After months of rumors and speculation, TNA finally landed its long-awaited TV deal. On December 2, 2025, Total Nonstop Action announced they established a new home on the channel AMC. Starting on January 15, 2026, TNA will be airing every Thursday with a mixture of live and taped episodes of their flagship program Thursday Night iMPACT during the 9 pm – 11 pm Eastern time slot.
It’s a monumental moment not just for the company and all its wrestlers, but for the industry as a whole. On the back of its partnership with WWE, record-breaking attendances, and the hard-work of all of its talent, it seems as if a new era of TNA is on the horizon. But with all that being said, TNA’s roster, while full of gifted wrestlers both budding and seasoned, could use a boost. Especially in the wake of people like Jordynne Grace, Josh Alexander, and most recently Joe Hendry leaving the company, it’s even more paramount for TNA to bolster the locker room. These ten amazingly skilled wrestlers would fit right at home in the company that built its legacy in the iMPACT Zone.
Miyu Yamashita
Recently receiving a huge shout-out from WWE’s Cody Rhodes and Natalya on Rhodes’ podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About?, it’s clear as day that Miyu Yamashita is making waves around the wrestling industry. Currently signed to Tokyo Joshi Pro, where she made her debut back in 2013, Yamashita has broken out in a big way in recent years.
Along with her superb work back in Japan, Yamashita has also made appearances for All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor. She also wrestled the TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace for her title in April 2024 in a losing effort. After wrestling Natalya at GCW Bloodsport XIII during Mania Weekend this year, it’s easy to picture WWE or AEW signing Yamashita sooner rather than later. However, TNA could easily establish Yamashita as one pillar of their much-lauded Knockout’s Division, given her sheer talent and many prime years ahead of her.
Titus Alexander
For as much as TNA has become a place where well-respected and underappreciated veterans can prove they still have what it takes to be a top player, the company also needs to look towards the future. While guys like Leon Slater are assuredly being positioned as the face of a modern generation of TNA wrestlers, with guys like Ace Austin electing to sign with AEW, it’s vital for the company to keep its ear to the ground in with seeking out new talent. Enter Titus Alexander.
Mainly wrestling for West Coast Pro Wrestling, Alexander has become one of the most gifted young wrestlers on the indies. He has also made appearances for Game Changer Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah, teaming with wrestlers like El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Jack Cartwheel along the way. Coming from a wrestling family, Alexander seemingly has only just begun in the industry, but for a company like TNA who has at times shunned younger stars in favor of familiar names, getting someone like Alexander who’s destined for superstardom one day, any company with business sense would invest in Titus Alexander stock as soon as possible.
Dakota Kai
WWE has been guilty in recent years of making some truly mind-blogging decisions, especially regarding its releases. But few recent cuts have seemed as short-sighted as when WWE released Dakota Kai. One of Triple H’s first re-hires when he took control of creative back in the summer of 2022, Kai remained a consistent presence on TV, but never quite got her chance to show what she could do as a solo star. With the introduction of mid-card titles for WWE’s women’s division, it seemed a perfect time for Kai to win some singles gold. Yet, WWE felt otherwise, and given the state of the women’s mid-card division, especially on SmackDown, and lack of overall “good hands,” it’s hard to see her release as anything less than an enormous mistake.
In spite of all that, Kai would undoubtedly thrive in TNA, especially given its recent boom in popularity. A great in-ring worker and solid on the mic, Kai has proven time-and-time again that she has all the tools to be a champion in a major wrestling promotion. While WWE was hesitant to pull the trigger, with TNA assuredly looking for popular free agents to add to their roster, Kai would instantly become one of the main characters of the Knockout’s division. Regardless of where Kai ends up, she’s unquestionably a huge signing for any wrestling company. And if TNA were smart, they would be the ones to reap the benefits.
Trevor Lee
For Trevor Lee, a return to TNA would be a reunion. Back during that strange period where TNA was transitioning between being called iMPACT wrestling and Global Force Wrestling, in what was overall a rather lowly time for the company, Lee was making his mark in TNA’s X-Division. As part of the Helms Dynasty alongside Andrew Everett, Lee would win the X Division championship three times and the tag team titles one time during his four-year tenure with the company.
Lee would sign with WWE, taking the name Cameron Grimes in 2019. While he had a decent run in NXT, Lee would eventually be called up to the main roster, get lost in the shuffle, and then released without really ever getting an opportunity to establish himself. With many of TNA’s long-time wrestlers leaving in recent years, such as the Motor City Machine Guns, Josh Alexander, Jordynne Grace, and Ace Austin, it would be wise for the company to look towards its past as they build to the future. Lee is only thirty-two years old and clearly can still go with the best of them between the ropes. Bringing Lee back to the place where he truly broke out seems like a slam dunk for AMC’s new partner.
