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Fans could see some big WWE and TNA Wrestling names crossing over with nothing ‘off the table’.
The two promotions announced an unprecedented partnership earlier this year, which has seen the likes of Joe Hendry appear at WrestleMania, while NXT superstar Trick Williams is the current TNA Wrestling World Champion.
Days before Slammiversary on July 20, TNA president Carlos Silva exclusively told Metro that he believes anything is possible before sparking rumours AJ Styles could appear.
He teased: ‘When you can have Joe Henry run into WrestleMania with the TNA belt, you know that nothing’s off limits.
‘And you know that everyone at all the different levels are just thinking about, “What can we do to create great fan experiences?” And, and I really think that’s the thinking there.
‘I don’t think there’s anything off the table… And, and it’s nice to see, because so far it’s been easy, and so far it’s been great. So we’re gonna keep it rolling together.’
When Trick won the TNA World Title, WWE had Raw star and TNA legend AJ Styles narrate a video package on the history of the championship.
Just days after our interview, he even referenced the Phenomenal One’s nickname as he wrote on X: ‘We’re moving the stage back to accommodate more fans. This event will be TNA’s greatest achievement and trust me it’s going to be PHENOMENAL. #Slammiversary #TNA @ThisIsTNA’
Fans are clamouring for Styles to return to his roots before his retires. Is Carlos looking at talks about using that calibre of WWE superstar?
‘100% It’s all part of the partnership, and how wrestlers, you know, move up, down, sideways,’ he admitted. ‘We’ll continue to do it.’
Carlos took over TNA in December 2024, following over two decades working in combat sports and television.
He was more of a ‘casual wrestling fan’ earlier in life, namedropping the ‘Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant era’, and Goldberg, who officially retired over the weekend.
‘I still came [into TNA] as a bit of an outsider,’ he admitted. ‘I didn’t follow [wrestling] week in and week out, like so many others. But now that I’m inside of it, the feeling it’s giving me is really incredible.’
Carlos made some big changes, and was met with fierce backlash after firing TNA mainstay Gail Kim, who spent years championing the Knockouts Division.
‘Every team, when a new coach or a new leader comes in, it’s super hard,’ he acknowledged. ‘But if you want to get better, you’ve got to be willing to make some changes.’
‘Winning here is letting more people see TNA, it’s bringing in new sponsors. It’s growing the brand,’ he added. ‘You have to continue to turn the dials to make some changes.’
Carlos is in charge of overseeing TNA Wrestling as a brand, and he’s backstage at every show, happy to step up in a more direct way.
‘People might miss a show, they might have a family issue, or they might have a wedding they need to go to. We have a great team,’ he explained when asked how hands-on he is creatively. ‘If one person can’t make it, you can always fill in. I love being at every show.’
Although it’s a tough schedule with frequent overnight flights, it’s all worth it to see the fans’ reactions.
‘It makes everyone work harder and for me, it’s just been great to be part of it,’ he smiled. ‘Hopefully I’ve helped to add a little bit to what was already a great team and a great foundation, and just helped get a little extra out of everybody.’
A key aspect of Carlos’ stint so far has been the blossoming arrangement with WWE.
While the companies had already been working with each other to a certain degree, they announced an official partnership weeks into his tenure.
Carlos has been inspired by the way the WWE has matched TNA’s ‘openness to try things’.
‘I have to tell you, it’s been such a great road, and very easy working through creative, operations, logistics [with them],’ he said, while he outlined his approach as the smaller company.
‘I don’t know that you can really use the word assurances,’ he pondered. ‘When you approach partnerships like this, with the leader in the space… you want to partner with the leader, and make sure that it’s a two way street in everything you do.’
He has enjoyed an ‘open’ working arrangement, but insisted it’s TNA’s role to ‘uphold’ their end and make the most of the ‘marketing and exposure’ the WWE partnership gives them.
That was most obvious at WrestleMania, when then-TNA Champion Joe Hendry was Randy Orton’s surprise opponent.
‘It was all very, very intricate,’ he added. ‘Everyone at WWE was so helpful to make it work perfectly. And so it all came off just right. Everyone hit their marks.’
This weekend, TNA takes centre stage at Slammiversary, and Carlos has high hopes as he chases a new TV deal to take the company even further.
‘Slammiversary is going to be another big inflection point for TNA,’ he teased. ‘It’s going to be a great night. I mean, it’s going to be our biggest night ever.’
Watch TNA Slammiversary on Sunday, July 20 at 1am on the TNA+ app.
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