Bridging The Gap: What A Joint WWE–Impact PPV Means For Wrestling Fans Worldwide

The landscape of pro wrestling is forever changing, marked by periods of intense competition, innovation, and cooperation. A move that has created shock waves of anticipation throughout the pro wrestling universe is that WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) and Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA) have signed on to a multi-year alliance. The alliance is expected to reap “unprecedented crossover possibilities” of talent on each of the brands and opens up exciting possibilities of co-branded pay-per-view (PPV) events. Such an event will not only make history but also give fans a giant leap of unification, introduce fans to diverse talent, and give fans an experience never seen before.

Historical Context: WWE, Impact Wrestling, and Evolution of PPVs

To fully appreciate the potential impacts of a co-promoted WWE-Impact PPV, one has to have an awareness of how each of these two institutions built its history and how pay-per-view events have progressed throughout pro wrestling history.

WWE: From Territory Times to World Domination

WWE, originally World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), has dominated pro wrestling for decades. Vince McMahon Jr.’s WWE expanded outside of regional markets and utilized syndicated television to introduce itself to a wider audience. WWE gained nationwide coverage through this shift and priced out smaller, regional promotions essentially. WWE produced its first-ever PPV, WrestleMania, in 1985, and WWE has had its reliable PPV format since, including top-level annual pay-per-views like Royal Rumble, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series7. The pay-per-views have grown into cultural landmarks, bringing millions of fans together and establishing WWE as a global entertainment giant2.

Impact Wrestling: The Making of an Alternative

Impact Wrestling, originally referred to as TNA or Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, started out in 2002 as WWE’s immediate rival, offering an alternative kind of wrestling and talent that possibly might have gone elsewhere without succeeding. Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett founded TNA, which differentiated itself by its innovative X-Division, offering fast-moving, acrobatic moves. While TNA has had its fair share of setbacks along its history, including changes of ownership and financial issues, it has consistently produced good content of wrestling and developed its fan base.

The Evolution of PPVs

Pay-per-view events have been part of pro wrestling since the 1980s. WWE Big Four PPVs—Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series—raised the stakes on big-stage pro wrestling by bringing together compelling storylines along with big-stake matches1. WWE expanded its PPV lineup to monthly events and, in 2022, began using the terminology of referring to PPV events as “Premium Live Events” (PLEs) to indicate that they can now be accessed on digital media. Impact Wrestling has also utilized PPVs to stage its flagship events, such as Bound for Glory and Slammiversary, that have evolved into traditions among its audience.

The Significance of Joint PPV

The announcement of WWE partnering up with Impact Wrestling on a multi-year alliance has created doors of unparalleled possibilities, most of which point to a co-promoted PPV affair as the most likely option. Such an event has far-reaching implications for fans of wrestling, for the respective promotions, and for the industry itself.

For the fans

A joint WWE-Impact pay-per-view is every fan’s wet dream. It will bring together talent from two universes of wrestling, producing fresh matchups and angles that were never possible before. The fans will have the opportunity to watch their WWE and Impact favorites cross paths within the same ring, producing possible history-making bouts and moments.

Showcasing Diverse Talent

One of the most attractive things regarding a co-PPV is that it will provide fans with the opportunity to view a wider range of talent on one card. Impact Wrestling is notorious for its wide range of talented performers of diverse backgrounds and skill sets. A co-PPV will provide its best performers with the stage where they can introduce themselves to wider audiences, opening doors to bigger things and promoting career advancement.

Fresh Matchups and Narratives

By combining WWE rosters together with Impact rosters, co-branded PPV would have plenty of new, exciting matchups on hand. Long-imagined matches that fans have been dreaming of seeing might finally have the option of happening, pitting WWE’s top talent against Impact’s top talent. The new matchups also give options of developing compelling angles that draw on each company’s history and feud histories.

