Impact Zone

The Impact Zone[1] is the nickname for any one of three sound stages at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando derived from Impact!, a weekly television series produced by the professional wrestling promotion Impact Wrestling (formerly Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling).

For the generic topic, see ground zero.
Soundstage 21
Impact Zone
The Impact Zone in May 2007
LocationUniversal Studios Florida
OwnerUniversal Destinations & Experiences
OperatorUniversal Destinations & Experiences
Capacity1,400
Opened1990
Tenants
World Championship Wrestling (1995–2001)
Xcitement Wrestling Federation (2001–2002)
Impact Wrestling
Ring of Honor
All Elite Wrestling (2021–2023)
Soundstage 19
Impact Zone
Soundstage 19 in November 2013
LocationUniversal Studios Florida
OwnerUniversal Destinations & Experiences
OperatorUniversal Destinations & Experiences
Capacity1,100
Opened1990
Tenants
Impact Wrestling
Ring of Honor
All Elite Wrestling (2021–2023)
Soundstage 20
Impact Zone
LocationUniversal Studios Florida
OwnerUniversal Destinations & Experiences
OperatorUniversal Destinations & Experiences
Capacity1,100
Opened1990
Tenants
Impact Wrestling

Between 2004 and March 2013, Impact Wrestling produced and broadcast programming from Soundstage 21. As part of the agreement with Universal, the promotion was not allowed to charge general admission to events held at the Impact Zone, with the exception of VIP packages. From March 2013, until November 21, the promotion left Universal Studios and began to tour nationally.[2] Upon their return to Universal Studios, Impact began using Soundstage 19, which is smaller and holds fewer people than Soundstage 21.[3] Impact would continue to produce programming from Universal Studios until April 2018, when they began touring once again. Since 2021, the site has served as the main studio for tapings of AEW Dark, one of the weekly online streaming programs for All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[4] In 2023, AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor began taping its weekly program at the venue.

History

World Championship Wrestling (WCW)

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.[5]

Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF)

On November 12 and 13, 2001, the Xcitement Wrestling Federation (XWF) would tape several matches from Soundstage 21.[6]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) / Impact Wrestling

In May 2004, TNA announced that they would be starting their first nationally broadcast television show, TNA Impact on Fox SportsNet 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.[7]

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 sound stage was evacuated for approximately 20 minutes while the Orlando Fire Department inspected the resultant damage and the building in general. Afterwards, the audience was allowed back in and the show resumed with only one match canceled.

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.[8][9]

TNA returned to Universal Studios on November 21, 2013.[10]

After the April 2018 tapings, Impact would resume touring other venues and countries. Bleachers used in the Impact Zone went onto sale on eBay in August.[11]

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) / Ring of Honor

On August 27, 2021, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced that one of their weekly web series, AEW Dark, would be taped at its own set within Universal Studios at Soundstage 19.[12] The first set of tapings for Dark began on September 11, 2021.[13] In 2023, AEW's sister promotion Ring of Honor began taping its weekly show at Universal Studios also at Soundstage 19.[14][15][16]

Statistics

List of stages
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
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
1.^ The numbers represent the approximate maximum capacities and do not reflect the actual attendance at the events.

References
  1. "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.
  2. Johnson, Mike (February 8, 2013). "End of a TNA era next month and more TNA news". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  3. Johnson, Mike (October 18, 2013). "TNA IMPACT WRESTLING TAPING UPDATE: PROMOTION RETURNING TO OLD HOME?". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  4. Lee, Joseph (August 27, 2021). "UPDATED: AEW Dark To Be Taped In Studio, Note On Likely Location". 411 Mania. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  5. "Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  6. "Buff Bagwell's Bio Page". Therealbuff.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2013. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
  7. "ORLANDO TO FEEL THE IMPACT! STARTING THIS THURSDAY". TNA Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  8. Johnson, Mike (February 8, 2013). "End of a TNA era next month and more TNA news". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
  9. "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.
  10. "November 21: Orlando, FL (IMPACT LIVE)". November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013.
  11. wewwewwew (August 6, 2018). "Bleachers For Sale Custom Built for Impact Wrestling by GT Grandstands". eBay. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  12. Sean Rueter (August 27, 2021). "AEW Dark set to become a studio show (Updated)". Cageside Seats. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  13. Gagnon, Joshua (September 11, 2021). "First-Look At AEW Dark At Universal Studios". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  14. Rumsey, Connel (February 26, 2023). "First Look at ROH Television Set Ahead of Tapings". WrestleTalk. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  15. Defelice, Robert (February 25, 2023). "Ring Of Honor Spoilers From Orlando, Florida (Taped On 2/25)". Fightful. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  16. Defelice, Robert (February 26, 2023). "Ring Of Honor Spoilers From Orlando, Florida (Taped On 2/26)". Fightful. Retrieved February 27, 2023.

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