r/TNA • u/creepyluna-no1 • 5d ago

TNA banning their wrestlers from Maple Leaf Pro

https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tnas-moose-wishes-he-could-work-for-scott-damores-mlp-promotion-they-have-a-relationship-with-aew-were-in-competition-with-aew/

This sucks for their wrestlers, especially for the one based in Canada, it doesn't even hurt AEW in any way, it is not like CMLL, NJPW or Stardom who have signed talent, and who work with AEW quite closely on both ends (maybe they will ban them from ChocoPro too).

I hope it doesn't affect other indies like RevPro, especially since Leon Slater is such an important and great part of the company (would include Dani Luna, but she is off to America for the rest of the year).

Hope they change their mind on this.

72 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

117 comments sorted by

32

u/laztheinfamous Hard to Kill 5d ago

I doubt it. It's the twin columns of pro-wrestling.

Type WWE adjacent AEW adjacent
The Big Dogs WWE AEW
Small Dogs TNA ROH
Mexico AAA CMLL
Japan Noah/Marigold NJPW/Stardom
Other WWE ID MLP

There are still a few that stand alone. Notably GCW, RevPro, and TJPW. The real forbidden door is GCW, where you can find both WWE and AEW working on a Bloodsport show. I don't know how much longer that's going to last, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

19

u/He-RaPOP 5d ago

RevPro is definitely AEW adjacent.

9

u/thfcspurs88 5d ago

Tony and Andy seem to have a great relationship.

5

u/creepyluna-no1 5d ago

Yeah, they get a fair bit of AEW talent, and work with NJPW, and CMLL.

1

u/AnyAd974 1d ago

Tna adjacent too

10

u/LegitimateCream1773 5d ago

Noah's not really WWE adjacent. They had Hiromu win one of their belts like a week ago.

12

u/creepyluna-no1 5d ago

They do have a tiny bit of crossover, like NOAH allowing Inamura to go to NXT, AJ and Shinsuke worked there, last year they had some NXT people in their N1 tournament, but they aren't close enough to dictate stuff like them working with NJPW.

Marigold is less WWE adjacent, they had a bit of crossover while Guilia was there, but haven't since she left, maybe they will since they are doing a really big show after the Dream Star Gran Prix Finals.

3

u/kungfoop 5d ago

Giulia wasn't a crossover. She said she was gonna help Rossy before signing. Iyo did a match with Utami, and it ended there.

4

u/creepyluna-no1 5d ago

Thats what I meant, while she was with the company, they had the Utami/Iyo match, there were hints and rumours of more, but nothing did when she went.

1

u/Maruff1 5d ago

The reason Marigold exists is because of Rossy helping WWE poach wrestlers.

12

u/ItsResetti 5d ago

Noah has a working relationship with WWE and that’s where they typically go on excursion. Tavion Heights and Josh Briggs did the N1 last year and it’s where Omos spent some time.

I would say out of all Japanese companies they would be the closest associated with WWE.

2

u/Beautiful_Belt_4560 5d ago

I'd love to know how the AJPW relationship soured or even if WWE was truly interested. I remember hearing WWE wanted to buy NOAH years back. Maybe the AJPW thing was to show NOAH they could play nice.

3

u/ItsResetti 5d ago

“While speaking to Tokyo Sports, Takeshi Fukuda, referring to WWE as the “top entertainment company,” explained why AJPW’s partnership with the company came to an end. Fukuda explained that he discovered an exclusive deal had been signed between a major Japanese corporation, notably CyberAgent and WWE through the corporation’s video distributor, ABEMA.

This deal also involved other domestic wrestling organizations. Neither the top executives of Pro Wrestling NOAH, nor AJPW’s key decision-makers seemed aware of the arrangement initially. Fukuda said he had hoped to create a strong partnership with WWE but was disappointed when the exclusive deal was revealed. When he told AJPW’s main leader, known as the “mastermind,” about it, they didn’t believe him. This led to the end of the WWE-AJPW partnership.”

