WWE and TNA Wrestling announced a multi-year partnership that will see TNA talent appear on WWE and NXT and NXT talent appear on TNA programming.
Prior to this, both WWE and TNA had called the deal a "talent exchange," steering away from the term "partnership."
From TNA and WWE:
WWE & TNA WRESTLING ANNOUNCE MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP
January 16, 2025 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), and TNA Wrestling, one of the world’s top wrestling brands and a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, today announced a multi-year partnership aimed at creating unprecedented crossover opportunities within WWE and TNA programming for NXT Superstars and TNA Wrestling Stars.
The agreement will enable talent to garner additional exposure across key WWE and TNA programming, including weekly flagship shows such as NXT – which airs live on The CW – and TNA iMPACT!, select WWE Premium Live Events and TNA pay-per-views, in turn bolstering their in-ring development with exposure to world-class talent and coaching.
“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 join 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.
Former TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace and Joe Hendry frequently appeared on NXT programming in 2024, highlighted by an NXT Championship match featuring Hendry and Ethan Page at No Mercy,and an NXT Women’s Championship match featuring Grace and Roxanne Perez at Battleground.
Many NXT Superstars also crossed the line into TNA Wrestling, including Wes Lee’s short-lived reunion with The Rascalz, Charlie Dempsey and the No Quarter Catch Crew, Riley Osbourne, Dante Chen, Gallus, Arianna Grace, Tatum Paxley, Izzi Dame, Wendy Choo, Brinley Reece and more.
TNA iMPACT! airs on AXS TV and TNA+ in the U.S., in addition to being distributed internationally on TNA+ and other leading broadcast platforms, including Sportsnet 360 across Canada.
In November 2023, WWE and The CW announced a five-year agreement to bring NXT to broadcast television for the first time in its 13-year history.
WWE and TNA Wrestling worked together throughout 2024 with then TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace appearing in the women's Royal Rumble. Grace would make multiple appearances on NXT throughout the year and challenged for the NXT Women's Championship against Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground.
TNA wrestler Joe Hendry also appeared multiple times on NXT TV in 2024, including challenging for the NXT Championship against Ethan Page at NXT No Mercy.
NXT superstars Wes Lee, Charlie Dempsey, Sol Ruca, Riley Osbourne and more made appearances on TNA TV throughout 2024.
TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich was in attendance for Tuesday's NXT and recognized on camera and commentary.
Fightful will provide more details on the partnership when they are known.
