Steve Maclin Granted Release From TNA Wrestling

Steve Maclin and TNA Wrestling officially parted ways on June 7, 2026, after the former world champion requested and was granted his release from his contract.

Release Details

  • Timeline: Maclin requested his release a week prior to the official announcement, though he had hoped to keep the news quiet. TNA nevertheless issued a formal press release on their official site without consulting him.
  • Company Statement: TNA released a brief statement confirming the departures of both Maclin and Myla Grace, stating: “TNA Wrestling has come to terms on the release of Myla Grace & Steve Maclin, effective immediately. We wish them the best in their future endeavors”.
  • Maclin’s Response: Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Maclin publicly thanked TNA for his five years with the company, writing, “I put my blood, sweat, and tears into everything I’ve done over the last 5 years and I’ll always be thankful for my time there. But now, it’s time to STACK BODIES”.

Next Steps

Following his TNA departure, it was reported that Maclin secured interest from outside companies. He quickly signed a multi-fight deal with PRODUCE Wrestling and is scheduled to debut for the promotion at their PRODUCE: Volume 2 – TAIGASTYLE show at White Eagle Hall in Jersey City, New Jersey, on July 16, 2026.

WWE NXT Preview 6/9/2026

WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on the CW and Netflix internationally.

  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Tatum Paxley (c) vs. Zaria.
  • NXT Women’s Championship #1 Contenders Match: Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan.
  • NXT Championship #1 Contenders Match: Mason Rook vs. Naraku.
  • Fraxiom vs. Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno.
  • Mr. NXT Pageant featuring Tristan Angels and Shiloh Hill (Judges: Kit Wilson, Aaron Rourke & Matt Matthews)

Report: Zilla Fatu Spotted At WWE Performance Center

WWE may be taking a closer look at one of wrestling’s fastest-rising prospects.

According to PWInsider, Zilla Fatu was seen at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando on Monday, sparking fresh speculation about a potential future with the company.

Fatu, whose real name is Isayah Fatu, is already well-known to wrestling fans thanks to his family ties. The 26-year-old is the son of former WWE star Umaga and belongs to the legendary Anoa’i wrestling family. That lineage connects him to some of the biggest names in the industry, including The Wild Samoans, Afa and Sika.

Since making his professional wrestling debut in July 2023, Fatu has rapidly established himself as a standout performer on the independent scene. After training under WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, he has worked for several prominent promotions, including House of Glory, Game Changer Wrestling, and Reality of Wrestling.

His success has come quickly. Fatu has captured multiple championships during his young career, including two reigns as the HOG Crown Jewel Championship and a stint as Reality of Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.

A possible WWE interest in Fatu is nothing new. Earlier, Paul Heyman publicly praised the young star and suggested WWE should sign him as soon as the opportunity presented itself. His appearance at the Performance Center is likely to intensify rumors that the company could be evaluating him for a future role.

The timing is especially noteworthy given the continued prominence of The Bloodline storyline on WWE programming. With Jacob Fatu already making an impact on the main roster and the Anoa’i family remaining central to several major storylines, fans have naturally begun wondering whether Zilla Fatu could eventually follow a similar path.

At this stage, there is no confirmation that Fatu has signed with WWE or that a deal is imminent. However, a visit to the Performance Center is certain to generate discussion, particularly when it involves a member of one of wrestling’s most influential families.

Whether this was simply a visit or the beginning of something bigger remains to be seen, but Zilla Fatu’s name is likely to remain on WWE fans’ radar in the weeks ahead.

Backstage Update Emerges On Extended Absence Of AEW Star Keith Lee

A new backstage report has shed some light on AEW’s internal discussions regarding the status of Keith Lee, who has been absent from television for well over a year.

According to Fightful Select, AEW officials reportedly discussed bringing Lee back into the fold several months ago. However, the report indicates that it is unclear how far those conversations progressed or whether the plans ever reached Lee directly.

Sources cited in the report suggested that whatever ideas may have been discussed internally are likely no longer active, or have at least undergone significant changes. One person close to the situation reportedly noted that if AEW had moved forward with the original plans, Lee likely would have already returned by now.

Questions also remain about Lee’s medical status. There is currently no confirmation that the former AEW World Tag Team Champion has been cleared for in-ring competition. The report noted that Lee has not been a regular presence backstage at AEW events, which is notable because any clearance process would reportedly require evaluations from company doctors over a period of several weeks.

