| Soundstage 21 | |
|---|---|
| The Impact Wrestling Zone | |
| Location | Universal Studios Florida |
| Opened | 1990 |
| Owner | Universal Studios |
| Operator | Universal Studios |
| Surface | Concrete 80% and polystyrene 20% |
| Capacity | 1,400 |
| Tenants | |
| Nickelodeon GUTS RollerJam TNA Wrestling |
|
The Impact Wrestling Zone is the professional wrestling nickname for Soundstage 21, a sound stage in Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. Its nickname is derived from Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's (TNA) Impact Wrestling weekly television series, which is taped at this venue.
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In May 2004, TNA announced that they would be starting their first nationally airing television show, TNA Impact! on Fox Sports Net. They also announced that they would be airing this show from 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. TNA also moved several of its main offices down to Orlando from their original home in Nashville.
Since June 2004, TNA has taped its flagship show, Impact! as well as its secondary show Xplosion from the Impact! Zone. They also aired every monthly pay-per-view in company history from that location until October 2006 when Bound for Glory was broadcast from the Compuware Arena in Detroit. They also hosted a special viewing of The Best Damn Sports Show Period that was entitled the Best Damn Wrestling Event Period.
As part of the agreement with Universal Studios, TNA is not allowed to charge entrance to events held at the Impact! Zone. This led TNA to look for alternative venues to host some of their monthly pay-per-view events.
In August 2006 at Hard Justice, a fire sparked in the rafters of the Impact! Zone. The fire was the result of pyrotechnics igniting a burlap sandbag. The soundstage was evacuated for approximately 20 minutes while the Orlando Fire Department inspected the resultant damage and the building in general. Afterward, the audience was allowed back in and the show resumed with only one match canceled.
On October 23, 2008, Impact! began broadcasting in HD on Spike. The previous stage and two entrance ramps were removed. The new HD setup included new lighting and several very large high-resolution screens. The wrestlers all enter from the same stage, which enabled TNA to add around 400 seats to the Impact! Zone, which increased capacity from 900 to around to 1,350 fans per night. The new stage retained the two tunnels, both leading up to it for the faces (left side) and heels (right side), but just one ramp going down to the ring. For the Final Resolution 2009 PPV & Monday Night Impact!, TNA had moved the announce table to a higher elevation and added about 50 seats. Beginning January 17, 2010 at Genesis, TNA switched to a 4-sided ring and one entrance area with an elevated ramp all the way to the ring. On August 8, 2010 TNA's 2010 Hardcore Justice Pay-Per-View the elevated ramp leading to the ring was removed. In May 2011, TNA rebranded TNA Impact! to Impact Wrestling as a result of which, the Impact! Zone was renamed the Impact Wrestling Zone.[1]
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by first |
Host of Genesis 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012 |
Succeeded by Bojangles' Coliseum |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Against All Odds 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by BI-LO Center |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Victory Road 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by Reliant Arena |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Lockdown 2005, 2006 |
Succeeded by Family Arena |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Sacrifice 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Slammiversary 2005, 2006, VIII, IX |
Succeeded by Nashville Municipal Auditorium |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Destination X 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by Norfolk Scope |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Hardcore Justice 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by Sovereign Bank Arena |
| Preceded by first |
Host of No Surrender 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by General Motors Centre |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Bound for Glory (2005) 2005 |
Succeeded by Compuware Sports Arena |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Turning Point 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Final Resolution 2005, 2006, 2007, Jan 2008, Dec 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by first |
Host of Unbreakable 2005 |
Succeeded by last |