Who should be in the first TNA Hall of Fame Class? | WrestleZone Forums

Who should be in the first TNA Hall of Fame Class?

JenksIX

Pre-Show Stalwart
Alright, I feel like a lot of TNA fans have a "what have you done lately" attitude toward older talent in TNA. So it got me thinking about who people would choose if they were picking the first class of the TNA Hall of Fame.

To make things interesting, lets say the first ever TNA HOF was held in 2020. That would make TNA 18 years old. Now logically speaking, if TNA holds a HOF, they are not going to induct wrestlers who have yet to retire at that point. So AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and anyone 32 years old and under is ineligible b/c they are SUCH BIG STARS they will probably still be wrestling in 10 years. TNA is already 8 yrs old so you have that history to look back on. Plus, you can also imagine who has the potential in the next 10 yrs, if they stay with the company, to become a HOF.

I'm setting the question up this way, because I want to see who TNA fans appreciate aside from Styles, Joe, MMG, Beer Money, Daniels, and Generation Me who've been on TV twice. Would a seven time TNA tag team champion make the list with the company 6 years make the list?

So ...
-HOF Induction is in 2020
-Must currently be 33 years old to be eligible.
 
well with your restrictions, off the top of my head I would have to say JJ, Sting, Angle, and I guess Nash. One guy who was huge in the beginning of TNA but i dunno if he would get the due was Sonny Siaki. He was huge in 02/03 when they were in Nashville.
 
I'd suppose Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Sting would be my initial Top 3 choices to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Kurt because he was/is such a big part of Modern Day TNA, Jeff because, well, duh he was the originator of TNA. And Sting because he too I believe is a TNA Originator (After WCW)
 
If there where such a thing as a TNA Hall Of Fame, the first person who I would pick would be none other than AJ Styles.

Aj has been in TNA since the companies earlier days in Nashville and has won every single title that the company has to offer.

If you're looking at veterans AJ styles is TNA and will probably have a full time role with the company until its eventual demise or if the company succeeds will probably take on some other role once his wrestling career is up.

AJ has a mind for this business and will take any role to help elevate the company such has his various roles as Heel midcard, tag team champion and comedy Jobber.

AJ styles has done it all in the company and there is no better person to recieve such and honor than TNA's own crown jewel.

I can understand that you don't think Styles is elegable but he is the only man in the company that stands out, He is home grown and one of the biggest homegrown stars that TNA has ever developed and by far the right choice.
 
Lets say 5 people Get inducted then
1.Jeff Jarrett-Founder,Multiple time champ and much More.
2.Sting-Been in Tna a long time has had great matches and fueds and Champ more then once
3.Kurt Angle-Multiple time Champ,Defines TNA over the last couple years
4.Jerry Lynn-Representing the X Division
5.Dixie Carte/Her dad the owners of modern day TNA most Hall of Fames 1st induction mentions the Owners at some point
 
A lot can happen in 10 years. So who knows who TNA as a company, would have grudges against and what not. Here is my pick as a solid class of 10 for 2020. In no order...

1. Ken Shamrock: Because he was the first "TNA" Champion. Or actually Champion Of TNA.

2. Sting: Won't work for WWE and has been loyal to every company he has worked for. I think his resume speaks for itself. He has done a lot in TNA so it is an obvious choice.

3. Chris Harris: He achieved quite a bit of success in TNA. Especially in the tag team division. A smaller sort of name to go along with a list of probably big names to be inducted.

4. Sabu: They look at him fondly in TNA it seems so I could see this happening.

5. James Mitchell: Got to have some sort of manager in there. He did some decent things in TNA. Maybe more yet to come!

6. Booker T: His accomplishments out of TNA are really impressive! What he did in TNA in a short time was nothing to snub your nose at.

