Jordynne Grace Assigned as Special Guest Referee for NXT vs TNA Women’s Match at NXT Showdown

NXT General Manager Ava announced yesterday that Jordynne Grace, who wasn’t chosen to be a part of Team NXT, will be the special guest referee for the NXT vs TNA Women’s match at NXT Showdown. She made the appointment after Grace posted a video to social media complaining about her exclusion from the event. Following this news, Grace promised Ava that she’d call the action “right down the middle,” though NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne still seemed skeptical.

Jacy Jayne will lead team NXT in the Women’s elimination match, with Lola Vice, Sol Ruca, and Jaida Parker by her side. Despite being NXT, the newly crowned TNA Knockouts Champion, Kelani Jordan, will lead the charge for TNA alongside Cassie Lee, Jessica McKay, and Mara Sadé, formerly known as Jakara Jackson.

Jordynne Grace’s Problem

On NXT, TNA Team Captains Mike Santana and Kelani Jordan were unsure of whose side Joe Hendry and Jordynne Grace would be on, and they’re not leaving next week up to chance. As a result, neither of them was picked for Team TNA. On Friday, Jordynne Grace addressed both Ava and TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella, stating there was a “huge problem” with her not being on the card.

“There is no ‘NXTNA’ without Jordynne Grace. There is no partnership. There are no cross-promotional champions. As a matter of fact, there is no Showdown without me setting the stage for it two years ago. … You two need to fix this,” said Grace. She also questioned Marella’s choice in appointing Kelani Jordan as TNA women’s captain, saying, “Santino, letting Kelani Jordan be your TNA women’s captain after one TNA show? I’m going to refer you to my neurologist because I’m extremely concerned about you.”

Ava’s Answer

A few hours later, NXT General Manager Ava replied to Grace on social media. “Jordynne, you’re right. You made some pretty good points. And you know what? I agree with you,” Ava said in a video. “I don’t think that there would be this NXT-TNA crossover partnership without everything that you’ve done starting two years ago.”

She added, “So I have decided that you are going to be the special guest referee for the Women’s Survivor Series-style match on Tuesday. Now, with that said, I know that you have a history with a lot of these women, so I’m asking you, please be professional and use your discretion.”

No words yet on whether Joe Hendry could become the special guest referee of the NXT vs TNA Men’s match. He announced he would appear on Tuesday night, whatever. “Joe Hendry changed the entire landscape of NXT vs. TNA…. And now you’re going to tell me that I’m not involved in Showdown? No. Guess what? They’re going to say his name — and he is going to appear at Showdown next Tuesday.”

Is this the right move?@kelani_wwe and @Santana_Proud aren't sure where @JordynneGrace and @joehendry's allegiances lie… pic.twitter.com/uylIL6CfUU

— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2025

NXT vs. TNA Showdown – Tuesday, October 7

• TNA vs. NXT Survivor Series Men’s Match: Team NXT (NXT Champion Ricky Starks, TNA World Champion Trick Williams, Myles Borne, and Je’Von Evans) vs. Team TNA (Mike Santana, TNA International Champion Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater)
• TNA vs. NXT Survivor Series Women’s Match (Jordynne Grace as guest referee): Team NXT (NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker, and Lola Vice) vs. Team TNA (TNA Knockouts World Champion Kelani Jordan, TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions Jessie McKay and Cassie Lee, and Mara Sade)
• Winner Takes All Match: NXT’s Tag Team Champions Darkstate vs. TNA World Tag Team Champions The Hardys
• NXT North American Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Mustafa Ali
• Joe Hendry will appear