DarkState Brings NXT Energy to TNA Slammiversary Supercard
A new chapter in professional wrestling is about to unfold. WWE NXT’s DarkState is heading to TNA Slammiversary, where, for the first time on live television, the entire faction will compete together in a full-force tag team match. The group, composed of Cutler James, Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin and Saquon Shugars, will face off against The System’s JDC, Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards. Joining their opposition for one night only is Matt Cardona, who recently found himself dragged into DarkState’s crosshairs.
The match announcement comes in the aftermath of a surprise ambush during the July 17 episode of TNA iMPACT! DarkState interrupted the show with a violent assault on The System and Cardona, leaving chaos in their wake and igniting a storyline that will now culminate in one of TNA’s biggest annual events.
Since their formation, DarkState has participated in ten matches across WWE NXT programming and live events. However, only once have all four members competed in the same match simultaneously. That single outing occurred on April 5, 2025, during an NXT live event in Gainesville, Florida. On that night, the team secured a dominant win over Drake Morreaux, Drako Knox, Javier Bernal and Uriah Connors. It was a performance that hinted at the group’s full potential, but fans have been waiting months to see it again on a grander stage.
Now, the wait is over. Slammiversary will mark the group’s televised debut as a complete unit, and expectations are sky-high. Known for their intensity and chaotic energy, DarkState brings an unpredictable edge to the event. Their in-ring style is fast, aggressive and often unrelenting. What they lack in experience as a four-man team on live television, they make up for in raw chemistry and momentum.
Their opponents, however, are far from untested. Matt Cardona is no stranger to high-profile tag team matches, having held WWE Tag Team gold twice alongside Brian Myers. Though recent weeks saw tension rise between Cardona and The System, the two sides found common ground when Myers, JDC and Edwards stepped in to help Cardona fend off DarkState during the brawl on July 17.
This temporary alliance is now being put to the test. Cardona, once seen as an enemy of The System, has joined them for what could be a one-time partnership fueled by