Impact Wrestling/TNA helped create some of the biggest stars in wrestling by giving them a platform outside of WWE. The combination of homegrown talents making their name with hunger and established talents wanting to prove they could thrive without WWE helped put together a great roster. Even when fans were unhappy with the creative side, the wrestlers were viewed with respect.
Ranker is a great site for finding out what the average person thinks since readers vote to decide the list. TNA having such a varied history of names made for a wild list of main eventers, mid-carders and unique gimmicks from the time. Each of the following wrestlers received the most love on Ranker as the top ten TNA wrestlers ever (the full list may be viewed here).
10 Eric Young
TNA fans to watch the entire run know just how important Eric Young was to the promotion. Young was placed in every role possible for TNA and always did his best to make it work. The comedy years allowed EY to be a fun character joking around with the audience.
Young eventually moved into a main event role by winning the TNA World Championship. Ranker placed EY tenth overall to just make the list above some other noteworthy names like Samoa Joe, Bobby Lashley, Awesome Kong and James Storm.
9 Jay Lethal
A somewhat surprising name to make the top ten Ranker choices of TNA stars is Jay Lethal. Many fans have love for Lethal due to his memorable moments in TNA standing out over names that accomplished greater levels of success.
Lethal was most successful in the X-Division with six title reigns. However, the impersonation of Ric Flair going back and forth with the legend is what fans remember most. Lethal also did a great job with his Randy Savage impression during the Black Machismo phase of his career.
8 Sting
TNA signing Sting was viewed as a move to put them at the next level when having the former WCW star return to wrestling. Sting spent almost a decade in the company with most of his time coming in the main event picture.
The four TNA World Championship reigns and one NWA Heavyweight Championship reign in TNA helped define his career as a champ. Sting also had some of the best matches of his career with Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett and AJ Styles to get a top ten spot.
7 Jeff Hardy
Jeff Hardy was another established main eventer to join TNA and add another noteworthy chapter to his legacy. The most embarrassing moment of Jeff’s career came when performing under the influence, but he also rebounded to come back from it.
Hardy won the TNA World Championship on three occasions and helped the company grow with his name value. Ranker voters placed Jeff seventh on the list at a strong spot for all his accomplishments in the company during their better memories.
6 Abyss
The homegrown success of Abyss gave TNA a noteworthy talent to have in the early years and remain for well over a decade. Abyss was viewed as a character inspired by Kane and Mankind with the fans buying into him.
The booking went back and forth, but Abyss stayed relevant by becoming an all-time great hardcore wrestler always putting his body on the line. Ranker voted Abyss to a high sixth spot showing the fans truly appreciated his contributions to TNA.
5 Christian Cage
TNA signing Christian Cage was the first instance of a relevant WWE star choosing to leave the company and join TNA. Christian wanted to prove he could thrive as a main eventer during his time away from WWE with the goal to eventually return a bigger name.
The plan worked out as TNA quickly placed the NWA Heavyweight Championship on him within a few months. Christian had a great run in TNA having big main event matches and putting over new stars. Ranker’s top five status for him is well deserved when looking back at his work.
4 Gail Kim
Few wrestlers boosted their legacies as strongly in TNA as Gail Kim during her time there. WWE dropped the ball with Gail twice leading to her joining TNA each time. The Knockouts division became a massive success thanks to Kim leading the way.
Seven Knockouts Championship reigns and one Knockouts Tag Team Championship reign just paints a small part of the picture. Gail was the standard-bearer for the division leading to classic matches and feuds building new stars. Ranker readers showed their knowledge by voting Kim to a top four spot in their Mount Rushmore of TNA talents.
3 Kurt Angle
Kurt Angle joining TNA gave them their biggest star when he left WWE and made the move to the new promotion. Unlike other veterans who were criticized for not giving their all, Angle wanted to have even better matches in TNA and always left it in the ring.
The matches with AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Mr. Anderson, Sting and many others showed how Angle could work effectively with anyone. Angle set the record for most TNA World Championship reign at six total. The third all-time spot on Ranker shows how much fans respected Angle’s TNA work.
2 Bobby Roode
WWE fans who don’t watch other promotions would be stunned to learn that Bobby Roode was the longest-reigning TNA World Champion of all-time. Roode has a solid role in the tag team division today, but he was one of the cornerstones of the TNA roster.
TNA used Roode in every role from the Team Canada faction to Beer Money tag team to singles success as a world champ. Roode will likely always be viewed as a TNA guy despite the long WWE run in recent years. The second overall spot on Ranker makes Roode a valued TNA legend.
1 AJ Styles
Ranker readers got it right by voting AJ Styles as the greatest overall wrestler in TNA history. It has been over eight years since Styles left TNA, but he is still the name most fans list when talking about the company’s greatest performer.
The company starting out saw AJ breaking out in the early Asylum years and staying loyal to its growth. Styles always delivered outstanding matches and made the most out of what was given to him. Once his career ends, TNA will absolutely want to induct AJ into their Hall of Fame.