TNA Slammiversary wasn’t just another big show. Behind the scenes, it also marked the start of what is supposed to be a new creative era for the company.
Several creative changes coming out of the weekend, and the biggest one is Tommy Dreamer being gone from TNA. The public framing may have sounded mutual, but the situation was not that simple. TNA let Dreamer go.
Dreamer still had supporters inside the company, but plenty of talent had been frustrated with creative for a long time. According to the report, many were ready to move on.
Hunter Johnston, better known to wrestling fans as Delirious, has now stepped up in a bigger creative role. One longtime TNA name said they were excited to see what Johnston does with the opportunity. Another source said Johnston was not in danger when Dreamer was let go because he was not viewed as part of TNA’s creative problems.
Eric Tompkins is also getting more involved creatively. TNA sources said Tompkins was behind the vision for the AJ Francis segment from a couple of weeks ago, which got strong reviews. Talent also credited him with contributing a lot to other segments over the years.
Road Dogg is also coming in, but that move was not some last-second panic button after Slammiversary. His arrival had been planned for a while. He was backstage at Slammiversary, though it is not clear whether he contributed creatively at the show. Some people from past TNA regimes had spoken well of him and felt he would be a good person to bring in if he became available.
As for the actual creative direction, there does not appear to have been a massive rewrite over the last few weeks. Planned directions are said to still be in place, and the Women’s TV Title had already been in the works before this shake-up.
Inside TNA, the reaction to Slammiversary was strong. Sources were said to be very happy with how the show turned out and with the response it received. There was also a lot of positive internal reaction to the in-ring product.
So, what do we know? Tommy Dreamer is out, Delirious is moving up, Eric Tompkins has more creative input, Road Dogg is entering the picture, and TNA is trying to turn Slammiversary momentum into a real new chapter.
Now the hard part starts: proving this new creative setup can actually keep fans invested after the big show is over.
What do you think about TNA’s creative shake-up after Slammiversary? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know.
