Through the years TNA IMPACT WRESTLING has been bombarded by haters, Most of them are those who have never watched it or are just angry people who have nothing better to do, But to those who know, TNA has produced some of the greatest and most innovative creations and moments over its decade plus long existence and it still continues to grow to this day, But in this article and the following series of articles, We will be reviewing TNA's best moments and shining examples of success. Creating its own mark on already established stars: TNA has been notorious for its habit of bringing in the big expensive names such as Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, But not all of them have had quite the success in other companies such as WCW, ECW or even WWE, But however found success in TNA, Such as Rhino, Christian Cage, Bubba Ray Dudley as a singles competitor, Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy to name a few. In this volume we will be looking at those success stories of those who made the successful transition over to TNA.
"The Icon" Sting
Sting will always be known globally as the WCW's answer to the WWF's Steve Austin, Who also played the character of being between the roles of heel and face. However, When WCW folded, Sting refused to go to the WWE and vanished from the scene for a short while until he made an outstanding piece of wrestling history, When he debuted on TNA IMPACT and stayed there for nearly a decade.Due to his time in WCW, Sting was already a global phenomenon, So this would prove to be a tough challenge to remodel the Icon into TNA's Icon, and keep the Stinger fresh from becoming stale, Much like the Undertaker situation in the start of the new millennia. However, They succeeded, And in great fashion, With Sting becoming a house hold name for TNA for the rest of his time in the company, Seeing several major changes to the Stinger's personality. From the Suited and booted Main Event Mafia member without the face paint, To the crazed Insane Icon phase of 2011, Sting kept the mystique of his legendary character intact and also added to the legend with his great ability to stay ahead of the dreaded stale demon.
"The Iconic" Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy has always been mistreated by never being in the Main Event by nearly every company he has ever been in, From WWF to WWE to Ring of Honor, Where ever the Hardy boy has gone to he has never received the status he deserves, Until he came to TNA in 2014 for his second tenure in the company, Where he would feature in perhaps the greatest series of Tag Matches that have ever taken place, The series would be contested between the Hardy brothers, The Dudley Boys who became Team 3D, And the Wolves (Edwards and Richards). When he and Jeff went on to attain the TNA world tag team titles for the first time, They suffered a major blow when Jeff hurt himself in his private life which forced him and Matt to relinquish the titles just on week after attaining them, But this wouldn't be the end of Matt's glory days in TNA as he would go on to become one of the companies top singles stars. Then the big one finally happened for Matt, When he attained his first ever World Heavyweight championship at TNA Bound for Glory, Which gave him the moment he had always been denied. And then after that, Matt would go on to become a two time heavyweight champion and remain a top star in the company, and then even start his own brand, the Matt Hardy Brand.
"The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy
This one will get the blood racing, As Jeff did have a good career in WWE. Where he was a World Heavyweight Champion and a WWE Champion, Along with the Intercontinental Championship and the Tag Team championships to his resume, But he never was viewed as the top star in the company due to the WWE having an already stacked roster at the time. Now in TNA, Jeff has been given the chance to express himself like nowhere else has ever let him, With the Charismatic Enigma using his own music as his entrance themes and his Willow the Wisp character being introduced to the Impact Zone. Although he may have had more titles in the WWE, His greatest matches and feuds will always be remembered in TNA, Where he has gone to war with the monster Abyss, The Founder Jeff Jarrett, The Olympic Gold Medallist Kurt Angle, To the Icon Sting, And now fighting in the new era with the likes of EC3, Mike Bennett, Lashley and even his bother Matt. Jeff Hardy has had an incredible career in TNA that will stand the test of time as one of TNA's success stories.
