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WWE and TNA have done significant cross-promotional work in recent weeks. Jordynne Grace kicked in the proverbial forbidden door at the 2024 Royal Rumble, leading to future appearances on NXT as well as a championship match against Roxanne Perez at Battleground: Las Vegas. Most recently, NXT's Tatum Paxley crossed the line to TNA on Friday by appearing at the Against All Odds PPV and answering Grace's open challenge for a shot at the Knockouts World Championship.
Grace and Paxley were both unsuccessful in capturing the rival company's title. Ash By Elegance, formerly known as Dana Brooke, also made her presence known in the opposing promotion. Elegance made a surprise appearance at NXT Battleground to prevent Paxley from walking away with the Knockouts Title, but both women were dropped by The Juggernaut.
While there has been cross-promotional work involving women wrestlers from TNA and the white-and-gold brand, there still haven't been any recent crossovers featuring male competitors from either promotion. However, that could all change on the June 18, 2024, edition of WWE NXT. Cody Rhodes mentioned last week that wrestlers from different locker rooms might be taking part in a 25-man battle royal to determine the challenger for Trick Williams at Heatwave.
Cody's announcement on June 11th left many fans and wrestling journalists speculating on who could potentially appear in the upcoming NXT battle royal. Without further ado, let's look at the five stars of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling who could win that match and then challenge Trick Williams for the NXT Championship at Heatwave 2024.
#5. "The Walking Weapon" Josh Alexander vs. Trick Williams is a hot match WWE could book for NXT Heatwave
Two-time former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander is one of the company's toughest and most popular babyface competitors. Alexander can be described as the Canadian Kurt Angle, containing an in-ring intensity that few can match.
Alexander is the longest-reigning IMPACT World Champion of all time, as well as the longest-reigning TNA World Tag Team Champion of all time. Josh's former Impact tag partner Ethan Page recently challenged Trick Williams for the NXT Championship in the main event of Battleground: Las Vegas, but he was unsuccessful in winning the gold. The Walking Weapon may have better luck than his ex-brethren from The North if he challenges Trick Willy at NXT Heatwave.
The former X-Division Champion is contractually obliged to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling until at least February 14, 2025, but that's not stopping him from showing up in NXT. WWE's ongoing relationship with the Nashville-based wrestling promotion allows their stars to cross over, which could potentially result in Josh Alexander showing up on the white-and-gold brand months before his current TNA contract expires.
Before TNA decided to exercise its optional one-year extension on Alexander's contract, The Walking Weapon wanted the opportunity to pursue career options that exist outside of the Anthem umbrella in 2024. However, despite this contract extension, Josh still has the chance to explore new terrain in his wrestling career in the current year. The former two-time Impact World Tag Team Champion could become yet another TNA talent to cross the line into WWE NXT.
#4. Three-time WWE World Champion Jeff Hardy recently returned to TNA
On the date Jeff Hardy became a free agent from AEW, he had already crossed the line back to TNA. Following the main event of Against All Odds 2024, Jeff brought a chair down to the ring to aid his brother, sister-in-law, Joe Hendry, and The Nemeth Brothers, who were all being assaulted by The System. The returning legend quickly took down Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers. After a Twist of Fate from both Hardy brothers, Moose was finished off with a Swanton Bomb.
It's possible that The Hardy Boyz could appear on the June 18th episode of NXT and participate in the battle royal. If WWE were to choose either Matt or Jeff to win the match, it'd make more sense to book the younger brother as the victor because The Broken One is fresh off a main event loss to Moose while The Charismatic Engima is fresh off an exciting return to TNA.
Wrestling fans worldwide love Jeff Hardy, and they'd likely be very excited to see him back in a WWE ring. He still has enough star power to be promoted as a headlining talent for a future NXT PLE if the company ever decides to put him against Trick Williams in a title match.
