10 WWE Wrestlers We Want to See Show Up in TNA as Part of Their New Partnership
One of the early highlights of 2025 for the wrestling industry thus far is WWE'scollaboration with TNA. After years of competing against each other, the two sides were able to reach an olive branch to become WWE's latest unprecedented partner for a working relationship. That relationship has been in full swing on both ends.
TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slammovich appeared on NXT, Cora Jade showed up in TNA, and NXT Tag Team Champions Fraxiom have done the same. Readers also can't forget TNA World Heavyweight Champion Joe Hendry's cameo in the Royal Rumble, or Jordynne Grace's slow transition into becoming an actual staple of the NXT roster. The possibilities are endless, and fans are already wildly speculating what the biggest grabs TNA could get from WWE's roster in the near future. Only time will tell, but it doesn't hurt to take the time to make some guesses.
10 Dominik Mysterio
Is The Judgement Day Stablemate Already Heading to TNA?
In a recent interview with Fightful's Battleground podcast, Dominik Mysterio teases a desire to go to TNA. "I’d love to show up on TNA," he says. "Why not? I’d love to go and take over. I went down to NXT and took over NXT. So, why not go down to TNA and take over TNA?” Mysterio is referring to 2023 when, as a member of the Judgement Day, he took a mini-excursion to NXT where he became the NXT North American Champion.
Wherever Mysterio goes, he winds up being the most hated heel on the roster and generates the most animosity from the crowd. Whoever he wrestles in TNA would birth one of the hottest, most lively matches of the night if only because of the visceral reaction Mysterio gets from fans anytime he steps inside the squared circle. In his NXT takeover, the hate Dirty Dom generated was instrumental in the rise of Trick Williams as the brand's current leading babyface, and Mysterio could help put that same kind of shine on a TNA competitor.
9 AJ Styles
A Phenomenal Return
From 2002 to 2014, AJ Styles was the franchise player of TNA. The brand's first grand slam champion, he was the face of Total Nonstop Action and, as such, was on everyone's shortlist for TNA wrestlers the TNA fanbase wanted to see in WWE. Everyone thought it would just be a pipe dream, but miraculously, The Phenomenal One has managed to have a WWE career that rivals his career in TNA.
The last time that AJ Styles appeared for the brand was when he made a telecast appearance for the 2022 edition of TNA Slammiversary, celebrating the company's 20-year anniversary. While the gesture was poignant, TNA loyalists hoped to see the WrestleMania main eventer appear in an actual TNA ring one last time. It's not too late. In fact, thanks to WWE's new partnership, and with Styles nearing the end of his career, a return is now or never at this point.
8 Chelsea Green
A Hot Return for a Hot Mess
While her first couple of runs with WWE ended in uneventful releases, Chelsea Green first made a name for herself in the wrestling industry through the "Hot Mess" character of Laurel Van Ness in TNA. The character showcased Green's versatility as a character actor, able to put on consistent in-ring performances to be taken seriously while also not being afraid to act a little silly. These are all qualities that she's successfully shown in WWE.
A return to TNA might make for a fun homecoming for the U.S. Champion, especially considering that now, her husband Matt Cardona (f.k.a. Zack Ryder) is a member of the TNA roster. On the independent circuit, Cardona and Green made for a pairing that crowds loved to hate everywhere they went. TNA got a small taste of the duo, but a reunion gives them a second chance to rekindle that magic onscreen in long form.
7 Bron Breakker
Following a Steiner Legacy
Bron Breakker hails from the illustrious Steiner family clan. One-half of the Steiner Brothers, Rick, is his father, while the more boisterous of the two, ex-WCW World Champion Scott Steiner, is Bron's uncle. Both Steiners had a run in TNA during the late 2000s, while Scott spent years on TNA's roster. Not only did he win the TNA World Tag Team Titles as a member of the Main Event Mafia, but he went viral with his infamous math promo.
If Bron were to bring his Intercontinental Championship to TNA, he'dfollow in his family's footsteps by bringing that signature Steiner intensity to the ring. Beyond bringing another Steiner to the TNA ring, Breakker also has an opportunity to do the unthinkable by becoming the first WWE Superstar to ever defend the workhorse belt on TNA grounds.
6 Roxanne Perez
The Prodigal Daughter Comes to TNA
Roxanne is quickly becoming WWE's fastest-rising superstar. The young Prodigy is one of only three women to win the NXT Women's Championship more than once. Coming off the heels of her second reign, Roxanne is main roster bound after breaking the record for the longest time spent in a Royal Rumble for the women's division.
