GFW Faces Uncertain Future As Anthem Plan To Sell Company

It wouldn’t be a week in wrestling if there wasn’t a story about GFW/TNA/Impact Wrestling staring down the business end of a crisis.

Sure enough, that’s exactly what they’re doing right now as owners Anthem – who only bought the ailing promotion earlier this year – are looking to sell up and leave the wrestling business altogether.

According to Justin Barrasso at Sports Illustrated, GFW is “haemorrhaging money” and have made Anthem’s continued ownership of and involvement with the company almost a complete non-possibility, with rumours swirling that they are looking to sell as soon as possible.

The news follows hot on the heels on the surprise announcement that Jeff Jarrett – GFW’s Chief Creative Officer – is leaving the company. A very short statement released by the promotion cited “personal matters” as the reason for his sudden departure.

The rumoured tension between Anthem and Jarrett may prove a sticking point when it comes to the former’s ability to sell up. Jarrett still owns the name ‘Global Force Wrestling’ and Anthem – or any potential new buyer – may have to instigate yet another rebranding.

2017 has been something of an annus horribilis for a company who once saw itself as a viable contender for WWE’s share of the wrestling market.

Having rebranded from TNA to Impact Wrestling to Global Force Wrestling in a matter of months, the company also faced the ignominy of stripping Alberto El Patron of his world title after domestic violence allegations.

The company has also been at legal loggerheads with Smashing Pumpkins’ frontman Billy Corgan, whose desire to own and run the company disintegrated into acrimony and bad temper.

Similarly, their bitter battle with Matt and Jeff Hardy over the rights to the ‘Broken’ gimmick before and after the brothers’ return to WWE in April saw many furious tweets, leaks and statements being made.

For now, the future of GFW and Anthem’s involvement remains very much up in the air. It was ever thus.