Nick Khan Interested in WWE Collaborating with Other Wrestling Promotions

WWE seems to be unlocking a door long thought to be firmly shut, as it appears more willing than ever to collaborate with other wrestling promotions under the leadership of Nick Khan.

For years, WWE has maintained a staunch stance against working with other wrestling companies, particularly those it perceives as direct rivals like AEW. However, according to a report by Sports Illustrated, WWE President Nick Khan is exploring the possibility of forging partnerships with other promotions, marking a significant departure from the company’s traditional isolationism. As stated in the report, “one of WWE’s potential explorations is to engineer a collaboration with other professional wrestling promotions.”

This newfound openness under Khan contrasts sharply with the previous four decades of Vince McMahon’s tenure. The recent return of CM Punk to WWE, for instance, was facilitated by Khan reaching out to him in late 2023, culminating in Punk’s appearance at Survivor Series in November. Similarly, Khan’s outreach efforts extended to TNA Wrestling in early 2024, resulting in Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace participating in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match.

Despite WWE’s historical reluctance to engage with other promotions, there have been rare instances of cooperation in the past. In 2022, for example, then-IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts World Champion Mickie James competed in the Women’s Royal Rumble match, donning her championship belt—an event reminiscent of Grace’s participation two years later.

Furthermore, WWE has occasionally extended olive branches to former rivals. In June 2022, during John Cena’s 20th anniversary celebration in WWE, the company shared videos featuring testimonials from several of Cena’s past adversaries, including Daniel Bryan, The Big Show, and Chris Jericho—all of whom are now associated with AEW.

This trend of collaboration has historical precedent as well. In 2012, WWE struck a deal with TNA that allowed Ric Flair to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Four Horsemen, thereby making Flair the first two-time WWE Hall of Famer. In return, WWE granted TNA the use of Christian, who inducted Sting into TNA’s Hall of Fame.

In light of these developments, it appears WWE is cautiously embracing a more inclusive approach to the wrestling landscape, potentially signaling the dawn of a new era in professional wrestling collaboration.

What are your thoughts on WWE’s recent shift towards potential collaborations with other wrestling promotions under Nick Khan’s leadership? How do you believe this change might impact the wrestling industry as a whole, and what opportunities or challenges do you foresee arising from such collaborations? Let us know in the comments.