She still has some loose ends to tie while in NXT, continuing a feud with the NXT Women's Champion Giulia. Before taking up a permanent residence on the main roster, Roxanne could easily make a pit stop in TNA. After all, her frequent tag team partner and frenemy Cora Jade has been making appearances in TNA as of late. As Cora continues to tease a match with the TNA Knockouts Champion, Roxanne could run in as a back-up.
5 Carmelo Hayes
A Brief TNA Excursion Could Elevate Him
Carmelo Hayes certainly started off hot on the main roster, being called up from NXT as a first-round WWE Draft pick and then having his first official match as a SmackDown Superstar against WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. From there, though, Hayes would develop a losing streak that remained for months up until recently picking up a win on Akira Tozawa.
Still, though, one win over a Superstar who doesn't have the greatest win-loss record himself isn't going to undo months' worth of faltering as a character. Hayes may be in need of a total rebranding, and this is where Total Nonstop Action could come into play. An excursion to TNA, where he'd have great matches and boost his wins, could help restore the WWE Universe's faith in "Him." An excursion to Japan away from WWE Raw is doing wonders for Omos, earning the giant respect in the industry. The former NXT Champion could benefit in the same way.
4 Bayley
Continuing NXT Feuds on TNA
As Roxanne Perez ties loose ends in NXT before officially being called up from developmental, she's entered a rivalry with Bayley that could serve as Roxanne's official starting point to becoming a fixture of the main roster for good. By proxy of feuding with Roxanne, Bayley's storyline has intersected into her being involved with other characters revolving around Roxanne, namely NXT Women's Champion Giulia and Roxanne's tag team partner, Cora Jade.
As mentioned earlier, Cora Jade has already made her presence known in TNA. If Bayley's rivalry with Cora and Roxanne continues, it could bring the Four Horsewoman to TNA to settle the score with her NXT enemies. Bayley has been praised as a pioneer for modern women's wrestling, and it'd be only fitting for her to continue making an impact in Impact Wrestling.
3 Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa
Another Tag Team Could Defend Their WWE Titles in TNA
One of the more recent episodes of Impact Wrestling showcased the first time that a WWE title was defended on TNA programming. NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazier and Axiom - or Fraxiom - successfully defended the titles against Ryan Nemeth and Nic Nemeth (f.k.a. Dolph Ziggler). It probably won't be Fraxiom's last time on TNA TV either, as shortly afterward, they had a confrontation with current TNA Tag Team Champions and one of WWE's best tag teams, The Hardys.
As TNA and NXT's tag team divisions heat up, the main roster is on the road to WrestleMania. Current WWE Tag Team Champions Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano - D.I.Y. - are feuding with TNA alumnus Motor City Machine Guns. That alone could be the SmackDown duo's gateway to TNA, story-wise, and they, too, defend their belts on the brand. In the ring, though, Gargano and Ciampa sport a high-octane style that's perfect for TNA.
2 Giulia
A Clash Between the Two Best Women's Divisions
As much as there is still a heap of excitement regarding WWE's partnership with TNA, it is no secret that it's more so a partnership with NXT than anything else. So far, only NXT Superstars have been appearing on TNA Impact Wrestling, and slowly but surely, champions are making their way to the brand. The NXT Tag Team Champions made their presence known, and there is a strong chance that the NXT Women's Champion is next.
After all, one of the challengers that Giulia has been feuding with - Cora Jade - has been making appearances, so her new rival should ideally follow suit. Alternatively, there are bigger ramifications involved. NXT has made a point to profess it has the best women's division on any wrestling brand. The Knockouts division is strong enough to make the same claim, and arguably, the highly-profiled Women's Revolution may have begun in TNA a decade before it did in WWE. One of WWE's prime women's champions could be TNA bound to challenge the claim.
1 The Rock
Is TNA the Final Boss' Final Level?
Understandably so, some readers may scoff at the thought of The Rock in a TNA ring. This is a star with a magnitude that is bigger than the wrestling industry itself, so shooting for The Rock may be aiming too high for the stars as far as some are concerned. However, this isn't as much of a long shot as some readers may think, considering that The Rock has already made a TNA appearance.
In 2020, the Hollywood superstar made an appearance on TNA TV to induct his dear friend Ken Shamrock into the TNA Hall of Fame. Yes, he did so as more of a favor for a friend than a real interest in appearing for TNA, but his appearance shows that the former WWE Championisn't above appearing for a lower-tier competitor. The Final Boss is the biggest possible Superstar WWE could send to TNA, and doing so would raise their stock tremendously as must-see television again.
Source: Fightful
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