Report: People Involved Believe WWE Forced TNA To Block Wrestlers From Facing AEW Talents

TNA Wrestling have blocked multiple contracted wrestlers from performing on independent wrestling shows, with TNA officially stating that "TNA wrestlers were pulled due to partner conflicts."

The matches that have been cancelled all featured TNA wrestlers facing off against talent from All Elite Wrestling, including Leon Slater vs. Ricochet at the Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow as part of WrestleCon over WrestleMania 42 weekend, and MJF vs. Nic Nemeth at Create A Pro on Friday, May 1.

Moose, meanwhile, was reportedly scheduled to face an AEW talent at MLP Multiverse, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. TNA approved the match on Friday, April 3 but then did an about-face and blocked it on Monday, April 6.

Fightful Select has also reported that MJF was planned for a match against TNA's Bear Bronson at a Game Changer Wrestling event in March, but the contest was blocked by TNA. This differed from Mercedes Moné vs. Jody Threat at Winnipeg Pro Wrestling Fight at the Museum 4 on March 31, which went ahead as planned and saw Threat defeat Moné for the WPW Women's Championship.

While it has not been confirmed, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that people involved in the situation believe WWE forced TNA's hand in blocking their wrestlers from facing AEW talents.

"Obviously, there's been heavy, heavy speculation that it was WWE forcing the hand of TNA. Everyone in wrestling thinks that's the case. I cannot prove that's the case. I know people who were involved who think that's the case, but they also cannot prove it's the case because the only thing that's happened is Carlos Silva is the one who said it. And it makes him look really bad saying it after approving it. So something must have happened between Friday and Monday to where they did an about-face on all of these matches," Meltzer said.

A number of TNA wrestlers are reportedly frustrated with the change, Fightful Select noted. PWInsider has claimed that TNA's concern seems to stem from the possibility that TNA wrestlers could be shown in a bad light or being defeated on rival programming.

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