TNA Wrestling riding momentum of WWE partnership into Slammiversary 2025

USA Today

2 days ago

The timing couldn't have been more perfect for Carlos Silva.
In February 2025, TNA Wrestling announced that Silva had taken over as president of the company. Normally when a new boss comes in, they are trying to reinvigorate the business, bringing a flair that will drive success.
But Silva joined with TNA in the midst of its best run since the promotion's early days. A partnership with WWE, a WrestleMania moment, well-respected veterans and rising stars on the roster have boosted the brand's popularity.
The continuous ride is heading toward the company's anniversary – Slammiversary 2025, taking place July 20 at UBS Arena on Long Island. There, seven matches will take place that showcase the best of TNA's roster, with some WWE stars also in the fold.
TNA has spent so much time building toward this moment, and believes it will be another critical point in elevating the brand.
'This six-month build is going to have a nice crescendo, and just be a high point for the year, and then launch us into 2026 off of this high point,' Silva told USA TODAY Sports.
What's made TNA Wrestling successful?
Just looking at TNA itself, there's no denying the amount of talent on the roster. There's legends like Jeff and Matt Hardy still rocking, as well as established veterans in Nic Nemeth, Moose, Frankie Kazarian and the recently signed Indi Hartwell, to name a few. There's young stars like KC Navarro and Leon Slater, who have championship opportunities in front of them.
And, of course, arguably the hottest stars in Joe Hendry and Mike Santana, who will compete for the TNA World Championship against current title-holder Trick Williams of NXT.
It's the blend of well-known wrestlers and up-and-coming talent that makes TNA an intriguing product, Silva believes.
'We can develop talent that wants to come through the indies and then come into the major leagues with TNA, but yet we can also reinvigorate and give more life to talent that's maybe on the other end of their career,' Silva said. 'I think we can provide both the entry and the build of the excitement, as well as let the fans really enjoy these amazing legends that we've got.'
The success of the WWE partnership
It was Jan. 27, 2024 and Jordynne Grace knew the pressure was on her.
She was going to be the surprise entrant in the women's Royal Rumble match, and as the TNA Knockouts World Champion, would be setting the tone for a potential partnership between the two brands.
'I kind of knew, this was me opening the door, and if I did well, it could carry on and continue to do well,' Grace said. 'But if I did bad and kind of like, it was blah, maybe it wouldn't.'
But Grace knocked it out of the park. It was a success, and it kick-started the deal between WWE and TNA. After informally beginning in 2024, the two sides made their partnership official in January with a multi-year deal.
Stars like Hendry have given Grace credit for making the partnership possible, and it also catapulted her career. She finished her time in TNA in January and she immediately signed with WWE full-time after several appearances with the brand. Now, she's in NXT and had a match at Evolution. She'll soon be in WWE 2K25, a 'surreal' moment for 'The Juggernaut.'
Even though she's moved companies, she loves seeing TNA thrive.
'I'm just so happy that we're continuing to work and put a spotlight on TNA, because they absolutely deserve it. The wrestlers in there are some of the best in the world, and they haven't been getting enough eyes on them in the past decade or so,' she said. 'It's a special partnership, and I'm glad to have been the one to help create it.'
Grace is just one example of how far talent can now go after the deal. There's no better example than Hendry.
Thanks to his viral entrance song, Hendry elevated himself into a massively popular star. It led to him being in the 2025 Royal Rumble, and breaking barriers with a match at WrestleMania 41 as the TNA World Champion. Silva called the iconic moment the top one for TNA in the past year.
Silva admitted there was some skepticism over whether the deal would benefit TNA and its stars, and the uncertainty lasted for a while. But now with proven results, both sides have fully bought in.
'I get a lot of smiles from the talent on their roster when they come to visit us, and we get a lot of excitement at getting into a bigger arena and being on a big (WWE) stage,' Silva said. 'I think everyone's enjoying working with each other and creating some great stories for the fans.
'So far, so good. I got no complaints.'
TNA Wrestling readies for massive Slammiversary 2025
WWE will be at the forefront of Slammiversary with Williams currently the TNA champion. He shockingly won the title in May, and it took Silva some time to get used to seeing talent from a different company at the top of his. But Silva said Williams has been a great representative for both sides, drawing plenty of intrigue over how the reign will unfold.
For Williams himself, it's brought out an extra layer of confidence in someone that already exudes it. He said 'success changes you,' and doing something historic – being a WWE star and holding another company's title – isn't lost on him. Barriers have been broken, and he wants to let everyone know whenever he arrives.
'This crossing brands, crossing networks, everybody in the world is gonna know Trick Williams,' he said. 'People keep trying to figure out all the background stuff. Forget all that. Trick Williams is the line. Don't cross me and you're gonna be all right.'
.@Santana_Proud and @joehendry stand tall on the final #TNAiMPACT before #TNASlammiversary — but not without tension.Who will leave Slammiversary as TNA World Champion? Find out THIS SUNDAY LIVE on PPV and TNA+!WATCH on TNA+: https://t.co/xjupi4Zi3lWATCH on YouTube:… pic.twitter.com/tXqsjscQQE
The heat Williams has been able to generate – along with the hunger from Hendry to get his title back and Santana's dream to finally capture it – is what's helping build the main event match. Not only is it being promoted on TNA programming, but also on NXT. It's a match that could continue TNA's hot run.
The promotion has seemingly worked. TNA said Slammiversary will be its most attended show in the past 10 years, and it's anticipating the largest U.S. crowd in company history. Silva is eager for more people to see all the talent the roster has to offer, from top to bottom.
And he knows he can't let the momentum end there. As successful as 2025 has been, it has to elevate toward 2026 – especially with Silva reportedly shopping for a new media rights deal.
'We're going to do Slammiversary. We're going to have a huge success. Can be our biggest show ever,' Silva said. 'The next day we're going to sit, more to say, 'OK, now we're going to (Kingston) Rhode Island, and we've got to be great, and be great in Rhode Island.'
'That's very much our sort of sporting attitude that we're bringing to the organization, (and) I think the locker room and everyone is embracing that.'