Lee has not wrestled for AEW since late 2023. He was originally scheduled to face former tag team partner Swerve Strickland at the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view, a match that had been building for months following the breakup of Swerve In Our Glory. However, Lee was removed from the event on the day of the show due to injury concerns, and Dustin Rhodes ultimately took his place against Strickland.

Since then, Lee has kept a relatively low profile regarding his condition and future plans. While he has occasionally addressed fan questions about his absence, he has largely remained private about the specifics of his situation. One notable exception came last year when he stated on social media that he intends to wrestle again, offering reassurance to fans wondering whether his in-ring career had come to an end.

For now, Lee’s status remains uncertain. While it appears AEW has at least explored the possibility of bringing him back, there is no indication of when—or if—the former NXT Champion will return to television. Given his popularity and the unfinished business surrounding his rivalry with Strickland, a comeback would likely be welcomed by many AEW fans whenever the time is right.

AEW Collision Preview 6/6/2026

AEW Collision live tonight coast-to-coast at 8pm ET/5pm PT on TNT and HBO max from the Von Braun Center in Youngstown, Ohio.

  • AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship: The Divine Dominion (c) vs. TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay)
  • Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Quarterfinal Match: Persephone vs. Hazuki

Report: TNA Frustrated With Tessa Blanchard’s Ongoing CMLL Appearances

A new report suggests that TNA Wrestling officials are not pleased with Tessa Blanchard’s continued involvement with CMLL, adding another layer of complexity to the increasingly interconnected relationships between major wrestling promotions.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is reportedly dissatisfaction within TNA regarding Blanchard working events for CMLL. The report claims that TNA does not want its contracted talent appearing for the Mexican promotion, despite Blanchard having maintained a presence there for several months.

Blanchard returned to TNA in late 2024 and has spent the past year and a half competing in the Knockouts division, challenging for both singles and tag team championships. At the same time, she has continued making appearances for CMLL, where she has been wrestling since October 2025.

The issue reportedly escalated during WrestleMania 42 weekend when Blanchard faced Persephone for the CMLL World Women’s Championship. While the match itself drew attention, the bigger concern behind the scenes appears to be Persephone’s connection to both CMLL and AEW.

TNA currently maintains a working relationship with WWE, and WWE’s acquisition of AAA has intensified the rivalry between AAA and CMLL. With that backdrop, Blanchard competing against a performer tied to AEW and CMLL reportedly created discomfort among some decision-makers associated with TNA.

Blanchard and Persephone had previously shared the ring in tag team matches throughout the year in Arena Mexico, but the high-profile singles encounter during WrestleMania weekend is said to have been the tipping point that sparked internal frustration.

Meltzer noted that the larger promotional battles currently involve WWE versus AEW and AAA versus CMLL, suggesting that TNA may be getting caught up in conflicts driven by larger companies. Nevertheless, the reported pressure being placed on Blanchard regarding her CMLL appearances has fueled further discussion about TNA’s position within the broader wrestling landscape.

As of this writing, neither TNA nor Blanchard has publicly commented on the report. It remains to be seen whether her future appearances with CMLL will be affected or if the situation will have any impact on her role within TNA going forward.

WWE SmackDown Preview 6/5/2026

WWE SmackDown airs tonight at 8/7c on USA Network from Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy. The event begins at 2:00 pm ET/11:00 am PT.

  • Cody Rhodes returns to SmackDown after a controversial victory over Gunther
  • Find out what’s next for Rhea Ripley after her victory over Jade Cargill
  • Queen of the Ring Tournament: Bayley vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Jacy Jayne vs. Kiana James
  • King of the Ring Tournament: Damian Priest vs. Trick Williams vs. Bron Breakker vs. Dominik Mysterio
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Ricky Saints

TNA Knockout Myla Grace Granted Release From Company

Another change has been made to the TNA Knockouts division, as Myla Grace has officially parted ways with the promotion.

According to Fightful Select, Grace recently requested her release from TNA Wrestling and the company approved the request. The departure was reportedly finalized within the last few days.

The report also noted that there was no backstage friction surrounding the situation, with both sides said to be on good terms following the decision.

Grace joined TNA in the summer of 2025 and became a regular presence in the Knockouts division over the past year. In recent months, she had been featured alongside Harley Hudson as part of a tag team partnership.

Before arriving in TNA, Grace built her reputation on the international wrestling scene, including appearances for Marigold. She has also remained a standout performer in Ireland’s Over The Top Wrestling promotion, where she currently reigns as the OTT Women’s World Champion.

