The internet has been running wild with talk that TNA is about to jump AEW and become the true number two wrestling company behind WWE — and now TNA President Carlos Silva is finally stepping in to address the debate.
Speaking with Denise Salcedo, Silva responded directly when asked whether TNA considers itself the second-biggest promotion and what it would take to get there.
Denise asked:
“One of the big conversations online is about the ‘second promotion’—who holds that spot? Have you seen those discussions among fans, and what’s your take on it? Do you consider TNA the second promotion? If not, what do you think it would take to get there?”
Silva didn’t shy away from the conversation, but he kept his answer grounded:
“Yeah, you know, we hear about it all the time and talk about it all the time. We’re really focused on competing with ourselves to be the best promotion we can be. Right now, there’s a clear number one, and that’s WWE. TKO, as their parent company, has both WWE and UFC sitting at the top of their categories.”
He pointed to TNA’s growing relationship with WWE and NXT as part of their strategy moving forward — but made it clear they aren’t obsessing over rankings.
“We’re lucky to have a partnership with WWE and NXT, and we plan to continue making TNA great through that collaboration.”
Silva also addressed the AEW comparison head-on, insisting fans don’t have to pick sides.
“As for all the talk about who’s bigger—TNA or AEW—it doesn’t really matter. What matters is whether you like TNA and want to watch it. And if you like AEW, you should watch AEW too. It’s totally okay to enjoy both.”
According to Silva, the online rivalry is fueled more by social media culture than anything happening inside the businesses.
“You’re allowed to be a fan of multiple wrestling promotions. This whole ‘who’s second?’ thing is part of the competitive nature of wrestling, and a lot of it is fueled by social media and clickbait trying to stir up reactions.”
But Silva’s biggest message? TNA isn’t chasing anyone — they’re leveling up on their own terms.
“We’re just focused on doing the best we can. People are already noticing the difference, telling us we’re doing better, and we’re going to keep growing—especially now with AMC on board for 2026.”
With their AMC deal in place, TNA’s momentum is real — but Silva wants the product to speak for itself rather than online rankings. As the wrestling landscape changes heading into 2026, one thing is clear: TNA isn’t worried about being “number two”… they’re trying to be the best version of TNA.
What do you think about Carlos Silva’s take? Is the “number two” argument pointless — or do rankings matter in today’s wrestling world? Drop your thoughts and feedback below — let your voice be part of the conversation.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
