WWE official on if there are plans to use TNA on RAW and SmackDown
WWE and TNA opened their doors to each other several months back. The move was widely seen as a positive one for pro wrestling, and there are no signs of the working relationship coming to an end. New details were just revealed on TNA stars potentially coming to RAW and SmackDown.
The Stamford-based promotion has had its superstars appear on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact and special events. The TNA exposure has been limited to NXT so far, for the most part, but that includes the weekly show and premium live events. WWE has promoted the crossover on main roster television, but so far no contracted talents from the Nashville-based company have appeared on RAW or SmackDown. Shawn Michaels thinks this could change, and he would know as he's very close to the man who would have to sign off on the massive creative undertaking, Triple H.
WWE's Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative is glad his longtime employer is finally open to this kind of deal, but he said the working relationship was still in its early stages. Michaels spoke with WGN Radio and was asked where he sees the partnership going next, and if there would be more cross-promotion between all rosters.
"That’s obviously incredibly intriguing and interesting. Right now, I think we are still in the very beginning stages of that, exploring the different possibilities. And those are all things we’re going to look at going forward. Obviously [I’m] very pleased to know that these are partnerships that WWE is now open to, and I think that makes for unlimited possibilities," Michaels said.
Michaels further said that while the specifics of the relationship and arrangement with TNA were beyond his pay grade, he was excited at the prospect of being able to work with the amazing talents across both promotions and hoped to see some block-buster cross-promotional bouts in the future.
"Now, what the specifics of all those are as we go into the future, that’ll be decided by people certainly more important than me. But for me, getting to be the benefactor of having at your utilization all these different talent is very exciting for us. So, as we continue to explore those opportunities going forward, I think it’s going to make for some pretty fantastic dream matches that are possible out there that I think a lot of people are going to want to see," Michaels added.
A main roster expansion for the working relationship could see former superstars return to WWE television as top TNA talents such as World Champion, Nic Nemeth fka Dolph Ziggler, TNA Digital Media & Canadian International Heavyweight Champion, PCO, Matt Cardona and The Hardyz, or as authority figures like Gail Kim and Santino Marella.
WWE NXT updated lineup for next week
World Wrestling Entertainment is set to present its second No Mercy PLE under the NXT banner, and 15th overall. The big event is scheduled for Sunday, September 1 at Denver's Ball Arena.
Several matches for No Mercy will be finalized on next Tuesday's NXT show. Below is the updated lineup:
- Lola Vice vs. Wendy Choo
- Hank & Tank Connection vs. The O.C.
- Gauntlet Eliminator: Sol Ruca vs. Adrianna Rizzo vs. Karmen Petrovic vs. Kendal Grey vs. Wren Sinclair vs. Jaida Parker (Winner faces Women's Champion Roxanne Perez at No Mercy)
- Number-one contender's Triple Threat Match: Joe Hendry vs. Pete Dunne vs. Wes Lee (Winner faces NXT Champion Ethan Page at No Mercy)
WWE has also teased appearances by new Tag Team Champions Chase U and new Heritage Cup Champion, Charlie Dempsey. Chase U's Andre Chase and Ridge Holland dethroned Axiom and Nathan Frazer on this week's loaded episode, while Dempsey won the Cup from Tony D'Angelo.