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As TNA Wrestling prepares to return to pay-per-view tomorrow with Slammiversary 2025 live from the UBS Arena in Long Island, New York, there may be no more appropriate voice to weigh in on the moment than a true original—Frankie Kazarian.
While his role on the card has yet to be formally announced, Kazarian made it crystal clear during a wide-ranging conversation with PWInsiderElite.com that his fingerprints will be all over Sunday’s festivities.
“Nothing has been announced for me,” Kazarian said. “However—biggest show of the year, celebration of TNA itself, UBS Arena, one of our biggest venues ever—my presence will be felt. I will go ahead and guarantee that right now. Call my shot, however you wanna say it, however you wanna frame it. Frankie Kazarian, the king of TNA, will make his presence felt at Slammiversary.”
For Kazarian, Slammiversary is far more than just a date on the calendar—it’s a celebration of survival, evolution, and perseverance.
“When you really think about it and picture a world where TNA doesn't exist, the professional wrestling landscape looks vastly different,” he reflected. “There was a time in pro wrestling where there was just one major company, and people lost interest. All of a sudden, this little company in Nashville popped up doing weird Wednesday pay-per-views, and it caught fire. It became a thing that’s still around—and that thing is TNA Wrestling.”
And Kazarian is adamant: TNA is thriving.
“TNA Wrestling right now is doing, dare I say, better than it ever has in almost every measurable metric,” he said. “It’s very special to celebrate the very existence of the company itself.”
This year’s Slammiversary main event sees TNA World Champion Trick Williams defend his title against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana. Kazarian has shared the ring with all three in recent weeks and offered insight as both a veteran competitor and analyst.
“Joe Hendry and I have been at each other’s throats for the last year, so I know what he’s capable of. He’s wildly popular,” Kazarian said. “Normally I’d say he’d have the home-field advantage, but he’s in Mike Santana’s backyard.”
He continued, “Mike is hungry. I know what he’s been through and what this would mean for him in New York. But to be the champ, you’ve gotta beat the champ—and if I were Trick Williams, I’d do anything to keep that title, up to and including getting disqualified or counted out. If he has that mindset, it’s his match to win.”
Kazarian also addressed TNA’s growing relationship with streaming partner Zoneify, which helped present the recent Border Brawl live special.
“I’ll say this: the Zoneify people, from what I understand, were all in,” he said. “I was a little skeptical of the Canada vs. USA concept at first—I like to keep my pro wrestling and politics separate—but it was all done in jest. A lot of fun was had, and the setup was really cool. It felt like a multiverse version of TNA.”
Kazarian emphasized the importance of more live events and streaming opportunities: “Honestly, every roster right now could benefit from more live events. A lot of the younger talent could really use the reps. I’m all for the partnership.”
That comment dovetailed into a frank discussion about the increase in injuries across the wrestling world. Kazarian was candid with his take.
“You can’t argue with the numbers. A lot of guys are getting injured because they’re not working 300 days a year like my peers and heroes were,” he said. “The style has evolved. You either evolve with it or die, but these guys are working once, twice a month on TV. There’s a greater risk of injury without those reps.”
Kazarian added that even a few non-televised events a month would greatly benefit the talent. “You need to get those reps, you need to be in there with people that have been there and done that. It would be hugely beneficial.”
Kazarian, a pioneer of the X Division, expressed great enthusiasm for Sunday’s match between Moose and Leon Slater.
“I think Moose has done a great job. He’s a non-traditional X Division wrestler, kind of like Abyss when he held the title,” Kazarian explained. “Leon Slater might be my favorite young wrestler out there right now. He’s incredibly gifted, coachable, hungry, and just an amazing human being. I’m a really big fan.”
Kazarian said he’s excited to see a new generation of wrestlers who grew up idolizing the X Division, just as his generation revered WCW’s Cruiserweights.
Looking at his own legacy, Kazarian was humble but proud.
“I’m not the biggest, not the strongest, not the fastest—but I had and still have drive, determination, and dedication,” he said. “I want to be known as a guy that loved the business and left it better than he found it—the same way my trainer Killer Kowalski did.”
Kazarian confirmed that the TNA World Title remains his singular goal.
“My goal since I came back—and until I get it—is the TNA World Title. That’s the goal. Nothing else. Whoever has that title—Trick right now—is in my sights.”
When asked if he’s frustrated he hasn’t won the title yet, Kazarian replied, “I’m not disappointed. If it had happened earlier, I wouldn’t have appreciated it as much. Now I am ready.”
With TNA President Carlos Silva at first hinting Slammiversary will be “phenomenal,” PWInsiderElite.com reported in 7/16 that AJ Styles would be appearing in Long Island at the PPV.
Kazarian, who counts Styles among his closest friends in the business, is ready to see the return.
"When you say [Phenomenal], it holds a lot of weight with TNA fans,” Kazarian said. “I’ll be the first to greet [AJ Styles]—but I will also let him know that this is now the house that Kaz built. He’s welcome in it, but when I tell him to leave, he’s gotta leave.”
With ticket sales surging, Slammiversary may become the highest-attended TNA event of all time—a fact not lost on Kazarian.
“All of that just reassures that I made the right decision when I decided to come back,” he said. “Since I came back in January 2023, it’s been nothing but forward momentum. It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work from a lot of very hardworking people.”
He compared it to watching “one of your children get the Nobel Peace Prize and the Medal of Honor.”
Kazarian also teased that his wife, TNA Hall of Famer Traci Brooks, and their son may be in the building Sunday. “They might be around just supporting. She’s a Hall of Famer—you never know.”
And as for a potential appearance for Kazarian's former partner Mike "Nova" Bucci? Don’t count on seeing him.
“There’s a picture of him on the back that says, ‘Do not admit this man," Kazarian joked. "I made sure that was a thing.”
No matter who shows up Sunday, the "King of TNA" is looking to make a moment at Slammiversary.
TNA Slammiversary 2025 streams live Sunday on Triller TV, TNA+, and pay-per-view.
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