In the months and days leading up to TNA Slammiversary 2025, there's been a lot of conversations about the promotion's future. One such question has been around whether the company will sign a major rights deal that will keep the company alive. Fans also wonder if WWE is going to purchase the smaller company. These are all vital discussions to have, but one thing is not up for debate. If the wrestling industry is going to thrive, TNA Wrestling needs to be doing well.
Competition is important. When it comes to professional wrestling, it is vital. Think back to some of the best times of WWE, when were they? Many of those times came during the Monday Night Wars era when WCW was pushing the organization to be better every week. Now, think about some of the worst times in recent memory. Those were in the years that followed, when WWE was the biggest company in the business, without a competitor in sight.
Things have changed. All Elite Wrestling is going strong, bringing on new rights deals, signing important performers to major contracts, and putting on the shows that fans want to see. But TNA Wrestling cannot be forgotten about in that equation.
Fans should hope TNA Wrestling secures a strong deal and finds success on their own
While speaking to Ariel Helwani, TNA President Carlos Silva talked about a potential new deal on the horizon.
"We want to find a bigger platform," Silva said." "We're close. I mean, we've been working on it...since the beginning of the year, really since I joined. It really has accelerated over the last 60 days, so we're working through it. I think we could be in a 60 to 90 day window to get something done."
Here's to hoping something does get done in the next few months. There's no reason to cheer if a major promotion goes away. Yes, TNA isn't as lucrative as AEW or WWE, but the fact that the organization remains as an alternative is an important aspect of business.
Think about this in other entertainment terms. Imagine if there was one movie studio, one video game console, or just one television network. Diversity of product would not exist. Fans would be forced to consume only one product, and pay whatever is asked of them because there wouldn't be an alternative. Performers and staff would be forced to fall in line with pay structures, unable to compete for higher wages. Monopoloies do not help anyone but the rich who continue to get richer.
Professional wrestling is in a better place when promotions are finding success on their own. TNA has signed a multi-year partnership with WWE that should be concerning. Endeavor, which is the parent company of WWE, is known for doing all it can to extract wealth from companies and the same is being done with WWE. How that will impact the partnership with TNA is yet to be seen, but do not be surprised if there is an impact down the line.
It is fun to see crossover between TNA and WWE NXT, but that doesn't remove any concern. Even at face value, it is clear that WWE doesn't see TNA at the same level as it does its main roster products. Rumors boil about a potential acquisition in time, and that is an outcome all fans should shun, because it is a further blow to the entire wrestling world.
Professional wrestling needs TNA to thrive. The same is true about independent organizations like GCW, HOG, and others. The more viability that is around in the business, the better things will be for performers, staff, and fans alike.