By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

TNA president Dixie Carter says TNA is currently trying to get out of some "bad contracts" the company agreed to in its early years to get off the ground. In a mainstream interview with the Tennessean, Carter did not specify details on the contracts.

"When a company first starts out, you have to do whatever you can to get into the business. Then, once you’re established, you spend a lot of time getting out of all the bad contracts that got you into the business. Deals with companies, bad partnerships or licensing deals. We’re still working through some of those now that we’ve found our footing," Carter told reporter Bobby Allyn.

Carter also noted the company's top show, Impact Wrestling, is in the middle of a tough season for TV networks trying to create revenue. "It’s a challenging time for the television industry as advertising dollars are dwindling," she said.

Part of the challenge for TNA and their TV partner, Spike TV, is the perception of wrestling in the marketplace. Wrestling typically draws low-end advertisers, and Carter says her company is trying to erase stereotypes about the product.

"Wrestling had a bad reputation for a while. People thought it was trashy. But that’s changing. I went to a legitimate sports network and the head of the company said, 'Are you kidding? We have the Lakers and everything else,'" Carter said, likely referring to FSN. "I popped in a tape and he said, 'Okay, let’s talk.'"

Moving forward, Carter says she believes the future of TNA's product is "pulling back the curtain a little more" to be more "reality driven."

"The way we view wrestling in the coming years might respond to some of that. Fans will be able to see a little bit more than they’re used to. They’ll be able to see more of the wrestlers’s unscripted emotions and drama," Carter said.

WWE has taken a similar approach, and Carter said she believes the two companies have pushed each other to advance the wrestling industry.

"I don’t care who you are, competition makes you better. There’s a reason there’s a Lowe’s across the street from every Home Depot and a CVS across the street from every Walgreens. I think we’ve made WWE better, just as they’ve improved us," she said.

Link: Carter's full interview can be read at Tennessean.com .

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