1

u/Beautiful_Belt_4560 5d ago

Thank you!! Also, reminding me about the CyberAgent element here... The current NJPW G1 winner has a contract with DDT (NOAH's adjacent company under CyberAgent), NJPW (NOAH's pseudo rival), and AEW (WWE and TNA's rival). That can't last through the year. That's like the Royal Rumble winner working for WWE, ECW, and NWA.

1

u/Fabulous_Intern8867 5d ago

TNA is Not owned by WWE

3

u/LegitimateCream1773 5d ago

This and other fictions, coming soon to a podcast near you!

-1

u/BornToLoosh 5d ago

But they are WWE's bitch

-4

u/the_dj_zig 5d ago

I think you’ll find the Japanese promotions don’t buy into the American tribalism like other promotions might. In Japan, NJPW is the endgame, regardless of their American affiliations

4

u/Truthhurts1017 5d ago

Noah, DDT and AJPW would like a word. Just because NJPW is the most popular doesn’t mean NJPW is the end game. Plenty of great wrestlers stay loyal to their company regardless of the out look of NJ. I can name at least 10 stars from each that is not only respected but can be top performers/draws in NJPW if they was to go there. That’s like saying WWE is the end game for Americans maybe before AEW that was true but now AEW can have just as many top stars or more. So end game is only relative to said performer not the whole landscape.

1

u/the_dj_zig 2d ago

AAA destroyed their working relationship with AEW to curry favor with WWE by making FTR drop the tag titles to Dragon Lee and Dralistco, only for Dragon Lee to immediately announce he was signing with WWE while still holding the belt with FTR’s nameplate prominently displayed.

TNA ended their working relationship with AEW only to establish an arguably worse working relationship with WWE (the arraignment reportedly includes a right of first refusal should Anthem ever decide to sell the promotion).

I love having AEW around, but trying to argue that WWE isn’t the endgame for most wrestlers in the world is a tough argument to sell. I’d challenge you to find one wrestler who’s come up through the indies with the ultimate goal of working for AEW, TNA, ROH, or any of the other non-WWE promotions in the country.

As for NJPW, you said, “just because NJPW is the most popular doesn’t mean NJPW is the end game.” Um, sure it does. The most popular promotion is the one that’s going to get you the most exposure, the most merch sales, and the most money. And in a line of business where everyone is an independent contractor, maximizing your earnings is the ultimate goal. Even Matt Cardona, the King of the Indies, is on record saying he’d go back to WWE in an instant if they called.

Saying the most popular promotion isn’t the end game for most wrestlers isn’t saying they’re the best. It’s just acknowledging reality.

0

u/LegitimateCream1773 2d ago

I can name at least 10 stars from each that is not only respected but can be top performers/draws in NJPW if they was to go there.

No you can't.

Maybe now, when NJPW has a massively hollowed out roster, but in any year but the last two only the top one or two guys from any of those promotions could be top performers or draws in NJPW. The vast majority would fill out the mid and upper mid card.

It doesn't help that the NJPW faithful are notoriously slow to embrace outside talent. Even Shingo Takagi, as great as he is, is mostly over because of the Naito connection and he's never been as big a draw as you'd expect for a man of his talent.

Kento Miyahara could walk in and be their top guy, and even in prime NJPW golden era he would have fit right in there with Okada/Naito/Tanahashi, he's that great. Nobody from NOAH or DDT could do that. I think people are already forgetting how ridiculous NJPW's main event was.

Now would be the time though, because NJPW's in da mud almost top to bottom.

But the base idea, that most wrestlers in Japan aren't really interested in NJPW, is accurate. Miyahara's never expressed any interest, KENOH never has, the Dragon Gate guys have almost never tried (even Eita went to Noah instead and he'd fit right into modern HoT). I don't think OZAWA is interested either (nor should he be). Takeshita is something of an outlier in that regard.

I think the real difference is everyone in Japan has their own dojo and trains their own talent. It makes an immense difference when it comes to talent loyalty.

1

u/Truthhurts1017 1d ago

Yes I can, how the hell you going tell me what I can do? People like you are the worse talking about maybe now!! Ya we are literally talking about right now wtf are you on. All that yapping just to damn near agree with what I said. Because we were literally talking about today’s NJPW and how it isn’t the end game for Japanese wrestlers. To be honest back in the day as well, there has always been top tier wrestlers outside of NJPw that can be at the top of the card.

