TNA Heading For Maximum Impact

Michael Benjamin Thomas

Fans in the United Kingdom are bracing themselves for Total Non Stop Action's Maximum Impact Tour.

Fresh off the back of a successful tour earlier this year, TNA quickly made plans to return to the UK. January 2009 will see them head across the Atlantic to stage their Maximum Impact Tour. Due to kick of on September 20th at the Manchester Evening News arena, the tour will stage the four biggest shows in TNA history. Each of the scheduled arena's can hold up to 15 000 people, that's over ten times more than Soundstage 21 in Orlando Florida.

Popularity of TNA in the United Kingdom has skyrocketed over the past year. After securing a TV deal with Sky TV's Bravo and showcasing its talent in the midlands last summer, foundations are now being laid for a live Impact taping to take place at London's Wembley Arena. There is also talk about staging a live pay-per-view in England, something the UK fans have been screaming for since the summer of 92.

So why is TNA so popular overseas?

One possible answer could be that the ratings for WWE and TNA are a lot closer in the United Kingdom than they are in North America, with TNA getting a win every so often. However, Raw and Impact occupy completely different time slots. In the last week of October both shows received 53 000 views.

Back in the days before Impact actually had a UK TV deal, Raw used to air on Fridays at 9pm. Fans complained that they couldn't log onto a computer without seeing the results so the show was moved to a 2am live airing on Tuesday mornings. Impact is currently aired at 9pm on Saturday nights, meaning you don't have to be an insomniac to watch it. Bravo also airs all of the TNA pay-per-views free of charge while the WWE pay-per-views now cost £15 (they used to be free.)

You also have to respect the fact that TNA manages to keep its ticket prices down. To see the WWE live in the UK will cost nearly double what it does to watch TNA. With the current state of the financial climate on both sides of the pond, TNA tickets guarantee value for money.

Rarely performing to more than 1500 people in North America, it is clear that TNA values its English fans. Speaking after the highly successful UK Impact Tour, TNA President Dixi Carter said:"The reception TNA Wrestling received this week from the UK fans has been nothing short of incredible and we look forward to returning in January."

It's not just TNA management who have been impressed with the English fans. Earlier this month Kurt Angle spoke to professional wrestling and MMA publication Fighting Spirit Magazine: “I can tell you this, and Im being straight up completely honest; if it were not for England TNA would not exist today. They have given us a chance to go out internationally and now other countries are starting to take notice."

It seems as if TNA is taking steps in the right direction as far as product expansion goes, but it still has some work to do. Kevin Nash, Sting and Mick Foley will not be appearing on the Maximum Impact Tour. Apart from the ego's of involved with these names it raises a bigger question: how much profit, if any, will TNA make from the forthcoming tour? They will of course be hoping to cover the costs of the shows, but to do that they are going to need very healthy ticket sales. If they can sell 10 000 tickets for each arena, not only will the shows look as hot as anything WWE have staged in the United Kingdom, but they will have taken huge strides towards global acceptance.

The dates for the tour are:

Tuesday January 20 - Manchester Evening News Arena

Wednesday January 21 - National Indoor Arena - Birmingham

Thursday January 22 - Braehead Arena - Glasgow, Scotland

Saturday January 24 - Wembley Arena - London, England

Fans can purchase tickets for the shows at http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/. The line up for the cards is not yet known, but we will bring you the full card details as soon as they are announced.