7. Raven: He won titles everywhere he was at. I am pretty sure he was TNA world champion. Maybe more than once!

8. Shark Boy: LOL I can see them giving some sort of credit or love to this gimmick.

9. Christian: I think he probably will be relatively done by this time. Did a lot in the business, especially in TNA.

10. Jeff Jarrett: I really have a hard time believing he wouldn't, or they wouldn't, put him in a HOF the first chance they got. He is another guy that has done a lot no matter where he was at. Never won The WWE Title but held numerous titles there, numerous times. And won World Title other places.
 
kurt angle should not be there on this list 4 the same reason hogan cant be his biggest achievement was in wwe his highlight was headlining wrestlemania and it cant/wont/never will be a greater moment except the olympic medal which tna has nothing 2 do with it
 
A lot can happen in 10 years. So who knows who TNA as a company, would have grudges against and what not. Here is my pick as a solid class of 10 for 2020. In no order...

1. Ken Shamrock: Because he was the first "TNA" Champion. Or actually Champion Of TNA.

2. Sting: Won't work for WWE and has been loyal to every company he has worked for. I think his resume speaks for itself. He has done a lot in TNA so it is an obvious choice.

3. Chris Harris: He achieved quite a bit of success in TNA. Especially in the tag team division. A smaller sort of name to go along with a list of probably big names to be inducted.

4. Sabu: They look at him fondly in TNA it seems so I could see this happening.

5. James Mitchell: Got to have some sort of manager in there. He did some decent things in TNA. Maybe more yet to come!

6. Booker T: His accomplishments out of TNA are really impressive! What he did in TNA in a short time was nothing to snub your nose at.

7. Raven: He won titles everywhere he was at. I am pretty sure he was TNA world champion. Maybe more than once!

8. Shark Boy: LOL I can see them giving some sort of credit or love to this gimmick.

9. Christian: I think he probably will be relatively done by this time. Did a lot in the business, especially in TNA.

10. Jeff Jarrett: I really have a hard time believing he wouldn't, or they wouldn't, put him in a HOF the first chance they got. He is another guy that has done a lot no matter where he was at. Never won The WWE Title but held numerous titles there, numerous times. And won World Title other places.

I have 2 agree with you 100 % with the exception of christian for the same reason angle/hogan should never be there
 
Izzardceo, by your criteria in saying that Angle shouldn't be in a potential TNA Hall of Fame, Sting shouldn't be inducted either, since his biggest achievements came during his WCW days. Neither should Nash, since his heyday came in both WWE and WCW. Of course, all belong in a TNA Hall of Fame if one is ever started, simply because they have accomplished a great deal in TNA. And since TNA has no problem acknowledging the pasts of the wrestlers on their roster, they'd equally have no problem giving these men their just due.
 
AJ Styles should definitely be there... he IS TNA simple as that. Sure he's got a long ways to go but he can still go, that's the point.... and he deserves it.
 
Well, as members of the Hall of Fame, I'd imagine they be a little closer to retirement than not, so guys like AJ, Joe, Daniels, etc. are all out for me.

Personally, Jerry Lynn would be the very first name I'd contact, as he was integral to the early X Division and was a fantastic veteran leader for the old NWA TNA.

Second would be Sting, who like Lynn came into the company in the early on and stuck around, despite the obvious offer for a substantial amount of money more from the WWE on principle alone (his wanting never to work for Vince).

Third would be Jarrett, by default, as he is afterall the founder of the company.
 
AJ would definitely go in the HOF, but the guy is still young. Sting, Jeff Jarrett, and Jerry Jarrett would probably be the front runners considering everything they have done for the company and wrestling in general. I wouldn't be surprised to see Terry Funk in a TNA Hall of Fame either. Terry Taylor would probably be put in there along with Dutch Mantell and Kevin Sullivan. I don't think we will see the young stars like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, or James Storm be put in the Hall of Fame just yet.

I also would say that Don West, Jeremy Borash, and Mike Tenay would be put in as broadcasters.
 
If I were to induct anyone into the first TNA Hall of Fame it would come down to five individuals.

1.) Jeff Jarrett - He would be an obvious choice. Founder of TNA Wrestling, and although he never had the drawing ability of the big names, he has contributed a lot to TNA Wrestling.

2.) Kevin Nash - Has been around in TNA for quite awhile now, has contributed quite a bit to the wrestling world in general and in TNA.

3.) Jerry Lynn - Huge part of the X-Division back in the day.