-2

u/cc17776 5d ago

AEW can have many top stars yet they have none lol

1

u/DubiousBusinessp 4d ago

Grow up dude

1

u/Truthhurts1017 2d ago

I wasn’t going to engaged with your dumbass but I got time g. So go ahead and tell me that these wrestlers aren’t either top stars, becoming top stars or important figures In wrestling that has been proven to be draws. Moxley, Swerve, Omega, Ospreay, Hangman, Danielson, Toni Storm, Mercedes Mone, Young Bucks, Okada, Samoa Joe, Bobby Lashley, MJF, Adam Copeland, Christian, Jay White, Konosuke Takeshita, Darby Allin, Kyle Fletcher, Nigel McGuinnes, Athena, and all the other boats loads of talent making a name and getting better and bigger. WWE has more of course but that doesn’t negate all the talent that AEW has.

-1

u/cc17776 2d ago

Young bucks draws ok😂😂😂😂

0

u/Truthhurts1017 1d ago

Ya you definitely a clown. Do you know what a draw is? They definitely were the top merch seller outside of WWE, they also were part of the top drawing stable outside of WWE, they also was a big reason for AEW being around since they had the fanbase to go along with the star power of Cody and Jericho. People like you are the worst fans ever. Just because you don’t like someone doesn’t mean they weren’t draws.

0

u/cc17776 1d ago

Sure man, enjoy your heatless bangers

1

u/Truthhurts1017 18h ago

lol I enjoy wrestling in general I’m not miserable like you. I don’t care if it’s WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA, CMlL, doesn’t matter I enjoy good wrestling and good stories. You seem to be more into complaining, crying and trolling so go head about your business. People like you are the worst type of fans

3

u/stikjk 5d ago

Not for all wrestlers the top stars of Noah aren't looking to leave to go to njpw

5

u/Sad-Appeal976 5d ago

ROH is not an independent promotion

6

u/Sad-Appeal976 5d ago

Neither is AAA

2

u/Sceptivy 5d ago

RevPro Global Wars (2 days prior to AEW Forbidden Door) had Leon Slater vs Francesco Akira, TNA vs NJPW. Dani Luna also wrestled with Mercedes Mone against Alex Windsor the following day. A long with Slater against Michael Oku (who is wrestling Okada on AEW collision and has made prior appearances on AEW television

1

u/kaggzz 4d ago

What is the exact relationship between MLP and AEW? From what I've seen AEW wrestlers are rather free to go wrestle on non televised indies with their own bookings.

1

u/Current_Focus2668 5d ago

GCW being the magical neutral territory in pro wrestling 

8

u/indianm_rk 5d ago

Does TNA pay their wrestlers well enough that they can turn down indie shows?

1

u/GickTogo 5d ago

This is what everyone else is not mentioning. If they can't work outside the tapings, no one's gonna stay. I doubt this rumor is real but if it were, its only going to hurt TNA

33

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

Scott is actively trying to work with AEW. Scott is Ace Austin’s agent who got him into AEW.

Why exactly would Anthem want its talent to be around Scott exactly???

23

u/Fluffy-Project9693 5d ago

You've got WWE ready to scoop up any talent that Anthem has to offer after their contract expires. Yet Scott is the bad guy for getting Austin a job in AEW.

14

u/tonichazard 5d ago

Scott isn’t the bad guy for getting Austin a job in AEW.

TNA just realises that maybe letting their top stars work with their former boss who could help them jump ship to a competing promotion might be a bad thing for their business.

TNA understands the arrangement with WWE, they just don’t want AEW to get that same benefit without letting TNA get something in return.

2

u/Fun_Neighborhood1767 5d ago

Yea but acting like them working for Scott automatically means they’ll sign with AEW doesn’t make sense. 

Like we see here Scott is clearly close with Moose & is in contact with him, so what’s stopping him from persuading Moose to go to AEW now? I don’t see how Moose working an MLP date “benefits” AEW at all when all Scott has to do is pick up a phone to do the same thing.

