TNA Creative Shakeup
Sami Callihan Confirms TNA Departure as Creative Leadership Shifts Amid Backstage Shakeup
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Key Points
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Before Callihan’s confirmation, PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that sources said Callihan had “recently departed,” and Callihan’s initial Twitter/X reply to that report was simply: “Very Interesting…”
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Callihan’s in-ring run ended at TNA Emergence in August 2025, where he lost to Mike Santana in a Baltimore Street Fight under a stipulation that required the “Death Machine” to end his career if he lost.
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Callihan’s TNA tenure is more specific than just “since retiring”: PWInsider-era reporting notes he joined TNA in April 2024 after a prior stint from November 2017 to September 2023, and he worked as a producer from his Aug. 2025 retirement until his departure.
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Beyond producing, one report says Callihan also served as TNA’s “Director of Live Events,” adding another layer to what the backstage shakeup affects.
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As TNA reshapes its creative structure, one outlet reported that the company internally discussed bringing in former WWE writer/producer Brian “Road Dogg” James as a potential addition to the creative team.
Sami Callihan confirmed on June 17, 2026, that he has left TNA Wrestling — and the exit caught him off guard. "Thought I was getting called today to be offered a position in creative… nope. I've parted ways with TNA," he wrote on X, according to 411Mania. The announcement came just hours after Tommy Dreamer revealed his own departure as TNA's head of creative.
The twin exits are part of a broader "workforce reduction" ordered by parent company Anthem Sports & Entertainment, per WrestleZone. Anthem framed the cuts as a move to "streamline operations and sharpen strategic focus and profitability." The shakeup lands just 11 days before TNA's biggest summer event, Slammiversary, on June 28 in Boston.
Callihan Expected a Promotion, Got a Pink Slip Instead
Callihan had served as both a producer and TNA's Director of Live Events since August 2025, when he retired from in-ring competition at TNA Emergence. His retirement came with a stipulation: if he lost his Baltimore Street Fight against Mike Santana, he had to leave his boots in the ring and end his career. He lost. He stayed on backstage, per PWMania.
When reports of his exit first surfaced via PWInsider, Callihan replied on X with just two words: "Very Interesting…" Hours later, he confirmed the news himself. His statement suggests TNA never told him he was being cut — he went into the call expecting a creative promotion instead, according to Wrestling Inc.
Tommy Dreamer Out, Delirious Now Running the Creative Room
Tommy Dreamer announced his departure on Busted Open Radio the same morning. "I've given so much of my life to that company. I don't have any ill will or malice," he said, calling it "a 24-hour job." TNA President Carlos Silva had spoken with Dreamer privately on June 16, the day before the announcement, per 411Mania.
With Dreamer gone, Hunter Johnston — known in wrestling circles as Delirious — is now the lead creative voice at TNA, per PWInsider. Johnston is the company's top booker going forward. Multiple outlets also reported that Brian "Road Dogg" James, a former WWE writer and producer, is being discussed as a potential creative addition to the team.
Ratings Slide and a $10 Million TV Deal Pressure Anthem's Hand
The cuts come at a tense moment for TNA's business. The June 11 episode of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC drew just 191,000 viewers — a 15.5% drop week-over-week — and posted a 0.02 rating in the 18-49 demographic, per the Wrestling Observer. TNA moved to AMC in January 2026 as part of a push to land a $10 million-per-year media rights deal.
Anthem has not secured that deal yet. The company is represented by CAA in negotiations and wants 52 weeks of live television. Internal reviews concluded that neither the creative product nor live event performance was driving the viewership growth needed to justify that price, per Sports Illustrated. Ticket sales for Slammiversary reflect that pressure — only about 1,063 tickets had been distributed for the Agganis Arena as of late April, a venue that fits 3,000 to 5,000 for wrestling.
A Wave of Departures Reshapes TNA's Roster and Staff
Callihan and Dreamer are not alone. Tessa Blanchard was also officially released on June 17. Reports point to friction over her appearances for Mexican promotion CMLL, which rivals AAA — a company currently owned by WWE, TNA's key partner, per WrestleZone. Steve Maclin and Myla Grace had already departed in earlier moves this year.
Callihan pointed fans toward his own promotion, PW Revolver, signaling his next move outside TNA. His departure closes a chapter that began when he re-joined TNA in April 2024, per PWMania. He had previously worked for the company from November 2017 to September 2023. With Slammiversary now 11 days away, Delirious inherits a compressed timeline and a leaner backstage crew to pull it off.
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