WWE Star Natalya to Compete at NWA's 2025 Crockett Cup

[Webster]

MSN

Over the past year, the previously rigid WWE has gotten friendlier with several outside promotions. The most notable has been TNA, who WWE has since agreed to a multi-year working agreement with, but has also included Japanese promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH, and select independent wrestling events, such as Josh Barnett's Bloodsport. And though it's too early to tell, a recent announcement suggests things could be getting cozy between WWE and the NWA.

On today's episode of "Busted Open Radio," it was announced that WWE star Natalya would soon be coming to the NWA. That news was confirmed shortly after by the NWA on X, with the promotion announcing that Natalya would be competing at NWA Crockett Cup on May 17 at the 2300 Arena, aka the ECW Arena, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This is yet another announcement that has Natalya stretching her legs outside of the WWE bubble, as the long-time WWE star was announced to be part of Bloodsport during WrestleMania weekend. In both cases, an opponent has yet to be announced for Natalya, in what will be her first matches in a non-WWE ring since 2007.

Whether or not Natalya's involvement in the Crockett Cup is a sign of a bigger working relationship between WWE and NWA, or is merely a one-off, remains to be seen. WWE had once been a member of the NWA during the organization's glory years in the 60s, 70s, and early 80s, before later breaking away under Vince McMahon and becoming the dominant wrestling company. The two sides later worked together again, albeit briefly, in 1998, during the height of the Attitude Era.

@Dead2009 @PGen98 @Reacher <<< Okay, fellow wrestling fans, is this a one-off or has Triple H finally pulled the trigger on a cooperative agreement between the two feds'?

 

[PGen98]

MSN

@Dead2009 @PGen98 @Reacher <<< Okay, fellow wrestling fans, is this a one-off or has Triple H finally pulled the trigger on a cooperative agreement between the two feds'?

Would be nice to see WWE branching out. They've got the TNA agreement, and WWE ID thing...why not embrace NWA, too?

 

[Webster]

Would be nice to see WWE branching out. They've got the TNA agreement, and WWE ID thing...why not embrace NWA, too?

Like the MSN article points out, its' not clear whether this is a one-off or a cooperative thing.

If there is one good thing here, its' that WWE reached out to NWA and not the other way around; say whatever you want about Triple H, he is a big-time student of both the business & history of wrestling and he's smart enough to see what the NWA is doing w/its' new territory system not to interfere with it (unlike his father-in-law and his actions back in the 80's). NWA could, like TNA, become a place where wrestlers/talents who need additional seasoning can go to in order to get (a) additional time in-ring, (b) additional time cutting promos'/working the mic, (c) holding a championship belt/title (or a combination).

A viable win-win; WWE could also, were Billy Corgan so inclined, air NWA title matches - say, the occasional National Championship, Mid-America Championship, TV Championship or World Jr. Heavyweight Championship for instance - on either NXT or Smackdown (they'd likely in this case save both the Men's and Women's Championships for Raw and/or their various PLE's).

 

[PGen98]

Yep, it's good that Triple H is open to working WITH other promotions rather than against them. AEW aside, WWE has really shown that their willingness to showcase and be showcased by other promotions and it's a damn good thing for the industry when that happens. Competition breeds innovation, but collaboration is also a good thing.