TNA_Impact_Zone

Impact Zone

Impact Zone

Sound stages at Universal Studios Florida

The Impact Zone is the nickname for any one of three sound stages at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando; they received this nickname due to their use by the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), who taped their weekly television series Impact! at the complex for much of its first two decades of existence.[1]

For the generic topic, see ground zero.
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Universal Studios Florida's soundstages have been used to produce professional wrestling since the 1990s, when World Championship Wrestling (WCW) used Soundstage 21 to tape their syndicated wrestling shows between 1996 and 1998. The most prolific use of the soundstages were between 2004 and 2018, where TNA used Soundstage 21 to tape Impact! and many of their pay-per-view events, before moving to the smaller Soundstage 19 after its 2013 tour; Impact! is now taped in various venues around North America.

In 2021, the site served as the main studio for tapings of the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) online series Dark.[2] In 2023, AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) also began taping its weekly program at the venue. Following the 2023 launch of AEW's second live show, Collision, Dark was cancelled and Ring of Honor tapings were paired with Collision dates across North America.

History

World Championship Wrestling (WCW)

In 1996, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) began taping their syndicated wrestling shows, WCW Pro and WCW Worldwide, from Soundstage 21, which they called the "WCW Arena". WCW continued to tape the shows and occasional episodes of WCW Saturday Night until 1998, when Pro was canceled and matches for Worldwide were taped before WCW Thunder.[3]

Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF)

On November 12 and 13, 2001, the Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF) would tape several matches from Soundstage 21.[4]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) / Impact Wrestling

In May 2004, TNA announced that they would be starting their first nationally broadcast television show, TNA Impact on Fox SportsNet which would be taped at Universal Studios as part of an agreement reached with the theme park. Accordingly, TNA leased Soundstage 21 for the purposes of putting on wrestling events for an indefinite period of time.[5]

On January 31, 2013, TNA announced that they would be taping Impact Wrestling from different venues around the United States, with the first live show on March 14, 2013, from the Sears Centre Arena near Chicago. The final episodes from the Impact Zone were filmed on February 28, 2013, and March 7, 2013.[6][7] TNA returned to Universal Studios on November 21, 2013, now using Soundstage 19.[8] After the April 2018 tapings, Impact would resume touring. Bleachers used in the Impact Zone went onto sale on eBay in August.[9]

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) / Ring of Honor

On August 27, 2021, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced that their weekly web series, AEW Dark, would be taped at its own set within Universal Studios at Soundstage 19.[10] For the first half of 2023, AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor also taped its weekly show at Soundstage 19.[11]

Statistics

List of stages

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List of live pay-per-view events held in the Impact Zone

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Notes

1.^ The numbers represent the approximate maximum capacities and do not reflect the actual attendance at the events.

References

  1. [1]
    "Footage, Photos, & Complete Recap From Thursday's IMPACT WRESTLING". Impactwrestling.com. February 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 21, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  2. [2]
    Lee, Joseph (August 27, 2021). "UPDATED: AEW Dark To Be Taped In Studio, Note On Likely Location". 411 Mania. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  4. [4]
    "Buff Bagwell's Bio Page". Therealbuff.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  5. [5]
    "ORLANDO TO FEEL THE IMPACT! STARTING THIS THURSDAY". TNA Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  6. [6]
    Johnson, Mike (February 8, 2013). "End of a TNA era next month and more TNA news". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  7. [7]
    "Road show for TNA Impact Wrestling". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. February 1, 2013. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  8. [8]
    "November 21: Orlando, FL (IMPACT LIVE)". November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013.
  9. [9]
    wewwewwew (August 6, 2018). "Bleachers For Sale Custom Built for Impact Wrestling by GT Grandstands". eBay. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  10. [10]
    Sean Rueter (August 27, 2021). "AEW Dark set to become a studio show (Updated)". Cageside Seats. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  11. [11]
    Rumsey, Connel (February 26, 2023). "First Look at ROH Television Set Ahead of Tapings". WrestleTalk. Retrieved February 26, 2023.

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