WWE NXT is the developmental circuit in the industry. It's the final stop before entering into the main roster. Total Nonstop Action (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Canadian media company owned by businessman Leonard Asper.
In 2024, TNA began a wider talent exchange with WWE. Several TNA wrestlers would make appearances on NXT's weekly television series and livestreaming events and vice versa. A multi-year partnership between TNA and WWE was officially announced on 16 January 2025.
They are now set to go head-to-head on 7 October on what is known as NXT vs. TNA Showdown (also known as ShoWdown). What is less known is that it was initially known as NXT Invasion. This would've been the second, "Invasion" WWE event after the 2001 PPV of the same name.
That came to an end when Israel intervened with a complaint regarding the name. WWE has changed the name of its event on 7 October after Israeli fans claimed that its “Invasion” tagline was "insensitive."
The decision came after an official request from Israel Hayom to the organisation and to the American CW network, which broadcasts NXT, and after an international outcry that spread across social media and leading wrestling websites following Israel Hayom's report.
The show will see the climax of a storyline in which stars from partner promotion TNA "invade" NXT.
The name referenced the original Invasion event in 2001, in which WWE, then known as the WWF, was similarly "invaded” by major names from WCW and ECW – former rival companies which the WWF had recently bought out behind the scenes.
Some Israeli fans claimed that the decision to schedule the show for 7 October, the second anniversary of the Hamas incursion which killed 1 200 people, was “insensitive”.
An article in Israel Hayom claimed: "The choice of the name and the date – a day when Israel commemorates the memory of the massacre from October 7, 2023 – is viewed as extreme insensitivity."
"The term Invasion, on such a sensitive date, which directly recalls the infiltration of Hamas terrorists into the southern communities and the mass killings of Israelis and Americans, raises questions about who in the organisation is responsible for this preposterous decision."
7 October marks the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks in Israel, that killed approximately 1 200 people and an estimated 240 people taken hostage. Gunmen broke through the border fence and then attacked Israeli villages, Kibbutzim, military posts and the Nova music festival.
In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza. More than 68 000 people have now reportedly been killed in the Gaza War, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
One fan also pointed out that the show’s logo, which features the title with a pronounced red letter V and was used for the 2001 iteration, unintentionally resembles the downward-facing red triangle used as a Hamas symbol.
They wrote on X: "So the WWE has an event called ‘Invasion’ being broadcast on October 7th and the logo is a red downward triangle? That’s either a very unfortunate coincidence, or someone in the marketing team needs to get fired. And yes I looked into it and back in 2001 they used the name and V logo once, so it could be a very unfortunate coincidence but at the same time… no one caught that?"
Likewise, a prominent pro-Zionist X account added: "What was WWE thinking? Calling a show 'Invasion' on October 7 isn’t just tone-deaf - it’s offensive! That date marks unimaginable pain for Israelis & Americans. Choosing that name on that day is deeply disrespectful. Someone at WWE needs to take responsibility."
However, on Tuesday’s edition of NXT, the promotion confirmed that the name had been changed, with the October 7 event now dubbed Showdown.
During the episode, Santino Marella, TNA’s on-screen, "Director of Authority," provided a kayfabe (the term used in the wrestling industry for the predetermined plot lines) explanation for the change, saying: “"This is not an invasion, we've been working together wonderfully for months now.
"This is more of an NXT and TNA showcase, no no no, a showdown!"
The choice drew harsh criticism from Jewish and Israeli fans around the world, who viewed it as deeply insensitive in light of the Hamas terrorist invasion and the massacre carried out in Israeli communities near Gaza on 7 October 7 2023. Following Israel Hayom's appeal and the involvement of the podcast "Close Line," as well as the international backlash, WWE announced that the event will still take place on the same date but under the new name Showdown.
In recent months, Israel Hayom has also approached WWE leadership over other controversies. For example, wrestler, Sami Zayn, faced backlash after making anti-semitic remarks against Israel and Jews. At another event, he and CM Punk appeared in attire resembling the Palestinian flag. Only after widespread protest and an official request from Israel Hayom were Zayn's videos and posts removed from social media.
The Invasion logo featured a large red "V", which some observers argued resembled the inverted red triangle used by Hamas and pro-Palestinian protestors.
On social media, fans expressed concern. On X, one user wrote: "So the WWE has an event called "Invasion" being broadcast on October 7th and the logo is a red downward triangle? That’s either a very unfortunate coincidence, or someone in the marketing team needs to get fired. And yes I looked into it and back in 2001 they used the name and V logo once, so it could be a very unfortunate coincidence but at the same time… no one caught that?"
The logo has since been altered due to the branding change, replacing the controversial "V" with a prominent red "W."
This was clearly a serious issue. I was obviously aware of the war but not when it started. WWE is a global force and a single blemish could potentially end various partnerships. It would be an absolute disaster for them.
I would join the protests. I wouldn't want to be reminded of a traumatic event. Despite the ongoing crisis, everyone wants to avoid a possible reminder of something bad that happened or when it started.