Donovan Dijak
In a perfect world, WWE would only call up wrestlers from NXT when they have plans for them on the main roster. Unfortunately, fans have watched WWE repeatedly fail to do much of anything with recent call-ups and then just let them walk or worse, just cut them outright. Dijak had managed to totally reinvent himself after the failure that was Retribution, showing everyone that he has a lot to give to the business.
After a successful run in NXT, having great matches with the likes of Wes Lee and Ilja Dragunov, Dijak was called up to RAW in Spring 2024, but WWE would bafflingly let his contract expire a month later. Since then Dijak, now Donovan Dijak, has taken the indies by storm. Currently, one-half of the MLW World Tag Team Champions alongside Bishop Dyer (another guy who TNA should look at), Dijak is continuing his solid work across the US and in Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). Featuring equal parts superb hard-hitting wrestling and great promo work, TNA should definitely consider signing the man formerly known as T-Bar, if nothing else. But I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who would take umbrage at making Dijak the TNA world champion. He’s more than earned a chance of carrying that mantle.
Nikki Blackheart
Nikki Blackheart is far newer to the wrestling industry than others on this list, only making her debut a little over a year ago. In fact, Blackheart herself stated during an interview on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast that she wasn’t even allowed to watch wrestling growing up. But despite all those signs that might present her as a novice or out of her depth, Blackheart has taken to wrestling like a fish to water.
Given that Blackheart is only a couple of years into her young career, it’s imaginable that she’ll wait to get some more experience across the indies before committing to signing long term to a sizable promotion. However, when you see Blackheart, from her extraordinary physique to how she carries herself in the ring, the power she exhibits with every move, it’s hard not to look at her and see lots of dollar signs. If her rookie year was anything to go by, Blackheart is practically fated to be one of the “superstars” of women’s wrestling on the indie scene for the foreseeable future. But for a company like TNA, which is about to take an important step forward, Blackheart could easily find a place in the company’s stacked women’s division.
Starboy Charlie
Another young wrestler making saves primarily on the California independent scene, The “Denim Dragon” has quickly attained a following through his impressive high-flying style. But more than just the manner in which he wrestles, what makes Starboy Charlie stand out so much is his charisma. As much as he can hit shooting stars and 420s splashes with the best of them, Starboy has this easygoing charm and infectious energy which makes it easy to root for him.
Given that the X-Divison is deemed the “crown jewel” of TNA, often carried the company on its back throughout otherwise troubling ages where the main event scene was lacking in prosperity. Starboy Charlie could be slotted into the X-Divison title picture effortlessly and would have little to no trouble winning over fans. Not much unlike Je’von Evans and current X-Divison champion Leon Slater, Starboy Charlie boasts that fusion of eye-popping high-flying and personable spirit, which would result in him swiftly becoming a fan-favorite. Also, he’s only twenty-two. No better time than the present to put the “Denim Dragon” in an Ultimate-X match.
Vicious Vicki Venuto
Another young wrestler who has been making her mark throughout the American indies primarily in her home State of New Jersey, Vicious Vicki Venuto has already made appearances both in TNA during the summer of 2024 as the opponent for Mara Sadé’s singles debut, as well in WWE as an extra playing the role of a “doctor” checking up on Jey Uso following a beat down by Gunther during the Mania build. While the casual viewer may not have recognized Venuto, any fans who’ve been hot on the pulse of indies’ wrestling should begin taking notice.
“The Queen of New Jersey” made her debut in 2018 and has been steadily establishing herself as a name to remember. As mentioned with Alexander, TNA should be trying to supply their roster with both household names who can draw eyes on the TV and butts in seats, as well as inking deals with talent which will allow them to lay the groundwork for their company’s future. The former Warriors of Wrestling champion is primed and steeled for an ever stronger 2026, perhaps it would be in TNA’s best interest if Venuto is signed to a contract before that happens.
Bear Bronson
For decades, TNA has been the proving ground for wrestlers to establish themselves as top guys, breaking the accepted stigma of their past. We’ve seen talent over the years like Christian Cage, AJ Styles, and more recently Mike Santana redefined their legacies under the banner of Total Nonstop Action. Santana in particular proved that he is far more than just a great tag team wrestler. The same could be said for one of 2025’s biggest indie tour de force, Bear Bronson.
It was reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com that TNA was in talks with Bear Bronson in late November. And it’s easy to see why the company is keen to scoop up Bronson. Since his exit from AEW and parting ways with his longtime tag team partner, Bronson has been on an absolute tear. Wrestling over eighty matches in 2025 from GCW, to ICW, and so many more companies across the globe, the former one half of the Iron Savages has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s ready for a solo run in a prominent wrestling company. Hopefully, for TNA’s sake, it’s within the walls of Total Nonstop Action where Bronson can emerge as a perennial player in the industry.
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