TNA Talent Very Positive Amid TNA-AMC Media Rights Announcement, Also Seemingly Frustrated With Creative & Reportedly “Hope Creative Would Get A Big Step Up”

Yesterday, TNA Wrestling revealed a new media rights deal with AMC, which will cover their broadcasting of the flagship iMPACT! television show in 2026.

As always, Fightful Select was able to uncover some reactions from the TNA talent and staff about the deal and what it means going forward.

“Talent we spoke to said they hoped that ‘catering to NXT’ wouldn’t be happening.”

WWE is obviously the bigger partner in this relationship, but now that TNA has a bigger platform, TNA talent want to be at the forefront.

An example of “catering to NXT” could be the finish of the X Division title match at Bound For Glory between Leon Slater and NXT star Je’Von Evans, where the two went to a time limit draw, the match was restarted, and within minutes of it restarting – NXT talent DarkState all crashed the ring and took out both competitors – it was essentially a non-finish at the hands of WWE NXT.

The day after the Bound For Glory PPV, Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated exclusively reported that “multiple sources indicate to The Takedown on SI that WWE had a significant say in the booking direction for the match.”

“It is worth noting, though, that sources have indicated WWE especially has “a lot of pull” when its talents are utilized on TNA programming.”

Fightful Select also reported that:

“The reaction from staff and roster was unanimously positive from those we heard back from, with a lot of excitement. A common hope from the roster and staff was that creative would get a big step up with the platform expanding.”

“Outside of that, it was sunshine and rainbows from the people within the company.”

Back in March of this year, TNA experienced a big shakeup behind the scenes. Some of those changes were the exit of both Ariel Schnerer who was the Executive Producer and oversaw creative, and Gail Kim, who headed up Talent Relations and was a Producer.

Upon their departures, PWinsider.com reported that “Hunter “Delirious” Johnston will now head creative. Tommy Dreamer remains on the creative team as well. Tommy Dreamer will now be heading the Talent Relations end of the company.”

Many of the fans have also had an issue with creative lately, and haven’t been quiet about it, from how long it took the company to crown Joe Hendry as the TNA World Champion, to not having Mike Santana win the TNA World Title at the Slammiversary PPV in July – and instead allowing him to win it at the Bound For Glory PPV in October – and then immediately taking a hiatus, after which booking Santana to lose the World Title in the first episode back – the 11/13 LIVE TNA iMPACT!

On November 16 – 3 days after Mike Santana lost the TNA World Title to Frankie Kazarian in what was TECHNICALLY his second defense – Bodyslam’s own Brady Alexander wrote about the booking and creative needing to change as well.

Moves like this are turning away longtime TNA fans. Maybe the move to AMC brings them back, and more with the bigger exposure/platform, but the booking and creative is what will KEEP those eyes on the product.

Time will tell if anything changes.

Bodyslam will monitor this situation if anything changes.

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