TNA Impact Wrestling: Complete Preview, Rumors, News and More for November 7

The Bound for Glory pay-per-view left much to be desired for Impact Wrestling fans, but last week’s show indicated TNA should be moving in a new direction creatively.

Eric Bischoff has reportedly been removed from the creative team, per Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Wrestling News Source), so it is clear that booking for Impact Wrestling will be substantially different over the coming months.

After one of the worst years in the company’s history, it’s time for a fundamental change.

There will always be a transition period, but the groundwork for a new way of running the show can be seen each week. Expect even more improvement this Thursday.

Where: Cincinnati Gardens, Cincinnati, Ohio

When: Thursday, Nov. 7, 9 p.m. ET

Watch: Spike TV 

World Title Tournament Kicks Off

After AJ Styles won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and left the company with the belt and without a new contract extension, owner Dixie Carter vacated the title and announced that a new champion would be crowned. The new title holder will be decided by an eight-man tournament that kicks off Thursday when Chris Sabin takes on Jeff Hardy in a Full Metal Mayhem Match.

Question on Everybody's Mind: Will This Match Set the Tone for the Tournament?

The storyline with Styles and the title may be a carbon copy of what WWE did with CM Punk in 2011, but TNA must go all-in if this is the game plan the company is following. The fans will be genuinely interested in the tournament, and with a great start to the NCAA-style event as Hardy fights Sabin, this should be the start of new era for Impact Wrestling.

Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Positive Changes for the Future

What made TNA so great before was the in-ring work the show featured so heavily. With a change in the creative direction and a resulting tournament that features an amazing array of talented wrestlers, this is a fundamental booking decision fans wouldn’t have seen just a few months ago.

The fact that the company officials are keeping the storylines simple and based on in-ring work is the key to the long-term survival of the business. Fans want to love TNA, and this week’s show will prove Impact Wrestling can change for the better.

TNA Rumors: Update on who is reportedly interested in buying TNA, per F4WOnline via Wrestling Inc.

A Changing of the Guard

The behind-the-scenes changes on the creative team have already started to come through with the booking of the rest of the show beyond the main event. Not only has TNA improved the title scene by leaps and bounds, but each division and wrestler will also be getting a storyline and direction. That’s how a company successfully builds a midcard and secondary title scene that mean something.

Question on Everybody's Mind: What Does Impact Wrestling Have on Tap This Week?

Besides the PPV-quality main event, the secondary battle between Sting and Magnus should come to a head as the two men go face-to-face when Main Event Mafia has a group meeting. Add the medical update on Kurt Angle after his reported injury last week in a match with Bobby Roode, and there will be plenty of storyline evolution Thursday night.

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Positive New Directions

While there was a legitimate concern after Bound for Glory that the Aces & Eights storyline would carry on for another year, it has been relegated to a secondary storyline that features Mr. Anderson trying to take down the remaining members of the group.

With a fitting end to one of the worst angles in history and the possible culmination of the Joseph Park and Abyss storyline, this week’s show and the coming weeks of programming should be very exciting.

TNA News: Impact Wrestling’s ratings fall again, per By the Numbers (via Wrestling Inc).

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