In the days leading up to TNA Genesis 2025, it was teased that the show would see involvement from WWE NXT as part of a multi-year partnership between the two sides. This certainly proved to be the case with multiple names from the silver brand appearing in Garland, Texas.
Before the show, Arianna Grace served in her role as the offical liasion between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling and brought out Ashante ‘Thee Adonis. The NXT Superstar issued an open challenge to the TNA roster, which was answered by Jake Something. Despite a valiant effort by Adonis, it was Something who got the win.
.@WWENXT's Ashante “Thee” Adonis has arrived in the iMPACT Zone with an Open Challenge!
During the show, TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardyz put their titles on the line against The Rascalz. During the match, NXT Tag Team Champions Fraxiom (Nathan Frazer & Axiom) arrived to get a better look at the action. Things turned ugly when The Rascalz attacked Fraxiom, but the match would end with Jeff Hardy getting the pin over Trey Miguel to retain.
In the brutal Clockwork Orange match, Masha Slamovich retained her TNA Knockouts World Championship against Rosemary. After the match, Cora Jade showed up and gestured that she wants a shot at the gold. Slamovich was featured in the crowd during the latest WWE NXT ahead of Jade’s match with Kelani Jordan, and traded some barbs on X with Jade after the match.
TNA’s multi-year partnership promises plenty of exciting crossovers with WWE, and that has already been the case. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on this partnership and to see who ever crosses the line.
Hit Row made their return to WWE after Triple H took control of power. Vince McMahon fired the entire stable previously, and Swerve Strickland went to AEW before Triple H could do anything about it. Now, Hit Row is no more after Top Dolla’s release, but he doesn’t believe there were any plans to begin with.
Hit Row’s Second Run In WWE
Top Dolla was released from WWE in September, and now he is a free agent as AJ Francis once again. As rumors of a TNA in-ring debut are strong, due to his planned music video debut at Hard to Kill, he has vivid memories of his time in WWE.
While speaking to Busted Open Radio, the former Top Dolla opened up about his time in WWE. He feels as though the company never had a plan for Hit Row.
“I feel like they didn’t have an idea how to use Hit Row. I feel like the idea of the hip-hop stable just didn’t really gell with what they had creatively and what they wanted to do creatively. They had different plans for the three of us. I’m just happy that Briana and Tehuti, which are B-Fab and Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis are still there. I’m happy they’re still getting money. I’m happy that they seem to be getting involved on the show. I have no ill will towards anyone there. It’s just now I got to worry about me. I don’t care about anybody else but me. That’s why I don’t want to be in no factions. I don’t want to be in no groups or tag teams. I’m tired of people pretending that I need other people. I can do it by myself and I’m going to do it by myself.”
AJ Francis Got A Weird Feeling
AJ Francis went on to say that, during his second run in WWE, he noticed a significant difference in his relationship with Triple H, characterized by mutual respect.
He acknowledged Paul Heyman as a strong supporter of his as well, but that might have been the extent of it. There were instances when he felt unwelcome, perceiving it through the energy and body language in the Gorilla Position during matches.
I don’t know how to say it other than like, sometimes I just never felt welcome. Like when other talent would be in Gorilla, like, I would go in Gorilla and watch people’s matches, and I would watch the dark matches, and I would watch during the show, and I just didn’t feel like I was supposed to be there. I just felt like the energy around was like, I shouldn’t be in there. I don’t know why I felt that way.
Despite no explicit objections, the atmosphere left AJ Francis with a sense of not belonging. Every Friday on SmackDown, AJ would show up, sometimes alone, running spots in the ring, often with a ghost partner. Collaborating with William Regal and others, he also said he gave his all in dark matches, aiming to engage the crowd and cut promos, but the consistent dislike from the audience towards Hit Row suggested a lack of plans for the group.
Things took a big turn for Hit Row, especially after LA Knight verbally dismantled the faction. It wasn’t long until they were never seen on television as a faction again.
Hit Row Members Left In WWE
In the end, Francis was released, while B-Fab and Ashante Thee Adonis were left on the blue brand. B-Fab was featured speaking with Bobby Lashley as he created his new stable, but nothing ever came from that.
