WWE Has Option to Buy TNA as Lorenzo Fertitta Rumors Heat Up

Steve Carrier August 15, 2025 3 min read

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TNA Wrestling might be closer to a major ownership shake-up — and WWE could be pulling strings behind the scenes. While the name of former UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta has been making the rounds in internal discussions about a potential TNA sale, Dave Meltzer just dropped an update that WWE already has an option to buy the company outright.

In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Meltzer confirmed what many sources suspected: WWE’s current working relationship with TNA mirrors past deals it offered to European promotions like wXw, Progress, OTT, and RevPro.

“We were able to get a WWE source confirm… the working deal with TNA is similar to the deals WWE had offered various European groups… when they offered to allow some European talent on the shows… [and] WWE also has the right of first refusal to match any other offers for TNA.”

This means if anyone else tries to buy TNA, WWE can legally step in and match the bid. Meltzer noted that WWE’s ultimate goal is for any buyer to be friendly, not a competitor.

“The idea is that anyone who buys would do so with the idea of being friendly with WWE, not with the idea of being an enemy.”

Why does that matter? Because it ties directly into WWE’s bigger strategy to squeeze AEW out of the media rights race. With UFC and WWE now both under TKO Group Holdings, WWE benefits from having a partner company in the No. 2 slot — not AEW.

“The idea is to use the partnership and get TNA to the No. 2 spot, thus hurt AEW’s popularity and ability to get the next television contract in 2027.”

Meltzer added that WWE could still purchase TNA outright, or the arrangement could resemble what happened with AAA, where TKO-backed funding gave WWE controlling interest and operational power — even if someone else technically put up the money.

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“The belief is that Filip put up a large share of the money for the purchase but WWE got the controlling interest and all the power to run it.”

Even more aggressive? There’s talk of moving TNA to Wednesday nights — AEW’s turf — just to knock them down in viewership battles. Meltzer cited this as a calculated move, not for TNA’s benefit, but to hurt AEW.

“The key is that TNA will do much lower numbers on a Wednesday… The only people who benefit from it on Wednesday above those dates are those who want to see AEW’s numbers hurt more than TNA’s numbers succeed.”

As for Fertitta, Meltzer confirmed the rumors are still just that — but his name is floating around serious conversations. And given his TKO ties and UFC legacy, him stepping into a WWE-aligned TNA role isn’t out of the question.

TNA has been on the market before. WWE reportedly passed on buying it in the past. AEW also rejected the idea — with one source telling Fightful they saw little value in TNA’s brand, especially since so much of its legacy footage already lives in the Ring of Honor library.

Now with network talks involving A&E and The CW (both WWE-affiliated), and WWE quietly holding key rights, the deck looks stacked in their favor. Whether they pull the trigger on a full buyout or simply install a friendly billionaire to run it, WWE clearly has a long-term plan for TNA — and it involves weakening AEW in the process.

Do you think WWE is trying to weaponize TNA to sabotage AEW’s future? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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