Matt Hardy comments on how the working relationship between WWE and TNA Wrestling will be beneficial for both parties.
WWE and TNA Wrestling recently entered a multi-year agreement which will see TNA Wrestlers crossover into WWE NXT and vice versa. Matt Hardy commented on this partnership on the latest episode of his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast.
He noted that this newly official relationship isn't only beneficial for TNA. It will also allow NXT stars to be exposed to a new audience.
“I think it is extremely beneficial for NXT talents. I think coming to TNA, a company that has been prevalent in the wrestling business now for over two decades, I think it makes people at NXT seem like bigger stars when they come there. It obviously helps TNA because TNA is in a resurgence right now and there’s going to be newer guys that haven’t had a lot of great TV time, they’re not known worldwide in TNA, and by being on that WWE NXT program, that is a huge platform for both of them," he said. "I think it is very beneficial to both factors. I think when you think about things and you talk about — I would say overall in the big scheme of things with business, I think from a talent aspect, I think both NXT and TNA benefit from it. From a business aspect, it definitely benefits TNA more. I think even with WWE now, it’s going to open up them working together, having this very solid partnership, it allows them to open up. I think WWE could allow, they could help push for them to get a bigger platform and do whatever else because they are working together and they are side by side and they want to see TNA do better; they want to see TNA grow so they can continue to exchange. Who knows, we might be seeing a NXT versus TNA pay-per-view before it’s all said and done, who knows? I mean, anything could happen. One thing that is cool is that they’re both staying as separate entities, they both do their own business, they both make their own decisions, but they just work together.”
Commenting on how these relationships have worked out in the past with WWE typically getting the better end of the deal in their working relationships with promotions like ECW and USWA, Matt Hardy says certain things like talent leaving TNA for higher paid spots in WWE, or even AEW, is to be expected. Still, he believes this partnership will elevate TNA Wrestling to a higher platform and relevance than it has held for a decade.
“I think considering where TNA is right now in reality, I think that’s stuff that is going to happen. I mean, if there is a place that — WWE obviously has money, money, money, money. AEW, there’s plenty of money there. If there are other companies that can offer these talents more money and they’re interested, it’s going to be hard to retain them. I think this is going to greatly help TNA because I think TNA, it's putting them back on the map. Once again, it’s going to continue to raise the equity in TNA. I think this deal and being in concert with WWE, I think this is going to help put TNA back on a bigger platform. I think by the end of 2025, it’ll be on the biggest platform it’s been on in a decade.”
Fans can read new TNA Wrestling World Champion Joe Hendry's thoughts on the relationship here.
Matt Hardy is also hopeful that this partnership will allow him to keep wrestling in TNA while also being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Learn more here.
Should you use any portion of the quotes above, transcription credit should go to Fightful with an H/T linking back to this article.