With her TNA run now officially over, it remains to be seen what is next for Grace. Given her championship status in OTT and her growing profile across multiple promotions, she is expected to remain an active presence on the independent wrestling circuit moving forward.

As of now, neither Grace nor TNA has publicly commented further on the release, but her departure marks the latest roster change for the company’s Knockouts division.

The Butcher & The Blade Officially Depart AEW Following Contract Expirations

A longtime AEW tag team has officially reached the end of its run with the company.

According to a report from Fightful Select, The Butcher and The Blade are no longer under contract with All Elite Wrestling after their deals recently expired. The report states that AEW chose not to renew either performer, making both men unrestricted free agents.

Because their contracts were allowed to expire rather than being terminated early, The Butcher and The Blade are free to accept bookings and negotiate with other wrestling promotions immediately.

The duo has been part of AEW since the company’s early days. They made their memorable debut on the November 27, 2019 edition of AEW Dynamite, emerging from beneath the ring to ambush Cody Rhodes. Alongside their manager The Bunny—who is also Blade’s real-life wife—they quickly became regular fixtures in AEW’s growing tag team division.

During their time with the promotion, The Butcher and The Blade earned opportunities to compete for the AEW World Tag Team Championships on two separate occasions. Despite remaining a consistent presence on television, they were never able to capture AEW tag team gold.

Their final televised appearance as a team in AEW took place on the January 5, 2024 episode of AEW Rampage. The pair then wrestled what would ultimately be their last match together under the AEW/ROH banner on the January 18, 2024 edition of ROH on HonorClub, where they faced Top Flight.

Shortly after that period, Blade suffered a significant back injury that required spinal fusion surgery. The injury sidelined him for nearly two years, forcing Butcher to continue competing as a singles wrestler across AEW and Ring of Honor programming. Butcher’s final AEW match came on the February 22, 2025 episode of AEW Collision, where he faced Gabe Kidd.

Following Blade’s recovery and return to action, the team reunited on the independent wrestling circuit. The pair even hinted at a possible AEW comeback earlier this year, leading some fans to speculate that another run with the promotion could be in the cards.

Instead, their AEW chapter has now officially come to a close.

With years of experience, established name value, and immediate free-agent status, The Butcher and The Blade are likely to attract interest from a variety of promotions as they determine the next step in their wrestling careers. Their departure also marks the exit of another act that helped shape AEW during its formative years, ending a run that began nearly seven years ago.

Report: AEW Optimistic About MJF Injury Following Dynamite Title Defense

AEW World Champion MJF may have retained his title on Dynamite, but questions are now swirling about his health after reports surfaced that he suffered a legitimate knee injury during his match against Rush.

MJF successfully defended the AEW World Championship on the June 3 episode of AEW Dynamite, but the victory appears to have come at a cost. According to reports, the champion hyperextended his knee during the bout, leading to concerns about his immediate in-ring future.

The injury has already impacted MJF’s schedule. Beyond Wrestling announced that he would no longer be able to compete against Bobby Orlando at an upcoming event due to not being medically cleared to wrestle or travel. The match had been promoted as what MJF described as his final independent wrestling appearance for the foreseeable future.

While the situation has understandably sparked concern among fans, there is some reason for optimism. Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez shared an update on social media, noting that the injury is legitimate but that those involved are hopeful it will not prove to be serious.

Beyond Wrestling also indicated that MJF intends to make up the postponed appearance at a later date once he is healthy and his schedule permits.

At the moment, there is no official word on whether the injury will affect MJF’s AEW television appearances or championship plans. However, the timing is significant, as the road to AEW All In London is beginning to take shape.

Several potential challengers have already emerged. During this week’s Dynamite, both Mark Briscoe and Andrade El Idolo expressed interest in pursuing the AEW World Championship, although MJF quickly dismissed Briscoe’s challenge.

Meanwhile, the men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament continues to narrow the field. Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and Brody King remain alive in the competition, with the eventual winner earning a world title opportunity at All In this August.

There is also the unresolved issue involving Kenny Omega, who was left frustrated after the controversial finish to his AEW World Title match at Dynasty. Should MJF be sidelined for any length of time, Omega would likely be among the first names mentioned as a major player in the championship picture.

For now, AEW appears to be waiting for a clearer assessment of MJF’s condition. With one of the company’s biggest events of the year approaching, the health of the reigning world champion will be a storyline worth monitoring closely in the weeks ahead.