WWE and TNA entered a collaborative relationship in January 2025. However, the Stamford-based promotion only uses its developmental territory in this partnership. Moreover, the NXT wrestlers are also holding onto their championship belts from TNA. So, does WWE own TNA?
The short answer to this is no. TNA is still an independent promotion that has signed a multi-year deal with WWE. The deal will see both promotions expanding their reach and using each other’s roster for their shows, including premium live events and pay-per-views.
A TNA Championship being defended on WWE programming is actually INSANE when you think about it.
The NX-TNA partnership is doing wonders for both companies. 🔥#WWENXT
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Both promotions also have their championships contested in each other’s shows. The relationship has significantly helped both WWE and TNA, with the latter maintaining its individuality. This wouldn’t have been possible during the Vince McMahon era, since he always put WWE first.
The current era is seeing great matches that couldn’t have happened previously. Moreover, WWE’s 2025 Crown Jewel PLE also saw AJ Styles embrace his TNA roots during his match against John Cena, which received huge praise from the fans of both promotions.
WWE Doesn’t Dominate the Championships of TNA
While it may seem that WWE dominates TNA in this collaborative relationship, the NXT vs TNA Showdown
On the other hand, the main event of the night, the Men’s Survivor Series match, saw Team TNA defeat Team NXT. Thus, the wrestlers of TNA won big on the stomping grounds of WWE. A similar balance was also seen at the 2025 TNA Bound For Glory on October 12.
The TNA World Championship Match saw NXT’s Trick Williams defend the title against Mike Santana. While Trick Willy had held the title for quite some time, Santana had led his promotion’s team to victory in the Men’s Survivor Series at NXT Showdown. After a lot of back and forth, Santana defeated Williams to become the new TNA World Champion.
Mike Santana has defeated Trick Williams to become the NEW TNA World Champion.#TNABoundForGlory pic.twitter.com/q0nRWSNPwQ
While it’s true that NXT’s Kelani Jordan still holds the TNA Knockouts World Championship, both companies have a fair balance when it comes to titles. Thus, WWE doesn’t dominate this relationship, and TNA is an equal partner of the Stamford-based promotion.
TNA President Carlos Silva on the Company’s Relationship With WWE
TNA’s President Carlos Silva made an appearance on the Battleground Podcast on its October 2, 2025, episode. Speaking about the collaborative partnership between his company and WWE, he noted that both promotions are planning things out for the long term.
Silva also emphasized that fans should know that both TNA and WWE are aware that both companies work in their own independent ways. This was his response to the online noise that saw TNA as a subsidiary of WWE’s NXT division.
Inside of all of that, though, we’re still TNA, and we’ve always been TNA. Look, you can read on socials, there’s moaning, there’s this of course, that’s all part of building the product and building the storylines… I think WWE and NXT both understands that TNA is its own property, the same way they understand that AAA is their own property, and that NXT is their own property.
Silva’s statement came before the NXT vs TNA Showdown, as well as the 2025 TNA Bound for Glory, which took place. Thus, while his words may not have held much weight back then, the conclusion of these two events has definitely made fans believe that WWE isn’t the superior partner.
What are your thoughts on the partnership between TNA and WWE? Are you enjoying all the new things that are possible as a result of this relationship? Pour your thoughts down in the comments section.
