Josh Alexander Opens Up About TNA’s Negotiations About Him Appearing In WWE NXT: “There Was Things Done To Try To Make Me Look Bad”

A candid response from Alexander.

Back in May 2025, Josh Alexander shared during a media appearance that he turned down an opportunity to wrestle for a title at NXT’s Stand & Deliver Premium Live Event.

Alexander is currently contracted to All Elite Wrestling, and while guest appearing on the Battleground Podcast, he was asked about the opportunity that was on the table with WWE. He said the individual who was handling the back-and-forth negotiations for TNA at the time, referring to former TNA President Anthony Cicione, soured him on the deal. Alexander added that he just had a better gut feeling about AEW.

“At the time, TNA was under different management than it is now, and it was different management for the majority of the time I was there obviously, and the guy in charge that was dealing with the back and forth of all that, I did not agree with any of his business practices whatsoever. So that kind of soured me on it. There was things done to try to make me look bad, that I clear up obviously since. But I just didn’t appreciate it so, that was one thing that just kind of soured me on the whole process and then, in talking to them and stuff like that — I’m a guy that follows my gut. I’ll have a bad gut feeling. I’ll be like, ‘Something bad is gonna happen today’ and all of a sudden, my son falls at school and I have to go pick him up or something. I trust my gut, and I just had a really good gut feeling about AEW, from the second they came to the table and started talking to me. They were very interested, and they just laid out the welcome mat for me, and it was just like, if they want me this bad, then they’re gonna appreciate the things that I can do for them and I can do things to make them money, be it promos, pre-tapes, matches, anything like that. If they can appreciate the work ethic that I put into this to try to pay them back for taking a chance on me and signing me, then, hell yeah, that’s a good relationship for me and a ton of my friends are here already and it seemed like a fit right away.”

Alexander is scheduled to be in action on the January 21st AEW Dynamite in a singles match against Kenny Omega.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit the Battleground Podcast with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.