Two names may soon be departing TNA Wrestling, as a new report indicates that Mance Warner and Steph De Lander are preparing to leave the promotion.
According to Fightful, both talents have reportedly quit TNA, with the situation tied to the company’s decision not to medically clear De Lander for an in-ring return following her injury.
Medical Clearance Dispute
De Lander had been sidelined for several months while recovering, and she was recently informed by TNA that she would not be cleared to wrestle again within the promotion. However, the situation took a turn when she sought a second opinion.
The 29-year-old reportedly consulted WWE’s spinal surgeon, who ultimately cleared her to return to competition. De Lander later confirmed on social media that she has officially received medical clearance, signaling that she’s ready to get back inside the ring.
Despite that clearance, her in-ring future in TNA appears to be over.
Time Away From Singles Competition
De Lander has not wrestled a singles match since May 2024, focusing instead on recovery and rehabilitation during her time away from active competition.
During that stretch, she remained connected to the promotion alongside her husband, Mance Warner, who has been featured in TNA storylines.
Wrapping Up With TNA
The report notes that there is a belief Warner and De Lander could finish out their remaining commitments during the current set of television tapings before officially departing the company.
If the exits are finalized, both talents will likely become intriguing free agents in the wrestling world. With De Lander now medically cleared and Warner maintaining a strong reputation on the independent scene, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the duo land elsewhere in the near future.
AEW delivered a major surprise on Wednesday night as former NJPW standout David Finlay officially arrived in the company during AEW Dynamite.
The moment came shortly after Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy picked up a tag team victory over Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors. Cassidy sealed the win by pinning Connors following his signature Orange Punch, but the celebration didn’t last long.
Out of nowhere, Finlay stormed the ring and attacked Allin and Cassidy from behind, turning the post-match scene into a chaotic three-on-two assault. Kidd and Connors quickly joined in, and the trio stood tall to close the segment, signaling the reunion of Finlay with his former War Dogs allies.
Not long after the segment aired, AEW President Tony Khanconfirmed the signing on social media with an official “All Elite” graphic, announcing that Finlay, Kidd, and Connors will now compete in AEW together under the name “The Dogs.”
Khan wrote that the trio made their presence known on Dynamite and that the faction is now officially part of the AEW roster.
Finlay’s NJPW Era Comes to an End
Finlay’s arrival in AEW follows the conclusion of his lengthy run with New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he spent over a decade competing and eventually rose to become the final lineal leader of the Bullet Club faction originally founded by Finn Bálor in 2013.
His contract with NJPW expired in February, immediately sparking speculation about where the second-generation star would land next.
Multiple Promotions Interested
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Finlay explored several options before signing with AEW. Discussions reportedly took place with WWE, TNA, and AEW before the final decision was made.
Meltzer noted that AEW ultimately presented the strongest offer financially and in terms of interest.
There had been speculation that Finlay might end up in WWE, especially given reports that NXT’s “Birthright” stable—a group built around second-generation wrestlers—could have been a natural landing spot for him. However, the deal never materialized.
Instead, Finlay opted for AEW, signing what’s believed to be a multi-year contract. The move also aligns with his reported interest in relocating to the United States after spending 11 years competing primarily in Japan.
The Dogs Arrive in AEW
With Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors already appearing regularly on AEW programming in recent weeks, Finlay’s debut instantly solidifies the group as a new force within the promotion.
Now rebranded as The Dogs, the trio wasted no time making an impact on Dynamite, and their attack on Allin and Cassidy suggests that AEW’s tag team and trios divisions may have a dangerous new faction to deal with moving forward. 🐶🔥
Finlay’s debut marks one of AEW’s more unexpected signings in recent months—and it could be the beginning of a major new chapter for the former Bullet Club leader.
Wrestling fans can now take a deep dive into the life and legacy of one of the industry’s most polarizing and influential figures — for free.
The Jeff Jarrett Story: Heart of a Promoter is officially available to stream on YouTube, giving viewers an in-depth look at Jarrett’s Hall of Fame career both inside the ring and behind the scenes as a wrestling executive.
