Pro Wrestling History — Michael CavaciniMichael Cavacini

TNA Wrestling just dropped its full 2026 live event schedule, and as a lifelong fan and a Temple University researcher, I couldn’t be more thrilled. The biggest news for me is that TNA is returning to Philadelphia for a two-night stand at the Liacouras Center on Thursday, July 30th, and Friday, July 31st.

I’m already planning to be there for both nights, not just because the shows are happening right at my school, but because this event perfectly intersects with my personal and professional passions. My doctoral research at Temple focuses on the evolution of women’s professional wrestling, specifically how the TNA Knockouts revolutionized the industry by proving that women could headline shows and deliver high-caliber athletic performances long before the “Women’s Evolution” became a mainstream buzzword.

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Every once in a while, a biography comes along that does more than just recount the dates and achievements of a famous figure; it forces you to look inward. I recently finished Brian R. Solomon’s latest masterpiece, Irresistible Force: The Life and Times of Gorilla Monsoon, and the timing couldn’t have been more poignant. Finishing the final pages just before attending a family funeral, I found myself struck by the heavy, beautiful theme of legacy—specifically, how we choose to be remembered.

Solomon has long been a heavyweight in wrestling literature, but this is, without a doubt, his best work yet. It is an extraordinary achievement that manages to entertain while simultaneously cultivating profound introspection.