10 biggest new signings IMPACT Wrestling can make for TNA rebrand

Now TNA will naturally strike some major nostalgia chords for many and that’s something they should in fact lean into, however, when it comes to new signings, the company would maybe be wise to mostly aim for new faces.
Besides there’s already more than enough Impact Zone familiar faces still in the company now such as Eric Young, Frankie Kazarian and the Motor City Machine Guns to name a few.
So, with that said let’s now look at the new faces who can bolster the TNA roster to coincide with their return to… glory seems like too strong of a word. Let’s just say their return.
These are the 10 biggest new signings TNA could make ahead of their rebrand next year.

CM PUNK

Now I know that Punk is not exactly a brand new face in TNA, having competed there between 2002-2004, but his spell was far from the most notable in the grand scheme of his career.
For TNA to make as big a splash as possible upon their rebrand they do need BIG names and Punk would be about as big a signing as they can get.
Given the reports that Punk was indeed backstage at recent IMPACT tapings this one genuinely seems on the cards. Especially with his pal Ace Steel also working on a trial basis as a producer at Bound For Glory.
The only question is whether TNA can in fact afford his high price and whether that WWE door is truly shut for good.
Because if it is at least slightly ajar, Punk may not be willing to choose TNA as his home long-term, especially when it may be the last big move he makes in wrestling. We shall see.

WILL OSPREAY

While Punk is the biggest name available to TNA right now, the absolute BIGGEST get for the promotion would undoubtedly be Will ‘By God’ Ospreay.
Ospreay has been open about his current contract situation with New Japan, with the 30-year-old reportedly considering all of his options available as AEW and WWE likely lurk around.
Which, given Will’s penchant for five star matches, is unsurprisingly EVERY wrestling company under the sun.
Also did you see Bound for Glory? Did you see his match with ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey? Well yeah that pretty much says it all.
Ospreay has openly stated how much of a great time he had working in IMPACT over last weekend, putting over the company in a big way.
He’s also young enough that, even if it was just a fairly short-term deal, he could massively help get the rebooted TNA off the ground while also still having time to pursue a deal with AEW or WWE later down the line.
Given the options available to him, his signing would be a statement that TNA is to be taken seriously in the wrestling space once again and could also convince others to follow suit.

MUSTAFA ALI

It feels as if we still haven’t seen an iota of Ali’s true potential, which is baffling considering the guy’s been on our WWE TV screens since 2016.
While he looked at several points to be getting pushed to the top of the WWE card, Ali famously became yet another what if in WWE’s history.
Sadly the most notable thing he did was Retribution. Slapjack that Slapjack.
So, with Ali’s creative well being untapped and his in-ring prowess as good as it gets, it’s very easy to understand why TNA should make him one of their new marquee names.
TNA’s X-Division was once heralded for showcasing workers of Ali’s ilk and it would be easy to see him putting on classics there. But to be perfectly honest I think that’s selling Ali short.
Similarly to other ex-WWE wrestlers like EC3, Rich Swann or Steve Maclin, Ali could easily fulfill his potential and become TNA World Champion someday. 
Ali, like the other late September releases will be available to compete again, rather conveniently in time for the TNA rebranding in the new year, so watch this space.

SHELTON BENJAMIN 

As much fun as it was getting our hopes continuously up for that ever-elusive Hurt Business reunion, our dreams were sadly squashed when Shelton Benjamin was among WWE’s talent cuts in September.
Now, when it comes to underrated and underused talent in WWE’s history I truly believe the Gold Standard… sets well… the standard.
The man was and still is just incredible, so seeing him sit out on the sidelines doing literally nothing since Lashley broke the band up truly hurt my soul.
However, with him now free of his WWE restraints, Benjamin is once again able to show what he has been capable of much like he did when he left WWE in 2010.
Not only is he still in incredible shape and has barely lost a step, he also has decades of experience to lend to the new generation.
TNA’s return will of course have no shortage of experienced heads, but still, having Benjamin on board too can only be a good thing.
He could also be a well-needed veteran presence in the company’s X Division.

EMMA / TENILLE DASHWOOD

Unlike Ali and Benjamin, Emma has already done this dance before as following her previous release from the company in late 2017, the Aussie star did find her way to IMPACT as Tenille Dashwood.
After over a year in ROH, Dashwood debuted in IMPACT in 2019, staying until her eventual return to WWE in 2022.
While she did attain some success, winning the Knockouts Tag Titles with Madison Rayne, Dashwood also has some unfinished business, namely the Knockouts Championship currently held by Trinity.
Unlike her extremely uneventful 11 month stint back in WWE which had such highlights as… 
Umm… 
Anyway, point is in the new TNA, Dashwood will most certainly be utilized to her full potential, as the Knockouts division is almost inarguably the best booked women’s division in North American wrestling.
Or perhaps as a sneaky unofficial eleventh entry Dashwood could return to TNA with her fiance Riddick Moss in tow, who was also sadly let go from WWE at the same time. 