#3. Will WWE book a 'champion vs. champion' match at NXT Heatwave? TNA World Champion Moose vs. NXT Champion Trick Williams
The dastardly Moose is the reigning and defending TNA World Champion in his second official reign. For over 150 days since Hard To Kill 2024, Moose has reigned supreme with the top male singles title of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. During his most recent run with the gold, he's defeated in-ring veterans such as Alex Shelley, Eric Young, Matt Hardy, and Nic Nemeth, formerly known as Dolph Ziggler in WWE.
Trick Williams is the current NXT Champion in his first reign, and he has defeated all challengers for his strap so far. For over 50 days, Big Trick Willy has stood atop the mountain with the biggest prize in his brand. However, he hasn't faced a challenge quite like Moose.
WWE has never booked a match featuring an active TNA wrestler from the men's division, only opening the door to members of the Knockouts Division. However, that could all change if Moose or any other male TNA roster member makes their way to NXT this Tuesday to participate in the 25-man over-the-top-rope battle royal. If Moose wins, the Stamford-based promotion would have the opportunity to book a historic encounter between the top male champions of NXT and TNA.
#2. Former one-time TNA Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry has gone viral with his music, and WWE is reportedly interested
Say his name and Joe Hendry could appear in Tuesday's 25-man battle royal on WWE NXT. During the NXT Women's Title match between champion Roxanne Perez and challenger Jordynne Grace, a significant segment of the live audience inside the UFC APEX voiced their support of TNA's singing sensation, chanting, "We believe!"
Hendry is the longest-reigning TNA Digital Media Champion of all time, but his accolades outside the wrestling industry might be even larger than that. His TNA theme song "I Believe In Joe Hendry" reached #4 on the official UK Singles Downloads Chart and #6 on the official UK Singles Sales Chart.
Joe Hendry is arguably the most popular he's ever been, both in professional wrestling and as a singer. His catchy tune rivals the top pop music artists in the world. It also seems as if it's only a matter of time before he becomes TNA World Champion. Wrestling fans would also go wild to see him enter this Tuesday's 25-man battle royal on NXT.
If Hendry wins the battle royal and goes on to wrestle Trick Williams at Heatwave, the NXT Universe will likely have a hard time deciding who to root for. The crowd would predictably be very vocal, with dual chants for both charismatic competitors.
There's a report that Joe Hendry's name has come up in backstage discussions as someone who NXT talents want to work with. During an interview with Cultaholic, former three-time WWE World Champion Drew McIntyre admitted that he believes in Joe Hendry. It seems as if it's only a matter of time before the singing Scotsman crosses the line into WWE territory.
#1. EC3 could become a quadruple champion by wrestling Trick Williams at WWE NXT Heatwave 2024
EC3 is currently a triple champion, concurrently holding the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship as well as the Premier Men's Title and the OVW National Heavyweight Championship. The statue-esque #OVERman is dripping with gold, and he could potentially become a quadruple champion by winning Tuesday's 25-man battle royal and going on to challenge Trick Williams for the NXT Championship at Heatwave.
The former two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion currently isn't signed by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and he hasn't appeared on an episode of iMPACT since early 2018. However, his multi-year run with the Nashville-based company turned him into a TNA legend, ensuring that EC3 would always be a star associated with the company's history.
For two-and-a-half years, Ethan Carter III remained undefeated on the TNA roster. From 2013 to 2018, EC3 carried himself to becoming one of the biggest stars in the history of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Both of his runs with WWE fell flat, but EC3 could redeem his journey with the Stamford-based promotion by winning the 25-man battle royal on NXT this Tuesday. Much like Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, EC3 would be returning to WWE better than before and with numerous accolades gained in other wrestling promotions. At Heatwave, Carter could push the babyface champion to his limit and possibly walk away as the new NXT Champion.
EC3 could potentially spearhead a WWE-NWA crossover relationship akin to the ongoing work between the Endeavor-owned promotion and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. RAW Superstar Drew McIntyre recently appeared in a video on X, showing him shaking National Wrestling Alliance owner Billy Corgan's hand, with both men paying homage to a scene from The Simpsons. Is this a sign of a larger connection that will develop between both wrestling companies?