A Unique and Memorable Experience

A joint WWE-Impact PPV would amount to much more than just a pro wrestling show—it would amount to an experience never seen that will never be forgotten by fans. The coming together of two distinct pro wrestling cultures would make it a one-of-a-kind atmosphere of tension, anticipation, and history. The fans that attended, along with home viewers, would witness part of pro wrestling history that will never be forgotten.

Potential Challenges and Considerations

While the idea of a WWE-Impact co-PPV is certainly exciting, there are also important challenges and issues that need to be taken into consideration to make it possible.

Creative Differences:

WWE and Impact Wrestling have distinct creative directions and narrative approaches. Merging the differences and creating a combined narrative that will satisfy fans of each company will require planning and cooperation. It will entail areas of compromise and developing storylines that will connect each company on its own terms.

Balancing the talent

With a combined roster of WWE and Impact talent, it will be critical that talent on each roster is given ample room to make its presence felt. The pay-per-view will never have that feeling of WWE talent overlaid on top of Impact talent, or vice versa. It will have a balanced presentation that will make use of each roster’s assets.

Branding and Presentation

Maintaining the distinct personalities of WWE and Impact Wrestling would be important within co-promoted PPV. The branding of the event, including its presentation, should mirror each company’s distinct features but also give fans a combined, unifying experience. It could involve using a combination of WWE and Impact logos, graphics, and announcer booths.

Long-Term Implications:

A joint PPV can have far-reaching implications for WWE and Impact Wrestling. It can set up greater cooperation between the two promotions or turn out to be a one-time experience. The success of the PPV will likely determine what will come next concerning the alliance.

Possible Matchups

The possibilities of dream matches are unlimited. Some of the possible matchups that will certainly make people excited are

Roman Reigns vs. Josh Alexander: A contest of two of the most dominant global champions of each of their respective organizations

Becky Lynch vs. Mickie James: A battle of two female pioneers of wrestling, each of whom boasts a history of classic matches.

The Usos vs. The Motor City Machine Guns: A quick-moving, acrobatic tag team contest of two of the best tandems in the industry.

AJ Styles vs. Will Ospreay: A contest of two of the most skilled and creative wrestlers on the planet.

Sasha Banks vs. Deonna Purrazzo: A battle of “The Boss” versus “The Virtuosa,” promised to have an intense, closely fought battle. Impact on Business of Wrestling A joint WWE-Impact pay-per-view will have far-reaching consequences on the industry of wrestling overall.

Increased Exposure for Impact Wrestling 

The partnership with WWE will provide Impact Wrestling with unparalleled visibility to a broader audience. It can also translate into wider television viewings of Impact television on a weekly scale, together with wider attendance of live matches. The wider visibility can also translate into new sponsors and investors, ensuring Impact’s financial sustainability.

A New Age of Cooperation 

The success of WWE-Impact co-PPV can set the stage for cooperation among wrestling promotions on a much broader scale. The era of wrestling companies avoiding cooperation is behind them, but what can be accomplished through cooperation is clearer every day. A well-executed co-PPV can establish the groundwork for sustained cooperation among participating promotions, as well as cooperation within the industry as a whole. 

A Boost to the Whole Industry 

The excitement generated by, and focus on, a co-promoted WWE-Impact PPV can provide much-needed industry-wide lifts to the industry overall. The event will expose new fans to the sport, but also reactivate former fans. All of this can translate into industry-wide increases in viewership, attendance, and merchandise sales.

Conclusion 

A joint WWE-Impact pay-per-view is a historic opportunity to bring people together, have diverse talent, and provide fans with an experience that will never be forgotten. While there are likely challenges that would need to be navigated, there is also tremendous reward on tap. Not only will this type of event be historic, but it is also a giant leap forward for the industry as a whole. With WWE and Impact Wrestling continuing to move closer together, the vision of a combined pay-per-view gets closer to reality, holding out the promise of exciting times, innovation, and cooperation on the horizon.