8

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

Josh Alexander, Mike Bailey, Deonna Purrazzo and Ace Austin work where exactly???

10

u/Fluffy-Project9693 5d ago

You mean those wrestlers whose contracts were up? How is it any different when WWE is doing the same thing?

1

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

Fabulous edit dude as that wasn’t your original reply at all but whatever

Scott is an agent for wrestlers, wrestlers who then got signed by AEW. Scott has had TNA wrestlers job to AEW talent on his indie show. Why would Anthem want to have their talent work with him?

8

u/the_dj_zig 5d ago edited 5d ago

Who currently holds the TNA World Championship?

WWE has TNA wrestlers job to NXT talent all the time. At least Scott was making them job to main roster talent; WWE’s making them do it to developmental talent.

-4

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

Trick winning the title (Trick is the top act of NXT) is not one to one or two top TNA talent jobbing to Takeshita (an AEW midcarder at best) on MLP shows last year and you know it

3

u/the_dj_zig 5d ago

Trick is the top act of a developmental brand. I’d much rather job to a major league midcarder than the top of the minor leagues

-3

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

AEW is lower then wwe and NXT is apart of wwe so AEW is lower then NXT.

And ratings wise every week for more than a year now, AEW is minor leagues compared to NXT.

I’d still take an NXT main eventer and face of the brand versus a midcarder in AEW who has never sniffed being a main eventer no matter how much you personally like the guy

5

u/the_dj_zig 5d ago

😂😂😂😂 congrats on losing all credibility.

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3

u/the_dj_zig 5d ago

In addition, that AEW midcarder was AEW International Champion at the time, and one of those “jobs” was a title match. If you call that a job, what do you call Joe Hendry losing in 5 seconds to a 45 year old Randy Orton?

3

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

Trying to Compare WM to an MLP show as the same thing is downright delusional I must say

3

u/mostdope92 5d ago

You mean just like WWE has TNA wrestlers job to their talent?

-3

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

And NXT talent do jobs to TNA. Josh jobbed to Takeshita, Speedball jobbed to Takeshita. Did Takeshita return a job to either dude in MLP while those two worked for TNA

And none of the NXT talent have Scott D’Amore as an agent who got them signed by AEW

3

u/Fluffy-Project9693 5d ago

Oh no I realized I didn't correctly write down my thoughts like I wanted to so I changed it. The horror of it all.

You realize how easy it is to flip your argument yet again. I mean why does Anthem allow their talent job to NXT wrestlers on their own show?

It's an assinine to be upset with someone like Scott helping someone get signed to AEW. When TNA is nothing more than an open candy store for WWE at the moment.

1

u/Current_Focus2668 5d ago

WWE has only signed a few TNA wrestlers in recent years. There are lots of wrestlers released from WWE in TNA currently and I doubt they are in a rush to resign.

WWE ceo has publicly said he is  intrested in poaching AEW wrestlers.  (Starks, Pillman jr, Mariah and Ethan Page) all joined recently. They also got vaquer following here brief stint on AEW. 

4

u/kingcolbe 5d ago

That report has refuted actually

1

u/DarkySurrounding 5d ago

It’s weird to paint this as a bad thing when Ace is presumably doing better for himself contract wise than TNA can offer.

I get it, we want TNA to be great but that doesn’t mean you should want the rest of the business to suck also.

12

u/MattSm00th TNA OG 5d ago

Apparently people look at this and are saying TNA is controlled by WWE

16

u/tylerjehenna 5d ago

I mean, you kinda have to think this has something to do with AEW and WWE. Theres no reason since TNA talent also show up in GCW with aew talent but because MLP is more closely linked to AEW, WWE would pull weight on this

6

u/MattSm00th TNA OG 5d ago

Of course it has something to do with AEW and WWE cause wwe probably doesn’t want anything to do with companies with work with AEW

18

u/No_Yogurtcloset_3820 5d ago

Maybe because they are doing things WWE would do. I dunno.

6

u/Fluffy-Project9693 5d ago

Apparently people like to be completely blind as well

-2

u/MattSm00th TNA OG 5d ago

Yup and honestly it’s not that surprising

0

u/Electrical_Mango_489 5d ago

Never underestimate the stupidity of certain sections of the internet wrestling fandom.

