Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo are calling out WWE over the timing of NXT Great American Bash, and they don’t think the TNA partnership looks so great right now.
TNA Slammiversary 2026 is set for June 28, the same day as AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. TNA already moved Slammiversary to a 3 PM ET start time to avoid going head-to-head with AEW’s 7 PM ET slot. Then WWE announced NXT Great American Bash for that same night, also at 7 PM ET on The CW, and Coachman made it clear on the June 5 edition of The Coach and Bro Show that he doesn’t understand how WWE can call itself a strong partner to TNA while making that kind of move.
“Everybody talks about how this great relationship between TNA and WWE is for TNA, right? Awesome. WWE helped them get that TV deal with AMC. Awesome. Well, TNA has one of their biggest events of the year on June 28th, the same night as AEW has another big show as well. So, already two, AEW, TNA. So, WWE two days ago came out and announced that the Great American Bash will be on, wait for it, June 28th. So now TNA has been forced to move their starting time to the afternoon because they don’t want to go head up against AEW and also WWE.”
Coachman questioned why WWE would schedule Great American Bash so late in the game if the company is supposed to be helping TNA, especially after TNA had already been upset with AEW over a separate scheduling issue.
“Vince, if they are partners, in what world does the WWE this late in the game schedule a Great American Bash unless they had to add for a number on the ESPN app? But if you’re TNA, who just got pissed at Tony Khan for AEW moving Collision to the one Thursday night, what do you think they’re feeling about WWE right about now?”
Vince Russo agreed with Jonathan Coachman and said he hopes WWE really did help TNA land its AMC television deal, because otherwise he doesn’t see what TNA is getting out of the relationship whatsoever.
“Yeah, coach, we’ve spoken about this. I hope I really really hope that WWE helped TNA get that TV deal with AMC. I really hope so. Because if they didn’t, then what have they done for TNA? I mean, what what have they done for TNA? We’re assuming they helped them get that television deal. And like I say, I hope they did because outside of that, I don’t see how TNA is getting anything out of their relationship with the WWE.”
Coachman said he likes Carlos Silva and Tommy Dreamer, but he believes TNA is clearly the “B-side” of the partnership. He argued that WWE’s decision hurts TNA at a time when the company needs Slammiversary to perform strongly.
“Now, those that run TNA, who I like a lot, Carlos and Tommy Dreamer, I worked with him on Tuesday. They always say the right things. They’re really good partners, but they’re also the B-side of the partnership. And they have to believe that this is a good deal. But right now, you would have to believe between the nonsense with the independent show and now this, if I’m sitting in the meetings, I’m saying to myself, what is this doing for us other than our TV numbers are struggling a little bit? Ticket sales for Slammiversary struggling a lot. And now you’re going to tell the fan base if you don’t go and buy a ticket, you can watch all of this over here. That hurts them two different ways. It really does.”
Vince Russo then said he would like Tommy Dreamer to explain exactly why WWE should be considered a great partner, because from the outside, the situation looks one-sided and there doesn’t seem to be anything that will change that.
“It does. And I would just — I mean, listen, I’m friends with Tommy as well, but when Tommy says they’re great partners, I would just love to ask him, Tommy, in what sense? What are they doing for you for you to label them great partners? I’m open to hearing that because from the surface and from where we sit, this looks like a one-way road. So, if you’re going to say they’re great partners, please tell us they’re great partners because of A, B, C, and D.”
Coachman stated the situation feels like bigger companies keeping smaller promotions under control instead of helping them grow. He also brought up Leon Slater as someone he believes WWE could eventually take from TNA.
“This is a big part of the business because this is putting your finger, these companies under your finger and saying we’re not going to help you grow. That’s not who we are. And when they take Leon Slater in a year, how do you think they’re going to feel about that? And he to me is their biggest, brightest, shining star. And they’re going to yank him away, too.”
The timing of NXT Great American Bash has clearly made the WWE-TNA relationship look a lot more complicated. TNA already had to move Slammiversary away from AEW Forbidden Door, and now WWE adding NXT to the same night has Coachman and Russo questioning whether this partnership is really helping TNA or mostly helping WWE.
What do you think about WWE scheduling NXT Great American Bash on the same day as TNA Slammiversary? Please share your thoughts and feedback below.