4.) Kurt Angle - One of the best wrestlers to ever step into the squared circle and a six-sided ring, multi-time TNA World Champion, Tag Champion, and even held the X-Division Championship once.

5.) Sting - One of the main reasons TNA got their TV contract with Spike TV. Multi-time TNA World Champion. Not only has he had a decent run in TNA, but has has contributed A TON to the wrestling world.
 
Well, as members of the Hall of Fame, I'd imagine they be a little closer to retirement than not, so guys like AJ, Joe, Daniels, etc. are all out for me.

Personally, Jerry Lynn would be the very first name I'd contact, as he was integral to the early X Division and was a fantastic veteran leader for the old NWA TNA.

Second would be Sting, who like Lynn came into the company in the early on and stuck around, despite the obvious offer for a substantial amount of money more from the WWE on principle alone (his wanting never to work for Vince).

Third would be Jarrett, by default, as he is afterall the founder of the company.

I always hear about AJ/Daniels/Joe/XDivision built TNA. "They made what TNA is today." I was looking to see if any TNA fans appreciated any of the young guys who were with TNA a long time, but were released/let go or any old guys who helped pioneer the X Division. I feel like TNA will never have a legacy b/c the fans don't appreciate it enough to do so.

I'm sure there are more, but IDR is the one guy I've noticed who seems to be out for TNA's best interest on these forums. Sometimes it almost feels like half of the supposed fans of TNA are WWE plants. By that I mean, you only like the stuff about TNA that the mainstream wrestling fan wouldn't get into.
It's like a lot of you want to hold TNA back and don't even know much about it's history. AJ/Daniels/Samoe Joe are not the heart and soul of TNA as everyone seems to thnk.

Rhino has been in TNA longer then Joe and where is his thanks? TNA fans seem to think he's old meanwhile he's around the same age as Styles, Joe, Anderson, Hardy, Morgan, Beer Money and is even younger then Abyss.

I feel as though when Styles is about 35 and limited in the ring, TNA fans will dump him like they have everyone else.

I'm glad IDR brought up Jerry Lynn. As much as everyone complains about old guys and how much better TNA's wrestling is then WWE's ... Angle, Sting and Jarrett are the stand outs for who should be in first HOF induction.

I was writing a response earlier but didn't post ... but I was going to ask ... since X Division is such a big part of TNA how come people aren't mentioning the pioneers of it such as Jerry Lynn (w/TNA 02'-07') or Kid Kash (02'-05') Did Kid Kash even get a pop @ HJ? He wasn't even brought back the second night. I feel even Raven, whose been around forever on and off in TNA, isn't even considered a TNA guy by TNA fans. The guy I was hinting too in the original post (who one person mentioned, props to them) was Chris Harris. He was W/ TNA from 02-08, part of America's Most Wanted ... was a seven time tag team champion. Undoubtedly, a lot of fans of TNA hold Chris Harris close to their hearts as he helped the X Division and James Storm build TNA too what is today?

Another guy I'm pretty sure I still haven't heard said ( I might be wrong ) is Kevin Nash (*whild editing I noticed XTSDlx mention him, good man!). He's been with the company since 04'. If you think Nash has been holding any talent back, check out how many titles he's held in TNA.
Nash brought soli sd promos/skits too TNA. TNA must of gained some recognition from Paparazzi productions and Nash bits going viral.

Anyway, my choices would be Angle, Sting, Jarrett, Nash. My hope is that Mr Anderson sticks it out with the company and if he does, he will one day become a TNA HOF'er. Storm and Rude are 33 so I'm going to have to include them, especially Storm (already a Ten time Tag team champ.)
I suppose as a seventh member of this class, I think it'd be right to include Jeremy Borash.

In closing, I've heard lately that Paul Heyman took nobodies and made them something. I think TNA must also been given credit for this as well. If he were in WWE, AJ Styles would have gotten lost in the fold somewhere along the lines. Samoe Joe wasn't even fat enough to be the likes of Umaga, Rikishi, or Yokozuna. TNA has prospered from aged stars the likes of Nash, New Age Outlaws, Jarrett, Angle, Foley, Steiner, Booker T, Sting ... the list goes on and on. And with these recognizable stars, they brought in spot monkeys and very good wrestlers who would have only rotted away in WWE (Styles, Kaz.)