DOLPH ZIGGLER

At one point in time considered one of the best wrestlers WWE had to offer, Dolph Ziggler, like Benjamin, has seen his last few years utterly wasted in WWE.
Hell, you could argue that the Show-Off’s entire career has been one massive waste of potential, despite his many, many accolades.
But fear not, because there is still plenty of time for one last great run, the question is where does he go?
While an AEW run and a potential tag team run with his brother Ryan makes some sense, TNA would also be an excellent proving ground for Ziggler to show why he still is among the very best.
Similarly to Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley and Matt Hardy, Ziggler could go to TNA and completely re-invigorate his career, just when people believe his best days are behind him.
Hopefully this would come with a complete rebrand of Ziggler’s long-stale character of Yami Yugi screaming to the heavens that it should have been him.
While also finally proving to WWE what they once had in their possession.

MATT RIDDLE

Although the Original Bro’s rep kinda took a nose-dive towards the end of his WWE run, Matt Riddle was always a popular star in WWE and could most certainly go with the very best of them inside the ropes.
If things had gone differently Riddle almost certainly could have been a future world champion in WWE.
While it’s a shame Riddle won’t be fulfilling that potential in WWE, what’s to say that he can’t find his way back to a prominent spot in another company, namely TNA.
Whether TNA gives him another shot in wrestling remains to be seen, however, there have been reports of several wrestling promotions interested in the 37-year-old, so it wouldn’t be hard to imagine.
He has enough name power and notoriety to draw eyes to TNA’s re-launch and has more than a laundry list of potential opponents that he could put on bangers with.
Besides, TNA already has such an amazing history with ex-UFC fighters right? Right??? What could go wrong.

SHEAMUS

Moving away from those currently without a WWE contract to one that may soon be hitting the free agency market, The Celtic Warrior Sheamus is among the many stars with contracts set to expire in 2024.
While fellow WWE contract expiree and Sheamus’ good buddy Drew has already done the TNA song and dance, Sheamus has yet to make that move outside of WWE. Mainly because he hasn’t really had to. 
Yes, unlike Drew who had to really go through WWE’s creative ringer and has remained largely well booked.
Sheamus has had a decorated and consistent WWE career, however, lately things haven’t been ideal.
The Irishman has made no secret of his creative frustrations in WWE in 2023 and perhaps the damage may be done to his chances of signing on for an extension. 
While any company would be lucky to have Sheamus, a move to TNA would obviously be a massive coup. 
Also, given his documented nagging injury problems, a move to TNA would reduce the stress on his body and allow more years of meat slapping, pints of Guinness, bangers and all that good stuff to come.

MERCEDES MONÉ

Another star who could have her pick of future destinations, Mercedes Mone seems to be AEW bound at some point in the near future, maybe Full Gear.
BUT what if instead she held fire and jumped upon the TNA train? Choo choo.
Now, similarly to Punk this would be a massive statement signing but also similarly to Punk I’m just not sure TNA could actually afford to make it happen.
Mone truly is a superstar in every sense, which makes it absolutely key that she joins a company that will treat her and her talents as such.
And that means not just competing in your one token ten minute women’s match on Dynamite every other week.
As mentioned TNA is THE place for a well-booked respectfully treated women’s division, so if the decision was based on that alone then it would be a no brainer.
But when you also couple the fact that Mone’s BFF Trinity is already there as Knockout’s champ then… I mean it just makes almost too much sense don’t you think?

MANDY ROSE

Sticking with the Knockouts, while Mone may potentially be out of reach, perhaps more feasible would be the signing of former NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose.
Rose has stayed far away from the wrestling ring since her shock December 2022 release, making some serious cash on platforms such as FanTime and now OnlyFans.
While that may seemingly spell a lack of need to actually return to wrestling, she has also made sure to not rule out a return to the ring on a permanent basis.
Given the nature of her release and her following outside of the ring, snapping up Rose to be a major piece of the already stacked Knockout’s division would be a stroke of genius from Scott D’Amore and company.
Also, TNA is also far less likely to have anywhere near the restrictions that WWE had on the content Rose decides to produce for her OnlyFans.
Meaning she could by all accounts likely have a best of both worlds with a far less demanding in-ring schedule to boot.
She could also maybe lead a brand new faction like her days in NXT, only now maybe call it Toxic Nonstop Attraction, or something.