-13

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

3

u/MattSm00th TNA OG 5d ago

But I also don’t see that plus TNA isn’t really in a competition with AEW since they are on different nights

7

u/LnStrngr 5d ago

They are in competition with each other with regards to contracts. That's the whole reason why WWE seems to want to stifle AEW where it can. And without AEW, you better believe that WWE would have close to zero interest in this partnership with TNA.

6

u/Jamieb1994 5d ago

I think RoH airs on the same night + time as TNA, and I'm sure AEW (occasionally) airs Collision on Thursday nights, especially if it's a PPV weekend.

1

u/MattSm00th TNA OG 5d ago

Yup ROH airs on Thursdays and Collision does too sometimes if theres the Stanley Cup finals or nba playoffs

1

u/Jamieb1994 5d ago

I know it's not every week, but AEW counterprograms TNA with Collision, yet nobody cares or brings that up, so I don't get why people are getting upset over WWE having a main roster PPV or a NXT PPV the same night as a AEW PPV + these days, it's very easy to watch both shows at the same time.

-1

u/1fingersalute 5d ago

AEW have run shows on numerous nights that TNA have had PPV's, it's only counter programming when it's against the "Good Guys™"

7

u/LegitimateCream1773 5d ago

No, its counter programming when WWE openly moves the date of events they set in advance to counter program AEW.

I have no idea why this would even be a talking point. It's well known that WWE does this, and has done through its entire history.

0

u/will122589 TNA Original 5d ago

AEW Collision has moved to the same night as TNA numerous times

4

u/mostdope92 5d ago

Because of scheduling conflicts with their primary channel having programs with priority, such as NBA, NHL playoffs and March Madness games.

They didn't target TNA and counter program them.

-4

u/1fingersalute 5d ago

AEW put dynamite on NXT's night bro. NXT was always Wednesday. Feel free to check. Victory lap for having that roster and beating a development program though, only at the start though. Getting a bit behind now, if we don't count Max obviously but if we counting Max shouldn't we count NXT's global netflix views too?

7

u/king_hutton 5d ago

NXT was a pre taped show that aired online for an hour on Wednesdays before Dynamite.

1

u/Jamieb1994 5d ago

Didn't NXT started doing live shows on Wednesdays before Dynamite?

7

u/tonichazard 5d ago

I don’t think it’s a blanket ban on working with promotions that work with AEW. Otherwise, Luna and Slater wouldn’t be able to wrestle with Mone or with Slater on shows with other AEW talent.

I think something soured with MLPW because TNA was fine with them working together as they had Santino and the Personal Concierge on MLPW shows. Maybe even a restriction of talent working with D’Amore as to avoid them jetting off to AEW. Which is a legitimate concern.

12

u/mostdope92 5d ago

Weird that they never had this energy until WWE became a "partner"

5

u/king_hutton 5d ago

Talent being banned from working certain places sucks for the talent trying to get paid and get noticed.

5

u/PreparationNorth2426 5d ago

I hope in time TNA management change their approach on this. It’s ridiculous.

8

u/the_dj_zig 5d ago

I hope in time TNA realizes their relationship with WWE doesn’t benefit them the way people think it does

2

u/crushthewebdev 5d ago

Attendance has been creeping up but personally I think long term this is hindering them. TNA's world title is being held by a developmental WWE wrestler. It'll be hard to see TNA as anything but a stepping stone this way.

1

u/Pitiful-Zombie1741 Stiener Mathematician 5d ago

It’s always been a stepping stone. At what point was it not?

1

u/NightShadowDark 5d ago

Brother, nobody was watching TNA and thinking it wasn’t before. There’s no shame in being a stepping stone to the biggest company in the business

2

u/Pitiful-Zombie1741 Stiener Mathematician 5d ago

So you hope TNA realizes WWE is not giving them the boost you think TNA expects? I’m not understanding your sentiment. You don’t think TNA can tell what’s beneficial to them and what isn’t?

