Why I think TNA Wrestling will be competition to AEW

I was listening to 83 Weeks with Eric Bischoff this week, and he mentioned how much he loves the current TNA programming. He said that if they continue in the direction they’re heading, it could lead to bigger opportunities for the company—and maybe even competition for AEW.

That got me thinking. I believe this statement could be true, and I’m going to lay out exactly why I think TNA could become serious competition for AEW within a year or two. In this column, I’ll give you my five main reasons why the TNA product is on the rise—and why AEW should stop worrying so much about WWE and start paying more attention to TNA.

So let’s get into it.

1. TNA Has a Great Roster of Wrestlers

The foundation of any successful pro wrestling company is a strong, balanced roster. TNA has just that: a solid mix of veterans and rising stars, and most importantly, a manageable number of performers. While WWE and AEW each have bloated rosters of over 300 wrestlers, TNA has around 60 active talents (not counting occasional NXT crossovers). This gives TNA a huge advantage—everybody gets time, nobody gets lost in the shuffle, and stories can actually be told.

Take the Knockouts division for example. TNA has done more to elevate that division—and both the Knockouts World and Tag Titles—than WWE and AEW combined. The X-Division is on fire right now with Moose as champion, being chased by rising stars like Leon Slater. The tag division is thriving with teams like The Hardys, The Nemeths, and The Rascalz all playing key roles.

But having a strong roster only matters if the creative is there to support it, which brings me to my next point.

2. TNA’s Creative Is on Fire Right Now

Let’s be real—it hasn’t always been this way. But ever since TNA ended their relationship with AEW, their creative direction has drastically improved. A lot of that started with Scott D’Amore, who helped shift the mentality backstage. Now, the current administration has taken that vision and leveled it up.

What stands out most is how well TNA handles the basics. Whether you’re a longtime fan like me or a newcomer watching for the first time, you can quickly understand what’s going on. That’s crucial.

A perfect example? Masha Slamovich vs. Killer Kelly. For longtime fans, we know their history as former Knockouts Tag Champs (MK Ultra), how they lost the belts, and how Masha turned on Kelly. But newer fans tuning in last week might not know any of that. So what did TNA do? They had Kelly cut a backstage vignette explaining the history. Now, everyone’s caught up and emotionally invested. That’s Pro Wrestling 101. You book your show for new viewers, not just hardcore fans—and TNA does that better than AEW right now.

But of course, I already hear the AEW faithful: “TNA only looks good right now because of the WWE partnership.” That brings me to my third point.

3. The NXT/TNA Partnership Is Mutually Beneficial

Let’s clear the air: partnerships in wrestling are nothing new. WWE partnered with NJPW and WAR in the ‘90s, as well as Smoky Mountain, ECW, and CMLL. AEW partners with multiple promotions right now. So why is this TNA/NXT partnership under such scrutiny?

Because it’s working—and it’s making AEW look bad in the process.

We all remember how lopsided the AEW/TNA partnership was. AEW made it all about themselves and buried TNA in the process. It gave TNA a temporary ratings bump, but it hurt them long-term.

Now fast forward. WWE is doing what AEW failed to do—they’re actually helping TNA look like a threat. Trick Williams winning the TNA World Title is the hottest angle going, and it’s done right. WWE allows the story to play out across both NXT and TNA TV, which AEW never did when they had Omega appear.

The result? Fans who might not even know where to find TNA are now interested, thanks to their exposure on NXT. That translates into more TNA+ subscriptions, more PPV buys, and more buzz. WWE doesn’t need to “buy” TNA. This partnership helps both companies, and more importantly, it’s giving TNA the exposure they’ve desperately needed.

Which leads into my next point…

4. The WWE Partnership Helped TNA Land a Major TV Deal in Canada

Let’s not kid ourselves—TNA’s U.S. TV deal is awful right now. Compared to AEW, they’re in a different league. But that’s not the case in Canada.

Here’s the layout: Canada has two major sports networks—TSN (which carries AEW Dynamite, while Collision is buried on a smaller USA-like network) and Sportsnet (owned by Rogers, home to the NHL, NBA, and UFC). WWE used to air on Sportsnet… until they moved to Netflix.

What happened next shocked everyone: instead of AEW swooping in to take WWE’s old timeslot, TNA did. Now, TNA’s shows—including Impact, Xplosion, special events, and classic PPVs—air on one of Canada’s biggest sports networks. Meanwhile, AEW has one show on TSN, and if you miss it, you’re stuck with the terrible TSN+ streaming service.

TNA’s new deal immediately boosted their visibility in Canada. Crowds are up, and they’re even drawing better in U.S. border towns. And yes, the WWE partnership helped make this deal happen. If this momentum continues, don’t be surprised if TNA lands a better U.S. TV deal next. Which leads me to my final point…

5. TNA’s Ticket Sales Are Starting to Rival AEW’s

Remember when we used to laugh at TNA for running TV tapings in nightclubs and high school gyms? Meanwhile AEW was selling out 15,000-seat arenas?

Fast forward to today. TNA is running 4,000+ seat venues and either selling them out or coming close. AEW, on the other hand, has scaled down. Outside of major shows like All In, most AEW events now draw similar numbers to TNA.

So what changed?

Simple: TNA maximized their limited resources and made smart moves. They capitalized on WWE’s openness to partnerships, invested in marketing, kept ticket prices fan-friendly, and focused on storytelling. Most importantly—they let the product speak for itself. And quietly, TNA has become the best-kept secret in pro wrestling.

Conclusion

I’m not saying AEW is in trouble yet, but I am saying that if TNA keeps doing what they’re doing, they could land a better TV deal in the U.S. and rise to true competition status within the next few years.

Just like Bischoff said on his podcast—if I were Tony Khan, I’d stop worrying so much about WWE and start paying attention to TNA. Because if he doesn’t, TNA will catch AEW by surprise and take over the number two spot in North America.

Maybe not this year. Maybe not next year. But it’s coming. And sooner than AEW fans think.