TNA double-champ Nic Nemeth addresses the state of WWE/TNA partnership

Even before WWE announced the TNA-free return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, folks were talking about the partnership between TNA and WWE’s NXT brand. When it was launched in January 2025, we were told the “historic” alliance was “aimed at creating unprecedented crossover opportunities within WWE and TNA programming for NXT Superstars and TNA Wrestling Stars.” And for much of last year, crossover they did. It was often one-sided, and generally clear that one partner was the star and the other the sidekick. The partnership did seem to establish a pipeline for talent. That was two-way, but still led to WWE taking who they wanted from the TNA roster, and TNA signing whatever WWE castoffs they could — just like before the partnership, but maybe with an implied promise that Impact was a faster route back to Raw or SmackDown than AEW Dynamite. TNA did secure its best television and streaming partner in the United States in a long while last December when it signed with AMC,