TNA Wrestling announced this week that Scott D’Amore is out as the TNA President. Anthony Cicione will replace him as D’Amore has been terminated by TNA’s parent company, Anthem Sports and Entertainment.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com reports the belief is that D’Amore and Len Asper (head of Anthem) were not on the same page when it came to the future direction of TNA, leading to the release. D’Amore also made an offer to purchase the promotion before he was let go.
“The word making the rounds over the last day or so is that at some point in recent weeks, D’Amore approached Anthem with an offer to buy TNA outright from Anthem, said to have been backed by a letter with a major banking institution, but it was rebuffed. We have heard from some on the Anthem side that it was seen as a legitimate offer that was worthy of consideration, but the decision was made not to accept. If Anthem wanted to do away with TNA, they could have just sold it off to D’Amore or sought bids from WWE, AEW, etc. There’s been no evidence of that.”
D’Amore was aware of the change coming for at least a week if not longer and not a “shock firing” but rather something that was coming for weeks.
Scott D’Amore Terminated as TNA President: What Led to His Departure?
In a surprising turn of events, TNA Wrestling announced this week that Scott D’Amore has been terminated as the TNA President. Anthony Cicione will be taking over his position as D’Amore exits the company. The decision was made by TNA’s parent company, Anthem Sports and Entertainment.
According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, it is believed that D’Amore and Len Asper, the head of Anthem, were not in agreement regarding the future direction of TNA. This disagreement ultimately led to D’Amore’s release. Interestingly, before his termination, D’Amore had made an offer to purchase the promotion from Anthem, but it was rejected.
Reports suggest that D’Amore approached Anthem with a proposal to buy TNA outright, backed by a letter from a major banking institution. While some individuals within Anthem saw this as a legitimate offer worthy of consideration, the decision was ultimately made to decline it. It is worth noting that if Anthem had wanted to get rid of TNA, they could have easily sold it off to D’Amore or sought bids from other wrestling companies such as WWE or AEW. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this was the case.
Contrary to popular belief, D’Amore’s termination was not a sudden firing but rather a change that had been anticipated for at least a week, if not longer. This indicates that there were ongoing discussions and deliberations leading up to the decision.
Scott D’Amore has been a prominent figure in the wrestling industry for many years. He first gained recognition as a wrestler himself before transitioning into various backstage roles. D’Amore’s involvement with TNA dates back to its early days when he worked as a booker and creative team member. Over the years, he played a significant role in shaping the company’s storylines and talent development.
Under D’Amore’s leadership, TNA experienced both highs and lows. He was instrumental in the company’s growth during its peak years, but also faced criticism for certain creative decisions and management choices. Despite the ups and downs, D’Amore remained a respected figure within the wrestling community.
As for Anthony Cicione, who is set to take over as TNA President, not much is known about his background or his plans for the company. It remains to be seen how he will steer TNA’s future direction and whether he will bring any significant changes to the promotion.
The departure of Scott D’Amore marks a new chapter for TNA Wrestling. As fans eagerly await updates on the company’s future, it is clear that the decision to terminate D’Amore was driven by differences in vision and direction. Only time will tell how this change will impact TNA and its place in the wrestling industry.