TNA Wrestling stars like Joe Hendry and The Rascals have develop into stalwarts of “WWE NXT,” with TNA Champion Hendry even appearing on this weekend’s Royal Rumble event. The partnership between WWE and TNA was prolonged firstly of this 12 months, and on the newest “Talk N’ Shop,” former TNA World Tag Team Champions Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows said that they saw it coming.
“It isn’t that much of a surprise in any respect,” Anderson said. His partner was also not shocked, especially considering the pair’s history outside of WWE.
“I used to be kinda surprised by the announcement but I believe that they had to make it official,” Gallows said, noting how necessary it might probably be to stipulate partnerships between promotions like this. “Partnerships…were never a thing really for years and years…It got here back and we were a giant a part of that.”
Gallows remembered the WWE/WCW Invasion, and the way disappointing it was to not have full access to the WCW roster.
“Any opportunity for anyone to work for the WWE, take it,” Anderson said, with Gallows saying young “NXT” talent should learn from TNA Wrestling because it’s so different backstage and audience-wise.
“It’s pretty genius on our boss Triple H’s part to open these floodgates and permit all this crossover,” Gallows said.
Gallows and Anderson left WWE in 2020 after which went to TNA Wrestling (then Impact Wrestling) and returned to NJPW. In the course of the pair’s time in NJPW, they were re-signed by WWE, while Anderson was within the midst of being NEVER Openweight Champion. Anderson lost the title to Tama Tonga in 2023, before joining back with WWE full-time.
Former TNA star Jordynne Grace made many appearances through the partnership, even difficult for the NXT Women’s Championship, but she is now a WWE Superstar, making her debut as a signed star at this weekend’s Royal Rumble.
