June 19, 2002, Huntsville, Alabama
This was the mindset that former WCW employees Jeff Jarrett and Bob Ryder shared when they approached Jarrett’s father, longtime promoter Jerry Jarrett, with the idea of starting a new league. Since obtaining a spot on any of the major cable networks was nearly impossible, while the former business model of reaching fans via syndicated television was no longer a viable option, and the concept of internet streaming still years away from becoming a reality, Ryder and Jarrett sold Jerry Jarrett on the notion of presenting their proposed product in a brand new way; weekly pay-per-view events. Priced down to just $9.99 per show, the weekly events would be a financially reasonable alternative for disaffected wrestling fans while also theoretically remaining profitable for the promotion, which would be called Total Nonstop Action, or, TNA.
Once Jerry Jarrett was on board, a deal was brokered with the nearly-defunct National Wrestling Alliance that allowed for the use of its recognizable name. initials, and still-respected championship title belt, the iconic “Ten Pounds of Gold.” The new promotion’s infrastructure was quickly established, a credible roster of past & future stars was assembled and on Wednesday, June 19, 2002, NWA: Total Nonstop Action made its debut. Emanating live from the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the two-hour event was hosted by former WCW play-by-play announcer Mike Tenay and his two color commentators, Don West and Ed Ferrara. Additionally, Jeremy Borash served as the ring announcer, while Goldy Locks conducted backstage interviews.
Meanwhile, in addition to spotlighting former NWA World champions such as Harley Race, Dory Funk, Jr., Ricky Steamboat, and southern territorial legends like Jackie Fargo and Bob Armstrong throughout the program, the inaugural TNA event also showcased several future superstars such as A.J. Styles, K-Krush (aka R-Truth), “Cowboy” James Storm, Alexis Laree (aka Mickie James), Low Ki, and Justice (aka Abyss) among other promising unknowns.
The main event of the evening, a Royal Rumble-style match to crown a new NWA World Heavyweight champion that was dubbed “The Gauntlet for the Gold,” featured twenty wrestlers, many of them being top names in the business. Established personalities that competed in the match included Jeff Jarrett, Scott Hall, Konnan, Rick Steiner, Buff Bagwell, Steve Corino, and Ken Shamrock, while the remaining slots in “The Gauntlet for the Gold” were filled by talented workers such as Malice (aka The Wall), Brian Christopher, Norman Smiley, Devon Storm, and Lash LeRoux. After the respectable roster of talent had been eliminated and just two men remained — Shamrock and Malice — the “Gauntlet” then turned into a traditional NWA championship encounter, to be won via pinfall or submission. With Ricky Steamboat serving as the special guest referee, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” would go on to defeat his much larger opponent via a belly-to-belly suplex. With the legendary Steamboat making the three-count, former UFC champion Ken Shamrock added the NWA World Heavyweight championship to his title resume as TNA began what would go on to become its long, tumultuous promotional journey.