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2 Ex-WWE Champions Shockingly Return After 5 Years

By Lyle Kilbane • Published Sep 24, 2025 05:10 EDT
WWE logo Matt Cardona

Two former WWE champions have made their shock return to the company five years after they were both let go.

NXT and TNA have been on a collision course ever since WWE decided to partner up with the promotion, with talents from both sides appearing on the other’s shows.

Things escalated when Trick Williams captured the TNA World Championship from Joe Hendry, with the WWE star holding the gold ever since. Jacy Jayne briefly held the TNA Knockouts Title as well, but Ash By Elegance was able to reclaim that gold for her company.

TNA stars took to social media to express their unhappiness during NXT Homecoming when a match was made between Oba Femi and Williams, with both the TNA and NXT Titles on the line.

Matt Cardona & Eric Young Back On WWE TV

The September 23rd edition of NXT saw that bout take place, but the show also featured several TNA stars lurking in the building throughout the night. Among them were former WWE Intercontinental Champion Matt Cardona and former NXT Champion Eric Young.

Cardona and Young were joined by Moose in the parking lot, where they were spotted lurking as Oba Femi and Trick Williams entered the building. Both Cardona and Young were released by WWE on the same day in April 2020, and this marked their return to the company’s TV.

They were then involved later in the show as things broke down in the Williams vs. Femi match, as an all-out roster war took place in the ring.