On October 7, 2025, WWE’s NXT and TNA collided in a rare cross-brand special titled “Showdown” (originally planned as “Invasion”). Held at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, the event aired live as part of the NXT broadcast. The concept was simple but enticing: pit stars from both promotions against each other in a series of high-stakes matchups.
The name switch from “Invasion” to “Showdown” happened amid backlash over the October 7 date’s symbolic weight and concerns over insensitive branding.
Major Matches & Key Moments
From title vs. title bouts to elimination chaos, here’s how the night unfolded:
| Match Type | Highlight / Outcome |
|---|---|
| Tag Titles: Hardy Brothers vs. DarkState | The Hardys put their TNA Tag Team titles on the line vs. DarkState’s NXT Tag Team belts. They walked away with both sets of gold. |
| Women’s Survivor Series Match | Team NXT (Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Jaida Parker) defeated Team TNA (Kelani Jordan, Mara Sadè, Cassie Lee, Jessie McKay). |
| NXT North American Title | Ethan Page defended successfully against Mustafa Ali in a back-and-forth contest. |
| Men’s Survivor Series Match | A turning moment: Trick Williams walked out on Team NXT. The remaining NXT roster was overwhelmed, and Team TNA won. |
A notable takeaway: the night wasn’t just about wins and losses storytelling moments (like Williams’ betrayal) stole headlines.
What Worked (and What Didn’t)
Wins:
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Star power elevated the night — The Hardys becoming double champions created buzz.
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Intimate storytelling — The trickery, the betrayals, and the shifting alliances made matches more than just physical bouts.
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Cross-brand novelty — It’s rare to see NXT and TNA names collide on this scale; fans got something fresh.
Misses:
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Stakes still felt low — Despite titles on the line, some results lacked long-term impact.
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Messy execution — A few sloppy transitions and booking missteps diluted the momentum.
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Uneven balance — The splits between NXT and TNA wins left the night feeling unresolved. Their creative collaboration seems intact, but narrative direction is murky.
What “Showdown” Means Going Forward
This event isn’t just a one-off spectacle it could reshape how NXT and TNA interact. Here’s what it signals:
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Title fluidity: With The Hardys holding belts in both promotions, future crossovers may become more meaningful.
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Storytelling potential: Williams’ desertion creates immediate intrigue and fanning of internal tensions.
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Collaboration caution: To keep cross-brand matchups compelling, the promotions must commit to stronger stakes and cleaner booking.
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Fan expectations rising: This was a tease. For fans to stay invested, the next chapters must deliver.
Conclusion
The NXT vs TNA “Showdown” started as a bold experiment and while it had its flaws, it delivered enough drama and spectacle to matter. Titles changed hands, loyalties cracked, and wrestlers from both camps brought heat. Yet, the night left us wanting more: more significance, more narrative depth, more clarity in direction. If WWE and TNA can build on the highs and tighten the lows, this could be the start of a richer era in cross-promotion collaboration.