TNA Releases Eric Young
TNA Releases Two-Time Champion Eric Young Amidst Major Workforce Cuts
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Key Points
1
Mance Warner and Steph De Lander reportedly departed TNA following disputes over medical clearance for injuries, with Dani Luna also linked to the cuts, illustrating that the shakeup extends beyond on-screen talent to medical and backstage issues.
2
Eric Young’s release was confirmed as of July 1, 2026, with the company stating the move was effective immediately; the same wave included confirmation that Aiden Prince was also let go.
3
TNA publicly honored EY’s career, calling him a legendary figure with two reigns as TNA World Champion, emphasizing his high standing in the company’s history.
4
Fightful’s reporting highlights EY as a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion and the promotion’s fourth Grand Slam Champion, underscoring the magnitude of his exit within the company’s historical context.
TNA Wrestling released Eric Young on July 1, 2026, effective immediately, ending a run of roughly 18 years with the promotion across three separate stints. The move is part of a sweeping workforce reduction that has claimed at least nine major names in just three weeks, hollowing out TNA's main event scene and its backstage leadership in one of the most dramatic reshuffles in the company's history. Fightful confirmed Young leaves as a two-time World Heavyweight Champion and the promotion's fourth Grand Slam Champion.
Young's exit capped a chaotic weekend. At Slammiversary 2026 in Boston on June 28, he lost a pre-show match to Ricky Sosa. That same night, Mike Santana dropped the TNA World title to Nic Nemeth. By July 1, both men were gone — and Santana is widely expected to be WWE-bound, according to PWMania.
A Three-Week Purge Strips TNA to Its Bones
The cuts did not happen overnight. The first signs came in early March, when Mance Warner and Steph De Lander quit after a dispute over medical clearance. De Lander said TNA was "not comfortable" letting her wrestle despite being cleared by an outside spinal surgeon. She later claimed TNA lacked the budget for a proper medical team, according to Wrestling Inc.. The company pushed back but did not publicly dispute the core claims.
By mid-June, the floodgates opened. Tommy Dreamer, TNA's Head of Creative and Talent Relations, was let go on June 16 alongside Tessa Blanchard. Sami Callihan was fired the same day by phone — a call he thought was a job offer. "Thought I was getting called today to be offered a position in creative… nope," Callihan wrote on X, as reported by Wrestling Inc.. Steve Maclin and Myla Grace had already been cut earlier in June. Aiden Prince and Dani Luna were also confirmed as part of the July 1 wave, per Cage Side Seats.
TNA President Calls It Strategy — Departing Talent Calls It Chaos
TNA President Carlos Silva framed the cuts as intentional. He said the workforce reduction was "designed to streamline operations and sharpen strategic focus and profitability," according to Fightful. Anthem Sports & Entertainment, TNA's parent company, has faced mounting pressure to prove the promotion can turn a profit following a high-budget rebrand in early 2024.
The talent who left tell a different story. Callihan expressed shock. De Lander called the medical situation a liability-first decision, not a health-first one. Industry analyst Jason Powell of Body Slam described Young's release as a "surprise," noting that Young has been a TNA original since 2004. The departures of Dreamer and Callihan — both seen as bridges between management and the locker room — have left morale shaken, per multiple reports.
Eric Young's Legacy and the WWE Connection That Looms Large
TNA called Young a "legendary figure" in its farewell statement, citing his two world title reigns and Grand Slam status. eWrestlingNews reported the split was mutually agreed upon, with Young himself reportedly requesting his release after working on a short-term deal. He had first joined TNA in 2004 and returned twice more, building one of the longest tenures of any talent in the company's history.
His next step may already be set. Young is said to have a strong relationship with WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque, who reportedly tried to keep him from leaving WWE in 2023. Mike Santana is also expected to land in WWE after his title loss at Slammiversary. If both men sign, TNA will have lost two of its most marketable former champions to its biggest competitor in a matter of days.
Who Runs TNA Now, and What Comes Next
With Dreamer, Blanchard, and Callihan all gone, TNA's creative team is now led by Hunter Johnston — known in wrestling as Delirious — and Eric Tompkins. Reports suggest WWE veteran Brian "Road Dogg" James may be brought in to fill the gap, according to Wrestling Inc.. The promotion appears to be betting on younger, lower-cost talent like Ricky Sosa and international signings to rebuild its roster.
The brand still has a pulse. Slammiversary 2026 highlights pulled over 100,000 YouTube views in 48 hours, showing the live product still draws eyeballs. But the loss of nine established names — including two former world champions and a creative leader — in under a month leaves TNA thinner than it has been in years. The question now is whether a leaner roster can hold the audience that remains.
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