On the 22 July edition of NXT, Santino Marella returned to WWE, challenging Ethan Page for the North American Title.
This is another bout pitting WWE against a TNA star, in what appears to be a growing storyline rivalry between the two companies.
With Marella returning to his old stomping grounds, the question becomes: what other current TNA talent could we soon see appear on NXT?
Here are seven stars we could soon see return to WWE programming.
7. Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler)
One of the highlights of TNA’s recent Slammiversary PPV was the four-team ladder match for the TNA Tag Titles, between champions The Nemeths, The Hardys, The Rascalz and First Class.
Now relieved of the titles, we are likely to see a change of direction for the Nemeth brothers.
This could involve a short run on NXT, with the heel team challenging current NXT Tag Champs Hank and Tank.
Could we soon see the former Dolph Ziggler — accompanied by his brother — return to WWE programming?
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6. Matt Cardona
Matt Cardona also appeared at Slammiversary, teaming with fellow former WWE alum Brian Myers and JDC — as well as Eddie Edwards — against the NXT team DarkState.
Cardona and co defeated the highly touted WWE faction, with the former Zack Ryder — who was super-over with the New York crowd — scoring the pinfall.
Defeating these top prospects could lead to Cardona appearing on NXT programming, even calling out one of the brand’s champions for a title shot.
Since leaving the company five years ago, Cardona hasn’t been quiet about wanting to return — and perhaps he’ll soon get his wish.
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5. Sami Callihan
As a top indie prospect in 2013, Sami Callihan was signed to WWE developmental, where he spent two years as Solomon Crowe.
Saddled with a limiting gimmick, his run in NXT — during some of its peak years — was largely unmemorable, and he was cut in 2015.
After leaving WWE, he went on to have a genuinely memorable run in TNA, winning the Heavyweight Championship in 2020 and returning for a second stint last year.
If the NXT–TNA storyline escalates, we could see Callihan return to his old stomping grounds – and no doubt intent on rewriting his legacy there.
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4. AJ Francis
When it comes to former WWE stars looking to rewrite their legacies in the company, AJ Francis would be near the top of the list.
As Top Dolla, he was a one-time NXT member of Swerve Strickland’s — then Isaiah Scott’s — “Hit Row” faction, but was perhaps best known for his highly memed dive on an episode of SmackDown in 2022.
Since leaving WWE, he’s improved significantly as a worker — recently having a critically praised street fight against Mike Santana on the 20 June edition of TNA Impact.
Francis has already been part of the NXT–TNA talent exchange, teaming with Trick Williams — and it’s likely we’ve not seen the last of the 35-year-old on WWE programming.
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3. Steve Maclin
TNA International Champion Steve Maclin is one of the company’s standout performers.
It’s easy to forget, however, that before this, he spent six years in WWE developmental — as Steve Cutler, he was a regular on NXT between 2014 and 2020, with little to show beyond a run in the generic Forgotten Sons faction.
Since joining TNA in 2021, the 38-year-old has reinvented himself as a no-nonsense, hard-working, ass-kicking babyface.
It’s easy to imagine the former WWE star returning to NXT for one-off appearances or as part of a longer NXT–TNA feud — and doubtlessly making more of an impression this time around.
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2. Eric Young
There are few stars more closely associated with TNA Wrestling than Eric Young.
Young did, however, have a memorable run in NXT as leader of the SAnitY faction.
The 45-year-old continues to perform at a high level as the demented heel leader of the Northern Armory faction, alongside the hugely talented tag team Saint and Sinner.
As part of the TNA–WWE relationship, could we see the return of Young to NXT programming — bringing his faction with him?
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1. The Hardy Boyz
At TNA’s Slammiversary PPV on 20 July, The Hardy Boys became four-time TNA Tag Team Champions.
This title win comes over 26 years after they won their first World Tag Team Championship in WWE, showing their enduring popularity.
One of pro wrestling’s most iconic teams, they’ve already wrestled twice this year on NXT — and with the ongoing TNA–WWE relationship, it seems likely we’ll see them in a WWE ring again before the year is out.
When The Hardys do next appear, the bigger question is: will it be on NXT or one of the main roster brands?
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