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The lines have been crossed. Again.
Coming off the seismic fallout of Slammiversary, the professional wrestling world has shifted. Trick Williams retained the TNA World Championship in a match that further solidified his meteoric rise—but it was Jacy Jayne’s shocking victory over Masha Slamovich to capture the TNA Knockouts World Title that sent tremors through two promotions. As first reported by the St. Louis Business Journal, the fallout from Slammiversary has ignited the long-simmering brand war between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling—and it all culminates at WWE Bragging Rights, live Saturday, September 14 from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
The event, traditionally a multi-brand WWE showcase, now exists under the full control of the NXT brand. But this isn’t a friendly inter-promotional celebration. This is a declaration of war.
Just 48 hours after Slammiversary, the invasion began. Mike Santana launched the opening salvo, violently ambushing Trick Williams in the NXT parking lot and holding the TNA World Title above his head, snarling, “If he wants to represent TNA, then he’ll bleed for it.” Alongside him, a scarred and seething Masha Slamovich vowed vengeance against Jayne and declared that the Knockouts World Title “wasn’t lost, it was robbed.”
TNA had watched NXT walk out of Slammiversary with both of their top championships—and they were coming to reclaim them by any means necessary. But gold wasn’t the only motivation. TNA arrived for vengeance, retribution, and a warning: you don’t embarrass a legacy without paying the price.
NXT General Manager Ava and TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella were both caught off-guard by the sudden aggression. What had started as a historic working relationship was now in ashes, replaced by cross-brand ambushes, locker room chaos, and a bitter collision course that could only end one way.
In the weeks that followed, NXT television transformed into a battleground. The black and gold became under siege. TNA talent arrived in force—unannounced, uninvited, and unafraid.
Joe Hendry interrupted Oba Femi’s NXT Championship celebration with a now-viral musical number declaring he would be “King of Two Thrones.” Steve Maclin cost Ethan Page a non-title match, then powerbombed him through the announce table. Rosemary and First Class (AJ Francis and KC Navarro) assaulted Sol Ruca after her match until Tony D’Angelo, Myles Borne, and Zaria evened the odds in an all-out brawl. That match would be made official for Bragging Rights—a six-person tag with egos and empires on the line.
Each week, more chaos unfolded. Trick Williams delivered thunderous, heartfelt promos about pride, legacy, and why he earned the right to carry the TNA World Championship. Santana answered with another attack, this time in the trainer’s room, shouting, “You wear that title like it’s yours? You’ll leave it in a stretcher.”
The Knockouts World Title scene grew even darker. Slamovich didn’t just want revenge—she wanted Jacy Jayne’s destruction. Stalking her backstage, inside her locker room, even mid-promo, Masha refused to strike—only haunt. Jayne, clearly unraveling, defended both her titles in increasingly reckless fashion, unwilling to admit the fear clawing at her.
Then came the announcement of a six-women tag match that rattled both locker rooms.
On one side, Jordynne Grace—still seething after being betrayed by Blake Monroe at WWE Evolution—was forced to team with the very woman who cost her the NXT Women’s Title. Monroe, with Kelani Jordan in their corner, rolled her eyes at the announcement. Jordynne didn’t speak. They would stand together not as friends, but as warriors with a common mission: crush TNA.
Across from them, the unlikely trio of Tessa Blanchard, Victoria Crawford, and Indi Hartwell—tied together by fractured loyalty and deeply rooted hate. Indi had bested Tessa at Slammiversary. In retaliation, Tessa and Victoria viciously assaulted IMPACT reporter Gia Miller in an unprovoked attack that led to suspensions. But desperate to bolster TNA’s fight, Marella—against his better judgment—reinstated both women, calling it “a necessary evil in war.”
This was no longer about personal vendettas. It was about supremacy. And for one night, these women would have to shelve their hatred and bleed the same colors for TNA’s pride.
Meanwhile, NXT North American Champion Ethan Page mocked the invaders, saying “They sent their best? I’m still here. Still champion.” Steve Maclin made sure that wouldn’t last. After two weeks of attacks and pull-aparts, the match was made: Page vs. Maclin—winner takes all for the North American and TNA International Championships.
And in the tag team division, the chaos only escalated. With both NXT and TNA’s titles being paraded around by outsiders, it was decided: The Hardys (TNA Tag Champs) vs Hank & Tank (NXT Tag Champs) vs The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed) vs The Culling (Shawn Spears and Nico Vance, with Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley in their corner)—a four-way ladder match, winner takes all. With Trey Miguel still recovering from hernia surgery, The Rascalz were determined to fly higher and risk more than ever before. And Spears’ Culling? They promised to “burn both tag divisions to ash.”
Meanwhile, Oba Femi kept his eyes forward, brushing off Hendry’s grandstanding and music videos. After retaining against Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura in a bruising triple threat, Femi accepted Hendry’s challenge without a word. Because Femi doesn’t speak threats. He ends them.
Live from the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Saturday, September 14, WWE Bragging Rights presents the most hostile cross-promotional war in modern history.
Trick Williams defends the TNA World Championship against Mike Santana. Pride vs redemption. Champion vs challenger. With the soul of TNA in the balance.
Jacy Jayne puts the TNA Knockouts World Championship on the line against Masha Slamovich. Mind games vs mayhem.
NXT Champion Oba Femi faces Joe Hendry. Gravity vs charisma. Power vs prophecy.
Ethan Page and Steve Maclin go to war in a winner-takes-all match for the NXT North American and TNA International Titles. Legacy, ego, and violence—wrapped in gold.
Tony D’Angelo, Myles Borne, and Sol Ruca (with Zaria) battle Rosemary, AJ Francis, and KC Navarro in a chaotic six-person elimination tag where the only outcome is survival.
Jordynne Grace, Blake Monroe, and Kelani Jordan face Tessa Blanchard, Victoria Crawford, and Indi Hartwell. Hatred simmers on both sides—but for one night, loyalty must outweigh animosity. Because this isn’t about friendship. This is about brand supremacy.
The Hardys vs Hank & Tank vs The Rascalz vs The Culling in a four-team ladder match for both the NXT and TNA Tag Team Championships. Four teams. Two promotions. One set of ladders. All the gold.
This isn’t brand vs brand for bragging rights.
This is about retribution. About pride. About war.
This is Bragging Rights.
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