Latest Rumors on WWE Potentially Buying TNA amid Buzz on New TV Contract Talks

Amid WWE's working relationship with TNA, rumors have emerged that WWE has been given the opportunity to buy TNA and potentially even dictate who does.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlePurists), WWE has "an option for a certain length of time" to purchase to TNA.

Even if WWE doesn't buy TNA directly, it reportedly also has the right of first refusal, meaning it can match any outside offer made to TNA.

Meltzer (h/t WrestlePurists) added that the reason for such an agreement is so that WWE can ensure that only an entity that will be "friendly" to WWE will purchase TNA, rather than one that will attempt to compete.

TNA president Carlos Silva told SI.com's Jon Alba last month that TNA was shopping it television rights at an estimated value of around $10 million per year.

Alba followed up by reporting Thursday that there "have at least been discussions" about TNA reaching a deal with a WWE-affiliated network and moving its weekly flagship show Impact to Wednesday nights in order to go head-to-head with AEW Dynamite, given that AEW is WWE's main competition.

While WWE and TNA were in direct competition for over two decades, they began sharing talent in 2024 and entered into an official partnership in January 2025.

TNA was founded by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett in 2002, who sold a majority stake of the company to Panda Energy thereafter. That eventually led to the daughter of Panda Energy's owners, Dixie Carter, taking control of the company as owner, chairman and chief strategy officer.

Smashing Pumpkins star Billy Corgan acquired a minority stake in TNA in June 2016, and when it became clear that Carter intended to sell her stake, Corgan emerged as a potential buyer.

Richard Morgan of the New York Post first reported on Corgan's efforts to become majority owner in September 2016, but Morgan added that WWE was rumored to have submitted a bid for the company as well.

Morgan then reported that WWE's primary motivation behind potentially buying TNA would be to acquire the video library and then shut the company down.

Shortly thereafter, WWE Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross said on his Ross Report podcast (h/t Raj Giri of WrestlingInc.com) that a "very, very reliable" source indicated a deal between WWE and TNA for the video library was "imminent."

Nothing came of those reports at the time, though, as Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corporation ended up buying TNA instead.

WWE's structure has changed significantly since that time as well, with longtime chairman and CEO Vince McMahon selling the majority stake in WWE to TKO Group Holdings in 2023.

Should WWE end up buying TNA at some point, it is unclear if WWE would keep the promotion running as a separate entity, much like it has with Mexican wrestling company AAA.

WWE boasts several former TNA stars, including AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre, Nick Aldis, LA Knight, Penta and The Motor City Machine Guns. WWE already has access to highlights from the TNA tape library due to their partnership, but purchasing TNA would allow WWE to put full TNA shows from the past on streaming services.

While TNA clearly fell behind AEW in the battle to be the No. 2 wrestling company in the United States, its roster is fairly impressive, and several TNA wrestlers have made multiple WWE appearances already.

That includes Matt and Jeff Hardy, Joe Hendry, Masha Slamovich, Moose and Mike Santana to name a few.

Having a major partner promotion like TNA may be more valuable to WWE than outright buying the company, but it sounds like that option is indeed on the table for WWE should an outside threat emerge.