Santino Marella Details Creative Freedom Differences In TNA Vs WWE & AEW

Santino Marella Details Creative Freedom Differences Between TNA, WWE, And AEW

TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella details creative freedom differences that set Total Nonstop Action Wrestling apart from industry competitors like WWE and AEW.

Having recently signed a new contract with the promotion after serving as an on-screen authority figure and brand ambassador over the past several years, Marella remains a vocal advocate for TNA’s operational structure and backstage environment.

Less Overproduction And Individual Character Autonomy

Speaking on the We R Wrestling Podcast, Marella explained that TNA’s streamlined backstage crew allows talent greater latitude when shaping their on-screen presentation:

“So TNA is not overproduced. We don’t have 15 writers or we don’t have 15 producers. We have more freedom. The individuals in the ring have a little more freedom, and when you have freedom, because you hear about back in the golden day of wrestling, they didn’t write their promos for them. They knew their characters.”

“They came from other territories, and you’ll hear guys like Roddy Piper back in the day say, yeah, they didn’t write any promos for me, and that was the golden era. So there’s something, you know, I know today it’s different, right? You’re on television, you’re on a network. You have to- there has to be some quality control. You got to make sure that people aren’t saying things that are, you know, going to offend sponsors and stuff. So you do have to know what’s happening on television that basically every second, right? To protect yourself. But I think that’s one of the strengths in TNA is that we do have some more creative freedom at the individual level.”

Marella emphasized that while modern broadcast standards require strict quality control to satisfy network partners and advertisers, TNA successfully strikes a balance by empowering performers to craft authentic promos and matches without micro-management.