Dixie Carter’s influence in TNA played a huge role in the company never hitting the expectations many fans and wrestlers had for the company. Huge names like Sting, Hulk Hogan, and Kurt Angle could not get TNA over the hump as a viable top promotion. Carter becoming a bigger part of the show coincided with wrestlers feeling she made bad decisions.
There were a few wrestlers considered to be favorites of Dixie that played a role in their television runs. Carter’s opinion clearly mattered since her family owned the company and had the future of the roster in their hands. During that time, Dixie invested in some stars who ended up being complete flops for the company.
10 Hulk Hogan
The move of Hulk Hogan joining TNA was done by Dixie Carter believing it would be the signing that put them over the top. Dixie developed a trust in Hogan and believed he could deliver everything he claimed he could.
Hulk Hogan, unfortunately, failed from the start with his concepts of restarting the Monday Night Wars and bringing in forgotten names from WWE missed the mark. Carter gave Hulk power for a few years until he left the company by choice when WWE wanted him back.
9 Jessie Godderz
Dixie Carter played a role in a few of her favorite wrestlers entering her own personal faction. The heel faction titled Dixieland tried to take over the company in storyline with Carter abusing her power as an evil villain.
Jessie Godderz joined the faction and had the support of Dixie among others backstage. Jessie's history on the reality show Big Brother helped him land his spot in the company as Carter was known for enjoying reality show crossovers. Unfortunately, Godderz didn't pay off as well as Dixie anticipated.
8 Tito Ortiz
The rise of MMA and UFC led to Tito Ortiz becoming a name that Dixie Carter wanted to work with. Tito made a few appearances for TNA with his roles typically coming as a special guest referee. TNA hoped that new viewers would give them a chance with Ortiz appearing.
However, they went too far when Carter brought Tito in with the plans of a full-time run. TNA hyped up the mysterious concept of the August 1st Warning with the expectations for a major name. Fans did not care when it was revealed as Ortiz who couldn’t even wrestle for them.
7 Matt Morgan
Matt Morgan remained a constant on the TNA roster for years with multiple pushes coming his way. Dixie Carter kept Morgan on the roster after Jim Cornette was released even though he was originally signed as Cornette’s project.
TNA could not get Morgan over the hump as each push ended in disappointment. Morgan remained used consistently on television despite other wrestlers struggling to get pushed. Dixie saw something in the big man to keep him around.
6 Crimson
Dixie Carter named Crimson among other true top stars like AJ Styles and Kurt Angle when discussing the future of TNA when he was getting pushed. Crimson lacked experience and talent, but he received a huge push in TNA thanks to Dixie and others.
The undefeated streak of Crimson to start his career showed just how much TNA valued him. Fans never bought into Crimson and the company was forced to pivot. A new role as Amazing Red’s brother ended his chances to move into the main event scene.
5 Magnus
The signing of Magnus saw him as a favorite of Dixie Carter from day one. Fans joked about it online since it was such public knowledge to come out within months of Magnus’ debut as one of Dixie’s first major projects.
Magnus did not flop as bad compared to the average performer, but he flopped in the role of TNA World Champion when it came his way. Dixie was even at his side with Magnus leading the Dixieland faction representing her in character.
4 Vince Russo
The controversial stints of Vince Russo in TNA featured many poor decisions that upset wrestlers and fans. Dixie Carter was the most loyal person to Russo after Jeff Jarrett initially brought him in years prior when he ran the company.
The trust Dixie had in Russo would lead to a horrible move of bringing him back against Spike TV’s wishes. Spike ended the television deal with TNA after many years due to Dixie believing in Russo enough to bring him in as a consultant behind their backs.
3 King Mo
One of the MMA fighters to get the attention of Dixie Carter and other people in TNA management was King Mo. TNA signed Mo to a wrestling contract and hoped to train him to become a fixture in the company moving forward.
Dixie Carter was a huge supporter of Mo and even had him join her Dixieland faction as protection when Bully Ray wanted to put her through a table. Mo never wrestled for TNA and the peak of his run came as a special enforcer for a match between former Beer Money partners Bobby Roode and James Storm.
2 Robbie E
Many fans were shocked when Robbie E debuted in TNA as the top heel in the X-Division. The matches of Robbie E did not compare to the other members of the X-Division having show-stealers and instant classics.
Dixie Carter and a few other important people loved Robbie E’s character work inspired by The Jersey Shore reality show. Robbie E received a few noteworthy title reigns and was part of the Dixieland faction for a strong run in TNA.
1 Brooke Hogan
TNA signing Brooke Hogan was a terrible look given the power of Hulk Hogan already leading to huge disasters when it happened. Dixie Carter was reportedly just as interested in bringing in Brooke as Hulk was to get her signed.
Brooke was introduced as an authority figure for the Knockouts Division and eventually moved into a romantic storyline with Bully Ray. The close friendship between Dixie and Brooke showed them posting pictures with each other on social media, with Dixie playing a huge role in the poor signing of Hulk’s daughter.