Adonis was recently spotted in a backstage segment with Nick Aldis, where he was asking for an opportunity. We will have to see if there are finally some plans for them in WWE.
Jade Cargill has yet to wrestle for WWE, but speculation continues to grow about what’s next for her. Despite her absence from TV, Cargill remains active in the ring. On her Instagram Stories this week, WWE Superstar Natalya shared a video of Jade training for her much-anticipated debut match.
As Triple H made clear during the Survivor Series post-show press conference, WWE will not be rushing plans with Jade Cargill. While Cargill knows what brand she’ll be working with going forward, the former TBS Champion has not confirmed publicly where she’ll be heading.
Whatever’s next for Jade Cargill, it likely won’t involve Charlotte Flair. It had been rumored for some time that Flair would be Cargill’s first WWE opponent, especially after an interaction between the two on SmackDown. Unfortunately, Flair suffered an injury last month that will keep her out for much of 2024. The Queen recently thanked fans for their support after undergoing surgery.
Since Triple H took over as WWE’s Head of Talent Relations, the company has seen several returns.
At Summerslam 2022, Dakota Kai returned to WWE to align with Bayley and IYO SKY, the latter of whom had been expected to leave WWE this year when her contract expired.
On the post-Summerslam SmackDown, Karrion Kross and Scarlett returned, with the former NXT Champion attacking Drew McIntyre.
During this week’s Raw, Dexter Lumis made his presence felt in the crowd and teased a program with AJ Styles.
Two More Returns
Plenty of Superstars have returned to WWE in the post-Vince McMahon era, and two more could be appearing on tonight’s episode of SmackDown.
Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis and AJ ‘Top Dolla’ Francis are scheduled to be at tonight’s SmackDown in Raleigh, North Carolina, according to pwinsider. It was not confirmed that the pair will be appearing on-screen though it seems likely given the recent returns.
The Hit Row members were released by WWE in November 2021 alongside the rest of the group.
Hit Row
Hit Row was a popular quartet of Superstars, comprising of Adonis, Francis, B-Fab, and their leader Isaiah ‘Swerve’ Scott.
In October 2021, the group was called up to the main roster, but it was reported that Francis would serve as the group’s leader.
The group’s tenure on the blue brand was short-lived, as B-Fab was released on November 4, with the rest of the stable cut two weeks later.
There is no report that B-Fab will appear on tonight’s SmackDown.
Scott will not be appearing as he is with AEW, competing as one-half of the World Tag Team Champions as Swerve Strickland.
Wrestling fans just got done witnessing a wave of cuts that saw 18 performers lose their jobs. Among the names included were Keith Lee, Nia Jax, Karrion Kross, Scarlett Bordeaux, Franky Monet, and Ember Moon.
While many considered some of those releases to be puzzling, the latest string of roster cuts is sure to turn some heads as well.
WWE has released eight more wrestlers, including John Morrison and the remaining members of the ill fated Hit Row faction. The company had just cut ties with B-Fab, the first sign that trouble might be brewing.
Hit Row was seen as a refreshing act in NXT. The group certainly appeared to light a spark under Isaiah Scott, who had been floundering on the brand. They were called up to the main roster only for all members to be cut in short order.
John Morrison was in line for a feud with his former tag team partner The Miz. Once Miz was off WWE TV to compete in Dancing With The Stars, Morrison was seen on Main Event.
Tegan Nox had a rough break due to injuries but she finally got her chance on the main roster. She was paired with Shotzi Blackheart but the two split following the WWE Draft.
Xavier Woods was filming a show on G4 when he received word of the talent releases. Here is his live reaction.
Stop supporting a company that has ZERO respect for their talent. You love pro wrestling, spend your money on the hundreds of other alternatives. This is wrong. Ethically, as employers they don’t care about us. Talent or fans.
“Stop supporting a company that has ZERO respect for their talent. You love pro wrestling, spend your money on the hundreds of other alternatives. This is wrong. Ethically, as employers they don’t care about us. Talent or fans.”
With the latest wave of cuts, WWE has now brought the total number of released performers to 79 for the calendar year.
