Impact Zone
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
Impact Zone | |
Location | Universal Studios Florida |
---|---|
Owner | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
Operator | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
Capacity | 1,400 |
Opened | 1990 |
Tenants | |
World Championship Wrestling (1995–2001) Xcitement Wrestling Federation (2001–2002) Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Ring of Honor All Elite Wrestling (2021–2023) |
Impact Zone | |
Location | Universal Studios Florida |
---|---|
Owner | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
Operator | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
Capacity | 1,100 |
Opened | 1990 |
Tenants | |
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Ring of Honor All Elite Wrestling (2021–2023) |
Impact Zone | |
Location | Universal Studios Florida |
---|---|
Owner | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
Operator | Universal Destinations & Experiences |
Capacity | 1,100 |
Opened | 1990 |
Tenants | |
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling |
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][2]
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.[3] 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
[edit]World Championship Wrestling (WCW)
[edit]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.[4]
Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF)
[edit]On November 12 and 13, 2001, the Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF) would tape several matches from Soundstage 21.[5]
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) / Impact Wrestling
[edit]In May 2004, TNA announced that they would be starting their first nationally broadcast television show, TNA Impact on Fox Sports Net 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.[6]
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.[7][8] TNA returned to Universal Studios on November 21, 2013, now using Soundstage 19.[9] After the April 2018 tapings, Impact would resume touring. Bleachers used in the Impact Zone went onto sale on eBay in August.[10]
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) / Ring of Honor
[edit]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.[11] For the first half of 2023, AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor also taped its weekly show at Soundstage 19.[12]
Statistics
[edit]List of stages
[edit]Stage | Size | Capacity^ | Usage |
---|---|---|---|
Soundstage 19 | 16,500 sq. ft. | 1100 | November 2013 – December 2013 January 2017 July 2017 – April 2018 |
Soundstage 20 | 16,500 sq. ft. | 1100 | March 2014 – October 2016 April 2017 |
Soundstage 21 | 22,000 sq. ft. | 1400 | June 2004 – March 2013 March 2017 |
List of live pay-per-view events held in the Impact Zone
[edit]Date | Event | Stage | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | |||
November 7, 2004 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | The first monthly three-hour pay-per-view event produced by the company. |
December 5, 2004 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
2005 | |||
January 16, 2005 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
February 13, 2005 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 13, 2005 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | |
April 24, 2005 | Lockdown | Soundstage 21 | |
May 15, 2005 | Hard Justice | Soundstage 21 | |
June 19, 2005 | Slammiversary | Soundstage 21 | |
July 17, 2005 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
August 14, 2005 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
September 11, 2005 | Unbreakable | Soundstage 21 | |
October 23, 2005 | Bound for Glory | Soundstage 21 | |
November 13, 2005 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | |
December 11, 2005 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
2006 | |||
January 15, 2006 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
February 12, 2006 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 12, 2006 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | |
April 23, 2006 | Lockdown | Soundstage 21 | |
May 14, 2006 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
June 18, 2006 | Slammiversary | Soundstage 21 | |
July 16, 2006 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | |
August 13, 2006 | Hard Justice | Soundstage 21 | A pyrotechnic malfunction during the opening match led to the temporary evacuation of the building and one match being canceled. |
September 24, 2006 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
November 19, 2006 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | |
December 10, 2006 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
2007 | |||
January 14, 2007 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
February 11, 2007 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 11, 2007 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | |
May 13, 2007 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
July 15, 2007 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | |
August 12, 2007 | Hard Justice | Soundstage 21 | |
September 9, 2007 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
November 11, 2007 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | |
December 2, 2007 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
2008 | |||
January 6, 2008 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
May 11, 2008 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
November 9, 2008 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
December 7, 2008 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | The company changed its PPV schedule; there were two Final Resolution events held that year. |
2009 | |||
February 8, 2009 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 15, 2009 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | |
May 24, 2009 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
July 19, 2009 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | |
August 16, 2009 | Hard Justice | Soundstage 21 | |
September 20, 2009 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
November 15, 2009 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
December 20, 2009 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
2010 | |||
January 17, 2010 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | The show featured the return of a standard four-sided ring. |
February 14, 2010 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 21, 2010 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | |
May 16, 2010 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
June 13, 2010 | Slammiversary | Soundstage 21 | |
July 11, 2010 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | |
August 8, 2010 | Hardcore Justice | Soundstage 21 | |
September 5, 2010 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
November 7, 2010 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
December 5, 2010 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
2011 | |||
January 9, 2011 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | |
February 13, 2011 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 13, 2011 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | |
May 15, 2011 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
June 12, 2011 | Slammiversary | Soundstage 21 | |
July 10, 2011 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | The show featured a one-night return of the six-sided ring that the company was not using at the time. |
August 7, 2011 | Hardcore Justice | Soundstage 21 | |
September 11, 2011 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
November 13, 2011 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
December 11, 2011 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
2012 | |||
January 8, 2012 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | |
February 12, 2012 | Against All Odds | Soundstage 21 | |
March 18, 2012 | Victory Road | Soundstage 21 | |
May 13, 2012 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 21 | |
July 8, 2012 | Destination X | Soundstage 21 | |
August 12, 2012 | Hardcore Justice | Soundstage 21 | |
September 9, 2012 | No Surrender | Soundstage 21 | |
November 11, 2012 | Turning Point | Soundstage 21 | |
December 9, 2012 | Final Resolution | Soundstage 21 | |
2013 | |||
January 13, 2013 | Genesis | Soundstage 21 | The final live pay-per-view event held in the original Impact Zone before the company began touring. |
2014 | |||
April 27, 2014 | Sacrifice | Soundstage 20 | |
2015 | |||
June 28, 2015 | Slammiversary | Soundstage 20 | |
2016 | |||
June 12, 2016 | Slammiversary | Soundstage 20 | |
October 2, 2016 | Bound for Glory | Soundstage 20 | |
2017 | |||
January 6, 2017 | One Night Only: Live! | Soundstage 19 | |
July 2, 2017 | Slammiversary XV | Soundstage 19 | |
2018 | |||
April 22, 2018 | Redemption | Soundstage 19 |
Notes
[edit]- 1.^ The numbers represent the approximate maximum capacities and do not reflect the actual attendance at the events.
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ Middleton, Marc (August 27, 2021). "AEW to Move Dark Tapings to Same Universal Studios Soundstage Used By WCW and Impact". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- ^ Lee, Joseph (August 27, 2021). "UPDATED: AEW Dark To Be Taped In Studio, Note On Likely Location". 411 Mania. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ "Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
- ^ "Buff Bagwell's Bio Page". Therealbuff.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
- ^ "ORLANDO TO FEEL THE IMPACT! STARTING THIS THURSDAY". TNA Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (February 8, 2013). "End of a TNA era next month and more TNA news". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "November 21: Orlando, FL (IMPACT LIVE)". November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013.
- ^ wewwewwew (August 6, 2018). "Bleachers For Sale Custom Built for Impact Wrestling by GT Grandstands". eBay. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ Sean Rueter (August 27, 2021). "AEW Dark set to become a studio show (Updated)". Cageside Seats. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- ^ Rumsey, Connel (February 26, 2023). "First Look at ROH Television Set Ahead of Tapings". WrestleTalk. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
External links
[edit]- tnawrestling.com - the official website of TNA Wrestling
- Internet Wrestling Database - Impact Zone - Results from professional wrestling cards promoted at the Impact Zone from 2004–present