TNA tried to utilize factions to help create compelling acts and interesting storylines. Most of the top names in TNA history had some kind of role in groups throughout their tenures. Only select groups were able to get over in grand fashion like the Main Event Mafia or The Beautiful People, but others still held relevance after being on television long enough.
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There were quite a few instances of wrestlers struggling after their time in a faction ended. TNA creative was known for not putting their talents in the best position to succeed. That continued when the wrestlers leaving stables didn’t have an easy path moving forward. Each of the following wrestlers proved that not having direction after leaving factions in TNA could be a big deal.
10 Rob Terry (The Menagerie)
TNA tried to push Rob Terry in various gimmicks and factions with the hope of his physique winning over new viewers. Terry’s final opportunity in TNA came as part of The Menagerie faction under a mask with the moniker of The Freak.
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The group did not find much success, but Terry had a decent run revamping his career. Bad luck would strike Terry as the rest of the group and the overall gimmick struggled to get over. Terry never had another chance in success after TNA ended The Menagerie.
9 Johnny Devine (Team 3D)
X-Division wrestler Johnny Devine ended up scoring noteworthy success when joining the Dudley Boyz act of Team 3D in TNA. Devine turned heel to unite with Bully Ray and D-Von to torment the rest of the X-Division wrestlers.
Bubba and D-Von’s war with the smaller wrestlers helped Devine win the X-Division Championship to represent their group. The angle ending hurt Devine’s career as TNA didn’t have any other ideas for him moving forward until he was released.
8 Doug Williams (Fortune)
Doug Williams was one of the best technical wrestlers in the world when landing a TNA contract. The run featured him trying to find his footing with a great spot in the Fortune faction helping him showcase his skills.
Ric Flair’s group growing led to Douglas becoming their X-Division representative winning the title in the division. Fortune changing course and turning face without Flair saw Williams moving into a solo role. Williams never had the same success again, even though he was still having strong matches.
7 Gunner (Immortal)
The failed WWE talent Jaxson Ryker actually started out in TNA under the name of Gunner. TNA introduced Gunner and his tag partner Murphy as the security guards for Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff in the Immortal faction.
Gunner started to get more matches and become a bigger part of the faction without Murphy at his side. TNA tried to push Gunner in a few different roles after Immortal ended with each of them leading to failure. WWE witnessed the same lackluster run years later when attempting to push him.
6 A-1 (Team Canada)
TNA took a risk by splitting up the Team Canada faction after years of being over as a heel act. Petey Williams, Bobby Roode and Eric Young all had singles roles with varying results, but they at least had some relevant work moving forward.
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A-1 was the only wrestler of the group to struggle at finding a spot in the promotion. TNA eventually stopped using him despite his impressive look and decent potential. A-1 suffered the most from Team Canada ending to harm his career.
5 Wes Brisco (Aces & Eights)
TNA was criticized for picking lackluster members to join the Aces & Eights faction after building up anticipation before the reveals. Wes Brisco was one of the younger stars to get a spot in the group and pushed in a bigger role.
Kurt Angle feuded with Wes and even put him over in a singles match on PPV. Brisco struggled to live up to the push and witnessed his momentum ending when TNA disbanded the group. Aces & Eights being forced to split up essentially doomed the career of Wes moving forward.
4 Jesse Godderz (The Bro Mans)
The Bro Mans trio of Robbie E, Jesse Godderz and DJ Zema Ion found moderate success as a heel mid-card act. TNA fans booed them strongly to receive enough heat to win the TNA Tag Team Championship together.
However, the group eventually broke up with Robbie E and Godderz having a singles feud. TNA wanted to push Godderz into a bigger singles role as a heel, but he had the least success of the three. The other two are now in NXT while Jesse is in the revamped OVW.
3 Traci Brooks (Main Event Mafia)
TNA wanted to have a women’s wrestler in the Main Event Mafia since Sharmell was more of a manager than a wrestler. Traci Brooks was the longest-tenured TNA Knockout and received the coveted spot in the company’s top faction.
There was not much planning beyond it as Traci felt out of place and didn’t have much of a role in the Main Event Mafia. The time in the faction eventually ending saw Brooks struggling to find a consistent television spot before her departure.
2 Low Ki (The Beat Down Clan)
Low Ki had a few different stints in TNA from the early years to multiple returns. The Beat Down Clan faction featured names like MVP, Bobby Lashley, Samoa Joe and Kenny King utilizing their real-life friendship in impressive fashion.
TNA added Low Ki to the group when bringing him back into the fold. Low Ki always had solid matches, but his backstage reputation often held him back. The Beat Down Clan ended abruptly, and Low Ki never had another run as successful.
1 Tomko (Christian's Coalition)
TNA hired Tyson Tomko to reunite with Christian Cage after they worked well together in WWE. The act worked perfectly again with Tomko as the ideal enforcer for the top heel. AJ Styles joining them formed the faction of Christian’s Coalition.
The trio had great chemistry and became the most entertaining heel act. TNA eventually had Tomko and Styles turn to join Kurt Angle as The Angle Alliance. Tomko suffered the most from the change as Styles moved into a bigger storyline with Kurt and Karen Angle. TNA didn’t value Tomko enough to push him in any relevant capacity after his run with Christian ended.
