Impact Wrestling: Celebrating Notable Alumni Through the Hall of Fame
Impact Wrestling, initially known as NWA: Total Nonstop Action (NWA-TNA), has a rich history of showcasing wrestling talent. Founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett in 2002, following the end of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 2001, the promotion has evolved into a prominent force in the professional wrestling world. To honor the contributions of its most significant figures, Impact Wrestling established a Hall of Fame. This article explores the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame, its inductees, and some of the other notable alumni who have left a lasting impact on the company.
The Genesis of the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame
The Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame was established in 2012 as part of the celebration of the promotion's 10th anniversary. Inductees are usually announced at either the Slammiversary pay-per-view event or on episodes of TNA Impact!, and the ceremony takes place prior to Bound for Glory.
Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees
The Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the company. Each inductee has left an indelible mark on Impact Wrestling's history.
Here are some of the notable members:
Sting: The inaugural inductee, Sting, was a cornerstone of TNA during its formative years, bringing instant credibility to the promotion with his established legacy from WCW.
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Kurt Angle: Inducted in 2013, Angle brought mainstream recognition to TNA due to his Olympic gold medal and WWE fame.
Team 3D (Bully Ray and Devon): Known for their hardcore style and tag team dominance, Team 3D was inducted in 2014. Bully Ray (Mark LoMonaco) is also a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
Jeff Jarrett: A founder of TNA, Jarrett was inducted in 2015 for his vision and leadership in creating the promotion.
Gail Kim: Inducted in 2016, Kim is celebrated for her contributions to women's wrestling in TNA, raising the bar for the Knockouts division.
Earl Hebner: Hebner, a veteran referee, was inducted in 2017 for his long-standing career and contributions to the sport.
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Abyss: Known for his hardcore matches and dedication to TNA, Abyss was inducted in 2018.
Awesome Kong: A dominant force in the Knockouts division, Awesome Kong was inducted in 2021.
Raven: Inducted in 2022, Raven is recognized for his contributions to the company.
Traci Brooks: Inducted in 2023, Brooks is also celebrated for her contributions to women's wrestling.
Rhino: Inducted in 2024, Rhino is recognized for his contributions to the company.
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Bob Ryder: Inducted in 2024, Ryder is recognized for his contributions to the company.
Mike Tenay: Inducted in 2024, Tenay is celebrated for his commentary skills.
Don West: Inducted in 2024, West is celebrated for his commentary skills.
Other Notable Alumni
Besides the Hall of Fame inductees, numerous other wrestlers have significantly impacted Impact Wrestling.
AJ Styles: Known for his incredible in-ring ability, Styles was a cornerstone of TNA's X Division and later became a World Champion. His three-way match against Christopher Daniels and Samoa Joe at Unbreakable received a rare 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.
Samoa Joe: A dominant force in both the X Division and the heavyweight division, Joe was known for his intensity and wrestling prowess.
Christopher Daniels: A veteran of the wrestling industry, Daniels was a consistent performer in TNA's X Division and tag team scene.
Bobby Roode: Roode was a long-time TNA performer, holding multiple championships and being part of the successful tag team Beer Money, Inc.
James Storm: As part of Beer Money and as a singles competitor, Storm was a staple of TNA for many years.
Eric Young: Young was known for his versatility, from comedy acts to being a serious main event player, and held the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
Impact Wrestling Knockouts Who Made Their Mark
The women of Impact Wrestling, known as Knockouts, have played a crucial role in the company's success. Some notable figures include:
Velvet Sky: As part of The Beautiful People, Velvet Sky was a prominent figure in the Knockouts division, known for her character work and in-ring skills. Jamie Szantyr is most prominently known for her work on Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She has paired with Angelina Love to form the wrestling stable The Beautiful People (which has also included at various time Cute Kip, Madison Rayne, and Lacey Von Erich). Working as a heel in both singles and tag-team matches, her job was to help put the faces over. As a result, she had few singles-match victories prior to receiving her own push in 2010. She has since won the women's championship twice, as well as the women's tag-team championship.
Angelina Love: Another member of The Beautiful People, Angelina Love, was a multi-time Knockouts Champion and a key figure in the division.
Madison Rayne: Rayne was a consistent performer in the Knockouts division, holding multiple championships and being part of various storylines.
Mia Yim: Known for her time as Jade, Yim held the TNA Women's Knockout Championship and was a prominent figure in the division.
Chelsea Green: Known for her character work as "Hot Mess" Laurel Van Ness, Green held the Impact Knockout Championship and has worked globally on the independent circuit.
Mercedes Martinez: Martinez is best known for her work for WSU and SHIMMER. She debuted in November 2000 after training under former ECW World Television Champion and manager Jason Knight. She has been a 2x WSU Champion, a 1x WSU Tag Team Champion with Angel Orsini, a 4x WXW Women's Champion, and has won several other titles primarily in the Northeast.
Impact Wrestling's Influence and Evolution
From its inception, TNA was considered the second-largest promotion in the United States behind WWE, a position it would hold for most of the 2000s and early 2010s. During this time period the promotion was known for featuring former top talent from WCW, WWE, and ECW, such as Raven, Jeff Jarrett, and Sting, free agents that were released from the WWE during the time period such as Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, and Mr. Kennedy (who wrestled as Mr.
Initially, TNA's weekly pay-per-view show operated as the company's main source of revenue, in place of monthly pay-per-view events used by other promotions. These shows took place mostly at the Tennessee State Fairground Sports Arena in Nashville, nicknamed the "TNA Asylum". In May 2004, TNA introduced its second weekly television program, Impact! (stylized as iMPACT!), produced at Soundstage 21, nicknamed the "Impact Zone", at Universal Studios Florida and broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN).
In October 2009, TNA President Dixie Carter hired Hulk Hogan and former WCW President Eric Bischoff. Both obtained a position behind the scenes; with Bischoff part of creative and Hogan as a consultant. Under their tenure, TNA would see several revamps in 2010.
In 2024, TNA began a talent exchange with WWE's NXT brand, with TNA wrestlers beginning to appear on WWE NXT and at NXT events, and NXT wrestlers appearing on TNA programming.
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