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TNA redirects here. For other uses of the acronym, see TNA (disambiguation).

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May 2002.The current majority share owner is Panda Energy International. The company, which trades as TNA Entertainment, LLC, operates out of Nashville, Tennessee, with an office in Orlando, Florida.

TNA was originally a member of the National Wrestling Alliance, with the company known as NWA-TNA, but withdrew from the NWA in 2004, in the process acquiring the rights to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and NWA World Tag Team Championship until the year 2014.

TNA is the first American promotion to exclusively use a hexagonal ring as opposed to the more conventional four-sided ring (the Mexican Asistencia Asesoría y Administración promotion also frequently utilizes a six-sided ring). The organization also employs the unconventional rule that a title can change hands as the result of a disqualification. In addition, two separate entrances are used for heels and faces.

{WWW.24FORUMS.COM)

24Forums are great

X Division

The high-flying, high risk style of wrestling had been one of the key reasons that viewers tuned in to WCW and ECW. Rather than emphasizing the fact that most wrestlers who perform this style are under 220 lb (100 kg) by calling it a cruiserweight division, TNA Wrestling decided to emphasize the high risk nature of the moves that these wrestlers perform (there is no upper weight limit on the X Division title, though in practice most of the champions have been cruiserweights). To further emphasize this point, the slogan "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits", coined by TNA commentator Mike Tenay during the company's first broadcast, is used to describe the division. Although it was de-emphasized throughout 2004, the X Division is generally regarded as one of the key attractions of TNA and was replicated in several independent promotions. It was featured in the October 4, 2005 DVD release The Best of the X Division, Volume 1.

Authority figures

National Wrestling Alliance

When TNA first launched, the on-air authority figure was a representative appointed by the National Wrestling Alliance. Notable figures include NWA Vice President Bill Behrens, Ricky Steamboat and Bob Armstrong.

Director of Authority

Between July 23, 2003 and June 16, 2005, the on-screen authority figure within TNA was the "Director of Authority". Three people held the position: Erik Watts, Vince Russo and Dusty Rhodes. The position was effectively abandoned after Rhodes resigned from the company.

• Erik Watts (July 23, 2003 - January 28, 2004)
• Vince Russo (February 18, 2004 - November 7, 2004)
• Dusty Rhodes (November 7, 2004 - June 16, 2005)

NWA Championship Committee

The NWA Championship Committee was a group of wrestling veterans who acted as arbitrators, determining a winner in the event of a time limit draw. The committee consisted of Harley Race, Jim Cornette, and Terry Funk, with Funk later being replaced by Roddy Piper without ever having appeared on TNA television. After Race and Piper left TNA, the Committee essentially ceased to exist as a physical on-screen body, although it is still referenced for purposes of angles.

TNA Management

In October 2005, Larry Zbyszko began repeatedly referencing an ambiguous authority within TNA known only as "TNA Management". "TNA Management" has in the past been represented by "special referee" Earl Hebner, "consultant" Dave Hebner, and "messenger" Christy Hemme. The newest face of "TNA Management" was revealed at TNA Slammiversary 2006 as Jim Cornette, who has been called the "Management Director" in press releases following that pay-per-view.

Tournaments

Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament

The Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament was a tag team tournament held to commemorate the memory of the late Chris Candido. As per Candido's role in TNA (prior to his death) of being the veteran who mentored young rising stars, teams were composed of established veterans pairing up with young rising stars. The tournament was won by Sean Waltman and Alex Shelley in 2005, its only year of existence.

Super X Cup Tournament

The Super X Cup Tournament is an annual tournament to determine the best wrestler in the X-Division and to determine a number one contender to the TNA X Division Championship. The tournament consists of eight superstars in standard single-elimination format competing for the trophy and title shot. The 2003 Tournament was won by Chris Sabin, and the 2005 Tournament was won by Samoa Joe.

The 2004 Super X Cup Tournament was a twenty man gauntlet match held at TNA Victory Road 2004 that was won by Héctor Garza. However, Garza would later be deported back to Mexico due to drug possession charges and therefore never got his title shot.

America's X Cup Tournament

The America's X Cup Tournament was a series of international competitions held in early 2004. Tournament rounds consisted of two teams of four X-Division stars (each from a different country) facing off in a series of matches. Points were awarded to teams based on victories attained by their members. The tournaments included Team USA, Team Canada, Team Mexico, and Team Britain. Team Mexico enjoyed the most success, winning the America's X Cup and defending it against the other teams for a long period until finally losing it to Team USA in the World X Cup Tournament.

World X Cup Tournament

The World X Cup Tournament is an international tournament consisting of four teams of four X-Division superstars competing for the World X Cup trophy and worldwide X-Division dominance. Points are awarded to each team based on match victories, but formats and point levels change from year to year.

The inaugural event, the 2004 World X Cup, featured Team USA defeating Team Canada, Team Mexico, and Team Japan to win the tournament. After skipping a year in 2005, it was revived in 2006. The 2006 World X Cup saw Team Canada and Team USA tie for first place at TNA Sacrifice 2006, prompting a sudden death final on the next TNA iMPACT! in which Chris Sabin defeated Petey Williams to win the World X Cup for Team USA once more.

References

1. TNA News: New group makes offer to buy controlling interest in TNA from Panda Energy

External links

• TNAWrestlingUK.com (TNA on TWC Fight!)
• TNAEurope.com (TNA Europe fansite)
• WrestlingWorldOrder.it - TNA (TNA on an Italian site)
• TNA action figures database

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
• American professional wrestling promotions
• Sports in Nashville
• Sports in Orlando
• 2002 establishments
• Companies based in Tennessee