TNA (Total Nonstop Action) Wrestling is the next most popular form of Professional Wrestling after WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). It came from small and simple roots to jam-packed arenas and its own pay-per-view. It is the only real competition that faces the WWE.
Formed in May 2002 by former WWE and WCW wrestler Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry, TNA was initially a member of the storied NWA (National Wrestling Alliance), before forming its own identity and franchise base in 2004. Operating out of Nashville, Tennessee, TNA focuses most of its promotion and live events around the TNA Impact set at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Beginning in 2004, TNA started airing TNA Impact as a weekly broadcast along similar lines as WWEs Smackdown and RAW shows. Despite some early rating difficulties which led to TNA being dropped from its original broadcaster (Fox Sports Net), it has now found a home at the former base of the WWE, Spike TV. TNA also broadcast into overseas territories including the UK and Australia.
In conjunction with their weekly shows, TNA also has monthly pay-per-views that peak with Bound for Glory (TNA's version of Wrestlemania). These monthly pay-per-views have allowed TNA to take their brand out of Florida and travel across to both America and the world, with successful tours of both Asia and the UK in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
To differ itself from the WWE, TNA established itself with a different identity. The biggest difference and definitely something that shapes the company, from the storylines to the structure of the presentation is the use of the six-sided ring. Normally, wrestling events would feature a standard boxing sized rectangular ring, but TNA uses a hexagonal ring which provides a different complexity and style from the WWE.
This six-sided ring is accompanied by a Six Sides of Steel match, very similar in style to the standard steel cage match, but with the addition of two more steel sides. TNA is also well known for pushing sports entertainment to the extreme, especially in the X Division, their Cruiserweight League.
Formed in May 2002 by former WWE and WCW wrestler Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry, TNA was initially a member of the storied NWA (National Wrestling Alliance), before forming its own identity and franchise base in 2004. Operating out of Nashville, Tennessee, TNA focuses most of its promotion and live events around the TNA Impact set at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Beginning in 2004, TNA started airing TNA Impact as a weekly broadcast along similar lines as WWEs Smackdown and RAW shows. Despite some early rating difficulties which led to TNA being dropped from its original broadcaster (Fox Sports Net), it has now found a home at the former base of the WWE, Spike TV. TNA also broadcast into overseas territories including the UK and Australia.
In conjunction with their weekly shows, TNA also has monthly pay-per-views that peak with Bound for Glory (TNA's version of Wrestlemania). These monthly pay-per-views have allowed TNA to take their brand out of Florida and travel across to both America and the world, with successful tours of both Asia and the UK in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
To differ itself from the WWE, TNA established itself with a different identity. The biggest difference and definitely something that shapes the company, from the storylines to the structure of the presentation is the use of the six-sided ring. Normally, wrestling events would feature a standard boxing sized rectangular ring, but TNA uses a hexagonal ring which provides a different complexity and style from the WWE.
This six-sided ring is accompanied by a Six Sides of Steel match, very similar in style to the standard steel cage match, but with the addition of two more steel sides. TNA is also well known for pushing sports entertainment to the extreme, especially in the X Division, their Cruiserweight League.
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For those wanting to get their hands on some TNA Wrestling DVDs should head over to the Vendetta Films site.
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