IMPACT Wrestling is set to finally come to an end in January 2024, with the company set to return to its former Total Nonstop Action ‘TNA’ name.
The relaunch will be made official at the 2024 Hard To Kill event, with new championships reportedly ready to be introduced for the rebrand.
The company renaming back to TNA has given them a buzz they’ve not had in a very long time, so it’s up to TNA to try and capitalise on that buzz.
Here are 9 names that TNA could bring in for the official rebranding January.
9. Suicide
A TNA staple in the early days, many former TNA stars portrayed the role of Suicide throughout the characters run.
From Frankie Kazarian to TJ Perkins, there are numerous young exciting talents that could take on the Suicide mantle should TNA want to bring back their creation.
A character that originated in the TNA IMPACT video game, they don’t come much more ‘TNA’ than Suicide.
There is still one TNA original who could reappear however…
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8. James Storm
Of all the TNA original talents, James Storm is the only name that is currently available for TNA to bring in that isn’t already under contract.
Storm and Chris Harris reunited for the recent IMPACT 1000 tapings, running back America’s Most Wanted for all the long-time TNA fans.
With Bobby Roode still in WWE, AMW would be the tag team Storm would need to be a part of should he return to the company following the rebrand.
Of course, he could just return as a veteran throwback to the old TNA days too, he’s quite versatile.
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7. Dolph Ziggler
So far we have only discussed names that would be returning that are synonymous with the ‘TNA’ brand, but to show they really mean business, a big free agent signing would go a long way.
Enter Dolph Ziggler, whose non-compete clause is set to expire on December 20, just a few weeks before Hard To Kill.
While many expect him to land in AEW should his wrestling career continue, in many ways TNA could be a much better fit for him, allowing him to be at the top of the card, a place some thing he may struggle to reach under Tony Khan.
Ziggler isn’t the only released WWE star who could pop up in TNA, however…
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6. Matt Riddle
The other most notable name WWE let go is Matt Riddle, who the company claimed has ‘burned through too many opportunities’ in the company.
Riddle recently trademarked his ‘King of Bros’ nickname, indicating that his career in wrestling is set to continue once his non-compete runs out.
While AEW may be hesitant to bring in the King of Bros following his WWE departure, TNA/IMPACT would feel like a great place for him to land.
There are a lot of names in IMPACT Riddle would work really well against.
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5. Kurt Angle
You’ve probably heard this fact by this point, but Kurt Angle spent more of his career in TNA than he did in WWE.
Kurt has adamantly said he’s never going to wrestle again, but having him appear on-screen in another role would be a nice throwback to his days in the company.
He doesn’t even have to stick around long term if it conflicts with any kind of WWE deal, just stop by and say hello to his old stomping grounds.
Speaking of legendary wrestlers who spent a long time in TNA…
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4. Sting
Sting announced his retirement on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, with his last match set to take place at AEW Revolution 2024.
Revolution typically takes place on the first week of March, with that likely to remain the case next year.
This opens the door for Sting, who spent almost a decade as part of TNA, to potentially show up and compete one more time in a TNA ring.
As long as they don’t book him against Hulk Hogan again, it should be fun.
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3. Will Ospreay
As crazy as it sounds, it is not out of the realm of possibility that when Will Ospreay’s NJPW contract expires in February, he opts to join TNA.
Ospreay wrestled Mike Bailey at Bound For Glory, and has heavily put over the company following the show, including saying that they are certainly an option for him to land when his deal expires.
Even if he does re-sign with NJPW or signs with AEW or WWE, Ospreay said he hopes to wrestle a match in a TNA ring before his deal expires, so there’s time to get it done anyway if only a one off.
It may all be pie in the sky, but lets have some fun here and not be boring. Keep that in mind when I go over the next two entries…
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2. Mercedes Mone
Mercedes Mone is currently out of action with an injury, but with her return looming, many have wondered where she may make her return.
Mercedes will obviously be back in NJPW and Stardom, as well as many expecting her to show up in AEW, but if the TNA relaunch is real, they’ll need a huge name signing to show intent.
IMPACT’s Knockouts division is presented in a much better light than AEW’s women’s division, and the names that Mercedes could face off with in TNA, as well as potential matches against the other NJPW/STARDOM names.
Trinity is currently the Knockouts Champion, someone Mercedes is VERY familiar with…
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1. CM Punk
Could it actually happen? That has been the question regarding CM Punk potentially landing in IMPACT/TNA recently.
Following his termination from AEW, many expected that Punk would land back in WWE, likely at Survivor Series in Chicago.
However, WWE have reportedly turned down the chance to bring Punk back into the fold, and if WWE is off the table, where else could he land?
Ace Steel, famously Punk’s friend, is now on a trial role as a producer for IMPACT, with the company even planning for him to appear in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet at Bound For Glory, but opting not to do so to prevent themselves from accidentally teasing Punk.
However, Punk was backstage at the following night’s tapings in Chicago, and was said to be open to talking to the members of the roster.
Factor all of this in, and it may not be a certainty that Punk does not land in TNA come January.
I have often mentioned how if TNA’s relaunch is to be a hard reset, a big name signing would be needed, and they don’t come much bigger than this one.
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