10 Great TNA Promos You Forgot About

TNA Impact Wrestling have sustained an impressive run of relevance, defying the odds and hanging around longer than even the promotion's earliest fans likely expected. Debuting in the aftermath of the Monday Night Wars, the first TNA Impact aired on June 4, 2004. The company has experienced its fair share of peaks and valleys since that time. However, Impact has consistently provided an early or alternate platform for some of the industry's undisputed stars.

TNA is rightfully lauded for some outstanding in-ring performances from stars like AJ Styles, Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, and Christian Cage. Additionally, some of the most memorably bizarre moments in wrestling history have emanated from the Impact Zone. What is often forgotten though are the immensely entertaining promos cut by some of the company's top-tier wrestlers.

10 Eddie Kingston And The DCC Collapse (2017)

Eddie Kingston has proven time and again that very few in the industry can talk like him. In the final years of TNA before it was rebranded, Kingston debuted as a member of the edgy Death Crew Council. The trio primarily promoted James Storm's rise to the title, but Eddie Kingston had a standout performance right when the faction split up in 2017.

Kingston carried the emotional weight of the moment James Storm left the group behind. He walked the line between deep sadness and seething rage, having called Storm out for using himself and Bram to further his own interests. The frustration was perfectly reflected in Eddie's delivery, and the kernel of truth made the villain compelling. James Storm was actually turning face at the time, but Kingston expertly ripped through the live crowd to avoid being sympathetic.

9 Jay Lethal "Black Machismo" Gets A Date (2008)

Jay Lethal's career in professional wrestling has been a bit weird at times. The strange Jay Lethal and Ric Flair Woo!-Off is one of the most memorable segments in TNA history. Before that though, Lethal got viewers interested as a Macho Man Randy Savage impersonator. He used Savage's legendary voice, mannerisms, and even a remix of the iconic Pomp and Circumstance entrance theme.

Of course, any good Macho Man cosplay needs a Ms. Elizabeth. In 2008 Lethal asked TNA ring announce SoCal Val for a first date in an entertaining parody of the Macho Man proposal. The segment was silly but endearing and included all the elements of the Macho Man persona, including a friendship on the verge of imploding and SoCal Val accepting the date with an Oh Yeah!

8 Eli Drake Introduces The Rising (2015)

Eli Drake is a more recent Impact star, having just left the company recently to become L.A Knight. His later Facts of Life segments made for some entertaining television before his departure from TNA. One early promo that is often overlooked though is Eli Drake’s first promo with The Rising faction.

Drake does most of the talking in the promo, letting his charisma shine for the trio. He put the talent of the group's biggest star Drew Galloway, but also introduced himself and Micha to fans. While the group never reached their potential, this promo shows signs of the future Eli Drake and the origin of a few of his better catchphrases.

7 AJ Styles Drops A TNA Pipebomb (2013)

AJ Styles is known by most fans as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. AJ is not known for his performances on the microphone though, preferring to hit the ring to impress the fans. In 2013 on the heels of AJ Lee's promo on the Raw Women's division, TNA turned to it's AJ to replicate the viral moment. Styles was able to let loose on Impact management and the Impact World Title division he was not yet synonymous with.

The promo did not start out as appointment viewing, and unlike its inspiration on Raw has fewer real-world parallels. Styles eventually got into it and used the time to add a layer of realism to his character. He convincingly griped about taking a job that "just plain sucks" to feed his family and deserving better after saving the company time and again. The promo is relatable and one of AJ's best in a long and storied career.

6 Scott Steiner Calls His Shot (2008)

Most fans have seen the insanely viral clip of Scott Steiner attempting to mathematically promote his 2008 TNA Championship match at Sacrifice. A month before that promo Scott Steiner cut a more traditional in-ring promo to begin his quest for the title. Before the Lockdown PPV, Steiner confronted TNA Champion Kurt Angle to put him on notice that he would be cashing in his Feast or Fired title shot next month.

Scott Steiner positions himself as a threat to take the title. He did this while also improving the current storyline despite not being booked in that match, which can be difficult to do. Sadly, Kurt Angle's actual injury got in the way, but Steiner kicked off the feud with one of his less comical and more serious performances.

5 Mr. Anderson Debuts (2010)

Mr. Anderson was one of the original forbidden door signings, years before AEW would trademark the term. After leaving WWE, Anderson debuted as the mystery opponent of Abyss on TNA Genesis in 2010. Addressing his time in WWE on the ramp as the crowd cheered. The former Mr. Kennedy proceeded to perform an elongated version of his entrance promo.

Mr. Anderson was able to keep his arrogant persona despite the live crowd's positive response, and he got a new version of his name over with a crowd who wanted to play along with his older Mr. Kennedy gimmick. The promo is overshadowed by his later work, but the tone was set from the first time his mic dropped in.

4 Booker T Calls His Own Match (2009)

Even ardent fans of Booker T don't spend a ton of time discussing his performances as a color commentator. The former WCW champion often disappointed viewers from behind the announce desk. Before his tenure as the voice of Raw though he was in the Main Event Mafia, and created an immensely entertaining promo segment as a commentator.

When his faction took everyone's job for a night, Booker T was calling matches when one devolved into chaos. He entered the ring with a microphone in hand to join in the brawl. Booker T proceeded to fight while calling the match live in the ring. The delivery was perfect and while simple, the calls he created on the spot added to the absurdity and humor of the moment.

3 Mick Foley Interviews Cactus Jack (2009)

Mick Foley had a long and memorable career that saw him perform in promotions worldwide. While known for his WWE Stardom, some of Foley's most interesting work happened on more obscure and less recognizable runs. To hype a match with Sting at Lockdown 2009, Mick Foley conducted an interview with his extreme alter ego Cactus Jack.

A lesser talent may not have been able to perform an entire interview alone. Foley though is one of the greatest talkers in wrestling history and not only pulled it off, but told a gripping story about internal anguish and the pain he was willing to inflict. It ranks as one of his best segments in a career full of them.

2 Sting Loses His Mind (2012)

Sting cuts a TNA promo with his Joker character

Sting developed a reputation for reinvention after years of performing in multiple promotions. While silence is often the hallmark of a Sting Persona some of his most memorable TNA characters were anything but silent. Inspired by The Dark Knight movie, the versatile Sting debuted his own Joker gimmick.

Sting hit the ring in plain clothes and spoke about his career. It was heartfelt and even had some viewers worried he would be retiring. Only when TNA Champion Bobby Roode came out were Stings intentions revealed. He camped up being crazy mid-promo and smeared paint on his face to christen his strange new personality, leaving fans shocked and intrigued.

1 EC3 As Impact World Champion (2015)

None of EC3's characters reached them same heights as the original TNA persona that hit the Impact Zone in the 2010's. He was an instantly dislikable heel playing the owners' nephew, adding a story driven nepotism into the real world topic of whether the performer was any good at wrestling. The rise of EC3 included proficient mic work and a string of big matches. It all culminated with a championship win in 2015 at the Slammiversary PPV.

EC3 cut a passionate and rather pointed promo backstage after the win. He addressed the real world hate for the first time as the face of a promotion and effortlessly fit into that role. Because of when it happened some viewers missed the promo and a performers real vindication after years of struggle.