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Revision as of 10:12, 12 August 2004 by Paulley (talk | contribs) (links and title change)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Total Nonstop Action is an independent, American professional wrestling federation set up by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett, run out of Memphis, Tennessee, and Orlando, Florida. Until recently, TNA was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was also known as NWA:TNA. However, TNA has acquired the rights to use NWAs World Heavyweight Championship and World Tag Team Championships until year 2014 and their champions will still be known as NWA champions.
Background
After the fall of WCW, there was still demand for southern-style pro wrestling, and cruiserwieght wrestling, that Vince McMahon's WWE was not fulfilling; albeit it was a niche market. The federation began by recruiting many former WCW and ECW stars who didn't sign on to the WWE.
While several companies attempted to fill this void, like World Wrestling Allstars, NWA:TNA has perhaps been the most successful. Some suspect its motivation was that Jeff Jarrett, the son of long-time wrestling promoter Jerry Jarrett, was unemployed after the collapse of WCW, and (because he defected from the WWF - now WWE - a year before WCW's collapse) was unable to find work with the McMahons.
Jerry Jarrett, along with Jerry Lawler, was an owner of the now-defunct United States Wrestling Association; a federation formed after the second attempt at Pro Wrestling USA and the resulting merger between the CWA (which he was also an owner of), and WCCW.
X Division
The high-flying, high risk style of wrestling (derided by some as being 'spot-fests') had been one of the key reasons viewers turned in to WCW and ECW. Rather than emphasizing the fact that most wrestlers who perform this style are under 250 lb (115 kg) by calling it a "Cruiserweight division", NWA:TNA decided to emphasize the high risk nature of the moves these wrestlers perform. Thus a key attraction of the NWA:TNA is the "X Division".
The Current Total Nonstop Action Titles
| Title Notes: | Current Champion(s) |
| NWA World Heavyweight Title | Jeff Jarrett |
| NWA World Tag-Team Title | The Naturals (Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas) |
| NWA TNA X Title | Petey Williams |
Business Model
The NWA:TNA business model is different from that employed by the WWE and the former WCW in several key ways. By not touring like other major federations do, or have done, NWA:TNA has been able to keep its costs down.
But, more significantly, its weekly shows began airing on pay-per-view cable television only. While it's not unusual for a federation to air a monthly pay per view (ECW, WWF/E, and WCW used to all follow this practice, and WWE continues to do so today), not having a weekly network, syndicated, or cable show at the beginning was a radical departure from the usual practice of wrestling federations. The weekly NWA:TNA PPVs cost $9.95, much less than the monthly PPVs of its rivals.While this has made it more difficult for NWA:TNA to pick up casual fans, it has developed a small, hardcore viewership which loyally watches its products.
In a change with this business model, NWA:TNA started "Impact!" in June of 2004 on FOX Sports Net. By closing this deal, NWA:TNA looks to fulfill its dream as a national promotion; and putting the "world" back in the NWA World Title.
TNA is considering ceasing the weekly PPVs in favor of Sunday night PPVs monthly, like WWE. Some say that this will coinside with Impact moving to Monday nights, going head-to-head with Monday Night RAW.
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