WWE and TNA will go head-to-head during an independent wrestling show during WWE SummerSlam weekend.
WWE Raw star Natalya will return to GCW to face Masha Slamovich during Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV at 1 PM on August 1, 2025, at the Williams Center in Rutherford, New Jersey.
This is the same day WWE SummerSlam emanates from the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Natalya made only her second PLE appearance for WWE at the weekend. She competed in the battle royal at WWE Evolution.
Her only other PLE matches since 2023 have been as part of the WWE Royal Rumble events. So it is of little shock that WWE didn’t have plans for her during WWE SummerSlam.
Natalya & Nattie Neidhart
Natalya has been receiving consistent screen time on WWE Raw on Netflix this year. She is deeply immersed in a storyline where she is training Maxxine Dupri. But this hasn’t brought much ring time for Natalya. The Hart Family member has only competed once on WWE Raw since its move to Netflix.
But she has been finding in-ring action outside the WWE.
GCW offers her a place to compete under the Nattie Neidhart name and showcase a more aggressive side of herself. At GCW Bloodsport during WWE WrestleMania 41 week, Neidhart shocked fans with a new look and attitude when she faced Miyu Yamashita.
She defeated Yamashita, who is seen as one of the best stars on the independent scene. Many expected Neidhart to show this new character in WWE, but she has remained the friendly veteran who is happy to give advice.
Against Slamovich, things will be different.
Masha Slamovich
Slamovich has held the TNA Knockouts Championship for 263 days and is also the JCW Champion.
Despite this, she hasn’t featured as a crossover star as part of the NXT and TNA relationship until this week. Slamovich made her NXT debut in a six-woman tag team match. Slamovich scored the decisive pin over NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne.
Slamovich will face Jayne at TNA Slammiversary with both the TNA Knockouts and NXT Women’s championships on the line. This means by the time Natalya faces Slamovich, her opponent could be the history-making first person to hold both titles at the same time.
WWE has been using Natalya to develop stars for the past few years. This has now converted into an onscreen storyline. But is the reason she is facing Slamovich because WWE wants her to transition to the main roster? Only time will tell, but don’t be surprised if you see Slamovich on WWE TV more often.
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