10 Most Important Title Changes In TNA History

In pro wrestling, it’s fairly well known that not every wrestler can become a champion, or else a title’s sense of prestige and importance is cheapened. On top of that, not every champion is created equal, with some title holders being “transitional champions” meant to give the belt away, or experiencing lackluster reigns for one reason or another.

TNA, the promotion now known as Impact Wrestling, can certainly boast some great champions like Kurt Angle, Awesome Kong, and The Wolves, but let’s look at title changes themselves. In particular, let’s look at the most important times titles changed hands in the history of the promotion.

10 Kenny Omega Wins The World Title

When Kenny Omega started appearing on Impact Wrestling while being All Elite Wrestling’s World Champion, it felt like a seismic shift in how big Western promotions interacted with one another, with lots of crossover between Impact and AEW ensuing.

From there, Omega shocked the world again, defeating Rich Swann for the Impact World Title at Rebellion, becoming one of the most unique heels in modern wrestling by virtue of simultaneously holding titles from three different promotions: AEW, Impact, and AAA. On top of that, the win signaled a new era for Impact, creating more interest from lapsed fans, and those who had written them off in recent years.

9 AJ Styles Wins The X Division Title

At its best, the X Division not only showcases some of the most exciting, fast-paced, and high-flying matches in Impact, but also spotlights younger wrestlers who could one day reach the top of the promotion. On Impact’s second-ever show, AJ Styles beat Psicosis, Low-Ki, and Jerry Lynn to become inaugural X Division Champion, and it’s a title change that’s aged supremely well since.

Styles would not only become a six-time champion, but he’d also become the face of the company, considered among the best wrestlers in the world.

8 Tessa Blanchard Wins The World Title

By 2020 Impact Wrestling was chugging along often under the radar, but had been showing it had been willing to take intergender wrestling seriously, with Tessa Blanchard putting on some great matches with Sami Callihan, and Jordynne Grace challenging for the X Division belt. But at Hard to Kill Impact took things to the next level.

When Blanchard defeated Callihan in the main event, she won the Impact World Title in the process, becoming its first female world champion and making headlines. While Impact’s own women’s division is praiseworthy, the decision to have a woman also win a top title typically reserved for men felt like a huge deal.

7 Taya Valkyrie Wins The Knockouts Title

While Blanchard was World Champion, the Knockouts Title was being held by Taya Valkyrie, now known as Franky Monet on NXT. Valkyrie won the title by defeating Blanchard at Homecoming, and ended up racking up a 377-day run as champion, which is to date the longest reign in the history of the title.

It was a great run, and one that helped keep the division alive as she successfully defended the gold against ODB, Tenille Dashwood, and Rosemary, among others.

6 Ken Shamrock Wins The World Title

Before Impact had its own world title, the company was affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance, adopting several of its titles as their own including the prestigious NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

On the first Impact show, the title was vacant and a battle royal resulted in Ken Shamrock and Malice becoming the two men who’d compete to become Impact’s inaugural champion. Shamrock won, capturing his first World Title and setting the stage for the strange days that were the early years of Impact.

5 America’s Most Wanted Wins The Tag Team Title

Along with the NWA World Title, Impact also brought in the NWA World Tag Team Titles, with AJ Styles and Jerry Lynn becoming the inaugural champions, although that duo quickly imploded and the belts were vacated.

It was a rocky start for the division, but James Storm and Chris Harris, as America’s Most Wanted, would beat Ron and Don Harris to become the new champions and go on to put the tag division on the map as its first great tag team.

4 Ron Killings Wins The World Title

A couple of months into Impact’s existence, Ron “The Truth” Killings would dethrone Ken Shamrock as NWA World Champion, making history as not only Impact’s first Black World Champion, but also as the first Black man to hold the NWA World Title.

It may seem like a silly bit of trivia because Killings is better known as WWE comedy relief wrestler R-Truth, but at the time he was a top heel in Impact, with his title win carrying undeniable historical significance.

3 Samoa Joe Wins The World Title

The rivalry between Samoa Joe and Kurt Angle is one of the best things about mid-to-late 2000s Impact, starting with their incredible first encounter in the main event of Genesis in 2006.

Their feud took them all the way to 2008, with Joe putting his career on the line against Angle in a cage match for the World Title in the main event of Lockdown. The match itself is an underrated shoot style match, but Joe’s pinfall victory via Muscle Buster was a huge moment, especially because it marked Joe’s only run with the title.

2 Gail Kim Wins The Knockouts Title

In 2007, Impact officially established its Knockouts Division, with its roster competing in a 10-woman gauntlet match to become inaugural Knockouts Champion at Bound for Glory. Gail Kim would come out on top, which would prove to be a great choice as she’s largely been an Impact lifer and one of its most iconic stars.

But even at the time it was great because it resulted in a game-changing title feud with Awesome Kong that would establish the competitiveness of the division and offered the best televised women’s wrestling fans in North America could watch.

1 Bobby Roode Wins The World Title

On the 11/3/2011 episode of Impact, Bobby Roode cheated to beat his Beer Money Inc. tag team partner James Storm for the World Title, turning heel and kicking off a record 256-day run as champion.

On top of being the longest reign, some fans consider Roode’s run to be one of the greatest in Impact history, legitimizing the title in many eyes as he racked up strong defenses against AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam and even James Storm in a great rematch.

NEXT: The Most Iconic Title Holder For Every TNA Championship In History