The history of TNA featured the company trying to use the established WWE and WCW model of having monthly three-hour PPVs. It took a few years for TNA to grow towards the point of having a weekly television deal and a monthly PPV to pay off the storylines. TNA would have that formula for about eight years before limiting their PPVs due to the drop-off in buy rates.There were quite a few years of the company peaking with the audience investing money into the storylines. The goal of having PPVs that fans purchased were impressive for a short time before having more ups and downs. Estimates are available for the total purchases, rounding up to 5,000. The following PPVs delivered the strongest buy rates in TNA.
10 Bound For Glory 2005: 30,000 - 35,000 Buys (Rhino Vs Jeff Jarrett)
The first Bound for Glory PPV in 2005 was a huge deal when TNA tried to make it their biggest show of the year. Even the unfortunate scenario of Kevin Nash getting pulled from the main event due to health issues didn’t harm the show’s success.
Rhino won a gauntlet to get the main event slot against Jeff Jarrett and won the NWA Heavyweight Championship. The rest of the card was strong with matches like Samoa Joe vs Jushin Liger and AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels appeasing the diehard fans. TNA received between 30,000 and 35,000 buys for this event.
9 Destination X 2011: 35,000 - 40,000 Buys (AJ Styles Vs Christopher Daniels)
TNA showing love to the X-Division led to strong success for the Destination X 2011, scoring the biggest buy rate for a PPV in the Hulk Hogan era. The PPV received between 35,000 and 40,000 buys with a lot of interest in the company celebrating their roots.
AJ Styles vs Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe vs Frankie Kazarian, Rob Van Dam vs Jerry Lynn, and every other bout on the card featured the X-Division spotlighted. TNA going away from the new Hogan approach instantly improved the buy rates.
8 Bound For Glory 2008: 35,000 - 40,000 Buys (Sting Vs Samoa Joe)
Bound for Glory continued to be a strong source of revenue for TNA throughout the first four years. The 2008 event featured a major main event of Sting vs Samoa Joe to help lead the event to an impressive 35,000 to 40,000 buy rates.
TNA did a good job adding other high-profile matches like the first Kurt Angle vs Jeff Jarrett bout and a triple threat of Booker T vs AJ Styles vs Christian Cage. The show was met with mixed results and likely played a role in few PPVs after this one topping that number.
7 Lockdown 2009: 35,000 - 40,000 Buys (Mick Foley Vs Sting)
TNA turned back the clock by tapping into an old WCW feud to sell Lockdown 2009. Mick Foley made his return to the ring after coming out of retirement to challenge Sting for the TNA World Championship in a Steel Cage match.
The two stars were way more popular than their previous matches before Foley truly broke out. Other strong matches included the Front Line vs Main Event Mafia Lethal Lockdown match and Team 3D vs Beer Money. TNA received between 35,000 and 40,000 buys for the all-cage PPV.
6 Bound For Glory 2007: 35,000 - 40,000 Buys (Sting Vs Kurt Angle)
Another strong Bound for Glory PPV came in 2007 with the massive main event of Sting challenging Kurt Angle for the TNA World Championship. The two biggest names in the company facing off helped the show draw between 35,000 and 40,000 buys.
Samoa Joe vs Christian Cage, the Steiner Brothers vs Team 3D, and Gail Kim becoming the first Knockouts Champion all provided strong reasons for fans to tune in. TNA was witnessing one of its highest momentum points around this time with a home run from their biggest show of the year.
5 Lockdown 2006: 40,000 - 45,000 Buys (Sting's Warriors Vs Jarrett's Army)
The second Lockdown PPV for TNA came in 2006 and showed the appeal of an all cage match show with 40,000 to 45,000 buy rates. TNA utilized the old WarGames concept for their own name of Lethal Lockdown to see Sting’s team of faces getting the better of Jeff Jarrett’s heel group.
Christian Cage retained the NWA Heavyweight Championship over Abyss is another great cage match that could have easily main evented. The entire card provided interest with Team 3D vs Team Canada, Samoa Joe vs Sabu and Senshi vs Christopher Daniels all having appeal.
4 Final Resolution 2006: 40,000 - 45,000 Buys (Sting & Christian Cage Vs Jeff Jarrett & Monty Brown)
The main reason for the success of Final Resolution 2006 was thanks to it being Sting’s first show after signing a full-time deal with TNA. Sting teamed with fellow top face Christian Cage to get the better of main event heels Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown.
A deep card of Samoa Joe vs Christopher Daniels, Team 3D vs America’s Most Wanted, and AJ Styles vs a young Hiroshi Tanahashi all added to the success of the night. TNA witnessed the hype pay off with an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 buy rates.
3 Lockdown 2008: 50,000 - 55,000 Buys (Samoa Joe Vs Kurt Angle)
TNA spent over a year building up the rivalry between Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe before Joe won the TNA World Championship. Lockdown 2008 was the event where Joe finally had his big moment in a Steel Cage match, and the fans clearly cared with 50,000 to 55,000 buy rates.
Team Christian Cage vs Team Tomko in Lethal Lockdown added a semi-main event of star power with names like Sting, Kevin Nash, AJ Styles and Team 3D involved. This show was actually the most purchased event in the United States, but the international numbers placed two shows above it.
2 Bound For Glory 2006: 55,000 - 60,000 Buys (Sting Vs Jeff Jarrett)
An argument can be made for Bound for Glory 2006 being the greatest event in TNA history. The momentum following this night had fans hoping that TNA could become the new WCW and challenge WWE as the top wrestling promotion.
Sting defeating Jeff Jarrett for the NWA Heavyweight Championship and Kurt Angle making his PPV debut in a brawl with Samoa Joe created unforgettable memories. Other strong matches included AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels vs LAX, Christian Cage vs Rhino and Chris Sabin vs Senshi. TNA received 55,000 to 60,000 total buys for this stellar PPV.
1 Genesis 2006: 55,000 - 60,000 Buys (Kurt Angle Vs Samoa Joe)
The most successful TNA PPV featured Kurt Angle making his in-ring debut against Samoa Joe. TNA didn’t want to waste time with their biggest dream match as Joe’s unbeaten streak was on the line against Angle in his first TNA bout.
Many fans debate that TNA made a mistake having Joe lose, but the Genesis 2006 event drew almost 60,000 buys. Abyss beating Sting for the NWA Heavyweight Championship and AJ Styles facing Christian Cage provided strong upper card depth. Genesis became the most successful PPV in TNA history that was never topped.