Immortal was a villainous professional wrestling alliance that left an indelible mark on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). From its formation in 2010 to its collapse in 2012, Immortal wreaked havoc on TNA, driven by a desire for power and control. Let's delve into the history of this controversial stable, exploring its key members, title reigns, major rivalries, and ultimate downfall.
The roots of Immortal can be traced back to January 4, 2010, when Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff debuted in TNA on Impact! as business partners of TNA President Dixie Carter. Initially presented as faces, Hogan and Bischoff exerted control over the company, aiming to steer it towards success. However, their intentions were far from benevolent.
As 2010 progressed, a key storyline emerged centered on a shadowy group known as "they," teased through cryptic warnings and interferences in matches. This led to the revelation of Immortal and the group officially formed at Bound for Glory on October 10, 2010, during the TNA World Heavyweight Championship three-way match featuring Jeff Hardy, Kurt Angle, and Mr. Anderson.
The original lineup consisted of leaders Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan, along with Abyss, Jeff Hardy, and Jeff Jarrett. Over time, the stable grew to include a number of prominent wrestlers, including Bully Ray, Chris Harris, Gunner, Kurt Angle, Matt Hardy, Mr. Anderson, Murphy, Ric Flair, Rob Terry, Scott Steiner, and Tommy Dreamer. Referee Jackson James and valet Karen Jarrett were also affiliated with the group.
Key Members and Their Roles
- Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff: The masterminds behind Immortal, Hogan and Bischoff sought to seize control of TNA and reshape it in their image.
- Jeff Hardy: A core member of Immortal, Hardy's TNA World Heavyweight Championship reigns were instrumental in establishing the stable's dominance.
- Abyss: A monstrous force, Abyss served as Immortal's enforcer, carrying out their dirty work with brutal efficiency.
- Kurt Angle: Kurt Angle functioned as a powerhouse, injecting intensity and credibility into Immortal's roster with his Olympic pedigree and world title victory upon joining the group.
- Ric Flair: Among associates, Ric Flair provided veteran mentorship following the alliance with Fortune, guiding younger members through feuds and imparting his "Nature Boy" wisdom to enhance Immortal's prestige.
- Scott Steiner: Scott Steiner contributed raw power and intensity as an enforcer starting in June 2011.
- Bully Ray: Bully Ray was such a good fit for Immortal, especially during the later months where the group was dwindling in numbers. He could talk, he could work and he was in the best shape of his life. He was also a natural heel that everyone gravitated towards and despised after he turned on Devon.
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Title Reigns
During its active period from 2010 to 2012, the Immortal stable controlled the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on four occasions through its members' reigns, often secured or defended via interference from the group.
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Jeff Hardy, a core member of Immortal, captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time on October 10, 2010, at Bound for Glory, defeating Kurt Angle and Mr. Anderson in a three-way match for the vacant title. His victory was aided by interference from Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, who pedigreed Angle, allowing Hardy to secure the pinfall and simultaneously revealing the formation of Immortal. Hardy held the title for 91 days until losing it to Mr.
Hardy's second reign came on February 13, 2011, at Against All Odds, where he defeated Mr. Anderson in a ladder match. This 11-day reign ended on February 24, 2011, during an episode of Impact Wrestling, when Hardy lost to Sting.
Mr. Anderson is credited with one key world title reign associated with the stable during its peak, occurring just before his formal alignment in July 2011. His victory took place on June 12, 2011, at Slammiversary IX, defeating Sting with direct interference from Eric Bischoff, who distracted the referee and facilitated the pin.
Kurt Angle joined Immortal in August 2011 and immediately won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on August 7, 2011, at Hardcore Justice, defeating Sting after Hulk Hogan struck Sting with a chair, allowing Angle to apply the ankle lock for the submission. Angle's 72-day reign, defended successfully against challengers like Bobby Roode, ended on October 18, 2011, during an episode of Impact Wrestling, when he lost to James Storm in a no-disqualification match.
