The History Of TNA's Six Sided Ring & Why They Changed It, Explained
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Upon launch, Total Nonstop Action served as an alternative to World Wrestling Entertainment. It was founded by former WCW superstar Jeff Jarrett, with the idea was to set it apart from WWE in every way possible. More divisions were introduced, longer wrestling matches were prioritized, and wrestlers from the independent scene were given prominence.
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However, the hallmark of the promotion was the style and shape of the ring. Unlike the regular wrestling ring, TNA used a hexagonal ring. The first few TNA shows featured a traditional wrestling ring but in 2004 the decision was made to switch to a hexagonal shape. It took some time getting used to, but it soon became a part of the identity of the promotion.
Jeff Jarrett Wanted TNA's Wrestling Ring To Set Them Apart
Some wrestlers found the new ring a little awkward to work on early on, but eventually it became the norm. The six-sided ring identified TNA and differentiated it from WWE and every other promotion in North America. This idea came from Jeff Jarrett himself. The former WCW champion had wrestled in Mexico before and many promotions in the region used the six-sided ring. Jarrett stated that he loved the feel of the new ring but more importantly, he loved it for what it truly was; a deviation from the WWE style.
Jarrett said that the different ring meant that they were not WWE-lite and that was something he wanted to accomplish the moment he conceived the idea of a new wrestling promotion. AJ Styles, considered by many as the face of the company, loved working in the six-sided side but a few other wrestlers, such as WCW legend Sting, did not like it very much. For fans though, it came to symbolize TNA, and they loved it.
Hulk Hogan Wanted The Six-Sided Ring Gone When He Joined TNA
Unfortunately, the six-sided ring did not work for Hulk Hogan. In 2010, Hulk Hogan, the biggest star of the 1980s, was declared the biggest acquisition in not just TNA history, but the entire wrestling world. The Hulkster was welcomed in during a press conference, with the red carpet was rolled out for him and his buddy from WCW, Eric Bischoff. Vince Russo was kicked out to make room for Hulk Hogan, and as soon as Hogan entered the company, he began to undo everything that had made TNA an alternative to WWE.
The six-sided ring had to go, as per the command of the Hulkster. Dixie Carter, who would have fired the entire roster on the advice of Hogan, was happy to discard the heart and soul of TNA, and within two weeks of his hiring, the hexagonal ring was discarded in favor of a traditional wrestling ring. Fans did not like the change one bit, but to add insult to injury, Hogan and Bischoff actually cut an insulting promo, on live television, soon after the change occurred.
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Hulk Hogan And Eric Bischoff Cut The Most Insulting Promo Ever
At the Genesis PPV, Hogan strolled into the four-sided ring and boasted of the changes that he had brought along. He termed it as just the beginning and claimed that it was time to end the “stinky play-pin rings” and revert to the normal style of professional wrestling. He told us, whether we like it or not, the change was permanent. For the record, this wrestling promo is the lowest-rated promo in all of cagematch.net.
Bischoff then took the microphone and said that he understood that humans did not like change, but it had to happen. He told us to get used to change because a lot was coming our way. In the end, Hogan, on live television, challenged Vince McMahon to prepare himself for war in typical Hulk Hogan fashion.
This single promo was the fall of TNA. The promotion lost its identity with the change. Of course, Hogan decided to compete with WWE and that was the end of the promotion as an alternative to Vince McMahon’s product. TNA was transformed into WCW 2.0, and we all know how the story ends.
Years later, Eric Bischoff said that the six-sided ring was just stupid. He defended the change, as it didn’t impact the performances inside the ring at all. Bischoff also did not touch upon the toy sales of TNA, and how the change tanked the business in that regard.
The hexagonal ring would return later on. First, as a one-time spectacle, and then, in 2014, as per a fan poll, the ring was brought back “permanently” but then permanently retired in 2018.