When I see Styles, I feel like "what if Rey Mysterio had joined TNA in 2002?" Rey might have been even better suited in those style matches then AJ, right? I just feel this is the wrong time for TNA to try and parade AJ Styles as the face of the company. How long ago was it AJ was having to dress up as a turkey and listen to w/e Angle told him to do while he teamed with Tomko.

Anyway, I think TNA has done well with that they've been given. And I feel right now TNA has more World title contenders then ever. I stopped watching when TNA for a while Christian was world champ. I think I also stopped watching WWE for years when Christian was given a more prominent role (Team Canada.)
 
If TNA is around long enough to have a ppv, then most certainly guys like AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels & Samoa Joe deserve to be in the first class. They were there from the start and they worked hard to help get TNA out from being just another small time promotion. Doesn't matter if you like them or not, they worked hard and did everything they could to help TNA along. Hard work and loyalty count a lot with me.

Also, it'd make sense for Jeff Jarrett to be inducted as he was the founder and original owner of the company. Jarrett did have the guts to go out on his own, put his own money into his dream and risk it all so I have to give the man respect for that. I've never been a huge fan of him overall, but I do respect him.

Sting & Kurt Angle should probably also be in the first class. They're two huge stars that came to TNA and, while older, they were able to shine and help to get TNA further noticed.
 
Sting: One of the first truly big names that came to TNA; multiple Championships; really had a 2nd career here

James Mitchell: One of the best managers in TNA history

Raven: The first big heel in TNA; former Champion; did anything asked of him

Jeff Jarrett: TNA founder; multiple Championships; hardly anyone bigger to the existence of TNA

Mike Tenay: Long time play-by-play announcer
 
America's Most Wanted - Easily because they were one of the first real tag teams in TNA. They revolutionised TNA's tag team division alongside Triple X and deserve to be noted for that. Their match with Triple X at Turning Point was a great match with alot of pressure seeing the match was the main event.
Triple X - For the same reason as America's Most Wanted. They set the scale on the tag team divison in TNA.
Jerry Lynn - As IDR said he deserves it as he was an intregal part of the X-Division and a fantastic veteran leader
 
I'm going to ignore that TNA shouldn't have a Hall of Fame for, I don't know, a really long time. The WWE didn't started holding their own HoF ceremonies until decades after the inception of the company at it's purest form... so TNA should do the same. However:

AJ Styles: He has been with the company since the start and has done so much for it. When someone thinks of TNA, the first thing you say is AJ. The pressure of the company has been on his back and he is still doing it... and for someone unknown to create a name for themselves in this company is an achievement in itself.

Jeff Jarrett: The founder of the company that put his life on the line to provide an alternate promotion featuring a division no-one has yet to experience, as well as surviving to become the country's second biggest promotion still being that alternative.


After these two, I'm up in arms as to who could be in the first induction ceremony. A lot of people have accomplished a lot with the company, but none of them have done the overall success that the aforementioned two did... not to mention they could go in at any point. Jarrett and Styles are a MUST in TNA's history. If I had to pick someone else... probably James Storm for his contribution's to tag team wrestling and be one of the Originals or Jerry Lynn for being a pioneer in the earlier days.
 
For the first class on TNA:

1. Jeff Jarrett- obvious reasons, being a founder of TNA, as well as pioneering wrestler for the company who helped to bring about some of the historic matches that we see on many of the Best Of... dvd's that are released on TNA's collections.

2.Sting- again, we see a no brainer here. He was a pioneer in the rivalries of TNA. Whether face/heel, he provided some incredible matches against some of the pioneers of TNA.

3.Earl Hebner & Rudy Charles (former Sr. Ref)- (refs) I know but these are two of the most recognizable refs they’ve had for a while on that show. Especially Earl, with his past from WWE, and the constant history lessons everyone was given on a weekly basis, and how creative would try to put refs in stories every now and then.

4. Larry Zbyszko- This dude was right up there with some of his weird matches with his feud with Raven. Especially since he was a former wrestler himself. His time being ‘TNA Management’ was a pretty interesting time, and caused lots of drama for everyone, wrestlers, audience, and people at home.

