’s going to show up, he’s going to get the crowd to chant for him, and he’s going to be willing to wrestle. He’s going to do it in TNA and it’s inevitable that he’s going to do it in WWE/NXT.

I loved Mike Johnson’s idea of Joe Hendry announcing that he was entering the Royal Rumble and I was hoping it would happen. While it didn’t happen on Thursday, I did enjoy the tease of Hendry popping up anywhere at any time. It’s all that’s needed to get fans excited each time the 10 count starts at the Royal Rumble and it’ll immediately make ears perk up if “Joe Hendry” is uttered on WWE television. He’ll certainly appear.

TNA definitely played with fire a little bit by not having Hendry win the title at Bound for Glory. However, it seems like they had the plan to kick off 2025 and this new era with his big moment happening at Genesis. It feels like the TNA fans are in full support of their new champion and all wrestling fans are salivating at Hendry appearing in WWE. What more can you ask for?

Hendry is poised for a huge 2025, but TNA will have to be careful. Although the fans seem to love him, there will have to be more character development for him to continue to feel fresh. Hendry will put in the work, but he’s going to need the right dance partners to help him out. Where can his character go and who will he face along the way? Thanks to the TNA/WWE partnership, the options are quite large…and that’s fun.

The Main Event Scene

TNA can go in a bunch of directions in picking who Joe Hendry goes up against this year. Nic Nemeth extended his TNA contract and may be looking for a rematch after losing the TNA World Title. Mike Santana has made it clear that he is on the hunt for the World Title. Mustafa Ali returned on Thursday and declared his intention to go for the title. Moose, the current TNA X-Division Champion, is always lurking around the main event. Steve Maclin has been flirting with going for titles. Frankie Kazarian has the Call Your Shot Gauntlet Trophy and can change the title situation at any moment. TNA has a lot of fun, young talent that can be built up, as well - someone like Ace Austin comes to mind. Plus, NXT wrestlers can always show up.

Joe Hendry will have to have his head on a swivel with all eyes on him as he navigates all contenders. No matter what, though, there are some fun options that can provide some interesting feuds for Hendry, along with some long term teasing - like with Santana and Ali building themselves up. Like I said earlier, though, the selected opponents for Joe Hendry have to be carefully considered. With (hopefully) many more eyes on the promotion, the challengers will have to continue to get the best out of Hendry while also proving why they are legitimate threats. TNA will have to try and provide deeper stories if they continue the TNA+ monthly shows instead of just slapping main events together. It looks like, so far, this year will be hitting a higher gear on storylines with more shows taking place in bigger arenas. It’ll be very interesting to see what TNA comes up with in the main events to bring in the fans to fill those larger buildings. 

The Knockouts Division

The Knockouts Division has become heavily featured in recent years - deservedly so. The current champion, Masha Slamovich, puts on bangers and has done an excellent job of sliding in as the featured wrestler of the division after defeating Jordynne Grace for the title. Grace leaves behind a pretty big void in the division, but it feels like it was the right time for her to leave. She accomplished and proved so much in TNA and she’s ready to take on the world of WWE.

While Slamovich is the current champion, a lot of the attention is on Tessa Blanchard - good and bad. I do my best to try and focus on just the things that are presented to me on TV, but it’s hard to ignore the feelings that many fans have about Blanchard for her past actions. It’s a tricky situation. Clearly, TNA feels that Blanchard has done enough to deserve another chance. Wrestling history has proven that it’s the second chances (and sometimes more) that work out the best. Either way, it’s clear that TNA is allowing Tessa to work through the heat she’s getting from the fans. From an in-ring perspective, she’s a rock solid performer, so I am hoping for the best.

The Knockouts Division is enjoyable, but it’s not the deepest division out there. The partnership with WWE is already paying off, as Cora Jade is an excellent person to utilize in TNA. Not only are fans excited for her involvement with Masha Slamovich, but it will, in theory, allow TNA to build up a challenger or two of their own while Slamovich is tied up with Jade. Mixing it up with Cora Jade allows Masha Slamovich a much larger audience. While relatively simple so far, I am digging this current crossover between Slamovich and Jade.

It’ll be interesting to see who from NXT will get the call to work in TNA in the future. NXT has a really fun Women’s Division, so I’m looking forward to some new, unique matchups between the two companies.

Moose and the X-Division

One of the best X-Division champions, if not the best, was Samoa Joe - the man who proved that the X-Division has no limits. In 2025, the division has another champion in Moose who is proving that. Moose is a beast who towers and powers over many of the division’s usual competitors. He has done a nice job of being a strong champion while allowing for his challengers to have their moments.

