Wrestling veteran Stevie Richards has openly criticized the scheduling strategy behind TNA Wrestling’s recent debut on the AMC Network. The promotion premiered its Thursday night show on January 15, 2026, just 48 hours before their annual Genesis pay-per-view. The debut episode, featuring a World Title bout between Frankie Kazarian and Mike Santana, drew 173,000 viewers and a 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demographic, but Richards believes the timing hindered the brand’s momentum.
Speaking on The Stevie Richards Show, he argued that giving away the main event match for free days before asking fans to pay for a PPV was a strategic misstep. Richards suggested the premiere should have served as a fresh start after the big event. He explained his reasoning, stating, “They were trying to sell a PPV and have a debut right before that. I would almost think that after Genesis, that’s when the new era should start. You want people to be emotionally invested and take it on the weekly episodic ride.”
Richards elaborated on the consumer mindset, adding, “Then you ask them, ‘Hey, this is worth paying a month for’ because of all these weeks. You can’t say, ‘Here’s the debut episode, and by the way, can you give us money three days from now?’ Then they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not watching episode two, and I’m definitely not buying the PPV. And why would I buy the PPV when you just gave me the match for free?’”
