TNA has proved a viable alternative for wrestling fans growing tired of the WWE product, if not quite becoming competition for them on the same scale as WCW. Superstars have jumped ship to Impact Wrestling and jumped back again, highlighting the differences (both subtle and not-so-subtle) between the two promotions.
As with any career move, the jump didn't come without its risks. Some wrestlers have found the success in TNA that had always eluded them in WWE, and some... not so much. Here are five Superstars who did much better in TNA and five who still didn't quite make an impact.
10 Did: Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy has enjoyed a modicum of success in WWE. Partnered with his brother Jeff, The Hardy Boyz have managed to remain relevant across three decades of wrestling, capturing the WWE Tag Team Championships ten times as well as becoming famous for their performances in Tables, Ladders and Chairs matches.
However, when it comes to WWE, The Charismatic Enigma has overshadowed his brother. Matt Hardy thrived more during his tenure with TNA, where he debuted the acclaimed 'Broken Matt' gimmick and won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound For Glory 2015. TNA gave Matt Hardy an opportunity to step out of Jeff's shadow and into the spotlight, and he excelled.
9 Didn't: Ric Flair
Ric Flair has had such a decorated career with WWE and WCW that it would take a lot to top his achievements in another wrestling promotion. His TNA stint demonstrated this, as the most memorable moment from the Nature Boy's appearance on Impact Wrestling was a segment in which Jay Lethal impersonated him.
Flair had previously stated that he was loyal to the McMahon family, though lack of contact from WWE pushed him to sign a contract with TNA. Debuting as a heel stalled his momentum, however, as fans were reluctant to boo a wrestling hero.
8 Did: Bobby Lashley
TNA knew that Bobby Lashley was born to play a heel. After joining the roster full-time in 2014 and aligning with MVP, Lashley became one of the biggest bad guys in the company and, in turn, one of its most successful stars.
Lashley has struggled to find momentum in WWE, lacking charisma as a babyface. He has flourished since his 2018 heel turn, however, capturing the Intercontinental Championship on Raw in January 2019.
7 Didn't: Mick Foley
Like Ric Flair, Mick Foley had little to gain by debuting on Impact Wrestling. He has already built a legacy with WWE, forever known as the Hardcore Legend. Foley wanted to put over younger talent, however, which prompted him to jump ship to TNA temporarily.
Foley was instead used most often as a comedic commissioner character, becoming TNA World Heavyweight Champion at Lockdown 2009 after defeating Sting. It was a very different role from his previous vision as a legend occasionally competing to put over a younger wrestler.
6 Did: Kharma/Awesome Kong
Kharma never managed to make a big name for herself in WWE, as her time there was short and lacked impact. With the exception of her entrance in the Royal Rumble 2012 match where she eliminated Hunico, the former TNA Knockouts Champion did nothing of any relevance while signed with the McMahons' company.
She definitely thrived more in TNA, where she was booked as the unstoppable monster she plays so well. As Awesome Kong, she has won the TNA Knockouts Championship twice and is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling.
5 Didn't: Brodus Clay/Tyrus
Brodus Clay is in the unfortunate position of falling short in both WWE and TNA. His gimmick while in WWE was a comedic figure called The Funkasaurus, often paired with Naomi and Cameron's tag-team The Funkadactyls. He departed from the company in 2014 before wrestling for TNA under the name Tyrus until 2017.
Tyrus' career was no more successful. He failed to capture a championship and was booked in haphazard feuds and matches against other TNA talents, such as Crazzy Steve and The Broken Hardyz.
4 Did: R-Truth
Considering R-Truth's role in WWE as a wacky, comedic character, he once played a very convincing heel in TNA. After his first stint with WWE, Truth was released from the company in 2002 and subsequently joined Jeff Jarrett's promotion, where he immediately established himself as a bad guy from his debut.
Truth won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship twice, cutting a heated promo after his first victory in the ring that seemed to guarantee a bright future ahead of him. He re-signed with WWE in 2008 and quickly lost this momentum, however, as he was promptly booked as a mid-card comedy act.
3 Didn't: Mickie James
Another WWE veteran, Mickie James came to TNA with five Women's Championships under her belt already. Her addition to the TNA roster should have been in a role that wrestled periodically to advance the careers of younger, up-and-coming wrestlers. For the most part, though, it seemed that TNA had no idea what to do with her.
James won the Knockouts Championship three times, her first victory over Madison Rayne in a steel cage match which lasted less than a minute. She has since returned to WWE, though she has been missing from SmackDown for a while.
2 Did: Katie Lea Burchill/Winter
We'd excuse you for forgetting that Katie Lea Burchill ever worked for WWE. She never won the Divas Championship and switched brands multiple times under a veil of near anonymity.
She debuted for TNA in 2010 under the name Winter, quickly adapting a gimmick that saw her relentlessly harass Angelina Love. She won the Knockouts Championship twice, at one point one of the biggest stars in the division.
1 Didn't: Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan's addition to the TNA roster along with Eric Bischoff in 2009 was big news for wrestling fans and looked set to finally put Impact Wrestling on the map. However, not only was the Real American overpaid but also badly booked.
Hogan took up too much time and attention, keeping the spotlight on him rather than the plethora of younger talent available. He did little to represent the company outside of the ring and left TNA soon after.