Wrestling history was made when Trick Williams captured the TNA World Championship, becoming the first active WWE talent to hold the prestigious title. But according to TNA Head of Talent Relations Tommy Dreamer, this groundbreaking moment comes with some serious behind-the-scenes complications that have him losing sleep.
Breaking New Ground in Professional Wrestling
The partnership between WWE and TNA has already produced memorable moments, but Williams’ championship victory represents uncharted territory. As WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray noted, no active WWE performer has ever held TNA’s top prize before this historic win.
Dreamer acknowledges the positive exposure this brings to TNA, especially with increased representation on WWE NXT programming through the CW Network. However, the veteran wrestling mind sees potential storm clouds on the horizon.
The Administrative Nightmare Nobody Saw Coming
Managing a champion who doesn’t technically work for your company creates a unique set of challenges that Dreamer outlined during his appearance on “Busted Open Radio.” The fundamental question becomes one of authority and control.
“How are you going to tell somebody who doesn’t work for you that they have to do something, or they have to defend the title, or they have to do stuff like that? They don’t work there. Yes, there’s a partnership [between WWE and TNA], but we have seen, in the history of wrestling, things blow up. Right now, it’s been amazing.”
Call Times and Consequences
Dreamer highlighted practical issues like wrestler call times for events as potential friction points. When dealing with talent under contract, disciplinary measures are straightforward. But what happens when your champion answers to a different company entirely?
“What do you do, fine them? Yell at them? Think of that. These are all little things.”
Character Changes Creating Locker Room Drama
Williams’ recent character development has added another layer of complexity to the situation. His newfound cockier, more aggressive persona could clash with TNA’s established culture.
The concern extends beyond just attitude adjustments. Dreamer worries about potential demands that could disrupt the promotion’s tight-knit atmosphere.
“If somebody demands their own locker room because they’re the champ, how does that sit with other people who don’t demand? What does everybody talk about with TNA? It’s a tight family type of atmosphere. Now you have this outsider who’s all about him[self].”
What’s Next for the Controversial Champion
Despite these concerns, Dreamer praised Williams as a “hell of an athlete” and confirmed upcoming championship defenses. The title will be on the line against TNA’s Mike Santana on next week’s NXT episode.
Following that defense, the championship picture will come into focus at TNA Against All Odds on June 6, where Dreamer confirmed the title will be prominently featured.
Walking the Tightrope Between Partnerships
This unprecedented situation tests the boundaries of modern wrestling partnerships in ways nobody anticipated. While inter-promotional relationships have become more common, having an active competitor from one major company hold another’s world championship creates administrative puzzles that could reshape how these deals operate. Will Williams’ reign prove that wrestling partnerships can evolve beyond traditional boundaries, or will Dreamer’s concerns prove prophetic as tensions mount behind the scenes?
