Matt Hardy Talks Anticipated Growth For TNA In 2025, New Game-Changing Merchandise Deal, AJ Francis Re-Signing, More

TNA star Matt Hardy has repeatedly stated that Anthem/TNA is “actively working on that”, referring to finding TNA a bigger and better platform in 2025.

So far, 2025 is off to a great start. The last 2 weeks of 2024, TNA confirmed the Bodyslam report that they would be partnering with Sportsnet in Canada for an exclusive, multi-year deal to air their weekly TNA iMPACT programming.

The company also announced via Sports Illustrated on New Years Eve that AJ Francis had signed a new contract with the company.

Matt Hardy has some insight on TNA in 2025, starting with re-signing AJ Francis, a new game-changing merchandising deal, and reiterates possibly moving to a bigger television platform.

On the latest edition of his The Extreme Life Of Matt Hardy podcast, Hardy himself gave a bold prediction for TNA this year, saying that they’ll have one of their best years in over a decade from a business standpoint.

“I think TNA will have the best year, this year in 2025, that it has had in over a decade from a business standpoint. I think if you go back to their strong years of 2011, 2012, 2013, I think we’re going to be a year that is the closest thing to resemble any of those things in a long, long time.”

“I think that because it’s got buzz again, houses are up, they have big things planned, they’re playing some big arenas as we’ve talked about. I know Jeff and I, we’re dedicating ourselves to giving them everything we have. I know Joe Hendry is gonna be around. I think there’s going to end up being a pretty strong and well bonded group that is working for TNA. I know they are actively working on a new platform, you know, whenever they can make that happen, a new television platform.

They had the deal in Canada, which apparently seemed to be a pretty big deal, so it’s great that we had an upgrade there but I think they want to continue upgrading across the board and it seems like everybody is working hard to do that.”

Matt touches on the new merchandise deal, calling it a “game-changer.”

“I believe there will be a way that TNA has improved its distribution, in 2025, and that’s kind of something that the company’s going for. No, it is—it is on all levels. They’ve already got a new, new merchandise deal that’s going to be put into motion in the first couple of months of this year, which is going to make a huge difference. It’s going to be a game changer when it comes to the actual process of selling, uh, making, selling, and shipping merchandise.”

On TNA re-signing AJ Francis:

”I think it’s a big deal for TNA. I think AJ has been great, he has felt like a strong part of the team, it does really feel like a team effort. I know that he was at AEW World’s End if I’m not mistaken, just kind of visiting and whatnot but if there were any offers out there, he ended up choosing TNA again, which I’m glad he did, because I think he can be a very important part of TNA for the next year.”

H/T Skylar Russell of Fightful for transcription.

In June, Anthem Sports – the parent company of TNA Wrestling – hired former WWE executive Rob Kligman as their Chief Revenue Officer. Kligman quickly made his intentions known, stating that they want to maximize distribution for TNA across both broadcast and streaming platforms. 

Just about one month ago, Anthem also hired Carlos Silva to oversee Anthem Sports Group – which includes TNA Wrestling, Invicta FC, and Fight Network – who stated that his near-team focus is to find the best distribution available and sponsorships. 

Recently, Tommy Dreamer spoke about the ambitious goals of TNA in 2025, which includes “a larger television platform.”

Whether a new television deal happens in 2025 remains to be seen, but TNA has also been licensing out their replay rights to regional networks in multiple areas.

Make sure you watch all the stars of TNA WRESTLING EVERY Thursday!

–TNA+ App. Sign up here. (Watch weekly iMPACT! episode simulcasted at the same time as AXS TV – 8pm Eastern /7pm Central)
–AXSTV in USA
–SportsNet 360 in CANADA

–AYOZAT TV (Sky 179) in UK

Catch the REPLAYS of TNA iMPACT:

–Fight Network (13 day delay)/ TNA + app(14 day delay) – Canada
–Right Now TV Network – multiple markets in the US (Tuesdays & Thursdays from the previous week at 9pm Eastern)
–SportsNet Pittsburgh– Pittsburgh, PA (Thursdays 10pm Eastern)
–New England Sports Network National Feed – 6 different states in the Northeast (Saturday 12-2pm Eastern, Sundays 12-2 am Eastern)

Follow Gerard at @BearDown316 on Twitter

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