5.Raven- the ultimate bad guy in TNA. His famous Clockwork Orange match, the House of Fun, his cult he had with then unknowns Mickie James, and CM Punk. This guy was, is, and always will be the one that likes to make things unknown, and stays true to the ‘cult’ side that made him famous.

6. Jeremy Borash- Why not? This guy has done everything from interviews, to get involved in storylines like buying condoms with Eric Young, to being a witness at the ‘wedding’ of AJ Styles and Karen Angle, to helping follow wrestlers around on their days off, or going to their homes to see why they wouldn’t show up at the Impact Zone. He’s more than just a correspondent.
 
Aj, JJ, Daniels (maybe), Joe, Beer Money will be the obvious ones, these are the obvious ones because they have done so much for the company. Joe, Aj, Beer Money, Daniels and JJ are all TNA originals and have done soo much for the company and helped it become what it is today. I'm not sure about Angle or Sting because of their background with TNA but who knows.
 
Seeing how guys like AJ, Joe, MCMG, and the like still have plenty of years left on their career, I'm only going to include the old veterans that people like to rag on so much with myself included.

Jeff Jarrett - This man is the first who should be thought of for the TNA HOF. It was b/c of him that TNA ever existed. He put his money and ideas into a promotion that has become the second biggest wrestling entity in the world. If there's one man that deserve to be in the HOF it is Jarrett who I actually liked as a wrestler for his career except for his weak finisher.

Sting - One of the pioneer veterans of TNA who helped build the promotion from the ground up. It was because him that you have the known names of AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, etc. b/c his name value helped get TNA noticed.

Kurt Angle - He helped get TNA into the mainstream than any other wrestler before him. It was b/c of Angle and his name, in-ring abilities, and promos that TNA became the real alternative to the WWE.

Raven - This might be a pick that suprises a few people. Although, I believe Raven deserves his spot in the HOF. He was one of TNA's best heels in their early days and helped produce some of the most remembrable moments in TNA history with his disturbing character and hardcore wars.

Jerry Lynn - As many have already said, Lynn was one of the pioneers of the X-Division and helped names like AJ Styles, Daniels, Sabin, and Shelley get over in TNA.

Mike Tenay - As the voice of TNA, I believe Tenay has the right to be in the HOF. He has called about every match in TNA history. He's one of the major parts of the moments that has made TNA what it is today.
 
Sting - Easily the #1 person to put TNA Wrestling on the map. I'd say that he's that he's probably the greatest veteran in wrestling right now, and of course, the greatest wrestler to never go WWE.

Chris Harris - I don't think that Chris Harris has much of a wrestling career now, but during his TNA tenure, he created one of the greatest tag teams this decade, the AMW, almost like a icon of TNA a few years ago.

Robert Roode - Team Canada, Robert Roode Inc., Beer Money, he's done it all.

James Storm - Of course, the alcoholic. He's been in 2 of TNA most memorable tag teams, he's won several championships and he's the one that defys tag team wrestling.

Jeff Jarrett - Founder of TNA, there's not much to be said.

Abyss - TNA's monster. Though his mic skills aren't too good and his wrestling moves aren't that great, he's another one of those icons of TNA.

Christopher Daniels - He has been with TNA since the beginning, from the "Asylum" to weekly pay-per-views, to the "iMPACT Zone" in Orlando. He's been Suicide, Curry Man, and of course, the Fallen Angel.

Kurt Angle - The first big name from the WWE to come (excluding Christian), he, I think is the one guy that made a name for TNA and set the way for other WWE's "future endeavors" to come to TNA. Great wrestler.
 
1. Aj Syles for sure he is the best in TNA and has been there a long time.

2.Sting when he wrestled (properly) last year and before he was great in TNA and was loved by everyone.

3. Jeff Jarrett simple he founded the joint and won titles.

4. Maybe Samao Joe cause hes been there a long time and is awesome.

5. Maybe even Raven because he was there from the start and does amazing matches.
 
AJ Styles just a great athlete, that has been with the company since day 1 and America's Most Wanted because they built the tag team division in TNA
 

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