In a crossover more surprising than finding out your favorite superhero has a long-lost twin, WWE and TNA Wrestling’s ongoing partnership was on full display last weekend, and let’s just say, things got real interesting. It’s like watching your two favorite soap operas merge into one mega-drama, but with more spandex and fewer evil twins.
The weekend kicked off on August 30, when WWE’s Riley Osbourne decided to test his luck—and his endurance—by competing in the grueling Ultimate X match at TNA’s Emergence event in Louisville, Kentucky. Unfortunately for him, the X-Division title slipped through his fingers like a greased-up baby at a family barbecue, with Zachary Wentz taking home the gold instead. Wentz then took his momentum over to WWE’s NXT No Mercy on September 1, where he stunned everyone by defeating his former buddy, Wes Lee. It was like a high school reunion where everyone’s competing for the same crown, but with more headlocks.
Just when you thought the action had cooled off, Joe Hendry stepped up to headline No Mercy in an NXT Championship match against Ethan Page, who managed to retain his title despite Hendry’s best efforts. It’s safe to say that the ring was a lot more forgiving than the critics, who were ready to tear down anyone who didn’t deliver.
But the action wasn’t limited to the big events. In between these main shows, on August 31, TNA held a set of “Impact” tapings that saw even more WWE faces popping up. Fightful Select reported that Arianna Grace made an appearance, and no, it wasn’t just to say hi to her dad, Santino Marella, who happens to be TNA’s resident authority figure. Last seen on WWE NXT back in July, it remains to be seen whether she’ll actually lace up her boots for the upcoming TNA episodes or if she’s just keeping an eye on her old man.
Meanwhile, Karmen Petrovic, who last tangled with Grace on NXT, made her TNA debut at the tapings and immediately set her sights on TNA Women’s Knockout Champion, Jordynne Grace. That’s right, folks—Petrovic isn’t just here to shake hands and kiss babies. She’s gunning for gold, and her challenge to Grace is sure to have fans from both sides glued to their screens.
And in a move that feels like something straight out of a buddy comedy, “WWE SmackDown” star Blair Davenport was spotted backstage at the Emergence event on August 30, presumably there to cheer on Riley Osbourne before his ill-fated X-Division Championship match. She even skipped WWE’s “Road to Berlin” tour to be there, proving that sometimes, loyalty trumps everything—except maybe championship gold.
As WWE and TNA continue to swap talent like they’re trading baseball cards, the wrestling world is left wondering: is this just a phase, or are we witnessing the beginning of a full-blown wrestling crossover? Stay tuned, because the next episode could feature even more unexpected alliances, shocking betrayals, and of course, a whole lot of suplexes.