You might want to pump the brakes on the idea that WWE will work with TNA in some capacity.
Fans have been buzzing about a potential collaboration between the two companies. WWE has branded the first week of January as “New Year’s Knockout Week”, as it features special shows. “Knockout” led some fans to connect it with TNA Wrestling and the Knockouts Division.
Plus, a recent video features TNA referring to its pay-per-views as premium live events. These links led some to speculate that Triple H’s “major” announcement on the 2024 Preview Special would be about TNA.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that, in asking WWE sources, he was told that there is “absolutely nothing” to the connection, and the announcement is not about TNA whatsoever.
Fans will have to wait and see what the announcement actually winds up being. WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
Winning The 2019 51-Man Battle Royal
A year after signing with WWE, Mansoor received a major opportunity that would elevate his career. Mansoor won the 51-Man Battle Royal at Super ShowDown 2019 and told WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard how he found out about the opportunity.
“I remember when we were practicing in the rehearsals, we were practicing entrances. Originally I was going to get an entrance to be like, ‘Oh, it’s the Saudi guy, Mansoor.’ They’re like, ‘No, no, no, let’s cut his entrance.’ I was like, ‘Oh, okay, that’s okay. As long as I get to have an appearance in the match.’ Then I remember Jamie Noble pulls me aside and he’s like, ‘Hey kid, you’re winning the whole thing.’ And I was like, ‘Oh sh**.’
Noble told Mansoor that they cut his entrance because they wanted it to be a surprise. He agreed it was a smart decision, but going over the match was a bit of a nightmare.
“Jamie Noble’s going through it. I’m standing in the back. I’m trying to not take up any space or attention. I know that people are probably not going to be very happy with me being a brand-new unknown winning this match. Jamie’s going through it. I’ll never forget Heath Slater in the middle of Jamie’s speech just goes, ‘Who the hell is winning this thing?’ And Jamie goes, ‘That kid,’ Everybody just turns and looks at me and I just want to die, but it all worked out in the end. I got to know a lot of those guys much, much closer when I got called up for good. I love them all. They were all really, really cool to me.”
