Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Part 1

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American pro wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May of 2002.
The current majority share owner (72%) is Panda Energy International (a privately-held company that constructs, maintains and operates environmentally friendly power plants). The company, which trades as TNA Entertainment, LLC, operates out of Nashville, Tennessee and also has an office in Orlando, Florida.

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

TNA is the first American wrestling promotion to exclusively use a hexagonal ring as opposed to the usual four-sided ring (the Mexican Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) promotion also frequently utilizes a six-sided ring). TNA also employs the unconventional rule that a title can change hands as the result of a disqualification, although this rule is only enforced occasionally. In addition, two separate entrance ramps are used for heels and faces.

When WWE purchased WCW, it became the largest pro wrestling company in the United States. This prompted Jerry Jarrett and his son Jeff to start a new wrestling company in May 2002 in conjunction with the NWA. In October 2002, Panda Energy International bought into the project, becoming the major shareholder.

The original TNA business model was different from that employed by the WWE in several ways. By not touring like other major federations have always done, TNA was able to keep costs down. Until the introduction of TNA Xplosion in late 2002, TNA's system of programming comprised of weekly cable pay-per-views. The first TNA PPV aired on June 19, 2002. The first PPV featured Toby Keith and NASCAR drivers Hermie Sadler and Sterling Marlin as guests.

While most major promotions have aired monthly PPVs, not having a weekly network, a syndicated, or cable show from the outset was very different.
The weekly TNA PPVs were not only priced at much less than the monthly WWE PPVs but also had low buyrates. The weekly events were also transmitted free, although with a six-month delay on The Wrestling Channel starting March 2004.
After 27 months, TNA ceased their weekly PPVs on September 8, 2004.
On November 7, 2004, TNA Wrestling held its first three-hour monthly PPV, TNA Victory Road 2004, but still achieved low buys.