Eric Bischoff isn’t sold on the idea of IMPACT Wrestling branding itself TNA once again.
At the end of Bound for Glory on October 21st, it was announced that after years as IMPACT Wrestling, the company would be going back to its roots and rebranding as Total Nonstop Action.
Their next major pay-per-view, Hard To Kill on January 13th 2024, will be the first event held under the TNA name since January 2017, aside from a One Night Only event in March 2020.
In a press release, the company hinted that there will be sweeping presentation changes to the show with the rebrand as they will “launch a new-look TNA Wrestling that runs from the entrance ramp to turnbuckles in the ring to larger, more prestigious venues and much, much more.”
The IMPACT Wrestling branding will remain for all events until the rebrand takes effect in January. This includes their upcoming tour of the United Kingdom which begins in Glasgow on October 26th, followed by IMPACT Turning Point being taped in Newcastle on the 27th as well as two subsequent live events in Coventry on the 28th and 29th.
“I Just Don’t Think That TNA Brand Had Enough Value” – Eric Bischoff
Speaking on the latest edition of Strictly Business, former TNA producer Eric Bischoff addressed the company’s rebrand, saying:
“There is an argument to be made, I’m not sure I buy into it 100% in this case, but an argument to be made about tapping into nostalgia.”
However, Bischoff doesn’t seem thrilled with the decision to go back to the company’s original name as he doesn’t believe there’s enough nostalgia there to make the rebranding worthwhile.
“I just don’t think that TNA brand had enough value ever, so that bringing it back is going to have any kind of — no pun intended — impact. Unless the product changes and there’s significant change in the presentation, it’s just changing the name of the show and I don’t think that’s gonna matter one bit.”
Furthermore, Bischoff believes the connotation of the original name won’t translate well to modern audiences and could work against the company when trying to market to non-wrestling fans.
“You can [say] ‘it means Total Nonstop Action.’ It means ‘t*ts and ass,’ it was a Vince Russo idea.”
h/t WrestlingInc