WWE breaks 23-year tradition with fans shocked over ‘mind blowing’ twist
This has never happened in over two decades.
WWE fans witnessed history and the end to a 23-year championship legacy over the weekend.
Last night, for the first time ever, a TNA Wrestling championship was defended on WWE television – and viewers tuning into NXT Battleground were stunned after a major twist.
History was made in the main event as Trick Williams stole the win from TNA Wrestling World Champion Joe Hendry, meaning for the first time in its 23-year history, TNA’s top title is now held by a WWE contracted superstar.
Although the TNA Title itself has only been active since 2007, the company used the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for its first five years.
It’s a massive step in the partnership between WWE and TNA, and fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing as Sunday’s show went off air.
‘A WWE superstar is TNA world champion.. I never thought I’d see something like this in my lifetime,’ wrote @Formersoccerfan on X.
Trick Williams is the first ever WWE-contracted star to hold TNA gold (Picture: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images) He shook hands with TNA President Carlos Silva after the win (Picture: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images)A second fan, @TheDanHuelsman, added: ‘The TNA Champion is a WWE Wrestler. Unreal times….’
Another viewer, @HeelBalor, tweeted: ‘Honestly, my mind is blown but in a good way kind of way this is insane. A WWE wrestler is now the TNA world heavyweight champion just WOW!’
‘Is a WWE superstar now the TNA champion???? What is going on??? Rules have been broken,’ raved @Lux00__, with @jackbeeton2002 saying: ‘Never thought I’ll see the day a wwe wrestler is a tna champion wow (sic)’
‘Yo I can’t believe that the TNA Champion is a WWE wrestler… ????????,’ @2crack_17 added, and @JcAponte_35 said: ‘A WWE wrestler is TNA world champion… weird timeline to be in #wwebattelground (sic)’
Trick and Hendry went blow for blow with the gold on the line (Picture: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images) Trick now holds the gold (Picture: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images)TNA President Carlos Silva was on the front row at Battleground, and took to X afterwards to offer his congratulations while hinting at future plans in the pipeline.
‘Congrats Trick. Make sure you take care of that belt,’ he wrote, before adding: ‘I’ll see you in the TNA office tomorrow.’
Fans have had a hint of what’s to come, with TNA Wrestling star Mike Santana revealed earlier in the show that he would be waiting to challenge whoever walked out as champion.
History was made at NXT Battleground (Picture: Andrea Kellaway/WWE via Getty Images) Hendry’s future is unclear (Picture: Bradlee Rutledge/WWE via Getty Images)The result is also interesting when it comes to the future of Hendry himself, who has caught fire with WWE fans this year, including a shock WrestleMania match with Randy Orton last month.
There has been plenty of speculation about whether or not the Scottish star will making the jump from TNA to WWE when his contract is up – and a decision could be made sooner rather than later.
“Who knows what’s gonna happen next. I’m in my contract year right now, it’s a very exciting time,’ he recently told Chris Van Vliet on Insight.
‘I’m doing my best to give my best to the performance, give the audience everything else and to enjoy it.’
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