TNA commentator Tom Hannifan compares the current atmosphere in TNA to WWE NXT’s peak period.
After WWE released him following nine years with the company, Hannifan joined TNA Wrestling in early 2022. Since then, he has actively served as the play-by-play commentator. Now entering his third year with TNA, Hannifan shares his insights by highlighting the similarities between TNA’s current vibe and the celebrated era of NXT.
Speaking on B4theBell, Tom Hannifan discussed the current energy surrounding TNA Wrestling. “Yeah, I mean, it’s (TNA Wrestling) booming at this point in time. We were talking about it like a couple weeks ago. We were at some shows recently and we were like, ‘Man… the crowd was good but a little quiet tonight’ and I was like, ‘You know what? We’re getting spoiled.’ Because when I first started with the company, you were happy if there were 400 people in the audience and this was when it was first IMPACT Wrestling and it was a little culture shock for me admittedly and now getting to the point where we just put I think about 4,000 people in the building for Rebellion.”
“The tickets are on sale for Slammiversary where the Islanders play out on Long Island and we haven’t announced a match yet and I think I checked. It’s like 2,600 tickets according to WrestleTix are gone so I don’t know any inside information. I just read stuff online but, it’s just at a really cool point and then doing this stuff out here in Irvine (California).”
Tom Hannifan compares TNA’s current rra to WWE NXT’s golden years
“To me, ever since I joined the company and especially now, it feels a lot like 2014 to 2016 era NXT, where you have those guys that it’s like hey, I don’t quite know them but I’m familiar with them or I’ve heard of them on the indies or young guys or something like that but then you’re bringing in the Samoa Joes, the Bobby Roodes, the Eric Youngs. Ironically, all TNA guys but Shinsuke Nakamura and then you have the backend of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, those guys.”
“So I think we have that nice balance of obviously The Hardys, Nic Nemeth. A lot of guys that worked in WWE at one point. Brian Myers, Moose, Eddie Edwards. Dirty Dango, J.D.C., whatever you wanna call him. We have this great group of veterans and then we have all these guys that if you don’t know. You should know and then we have maybe the hottest act in wrestling in Joe Hendry and there’s (these) great opportunities as well for our women’s division now that Jordynne Grace is off to NXT at this point in time. Masha Slamovich has done well. Tessa Blanchard came in December I wanna say but there’s just a big opportunity at this point so, that’s how it’s always felt to me is that it feels like 2014, 2016 NXT but that’s just my opinion.” [H/T: Fightful]
