At TNA Wrestling Rebellion on April 27, former WWE NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell made a surprise appearance, announcing that she had signed with the company.
The charismatic 28-year-old looks likely to become a top contender for the Knockouts Championship, a challenger for the ultra-talented Masha Slamovich’s title.
Hartwell joins a growing list of former WWE stars – including The Hardy Boyz, Elijah (formerly Elias), Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler), and Mustafa Ali – who have added depth and name recognition to TNA’s roster.
Here are seven more former WWE stars who could “cross the line” to TNA.
7. Braun Strowman
On May 2, Braun Strowman was released from WWE for the second time in his career.
Given his level of stardom, the 6’8″ powerhouse is sure to attract interest across the wrestling world.
His potential arrival in TNA would generate instant buzz – especially if positioned as a potential challenger for the wildly popular World Champion, Joe Hendry.
It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see “The Titan” show up in TNA sooner rather than later.
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6. The Good Brothers
The Good Brothers were released from WWE in February, bringing an end to their second stint with the company (Gallows’ third).
They recently reunited with their former Bullet Club partners, The Young Bucks, at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Resurgence show in the US on May 9.
As veterans with proven name value, they’re sure to find a new home – but whether that’s AEW, where they have ties to The Young Bucks, or elsewhere remains to be seen.
A return to TNA, where they worked between 2020 and 2022, feels more likely, offering a boost to the promotion’s tag division.
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5. Shotzi Blackheart
Another recently departed WWE star is Shotzi Blackheart, who was informed earlier this month her contract wouldn’t be renewed.
Her run with the company wasn’t helped by injuries, as she received a stop/start push and preventing her from ever fully gaining momentum.
Despite the setbacks, Shotzi’s undeniable charisma and relentless effort in her in-ring work always made her stand out.
With roots in the American indie scene, she’s expected to return there immediately, but she would also be a great fit for TNA’s Knockouts Division.
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4. Dakota Kai
Dakota Kai is one of the most talented in-ring female wrestlers in North America.
It was therefore surprising to see the New Zealand-born star included in WWE’s recent round of releases.
Underutilized during her time in WWE, she could immediately elevate TNA’s Knockouts Division – which, while featuring top-tier workers like Masha Slamovich – remains thin on elite in-ring female performers.
Kai may become a highly sought-after free agent when her no-compete clause ends, so the question is whether TNA can secure her signature first.
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3. Gigi Dolin / Priscilla Kelly
NXT’s Gigi Dolin was another of the recent WWE releases, ending her four-year run with the company.
Dolin stood out for her character work and displayed a clear charismatic presence on screen, but never really recovered after the break-up of Toxic Attraction.
With independent dates already lined up, she appears eager to quickly rebuild her lost momentum.
A move to TNA’s Knockouts Division could provide the perfect platform for a star with yet unrealised potential.
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2. Donovan Dijak
Since leaving WWE one year ago, Donovan Dijak has hit the ground running – wrestling across the biggest indie promotions in the US, as well as in the UK and for Mexico’s historic lucha libre promotion CMLL.
The 37-year-old is an undeniable in-ring talent, boasting a unique high-flying move set for someone of his 6’7″ frame – something he wasn’t always able to showcase during his WWE tenure.
Now wrestling for MLW, Dijak would be a valuable addition to TNA’s roster, particularly as a potential rival to Steve Maclin for the International Championship.
Could we soon see Dijak step into a TNA ring?
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1. Blair Davenport / Bea Priestley
Released from her WWE contract in February, Blair Davenport made an immediate return to the ring.
At New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s recent US event Resurgence, on May 9, she reassumed her former ring name, Bea Priestley, and scored a quick victory over Vita Van on the pre-show.
The former World of Stardom Champion seems poised to return to Japan, where she first made her name, though a long-term future with a US promotion seems increasingly likely.
A standout in-ring performer, Priestley would add much-needed depth and quality to TNA‘s Knockouts Division – immediately positioning herself as a top-tier challenger for the Knockouts Championship.
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