Bully Ray (Bubba Ray Dudley) & Devon (D'Von Dudley)
In WWE, he was the leader or the face of The Dudley Boyz, But in TNA, He was Bully Ray, The Loudmouth New Yorker who became a two time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, And the leader of one of the biggest factions in Pro Wrestling of all time, The Aces and Eights. As for Devon, He wouldn't attain the success of Bubba, But he did attain a singles title in the TV Title, Which he had a successful reign as champion in his solo career, Which WWE and ECW never gave him. Kurt Angle The Olympic Gold Medalist had a legendary career in WWE, With matches against The Undertaker, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero and other main event calibre wrestlers. However, when he came to TNA, He had an equally good career and even possibly better than in WWE, With matches against the likes of the Hardy Brothers, Christian Cage, The Icon Sting and Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, James Storm and Bobby Roode to name but a few of the Best that TNA has offered over the years. Kurt would also have his own farewell tour with TNA and Six TNA World titles to his name, Along with every other belt that could have been won by a male.
Christian Cage
Christian would be known as nothing more in WWE as the one who worked with Edge in the Attitude Era or the guy on the WWE Network with Edge, But in TNA, He was a World Champion main eventer! Christian, Who would become Christian Cage [His Early name in Pro Wrestling], And have huge main event fixtures against the likes of "The Monster" Abyss, Kurt Angle, AJ Styles, "The Icon" Sting, Jeff Jarrett and many other top TNA wrestlers during his time in the company.
Scott Steiner
The Genetic Freak, Big Poppa Pump, Scott Steiner, Would go from WWE, To TNA, And instantly garner himself a top spot as one of the companies pillars of stability for the next several years. Steiner had some great moments and matches in TNA, From the early days of the Main Event Mafia with Sting, Angle, Nash, And Booker T, To the Immortal era, Where Steiner was one of Hulk Hogans heavy hitters alongside Bully Ray in the faction. Steiner would not be World Champion, But he was adored in TNA as one of the best to have never been world champ!
Tyrus (Brodus Clay)
Brodus Clay had a similar position in WWE as he is now in TNA, But it would be two different stories. In WWE, he ended up as a dancing joke with former the former A-Train, But in TNA, He would end up having main event matches and even a shot at the TNA world heavyweight championship at TNA Sacrifice 2016!
Mickie James
"Hardcore Country" Mickie James had a decent enough career in WWE, Despite becoming the companies go to girl for insulting gimmicks, From Trish Stratus' lesbian stalker to tieing up Ashley Massaro, To the degrading Piggy James, Which was despicable for a world class athlete like James to have to endure.In TNA, James would become one of the great TNA knockouts of all time, With her bringing her own unique brand of denim and kick ass style, that would make her a Knockouts champion and a Knockouts veteran.
Brooke Adams
She was forever only going to be known as the girl from the Extreme Expose dance group in WWE, But she went to TNA to become one of the most beloved women's wrestlers of all time. Brooke's lovable personality made her an instant hit as a face, And her run as a heel was just as good when she was the "Squeeze" of Bully Ray's during the closing months of the Aces and Eights faction. Brooke would go on to claim three knockouts championships and one knockouts tag team title with the viscous Tara in her TNA career, And will forever be regarded as one of the greatest.
Gail Kim
Gail Kim made the TNA to WWE and back to TNA switch twice during the past decade, And both times in WWE she was unhappy.Vince McMahon's reluctance to put the title on an Asian performer meant that Kim was never going to be high in his books, But in TNA however, She worked to become the greatest ever TNA knockouts champion and would be a key pioneer of the legendary Knockouts division that she helped create.
Mr Anderson
Mr Anderson will always be one of the first to be mentioned when you talk about the WWE/TNA crossover, And with good reason. Anderson would go on to become a world class world champion who would have memorable feuds with Sting, Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan and Bully Ray to name a few of his greatest moments.
The Pope
Elijah Burke, Who was in WWE's rebranded ECW, Was just another mid card talent who was just there, And not seen as important, Would go to TNA and become The Pope D'Angelo Dinero, And he would never look back! His feuds with the likes of AJ Styles, Suicide, Devon and others made sure the world got to see the real talents of The Pope, Who would later become TNA's lead color commentator alongside Josh Mathews.
OTHER NAMES: Sean Waltman, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, Raven, Scott Hall, Chyna, Kevin Nash, Rhino, Rob Van Dam, ECW Originals & Mick Foley, Plus many More!
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