The partnership between WWE and TNA Wrestling has reached a new level of collaboration, evidenced by a significant backstage concession from WWE ahead of TNA’s biggest event of the year.
According to a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE waived its standard venue exclusivity clause for the Paul Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. This move allows TNA to begin promoting and selling tickets for its Bound for Glory event, scheduled for October 12, well before WWE runs its own show in the same arena on August 24.
This exception is a considerable departure from WWE’s normal operating procedure, which typically prevents a venue from marketing any other professional wrestling event until after WWE’s own has concluded. The report highlighted the significance of this arrangement by drawing a parallel to a recent situation in the UK.
“This clause was the same reason AEW couldn’t announce its O2 Arena show in London until WWE’s event there had passed,” Dave Meltzer noted.
The decision is the latest and perhaps most concrete evidence that the working relationship between the two companies is far more integrated than what is merely shown on television. With TNA set to begin its ticket sales for Bound for Glory next week, this logistical favor underscores a serious level of trust.
Meltzer stated that the WWE–TNA relationship is “a lot deeper than it even looks on television.”
This backstage cooperation mirrors the on-screen storylines that have intensified following Slammiversary. Key TNA championships are currently held by NXT talent, and the narrative on TNA programming centers on the promotion’s fight to reclaim its titles. This week, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella is even scheduled to cross over to challenge for the NXT North American Championship on WWE programming, further blurring the lines between the two organizations.