WWE NXT live tonight on The CW at 8:00 ET/7:00 CT.
It’s been a tough week behind the scenes at WWE, as multiple names from the company’s developmental system—and even a member of wrestling’s legendary Samoan Dynasty—were let go.
Lance Anoa’i, son of former WWE star Samu and cousin to Roman Reigns, confirmed Friday that his time with WWE had come to an end. Anoa’i shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), noting that his run never really got started due to injuries and “bad luck” since signing. Despite not making an on-screen appearance, his family lineage and in-ring pedigree had drawn plenty of attention when he joined the company.
However, Anoa’i’s departure turned out to be part of a larger round of roster cuts. Reports from BodySlam’s Cory Hays and Fightful Select revealed that several names from the NXT and Performance Center ranks were also released. Among them was two-time NXT North American Champion Wes Lee, who had recently been sidelined with an injury. Other names included Stevie Turner, Jin Tala, Drako Knox, Haze Jameson, Summer Sorrell, Brayden “BJ” Ray, and Jamar Hampton.
Turner, who fans may remember from her stint as the “Prime Minister” of WWE Evolve and as Robert Stone’s co-Assistant GM in NXT, took to social media to confirm her exit. “My time with WWE has come to an end,” she wrote. “I’ve had a brilliant time and I’m so excited for the future. See you soon!”
Drako Knox—who had been featured as “Drake Starks” during Season One of WWE LFG—also confirmed his release, stating he was available for bookings in 30 days, as is standard with developmental contracts.
Adding to the list, Zara Zakher announced that her WWE ID deal had expired and that she’d be taking time away from wrestling. With Zakher included, the total number of confirmed departures from Friday’s round reached ten.
For many of these talents, especially those from the NXT and developmental ranks, the releases mark the end of one chapter and the potential start of another. Meanwhile, the loss of Lance Anoa’i quietly closes a brief but intriguing connection between the ever-expanding Samoan Dynasty and WWE’s current generation.
The Hardys continue to make history. Matt and Jeff Hardy added another championship to their legendary résumés Tuesday night, defeating Darkstate’s Osiris Griffin and Dion Lennox to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions at the WWE NXT x TNA Showdown special.
The win makes the veteran brothers double champions, as they currently hold the TNA Tag Team Titles as well. Their next challenge? A tables match against longtime rivals Team 3D—Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley—this Sunday at TNA Bound For Glory, where both sets of tag titles will reportedly be on the line.
The title bout in Orlando opened the highly anticipated crossover event with classic Hardy energy. Darkstate’s powerhouse tandem managed to keep Jeff Hardy grounded early, cutting the ring in half and punishing the high-flyer. But the “Charismatic Enigma” turned the tide with a signature Whisper in the Wind, creating the opening to tag in Matt.
Matt Hardy unleashed his trademark offense, smashing Lennox’s head into each turnbuckle before nearly scoring a three-count. The challengers briefly regained control and attempted a Doomsday Device, but Matt countered in midair with a Twist of Fate. After another Twist to Lennox, Jeff climbed the ropes and sealed the victory with a picture-perfect Swanton Bomb.
As confetti fell and the crowd erupted, The Hardys stood tall with both the NXT and TNA Tag Team Championships held high—while Team 3D watched from ringside, making it clear that their decades-long rivalry is far from over.
With Bound For Glory just days away, the stage is set for another chapter in one of wrestling’s greatest tag team rivalries—Hardys vs. Dudleys—with double gold hanging in the balance.
WWE NXT Showdown live tonight on The CW – NXT vs. TNA
The numbers are in, and they’ve got people talking across the wrestling world. With Nielsen officially rolling out its new “Big Data + Panel” system, both WWE and AEW have seen noticeable dips in their TV ratings this week — and that’s raising a few eyebrows inside the industry.
While streaming has become a major player for both promotions — “WWE Raw” now living on Netflix and AEW airing live through HBO Max — traditional Nielsen ratings still carry major weight for networks, advertisers, and executives. The new hybrid data method, designed to more accurately reflect viewing habits across devices, has reshuffled the deck, leaving wrestling shows looking weaker on paper than before.
According to Fightful Select, AEW is keeping a close eye on the situation. Sources say Tony Khan understands the new methodology inside and out thanks to his well-known love of numbers and analytics. While the updated system might make week-to-week trends look rough, AEW still benefits from its simulcasts on HBO Max — even if those exact streaming figures aren’t being publicly shared. Reports suggest about 500,000 viewers tune in weekly to stream “Dynamite” and “Collision.”