He did lose to The Hardys on the live iMPACT! a little easier than I would have liked, but I am really hoping that he is protected for a few more months as TNA builds up someone with a good storyline to eventually take down Moose. I don’t know who that person should be, though. I had Ace Austin targeted for it in my mind. That match happened at Genesis, but there’s nothing stopping TNA from building Austin back up and trying again down the road. Whoever it is, though, I am hoping the moment is treated like a big one and not a hot shot change. Defeating Moose for the X-Division Title should be a huge accomplishment.

Surprises and the Long Term

Like most wrestling fans, I’m a sucker for a surprise. They can’t happen left and right, but a surprise can really be great when done right. The risk, of course, is that you never know how a surprise is going to be received. TNA likes their surprises…always has. They just have to be treated with care.

The partnership with WWE will, no doubt, lead to many surprises. NXT wrestlers will be popping up in TNA. TNA wrestlers will, hopefully, be popping up in NXT. As long as there are long term ideas and plans, this will be great. I thought the two companies worked really well together when they had their crossovers last year. I’m very excited to see what they have planned for 2025.

TNA will have to be careful with how they mix in other surprises, though. Mustafa Ali? Awesome surprise. John Layfield? Weird, but interesting surprise. Matt Cardona? Solid surprise. Mance Warner? Flat surprise. I don’t blame Mance Warner for not getting much of a reaction for his debut. He’s a good independent name, but hasn’t broken through like other names have. I also think that he may have gotten a different reaction on a different show. I think the live audience at the live iMPACT! were expecting a more recognizable face. I appreciate TNA for trying to give the fans another surprise on a big show, but if it’s not going to be huge - I’d rather it be saved for another time. While the Warner segment didn’t take up a whole lot of time, I think those minutes could have allowed for one of the tag team matches to get a little bit more time. With the 23 teaser being a lower mid-card feature, I think they could have gotten a slightly bigger reaction on a different iMPACT! episode.

With that said, I think Mance Warner is a really solid signing. I’m not sure how much plans changed, if at all, with the 23 storyline with PCO being gone. Either way, though, I think Warner fills the PCO gap nicely. Warner is younger and can be the “hardcore” guy - a position that PCO was holding down for a while. Plus, Warner connects to the fans in a different way with his “every man” way of talking and acting. If given the chance, I expect Warner to be really fun in TNA. I just hope that there is a long term idea for whatever 23 has to do with him and Steph De Lander.

On the flip side, a surprise that has been getting a lot of attention is John Layfield. He shows up. He clotheslines. He stares. He leaves. What the hell is going on? His appearances get people talking and wondering. Not much has developed, but it’s been an intriguing guarantee that he’ll be lurking at the monthly PPVs. Only time will tell what his plans are, but whatever they are will clearly impact the World Title.

As I mentioned before, surprises like Mustafa Ali are excellent - which is why I think the placement of other surprises have to be thought about more. The Ali surprise is going to outshine the Warner surprise, for sure. A Tessa Blanchard surprise is going to get everyone talking. An NXT surprise is going to be really cool. A show like Thursday’s live iMPACT! is going to have a surprise or two. A PPV may have a surprise or two. However, my point is this - TNA has to be very careful to not rely on the surprises. They are possibly going to have a lot going forward with the WWE partnership. There has to be long term thought behind these moments, though. Eventually, the really cool surprises are going to dry up a bit and what’s left has to be rock solid storylines. I am curious to see what faces show up, new and old, in both TNA and NXT going forward and how TNA weaves their storylines through the crossovers.

An Idea

I don’t know all of the logistics behind the TNA/WWE partnership and I will never claim to. Please keep that in mind with the following recommendation: TNA bringing in WWE ID talent. I know that there have been rumblings of a possible EVOLVE return which would provide another place for WWE ID talent to wrestle and get eyes on them. I am cool with that, but I also think it would be fun to have a WWE ID wrestler or two pop up to get an extended look on a platform that is between the independents and WWE. TNA showcasing a Marcus Mathers against someone like Ace Austin or Jack Cartwheel against someone like Zachary Wentz in front of a larger audience than the independents could be a win-win situation. This idea somewhat falls under my warning over surprises and long term booking, but if incorporated with purpose - I think it could be a unique way to help WWE and get some extra eyes on TNA.

2025

To finish off my rambling, this week has been a strong start to the new era of TNA. A lot of the right pieces are in place for TNA to have a huge 2025. The WWE partnership, Joe Hendry, really good in-ring action, and everyone busting their asses will make the company really fun to watch this year. They are clearly working hard to provide an entertaining show every week and I am excited to see what they have planned to fill the bigger venues that they have booked this year. It’s all about the execution now. I think TNA has what is needed to make great things happen this year.

I am VERY excited to not only watch TNA going forward, but to continue providing the TV and PPV reports here on PWInsider.com. I very much appreciate anyone who happens to read and watch along with me. Let’s talk about TNA some more at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com and keep the conversation flowing on their big 2025!

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