WWE vs. TNA: The dream matches we'd love to see in 2025 with new talent-share deal

Big news dropped this past week from WWE and TNA, even if the announcement was a little light on details. Despite the triumphant tone of the press release, it’s not clear how long the two wrestling promotions' “multi-year partnership” will last or how it will differ from any existing arrangements.

WWE’s collaboration with TNA kicked off in style in 2024 with a shock appearance from Jordynne Grace at the Royal Rumble, with the TNA Knockouts Triple Crown champion dressed in the challenger brand’s signature red and yellow colors to make it clear that she hadn’t actually jumped ship to WWE.

TNA then started working closely with NXT, with various storylines running across the two brands. WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, praised the partnership last summer, saying the arrangement would help boost NXT talent while bringing more eyes to TNA’s televised shows.

In all, we've come a long way from WWE’s old approach of refusing to even acknowledge other wrestling companies exist. But what will this apparently unprecedented new arrangement bring moving forward?

Here are the WWE vs. TNA matches we'd most love to see in 2025.

Jordynne Grace vs. Rhea Ripley

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. You’d be hard-pressed to name two more imposing physical specimens than these two — as their respective social media fan bases will testify.

Now that “The Eradicator” has finished her feud with Liv Morgan, isn’t it time she had the chance to go head-to-head with someone closer to her weight class? Just imagine the reaction if “The Juggernaut” announced her presence by suplexing Ripley clean off her feet.

Such a matchup may be firmly in the realms of fantasy booking for now, but there’s no denying it would be a superb pairing for both women. It would also introduce a welcome note of jeopardy to Ripley’s new title reign.

Joe Hendry vs. Drew McIntyre

NXT and TNA fans remember how it felt to witness Hendry-mania when the Scottish superstar’s viral fame reached astounding levels in 2024, culminating in a showdown with Ethan Page at NXT No Mercy.

With “The Prestigious One” hotly tipped to make an appearance in this year’s Royal Rumble, could this be the moment he finds his next WWE opponent? And if so, who better than Drew McIntyre?

Booking two Scots may be obvious, but the contrast is too good to overlook. That both men are absolute masters of social media only adds to the possibilities.

McIntyre is the jaded warrior who has shed blood, sweat and tears to earn his place in the squared circle — just witness his infamous mic-drop moment last December — while Hendry is the crowd-pleasing viral king who waltzes into WWE and demands a spot at the top table.

It’s the sort of yin-yang antagonism usually found in superhero movies rather than wrestling promotions.

AJ Styles vs. Josh Alexander

Few wrestlers have done more for TNA than AJ Styles, who put the upstart promotion on the map with his spellbinding run in the mid-2000s.

Indeed, WWE’s expanded collaboration with TNA may lead to AJ Styles finally taking a place in the latter’s Hall of Fame, alongside the likes of Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett, Sting, the Dudley Boyz and Gail Kim.

But why stop with the Hall of Fame? What better time could there be to give Styles one last outing in his previous company, perhaps even bringing back the much-missed six-sided ring for the occasion?

For the perfect sparring partner, look no further than Josh Alexander. The celebrated TNA talent is a technical powerhouse who can tell a story in the ring like few others — and thus is a worthy opponent for "The Phenomenal One."

Could Alexander also make hay from the fact that his fellow former TNA World Champion built a reputation based on authenticity on the indies only to scamper off to WWE when offered the chance?

Chad Gable vs. Moose

For how repellent his heel persona may be, Chad Gable excels at making other wrestlers shine as brightly as possible. Just look at his exceptional work with Gunther, Sami Zayn and the debuting Penta.

So just imagine what the man they call “Master Gable” could do if he were put into the ring with Moose, TNA’s dominant X Division Champion and one of the most agile “big men” of the modern wrestling landscape.

With Gable more than capable of working with men who tower over him, it’s a safe bet that fireworks would fly — as would Moose himself if his opponent was able to land one of his famous German suplexes.

Giulia vs. Masha Slamovich

You could feel the anticipation among the smart marks when the cameras showed Masha Slamovich sitting in the front row at this past week’s NXT.

Speaking to Shawn Michaels later on, the current TNA Knockouts World Champion teased that she would be interested in defending her gold against some of WWE’s ladies — an idea that has already prompted responses from potential candidates on social media.

Given the depth of talent in the NXT locker room, Slamovich could pick a name out of a sorting hat and find herself with a solid opponent. But even on this most stacked of rosters, one name stands out above all others: the newly crowned NXT Women’s Champion, Giulia.

Book these two hard-hitters in a champion-vs.-champion match, and you’d end up with an instant classic.