A contact within Warner Bros. Discovery (AEW’s media partner) downplayed any panic, noting it’s far too early to make judgments with such a small sample size. The source also pointed out that AEW and WWE both ran head-to-head with Major League Baseball this past week, a sport that — along with college football and the NFL — has actually benefited from Nielsen’s new approach.
When asked if this change could spark talk of cancellations, the WBD insider reportedly laughed off the idea, saying that topic always comes up but is “never actually on the table.”
Interestingly, the new data system has one upside for AEW — it’s expected to end the use of “fast national” ratings, those early estimates that often circulated within hours of broadcast. Because Nielsen’s new reporting adds another day’s delay, those quick-turn numbers will no longer offer an accurate read, potentially eliminating a common talking point in the ongoing WWE–AEW ratings rivalry.
Over in WWE’s corner, USA Network and The CW are also monitoring the changes. While Raw has made the jump to Netflix, “SmackDown” remains on USA and “NXT” airs weekly on The CW — both still reliant on traditional TV numbers.
A USA Network source told Fightful they’re discussing the new metrics internally, but they’re not alarmed. The feeling is that while the numbers might suggest wrestling isn’t as “hot” as it looked under the old system, the overall value of WWE programming remains undeniable. WWE content continues to deliver strong returns at relatively low costs — something USA has appreciated for decades.
The CW didn’t comment, but the network has reportedly been pleased with NXT’s performance since day one. The shift in ratings measurement isn’t expected to change that enthusiasm.
One WWE insider did note that the updated Nielsen process could make things tricky for TNA Wrestling, which is currently seeking a new television home. Even so, company president Carlos Silva told Fightful the issue hasn’t come up during negotiations, and discussions with potential partners are still moving forward.
Meanwhile, talent across the major promotions have reportedly felt little direct impact, aside from a few more tweaks to production and travel schedules than usual.
At the end of the day, Nielsen’s overhaul is shaking up how TV success is measured, but the wrestling industry has weathered plenty of changes before. Between the rise of streaming, shifting network priorities, and a fan base that consumes content in more ways than ever, the true picture of viewership might take months — if not years — to fully understand.
For now, one thing’s clear: both WWE and AEW are still drawing millions of passionate fans every week, no matter how the math gets crunched.
WWE made a quick change this week to the name of its highly-anticipated NXT and TNA crossover special. What was originally announced as “NXT vs. TNA: Invasion” will now go forward under a new title — “Showdown.”
The event, set for October 7, was still being promoted with the “Invasion” branding earlier in the day, but by the time NXT aired Tuesday night, the name had been officially swapped out. The change sparked plenty of conversation, and it wasn’t just about WWE’s history with the “Invasion” label from the 2001 WCW/ECW storyline.
The decision comes after backlash from Israeli fans and media outlets, who pointed out the sensitivity of branding the show “Invasion” on October 7. That date marks the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which left over 1,200 people dead. Critics described WWE’s choice as “insensitive,” noting both the word itself and the accompanying logo — which featured a bold red “V” — unintentionally resembled imagery associated with Hamas.
One viral post on X (formerly Twitter) even highlighted the resemblance, questioning how WWE’s marketing team could miss the connection, even if it was unintentional.
Once the controversy began to circulate, WWE and TNA quietly pulled advertising for the event before reintroducing it on Tuesday’s NXT broadcast with its new name. On-screen, the change was woven into the storyline by TNA’s Director of Authority, Santino Marella, who lightheartedly reframed the show as more of a “showcase” than an “invasion,” ultimately dubbing it a “Showdown.”
Behind the scenes, WWE wasted no time moving forward with the rebrand — filing a trademark for “Showdown” almost immediately after the new name was announced.
The rebranding doesn’t change the fact that this crossover is a landmark moment for both NXT and TNA, as two promotions come together for a rare interpromotional showcase. With “Showdown” now locked in, fans can expect the focus to return to what matters most: the matches, the surprises, and the potential for new dream encounters between NXT and TNA’s top stars.
WWE NXT live tonight on The CW.
Bad news has hit Ridge Holland’s momentum. The NXT/EVOLVE standout, who has been a regular face in the ongoing WWE–TNA partnership, announced that he’s dealing with a significant injury that will put him on the shelf for the foreseeable future.
