The wrestling world got a major shake-up on June 1st when Elayna Black—formerly known as Cora Jade in WWE NXT—hit the free agent market alongside several other released talent. While fans might expect the rising star to jump back into familiar territory, Black is taking a calculated approach that’s raising eyebrows in the wrestling community.
Strategic Distance from the WWE-TNA Connection
During a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Black dropped some insider perspective on why she’s pumping the brakes on an immediate TNA Wrestling return. Despite having an open invitation, the timing feels all wrong to her.
“I’m not closed off to that by any means. My only hangup is I feel like I was just there, and now they’re kind of doing a WWE and TNA [partnership], so it almost feels like I need to step away from all of that for that world for a second.”
This strategic thinking shows Black understands the business side of wrestling. With WWE and TNA’s partnership heating up, she recognizes that jumping back into that ecosystem might not help her establish her post-WWE identity.
Black’s Recent TNA Championship Chase
Black’s hesitation makes sense when you consider her recent high-profile run in TNA. Through WWE’s partnership deal, she made significant waves in the Knockouts division during early 2024.
Her TNA resume includes impressive singles victories over both Hyan and Xia Brooksdie on “TNA Impact.” She also secured a tag team victory alongside the controversial Tessa Blanchard, proving her versatility in different match types.
The culmination came at TNA Sacrifice on March 14, where Black stepped up to challenge Masha Slamovich for the prestigious Knockouts Championship. Though she came up short in that title bout, the experience clearly left a lasting impression.
Future Plans and International Ambitions
Black isn’t shutting doors permanently—she’s just being selective about when to walk through them. Her comments about TNA reveal a wrestler thinking long-term about her career trajectory.
“I love TNA, will definitely work there again in the future. Just right now in time, I feel like they’re too close-knit together right now. It’ll be better for me to kind of branch off and just kind of figure it out.”
All Elite Wrestling remains another option on Black’s radar. She previously worked two matches for AEW back in 2020, giving her existing relationships within that company.
Japan Calling
Perhaps most intriguingly, Black has set her sights on expanding internationally, particularly in Japan’s competitive wrestling scene. She’s been inspired by former WWE colleague Blair Davenport’s successful four-year run in Japanese promotions from 2017 to 2021.
This international ambition suggests Black is serious about developing her craft and building a global resume rather than taking the easy path back to familiar territory.
The Independent Wrestling Circuit Awaits
With multiple independent dates already locked in under her original Elayna Black ring name, the former NXT star is ready to prove herself outside the corporate wrestling structure. Her approach demonstrates the kind of business acumen that separates successful wrestlers from those who fade away after major releases.
Black’s strategic patience might just pay off in the long run—but will wrestling fans be patient enough to wait for her next major move, or will other freed WWE talent steal her thunder by making quicker splashes in major promotions?
