Backstage Update on WWE & TNA Partnership Not Having Expected Impact On AEW

The working relationship between WWE and TNA reportedly failed to produce the expected impact on AEW, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The report says the partnership initially benefited TNA. However, the anticipated damage on AEW did not materialize.

WWE’s visible involvement in TNA programming has also reduced. Despite Bound for Glory approaching, there have been no WWE talent appearances in TNA. The newsletter also noted ticket sales for TNA “are way down now.” According to the report, the arrangement helped TNA pursue a television deal, but while the WWE deal may have helped in the short term, the promotion is struggling in the aftermath after seeing so much of their talent booked as inferior to WWE stars. WWE was hoping that TNA would land a Wednesday night TV deal that would put Impact head-to-head with AEW Dynamite, but that deal did not materialize.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter did not confirm that WWE and TNA have formally ended their relationship but hinted at a reduction in WWE’s visible involvement. He called it a “bad situation,” noting that something similar has happened when promotions have worked with WWE in the past.