Holland was in action this past weekend at the TNA iMPACT tapings from the Edmonton Expo Centre in Alberta, Canada. On Friday, he wrestled at the Victory Road 2025 special, suffering a loss to Mike Santana. The next night, he stepped into the ring with Moose for matches taped to build toward TNA’s marquee event, Bound For Glory, scheduled for October 12 in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, things didn’t end well for Holland. On Monday, he took to Twitter to confirm the nature of his injury, writing:
“Lisfranc Injury. Surgery Friday. See ya in a bit.”
The Lisfranc injury — which affects the midfoot — is no small matter, often requiring surgery and months of recovery time. That means Holland will be missing a crucial stretch of TV, including Bound For Glory, at a time when WWE and TNA’s partnership has created some high-profile crossover opportunities.
It’s a tough setback for the powerhouse, who had been gaining traction by mixing it up with some of TNA’s biggest names. While no timetable has been given for his return, fans will no doubt be eager to see him bounce back once he’s cleared.
The battle between NXT and AEW Dynamite on “Title Tuesday” is becoming a yearly tradition, and 2025 might be the most high-stakes showdown yet. During Saturday’s NXT No Mercy premium live event, General Manager Ava announced that the October 7 episode of NXT will be branded “Invasion”, with the black-and-gold brand facing off against stars from TNA Wrestling.
This means WWE’s developmental brand will once again go head-to-head with AEW’s annual Title Tuesday, which this year features a special “Homecoming” edition of Dynamite. And while AEW has yet to announce any matches for their card, NXT has already stacked the deck.
The Oba vs. Trick matchup is especially noteworthy. While Williams currently represents TNA as world champion, his roots remain firmly in NXT. He captured the TNA World Title back in May at NXT Battleground, defeating Joe Hendry. The crossover has only deepened since then: the night before No Mercy, Kelani Jordan won the TNA Knockouts World Championship at Victory Road after Ash By Elegance vacated the title, while Je’Von Evans is scheduled to challenge for the X-Division Championship at Bound For Glory.
This Invasion special signals just how serious WWE is about counter-programming AEW. With championships from both promotions on the line and marquee names like the Hardy Boys involved, it feels less like a side attraction and more like a statement.
And while AEW hasn’t yet revealed what’s in store for Homecoming, WWE has made sure fans know the October 7 TV war will be must-see.
Je’Von Evans finally got his revenge on Josh Briggs, surviving a hard-hitting clash to open No Mercy. Briggs used his size to dominate early, but Evans battled back with a big dive to the outside and a Frog Splash that nearly sealed it. Briggs looked to finish things with an Avalanche Chokeslam, but Evans countered late—turning one Chokeslam attempt into a Cutter before hitting a Flying Cutter for the win.
Sol Ruca overcame a surprise challenger in Jaida Parker after Lainey Reid was ruled out of action. Parker nearly stole the title after hitting her Hipnotic on the floor, but outside chaos played a role—Lash Legend and Zaria both got involved, throwing things off balance. With just seconds to spare, Ruca nailed the Sol Snatcher to keep the gold.
The rivalry between Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe hit a violent peak inside a cage filled with weapons. Monroe fought dirty, using everything from kendo sticks to scissors, even cutting Grace’s hair mid-match. But Grace powered through, planting Monroe on a pile of diamonds before finishing things with a crushing Air Raid Crash through a table for the victory.
“All Ego” Ethan Page is still champion, but Tavion Heights pushed him to the limit. Heights nearly submitted the champ with an Ankle Lock and came close with a suplex attempt, but Page turned the tide in dramatic fashion, countering into his Twisted Grin to escape with the win.
Jacy Jayne left No Mercy still NXT Women’s Champion, though controversy followed. Lola Vice had the match in hand after surviving Jayne’s technical assault, but outside interference changed the outcome. Fallon Henley first tried to disrupt the count, then a hooded figure blindsided Vice with a knee strike, allowing Jayne to hit Rolling Encore and score the three-count.
The main event saw Ricky Saints dethrone Oba Femi in a dramatic battle. Femi’s power was overwhelming early, including a devastating Chokeslam, but Saints dug deep and rallied with a big Spear. After surviving Femi’s Fall From Grace, Saints turned a second attempt into a Tornado DDT to score the biggest win of his career and capture the NXT Championship.
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