TNA Slammiversary – Sunday June 28, 2026 – Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts – 4pm ET – Pre-Show 3pm ET
CARD
TNA World Championship Match: Mike Santana (c) vs. Nic Nemeth
TNA Knockouts World Championship Match: Lei Ying Lee (c) vs. Xia Brookside
TNA X-Division Championship Ultimate X Match: Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Leon Slater vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Amazing Red vs. K.C. Navarro vs. Mr. Elegance vs. Fabian Aichner
TNA World Tag Team Championship Ladder Match: The System (Brian Myers & Bear Bronson) (c) vs. The Hardys vs. The Righteous vs. The Great Hands
TNA Knockouts world Tag Team Championship: The Elegance Brand (c) vs. Rosemary & Allie
No Surrender Match: Eddie Edwards w/Alicia Edwards vs. Moose w/JDC
Eric Young vs. Ricky Sosa
TNA International Championship Match: Mustafa Ali (c) vs. TBA (rumored to be Apollo Crews)
The wrestling world is mourning the loss of Joe Doering, the former TNA and All Japan Pro-Wrestling standout, who has passed away at the age of 44.
The news was announced Friday by Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, which revealed that Doering died peacefully on the morning of June 26 while surrounded by his family.
In a statement shared on social media, the promotion paid tribute to Doering’s life and legacy, noting the impact he made on those who knew him throughout his wrestling career and personal life.
A Career Built on Strength and Success
Known to many fans simply as “Big” Joe Doering, the Chicago native built a reputation as one of the most physically imposing performers in professional wrestling. Standing 6-foot-8, Doering combined his size and power with a hard-hitting style that helped him find success around the world.
After beginning his wrestling career in 2004, Doering’s biggest accomplishments came in All Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he became one of the promotion’s top foreign stars. During his time with AJPW, he captured the prestigious Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship twice and won the World Tag Team Championship four times.
His success in Japan established him as a respected veteran and one of the most accomplished international stars of his generation.
Impact in TNA Wrestling
American fans may best remember Doering for his run in TNA Wrestling as a member of Violent By Design, the faction led by Eric Young.
The group quickly became one of the promotion’s most dominant forces, with Doering playing a key role as the powerhouse enforcer. During his time with the faction, he helped capture the Impact World Tag Team Championship on two occasions, adding more championship success to an already impressive résumé.
Violent By Design’s mission of “curing the wrestling world of its sickness” made them one of TNA’s most memorable acts during that era.
A Long Battle With Illness
Outside the ring, Doering faced a difficult and courageous fight against brain cancer.
He was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016 and underwent surgery shortly afterward. While he was able to continue wrestling following treatment, the disease returned in 2022, leading to a second surgery.
Following that procedure, Doering developed ataxia, a neurological condition that affects coordination, movement, and speech.
In late 2025, his family revealed that doctors had discovered a third brain tumor. Earlier this week, reports confirmed that Doering had entered hospice care.
Just days later, news of his passing was announced.
Remembering Joe Doering
Throughout his career, Doering earned respect from fans, promoters, and fellow wrestlers alike for his toughness, professionalism, and perseverance. Whether competing in Japan, North America, or elsewhere around the world, he left a lasting impression on the wrestling industry.
He is survived by his wife, Lindsay, along with his family, friends, and the many fans who followed his journey both inside and outside the ring.
Everyone at WrestlingNewsBlog extends their condolences to Joe Doering’s family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.
Rest in peace, Joe Doering.
At 9:13 a.m. today, June 26, our brother Joe Doering passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Though his time on this earth lasted only 44 years, Joe packed a thousand years’ worth of living into every one of them.
WWE veteran Nattie Neidhart is set to make another appearance outside of WWE, as the National Wrestling Alliance has confirmed that she will compete at its upcoming 78th Anniversary Show on July 25 at Philadelphia’s historic 2300 Arena.
The announcement was made Thursday on social media, with the NWA revealing that Nattie will both appear and wrestle at the event. However, the promotion has not yet disclosed who her opponent will be.