Beyond TNA, Jeff Jarrett's AAA Mega Championship win on June 18, 2011, at Triplemanía XIX-defeating El Zorro in a multi-man match with assistance from allies like Konnan-was integrated into Immortal's narrative. Exiled to Mexico by Bischoff after a losing streak to Kurt Angle, Jarrett's 274-day reign as AAA Mega Champion served as a storyline extension of Immortal's influence, portraying the stable's reach across promotions.
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Beer Money (James Storm and Robert Roode) captured the TNA World Tag Team Championship on January 9, 2011, at Genesis, defeating The Motor City Machine Guns and Mexican America in a three-way match. This reign lasted until March 13, 2011, at Victory Road, where Beer Money lost to Immortal members Gunner and Murphy, who then held the titles until April 17, 2011.
Immortal's reach extended to the X Division through both direct and allied victories. Abyss defeated Kazarian on the May 19 edition of Impact Wrestling to win the TNA X Division Championship.
Key Rivalries
Immortal's presence drove several high-stakes rivalries that anchored major pay-per-view events, particularly against Sting's loyalists and the homegrown faction Fortune. The stable's antagonism toward Sting, portraying him as a Joker-like vigilante resisting their regime, built to climactic matches such as Sting's victory over Hogan at Bound for Glory 2011, which temporarily disrupted Immortal's dominance and led to Hogan's babyface turn.
Similarly, Fortune's defection from Immortal in February 2011-led by AJ Styles and partners-intensified inter-faction conflicts, culminating in multi-man battles at events like Lockdown 2012, where Immortal's defeat in a Lethal Lockdown match resulted in the group's effective disbandment.
The Downfall of Immortal
By mid-2011, Immortal faced escalating internal conflicts and betrayals that undermined their hold on TNA. Tensions arose among members, including confrontations involving Abyss, who turned on the group by attacking Mr. Anderson.
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Immortal's final collapse occurred at Lockdown on April 15, 2012, in a five-on-five Lethal Lockdown match billed as Team Eric (Eric Bischoff, Bully Ray, Christopher Daniels, Gunner, and Kazarian, representing Immortal) versus Team Garett (Garett Bischoff, A.J. Styles, Austin Aries, Mr.
On October 16 at Bound for Glory, Sting defeated Hogan, handing TNA back to Carter. After the match, Hogan turned face by attacking the rest of Immortal as they were beating down Sting.
Immortal's Impact on TNA
The formation of Immortal in 2010 marked a significant shift in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)'s booking philosophy, ushering in a Hulkamania-era style that prioritized larger-than-life characters and spectacle-driven narratives reminiscent of World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the late 1990s. Led by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, the stable's takeover emphasized heel dominance and power struggles, moving away from TNA's earlier focus on athleticism and underdog stories toward invasion angles where Immortal positioned themselves as corporate overlords exploiting a contract loophole to seize control from TNA president Dixie Carter.
The stable's debut coincided with TNA's bold attempt to challenge WWE in the "Monday Night Wars" starting January 4, 2010, initially boosting Impact!'s ratings to a peak of 2.2 million viewers and a 1.5 household rating for the three-hour premiere featuring Hogan and Bischoff. However, sustained creative backlash arose from the heavy reliance on established stars and repetitive invasion tropes, leading to declining viewership-dropping to around 1.0 by mid-2010-and criticism that it diluted TNA's unique identity.
Timeline of Joins and Departures
Immortal's roster evolved significantly from its formation through its dissolution, reflecting the stable's attempts to consolidate power in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) storylines.
| Date | Event | Joins | Departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 10, 2010 | Bound for Glory PPV | Hulk Hogan, Eric Bischoff, Abyss, Jeff Hardy, Jeff Jarrett | - |
| October 14, 2010 | Impact Wrestling | Fortune (AJ Styles, Kazarian, Bobby Roode, James Storm) | - |
| February 3, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Fortune alliance ends | |
| February 14, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Ric Flair | |
| March 17, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Bully Ray | Jeff Hardy (storyline fired) |
| May 5, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Tommy Dreamer | |
| June 30, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Scott Steiner | |
| July 7, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Mr. Anderson | |
| October 13, 2011 | Impact Wrestling | Abyss |