The hatchet has been buried. 15 years after Impact! moved to Monday nights to directly compete with Raw, WWE and TNA Wrestling have announced a new multi-year partnership. The deal will provide new, unparalleled crossover opportunities for NXT and TNA Superstars.
Although the companies have been working together in a somewhat unofficial capacity since 2024, the announcement signifies both an official acknowledgment of the working relationship, and the opening of previously uncrossed "forbidden door" barriers between WWE and all other wrestling promotions.
What WWE & TNA's Deal Means
The Dawn of A New "New" Era in the Triple H Era
With WWE and TNA officially announcing a partnership, the opportunities for exposure for all TNA and NXT Superstars has grown exponentially. In 2024, there were multiple crossovers between NXT and TNA, including former TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace appearing in the Women's Royal Rumble match, and Joe Hendry challenging for the NXT Championship against Ethan Page at WWE's No Mercy live event.
In the official press release, representatives from both WWE and TNA celebrated the agreement, highlighting the initial collaborative efforts as well as the future opportunities.
“This historic relationship demonstrates that collaboration and competition do not have to be mutually exclusive,” said Ariel Shnerer, Senior Vice President of Content & Distribution for TNA Wrestling and Anthem Sports & Entertainment. “Our partnership allows the TNA Wrestling brand and its incredible athletes to reach a significantly wider audience, while giving WWE and NXT stars an opportunity to cross the line and gain valuable experience, as they forces with one of the most talented rosters in professional wrestling today. The response to our collaboration over the past year has been tremendous and both companies have benefited, but the fans have reaped the greatest rewards from this talent crossover and working relationship.”
“We look forward to growing and evolving our partnership with TNA Wrestling and its outstanding group of athletes by creating new opportunities to further the development of our talent and to elevate the viewer experience at home,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative Shawn Michaels.
Our Take On The WWE/TNA Deal
A Rising Tides Lifts All Boats
As WWE only acknowledges other promotions on air during commentary, like the Lucha Underground nod during Penta's debut on Monday Night Raw, as well as other unofficial partnerships with Pro Wrestling NOAH and Marigold, the "Forbidden Door" mantra has never felt more like an antiquated product of a bygone era. The official partnership agreement is another welcomed movement for WWE into the modern era of wrestling, as WWE begins to integrate itself into the much wider wrestling universe as opposed to being fully insulated as it was during Vince McMahon's helm.
With the 2025 Royal Rumble less than three weeks away, the opportunity to see TNA Champions, some of whom are former WWE Superstars, becomes that much more of a reality. Dream matches may also become reality, including the fantasy booked match between NXT Champion Oba Femi and TNA Superstar A.J. Francis, a match which both men have spoken about publicly as one they'd both like to see happen. The possibilities are endless for potential appearances by both TNA and NXT talents, and wrestling fans continue to win big in an exciting new timeline.
Source: WWE
