Dave Meltzer has shared his thoughts on why IMPACT Wrestling rebranding as TNA ultimately won’t make a huge difference in the long term.
In the closing moment of IMPACT Bound For Glory last night, the company announced it will be reviving its TNA branding for the first time in over six years. The rebrand will officially come into effect from the Hard To Kill pay-per-view onwards in January 2024.
During the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave his thoughts on the news and claimed that nostalgia for the TNA of old has played a big part in the overall positive reaction to the move.
“It got a pop in the arena. The thing is, when they first did the change from TNA, TNA had such a negative stigma. They pretty much needed to [rebrand] and they actually needed to for a long time. But as things go, you learn that nostalgia is kind of incredible and in time, everyone thinks the good old days at the company were the TNA days. So why not go back to that?”
Ultimately, however, Meltzer does not believe the rebranding will make a substantial difference to the company’s business long-term. He compared the move to when the company rebranded as IMPACT Wrestling in early 2017, noting it made no difference in terms of their numbers.
“People also remember things better than they really were. That’s a lot of it, too. In the end, does the name of the company make a difference? The answer is no, it doesn’t at all. Although some people get mad at Ring Of Honor stuff on AEW which I think is kind of ridiculous too.
But it’s the same company, it’s not like the numbers are gonna go up or down based on this rebranding just like the old rebranding away from it. It isn’t like anything went up when they stopped doing the TNA name. But the negative stigma of TNA is years ago now so it’s not gonna hurt them.”
The Six-Sixed Ring Will Not Return As Part Of TNA Rebrand
Following the announcement that TNA will return, PWInsider and Fightful Select reported backstage details on the move and revealed that one classic aspect of the brand will not return
Both outlets noted that the iconic six-sided ring will not be returning with the rebrand and that the company did not even consider the move. Talent who have been with the company since the days of the six-sided ring have noted that the traditional four-sided ring is less taxing on their bodies and as such, it will remain.
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