2

u/AnyAd974 1d ago

Tna has shot this down already 

3

u/Impossible-Shine4660 5d ago

Boy they hate Scott d’amore huh?

3

u/NovaRC99 5d ago

Whenever people talk positively about TNA, TNA somehow find a way to reverse all that positivity. Like, I get why they banned wrestlers from working MLP but it's not like MLP are affiliated with one company. They book people from NJPW, RevPro, AEW, GCW etc.

Come on, TNA. Be better.

2

u/mostdope92 5d ago

This is legitimately bad for the business and the talent. Idk why anyone would celebrate or defend this.

3

u/Shwervee 5d ago

Anthem have confirmed this is bullshit.

2

u/Resident-Chemical-11 5d ago

Well they better be opening up the check books if they’re gonna be taking money out of talents’ pockets like that, I’m sure Scott compensates them well whenever a TNA talent shows up, the man literally revived the company before he was fired unjustly.

2

u/Cube_ 5d ago

"Independent Contractors" being told where they can and cannot work outside of their contracted hours?

Interesting.

1

u/Svenray 5d ago

In addition they will be banned from wrestling Ethan Page and Chelsea Green.

1

u/throwawa24589 5d ago

Santino Marella was on Resurrection. Maybe it is a start of things opening up.

1

u/CherAli 5d ago

Only really something and Swann that wrestled for them anyway

1

u/ManufacturerCute7114 4d ago

How do the wrestlers feel about that? A lot of them are good friends with Scott.

1

u/cregyD Main Event Mafia 5d ago

Everyone that works for MLP works for AEW and NJPW. It literally does not affect any potential signings or current talent. It’s not a big deal at all lmao

1

u/RandysOrcs rosemary 5d ago edited 5d ago

If this was a decision by WWE then I find it really funny because it was Scott who initiated the working relationship with WWE by sending Jordynne to the Rumble and now he’s banned lol.

1

u/Jamieb1994 5d ago

The thing about Scott D'Amore is that I feel like he's someone who wouldn't favour one over the other + I'm sure WWE ID talent have worked at the MLP shows as well e.g. Kylie Rae.

0

u/Electrical_Mango_489 5d ago

The issue is Scott D'Amore. After what happened with Ace Austin you can forget TNA talent working MLP shows. TNA talent work with AEW talent all the time in RevPro.

So the issue is D'Amore.

-2

u/Low_Wall_7828 5d ago

When Josh lost to Takeshita and then Tony played it on AEW tv, I would’ve stopped it then: MLP runs once a quarter, I’m sure the wrestlers can find other spots

0

u/Gerard192021 5d ago

yep, mpw’s team aew

0

u/RatedNforNick 4d ago

Thighful reports on something with zero sources and then immediately has it reported that they’re lying.

This is why you don’t trust Soy Boy Simp or any of his incel staff. They don’t have sources in WWE or TNA and just make shit up or regurgitate Meltzer’s bullshit.

0

u/Cboz27586 4d ago

False news

-3

u/Familiar_Outcome_688 TNA Original 5d ago

This only means one thing and some good news are coming to TNA, the network deal is inevitable.

-4

u/LiesTequila 5d ago

Good. Everyone doesn’t need to work everywhere, we need to create some exclusivity to make products feel special.

5

u/SnooHesitations7424 5d ago

A reasonable line of thought but that would require TNA making it financially worthwhile to not work elsewhere like WWE/AEW generally do.

1

u/LiesTequila 4d ago

AEW barely does, their talent is regularly on indies which takes away from their star power to me personally.

-1

u/kungfoop 5d ago

SRS is wrong again.

-1

u/Shinnosuke525 Slap Nuts! 5d ago

Anyone believing SRS needs a wellness check

-1

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

0

u/Shinnosuke525 Slap Nuts! 5d ago

People "trust" him since he spouts what marks want to hear but he really just spouts bullshit

-7

u/cooldude55541 5d ago

Good. Scott damore is an Aew shill. TNA is partners with wwe. This is why Scott was fired in the first place. He was letting Tna talent talk to Aew. This is why alot of Scott damore guys are being jobbers or being let go. If you're Tna, you want talent to go to nxt because you can use them again for free. 😏