TNA Report Card: Grading Impact Wrestling 10 Years Later

It's hard to believe we are just months away from TNA/Impact Wrestling celebrating 10 years in business.

Overall, the company has had a pretty solid start. Yes they have been met with a few bumps in the road, but as a whole the company is not in bad shape. As a fan of wrestling,Ii have been keeping tabs on TNA since day one. Some of the moves I have fully supported, while others have left me with my head in my hand.

This article will grade 11 things that have helped and hurt this company. I currently feel TNA's product in it's current state is a solid B. They could clearly do more to separate themselves from the competition, yet they are still giving the fans a nice alternative.

The X-Division Grade: A

Since this division was formed, it set itself apart from other cruiser weights.  It's not just defined by the talent, but by their gimmick matches such as "The Ultimate X" match.

This allowed wrestlers to really showcase what they can do beyond the mat. Obviously, as the years have passed, the X-Division has been through its ups and downs.

However, overall it has and continues to be a great spot for guys of a smaller stature to showcase their talent.

The Arrival of Hulk Hogan and Eric Bishoff Grade: D

I will not claim this era as a complete failure.

Simply because having Hogan has given TNA a big name that can help establish the company in the mainstream media.

Hogan proved his worth in 2011, as he went on a non-stop media blitz to promote Bound For Glory, this was by far TNA's most successful campaign to hype up a pay per view.

On the flip-side of that, the 2010 attempt at rekindling the Monday Night Wars was seriously hindered by Hogan bringing back some of his friends who are no longer relevant or able to go in the ring.

Bischoff has added his insight and years of experience to help TNA's on-air product. However, his constant need to be in front of the camera is a huge hindrance.

In the end, both men have helped and hindered TNA for the past two years. In the end, this partnership of sorts has not been a complete failure.

Arrival of Ex-WWE Stars Grade: B

Love it or hate it, these former WWE stars are named talents.

Some have provided TNA with great content while others like Bobby Lashley  left almost as quickly as they arrived.

Overall guys like Kurt Angle, Christian, Booker T, and Jeff Hardy have helped TNA become more legit. For instance, Christian's arrival was huge for TNA as he left the WWE with a pretty big fan-base and was able to transition that to TNA.

Kurt Angle not only took TNA by storm, he embraced the company and has shown an extreme amount of loyalty to the company.

Yes, Jeff Hardy almost destroyed TNA, but he is still beloved by fans and his merch sales alone is enough reason to keep him around.

In the end, these guys have partially helped build the company to make it more legit. However, Angle is getting up there in years and no one knows what will happen with Hardy, so now is the time to make your own big-named homegrown talent.

Sale to Panda Energy Grade: C

TNA founders Jeff and Jerry Jarrett desperately needed a financial backer to help TNA continue to stay in business.

Enter Panda Energy. The owners of Panda bought in to the TNA product and placed their daughter Dixie in charge of their new venture. Granted for the most part, Dixie does not make the show about her and stays backstage.

However, her loyalty to guys like Vince Russo have hindered the company greatly. Hopefully, with a new creative director in place, they will thrive and see more of a return on their investment.

Handeling of Home-GrownTalent Grade: C

Sadly, as each former WWE wrestler arrived more of the foundation of TNA was pushed to the wayside.

Guys like Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, and Matt Morgan (I know he came from the WWE, but he made his name in TNA) have seen their main-event pushes squashed for the more mainstream names.

Don't get me wrong AJ Styles has had more than his share of title runs. However, in terms of story-lines they should have done better by him.

Samoa Joe, is one of the most agile big men in the business. He not only is menacing looking, but has mat skills, and can also talk on the mic. Having all of these skills would normally scream main-eventer. However, Joe has yet to hold the title more than once and even that was almost five years ago.

Now onto Morgan, TNA allowed Morgan to build his character and give him all the tools he needed to carry the company. Sadly, they haven't felt confident enough to hand him the ball.

LockDown and Bound for Glory Grade: A+

These are TNA's feature pay-per-views and they have successfully promoted both and made them stand apart from anything else they do.

I have seen both live and have witnessed the work that goes into both. If TNA could make the rest of their pay per views shine this way, they very well could give WWE a true run for their money.

Factions Grade: F

TNA has historically loved factions.

However, they have yet to create one that sticks with fans.

Even the Main Event Mafia didn't reach the potential they should have. Especially considering they were created to put the younger talent over.

Now that's not their fault, but Sting's refusal to go full heel was definitely problematic for the group.

Then enter Immortal, Fortune, Planet Jarrett, Christian Coalition, and Team Angle and you are left with a cluster of poor choices by TNA.

Ring Ka King Grade: A

TNA took a big gamble in India that so far is paying off.

The international sister promotion to TNA has utilized current TNA talent, young international wrestlers, and some established WWE cast-offs to create some riveting TV.

Hopefully some of this magic will rub off in the US.

Spike TV Deal Grade: A

In less a span of about five years, TNA went from a weekly pay-per-view to being on a nationally recognized network.

Since their arrival, Spike has thrown a lot of support behind the TNA brand and shows no sign of parting ways.

Impact Zone Grade: D-

I don't entirely fail the I.Z., as it has served TNA well over the years.

However, it's 2012 and TNA needs to get to the next level and start taking their TV tapings on the road.

We have seen what they can do when they are not limited by the confines in Orlando and it's time to bring it on the road for good.

Don't get me wrong; I don't anticipate TNA to do WWE-size arenas, I just would like to see them build their product in different venues each week.

Ultimately, it would boost house show and pay per view attendance and give fans outside of Florida a chance to see their weekly TV offering.

The Knockouts Division Grade: B-

TNA's Knockouts Division has been a great place for up-and-comers to get their start and established names to continue their legacy.

I gave this a B- not because of the women involved as they have proven themselves to be far superior to the WWE Divas, but because of how TNA has handled them over the years.

When this division was first created it took women's wrestling to a new level. We witnessed amazing matches, featuring Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, and Angelina Love to name a few.

Then bang out of nowhere, TNA scaled back on the Division and didn't give it the love it once had.

Now it appears TNA has reinvested in the division, but they really need to start paying these women comparable money to their male counterparts.

Especially, considering several of the Knockouts have another job outside of TNA to help pay their bills.