Potential Opponents Emerging
While no match has been officially announced, the NWA is already encouraging fans to speculate about who could step into the ring with the former WWE Women’s Champion.
One possibility is current NWA World Women’s Champion Tiffany Nieves, who captured the title from Natalia Markova earlier this year. Both Nieves and Markova are expected to be part of the anniversary event, though neither has been assigned a match as of this writing.
A title match featuring Nattie would certainly add additional intrigue to an event that is shaping up to be one of the NWA’s biggest shows of the year.
Nattie’s Growing Presence Outside WWE
Although she remains under the WWE banner, Nattie has become increasingly active outside the company over the last year. In addition to helping operate the new Hart Dungeon training facility alongside her husband, WWE producer TJ Wilson, she has also accepted select independent wrestling bookings.
Those appearances have allowed her to work with a variety of promotions while continuing her WWE career, something that has become more common in the evolving wrestling landscape.
Return to the NWA
This won’t be Nattie’s first appearance for the NWA. She previously competed at The Crockett Cup 2025, where she challenged then-champion Kenzie Paige for the NWA World Women’s Championship.
Despite a strong effort, Nattie was unable to end Paige’s historic title reign, which eventually stretched to nearly two years and included 29 successful championship defenses.
Paige is also scheduled to appear at NWA 78, though a singles rematch between the two seems unlikely at the moment. The former champion is currently focused on the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Championship scene alongside partner Kylie Alexa, with the duo holding the titles heading into the anniversary event.
NWA 78 Continues to Take Shape
The NWA has been steadily adding notable names to the card as it prepares for its 78th Anniversary celebration. Nattie’s inclusion gives the promotion another recognizable star and continues the trend of WWE-affiliated talent making appearances on independent and partner shows.
With her opponent still a mystery, attention now turns to who the NWA selects to face the veteran competitor when the promotion heads to Philadelphia later this summer.
𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎! WWE Superstar @NatbyNature will appear and be in action at NWA 78, coming July 25 to Philly’s 2300 Arena! https://t.co/yWysZfdt0E
Already announced for the National Wrestling Alliance’s annual anniversary spectacular: ⚡️NWA Worlds Heavyweight… pic.twitter.com/sRdpwqHibq
TNA Wrestling may soon be expanding its Knockouts division with the introduction of a brand-new championship.
According to a report from Fightful Select, the company is preparing to unveil a women’s mid-card title, giving the Knockouts roster a second singles championship to compete for alongside the TNA Knockouts World Championship.
While details remain limited, the report notes that the new title could be announced in the near future. There is currently no word on the championship’s official name or exactly when it will be introduced.
Tournament Reportedly Being Discussed
The report also indicates that TNA is considering holding a tournament to crown the inaugural champion, with plans potentially targeting July.
If that proves to be the case, the tournament would likely take place during one of TNA’s upcoming television tapings. The promotion currently does not have a pay-per-view scheduled for July, with Slammiversary set for June 28 and Lockdown scheduled for August.
TNA has multiple sets of television tapings planned throughout July, including events at the Broadview Center in Albany, New York, and the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, making either location a possible setting for the tournament or title reveal.
A Boost for the Knockouts Division
The addition of a women’s mid-card championship would represent a significant development for the Knockouts division, which currently features just one singles title: the TNA Knockouts World Championship.
The championship is presently held by Lei Ying Lee, who sits atop a division that has continued to be one of TNA’s strongest and most consistently featured roster segments.
Introducing a secondary title could create more opportunities for emerging talent while providing additional storylines and championship pursuits beyond the world title picture.
Slammiversary Could Bring More Surprises
The report comes as anticipation continues to build for this weekend’s Slammiversary event. Recent reports have also suggested that a TNA Hall of Famer is expected to appear during the show, although no details have surfaced regarding who the individual may be or what role they will play.
With Slammiversary approaching and several major television tapings scheduled in the weeks that follow, TNA appears poised for a busy summer. If the reports are accurate, the debut of a new women’s championship could be one of the promotion’s most notable additions in 2026 and a major step forward for the Knockouts division.
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