Backstage Update On WWE-TNA Relationship

Ahead of NXT Battleground, there are new details on the relationship between WWE and TNA.

by Andrew Pollard
WWE Royal Rumble 2024 Jordynne Grace
WWE

With TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace set to challenge Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Title at NXT Battleground later today, there's now an update on the relationship between WWE and the Anthem promotion.

As per Fightful Select, over a dozen WWE talent the outlet spoke to expressed interest in appearing on TNA programming, with all of those names expecting something to happen sooner rather than later in that regard. Similarly, there is "significant interest" from NXT talent in working with certain TNA wrestlers, with Josh Alexander and Leon Slater amongst the names being spoken highly of as potential opponents for the NXT roster. Steve Maclin is another who's been viewed as a "natural crossover fit", with it noted how few people in the industry are as familiar with NXT and the Performance Center process - Maclin having spent seven years under WWE contract, six of which were spent in NXT.

As for Jordynne Grace, she made a great impression with WWE officials at this year's Royal Rumble, generating immediate interest in bringing her back in the future. And on that front, Fightful has been told TNA made the process very easy, with TNA VP of Business Development Ariel Sherner helpful on this matter, in addition to now-former TNA President Scott D'Amore previously playing a role. Several female WWE talent Fightful spoke to were keen to appear for TNA, with one unnamed WWE star seeing this as a great opportunity to generate buzz and create angles outside of the WWE bubble.

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Grace vs. Perez takes place tonight at NXT Battleground, as fans eagerly await to see whether any other TNA names make an appearance at this hotly-anticipated NXT special.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.