TNA: Carlos Silva on NXT, TV & Gail Kim Exit
TNA Wrestling Eyes New TV Deal, Live 52-Week Schedule, and Addresses Gail Kim’s Departure
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TNA Wrestling is undergoing significant changes and exploring enterprising growth plans, according to president carey silva’s recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s IMPACT show. Silva discussed a burgeoning partnership with WWE’s NXT,the pursuit of a new television deal potentially featuring a live,52-week schedule,and the difficult decision to part ways with veteran Gail Kim.
TNA & NXT: A Collaborative Relationship
The relationship between TNA and NXT has been mutually beneficial,with talent appearing on each other’s programming. Silva emphasized the positive nature of this collaboration.”Your seeing our wrestlers on CW on Tuesday nights, on NXT shows almost every week,” Silva stated. “And they continue to support us. We continue to support them.” This partnership highlights a willingness to work with competitors to elevate the professional wrestling landscape as a whole, offering fans more compelling content.
The Hunt for a New TV Deal & Going Live
A key focus for TNA is securing a new television deal. Silva revealed they are in a “60 to 90 day window” to finalize something,acknowledging the rapidly evolving media landscape.”The media landscape is changing every single day and literally, week-to-week, things are changing,” Silva explained. “We just saw some other networks that are going to get sold again this week that are changing hands. You never know. It’s never done until the Is are dotted and Ts are crossed.”
Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the potential deal is the possibility of broadcasting IMPACT live for 52 weeks a year. Silva confirmed multiple partners have expressed interest in this format.
“We’ve been asked by many partners that they’d like it to be live 52 weeks a year so we’re talking through how we would do that. maybe it wouldn’t go live in January, straight away, 52 weeks, but we would certainly lean into that to try and make it happen.” This move would represent a significant investment in the product and a commitment to delivering consistent, real-time action to fans.
Will IMPACT Remain on Thursday Nights?
Currently airing on Thursday nights, TNA is considering its options. Silva acknowledged the importance of avoiding direct competition with other major wrestling promotions.
“Could be up for grabs. You’d have to look at the crowded (landscape). You don’t want to go [says “collision” but unclear if referencing head-to-head with another show or AEW Collision] and you don’t want to start playing that game. Thursday has worked out well so far.” Maintaining a strategic time slot will be crucial for maximizing viewership and establishing a consistent viewing habit among fans.
Addressing Gail Kim’s Departure
One of the most sensitive topics discussed was the recent departure of Gail Kim,a TNA mainstay for 17 years. Silva described the decision as incredibly difficult but necessary for the continued growth of the organization.
“When you come into an organization, you have to look at what’s working and what’s not working, and sometimes you have to make changes, because you got to move forward to continue the growth…and so I had to make a couple of hard decisions, not just with Gail, but with a few other staff, to try and maybe reinvigorate… what I think was already going well.”
Silva acknowledged reports of locker room upset, stating, “Gail had been there a long time. Of course, it wasn’t an easy decision to make. It was the most difficult decision I had to make so far in running TNA, but I think what’s crucial is what you do after that, and how you bring people together.” The move signals a willingness to make tough choices to shape the future of TNA, even when it means parting ways with beloved figures.The full interview with Carey Silva can be found at the 1:55:15 mark of the IMPACT show: