The pro wrestling landscape has changed a lot over the past several years. We have seen dream matches, never-before-seen confrontations, and just about everything else besides hell freezing over. But perhaps the very best crossover is likely going to be the growing relationship between TNA Wrestling and NXT.
This partnership has been brewing for a while now, with then Knockouts Champions Mickie James appearing at the 2023 Royal Rumble, and Jordynne Grace following suit in 2024. Both instances were signs that things had started to thaw in the relationship WWE has with other companies. And for TNA? It offered them the kind of exposure they hadn’t had since the Spike TV days.
We have seen multiple instances now of NXT (and WWE) performers showing up on TNA Impact. And recently, with the chance that some stars from Total Non-Stop Action might pop up, the ratings on Tuesday night have been up for NXT.
It all seems like a win-win for both companies. But most of all, it’s a win for the fans.
There Are Natural Connections Between TNA And NXT
THE RASCALZ ARE IN NXT
(as reported by @FightfulSelect today) pic.twitter.com/AdHFG2xcEc
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) July 10, 2024
On this week’s episode of NXT, we saw a reunion of one of the more popular teams in TNA history. The Rascalz – Trey Miguel, Zach Wentz, and Dezmond Xavier – added great wrestling along with some comedy during their run together.
But now, Xavier is known as Wes Lee in NXT. He’s the lone wolf out of the group. So, when the music played and the fans realized that his former partners were arriving from a different company to support him, they popped. Loudly.
That surprise element- and the reaction that goes along with it- has breathed a whole new fire in NXT, and it helped to raise the profile of the TNA stars who appear on WWE programming as well. At the same time, it gives Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and the other people in creative a chance to evaluate stars from the smaller promotion.
For example, it’s becoming pretty obvious that WWE likes both Joe Hendry and Jordynne Grace as possibilities for their main roster someday. They can subsidize TNA financially, while the ‘Little Company That Could’ continues to take advantage of their partnership with TKO Sports.
Baby, Baby… It’s A Wild World
A TNA guy who just pinned a WWE guy standing tall with another WWE guy to finish off NXT. pic.twitter.com/RysaSlDKRU
— Humble Wrestling (@WrestlingHumble) July 10, 2024
It’s incredibly wild to think of WWE doing anything like this. For years, Vince McMahon forbade any mention of other wrestling promotions. Then, he did a few crossover angles with Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the USWA, and ECW. However, he would never have showcased another company’s talent in the ways it’s being done today.
Now that there are no roadblocks, you can almost imagine the possibilities. Maybe the Rascalz reunite in a six-man match for just one night? Or how about “The Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander challenging his former teammate in The North, Ethan Page, for the NXT Championship?
Maybe the partnership between the two brands means that Gail Kim will finally take her rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame. Or, maybe AJ Styles leaves the main roster to make one more run with TNA. So many performers have crisscrossed between the two companies that there are more storylines available than there are noodles in a spaghetti box. And they basically write themselves.
In the end, the fans get to see some great matches that have natural connections behind them. And that’s what pro wrestling is supposed to be about.
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Ryan K Boman is the author of the 2023 book, Pop Music & Peanut Butter: A Collection of Essays about Embracing Life with Laughter & Love. His previous work has appeared at The Miami Herald, SB Nation, Bounding into Sports, and Yardbarker. Follow him on social media @RyanKBoman.
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