The special chronicles far more than just Jarrett’s time as a multi-time world champion. Alongside longtime collaborator Conrad Thompson, the self-proclaimed “King of the Mountain” reflects on his family’s deep-rooted history in the wrestling business — a lineage that dates back to 1946. From Memphis territory days to the national expansion era, the Jarrett name has been intertwined with the evolution of sports entertainment for decades.
Of course, a major focus of the documentary centers on Jarrett’s bold moves as a promoter. That includes the founding of NWA Total Nonstop Action (TNA) as well as his later venture, Global Force Wrestling. The project explores the risks, setbacks, and perseverance required to launch and sustain wrestling promotions in an industry dominated by larger corporate entities.
In addition to revisiting his past, Jarrett remains active in today’s wrestling landscape. He hosts the popular My World with Jeff Jarrett podcast alongside Thompson, where he regularly shares behind-the-scenes stories from throughout his career. Jarrett also currently serves as AEW’s Director of Business Development, playing a key role in expanding the company’s partnerships and strategic opportunities.
For fans interested in wrestling history — especially the business side of the industry — Heart of a Promoter offers a comprehensive look at one of the most resilient figures the business has produced.
AEW currently has multiple agreements tied to WBD platforms, including television rights on TNT and TBS, along with streaming, library, and pay-per-view distribution through HBO Max. On top of that, it was recently confirmed that WBD also holds a minority ownership stake in AEW — a detail that adds another layer of intrigue to the pending acquisition.
According to Dave Meltzer, that ownership piece may actually be the most straightforward part of the equation.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer explained that if Paramount completes its acquisition of WBD, it would automatically assume control of all WBD assets — including its minority stake in AEW. In other words, Paramount would become a part-owner of AEW.
“The situation here is number one, Paramount will own a percentage, a very small percentage, but they’ll own a percentage of AEW,” Meltzer said. “Because WBD has an ownership stake. And that will be transferred to Paramount. So they’ll own part of the company.”
While that may sound significant on paper, Meltzer indicated the immediate impact may be minimal — and potentially even positive. If AEW remains profitable, as Meltzer claims it currently is, there would be little incentive for Paramount to make drastic changes.
He noted that if AEW were hemorrhaging money, the scenario could look very different. But without substantial losses on the books, a minority stake in a profitable wrestling promotion could be viewed as a worthwhile asset for Paramount to maintain.
Of course, there are still plenty of moving parts. The acquisition is not fully complete, and media mergers of this scale often bring restructuring and strategic shifts. Questions remain about AEW’s long-term future on TNT, TBS, and HBO Max under new ownership, as well as whether Paramount could eventually look to integrate AEW content into its own streaming ecosystem.
For now, though, the key takeaway is simple: if the deal goes through, Paramount won’t just be AEW’s broadcast partner — it will technically be part of the company’s ownership group as well.
As always in the ever-evolving world of media rights and pro wrestling, the real answers will come once the paperwork is finalized and the dust truly settles.
What initially looked like clever WrestleMania hype may not have been part of the script after all.
Over the past few days, Jade Cargill and Rhea Ripley have been trading sharp words on social media, with several members of the WWE women’s division jumping into the fray. Given the timing — with the two seemingly on a collision course for WrestleMania — many fans assumed the back-and-forth was a coordinated effort to stir up buzz for a high-profile showdown.
But according to a new report from PWInsider Elite, the heated exchange was not something orchestrated by WWE creative.
Instead, sources claim the tension between Cargill and Ripley was legitimate. The report indicates that many within WWE believe Cargill was responsible for escalating the situation, particularly after she implied that Ripley had a cozy relationship with members of WWE’s creative team. That accusation reportedly didn’t sit well backstage.
Ripley responded publicly, posting on Instagram that Cargill should “learn how to work” before eventually deleting the message. The implication behind Cargill’s comments — that Ripley benefits from favoritism — was said to rub several people the wrong way, with some internally describing it as crossing a line into personal territory rather than keeping things storyline-focused.
Interestingly, Cargill’s online critics weren’t limited to Ripley. Chelsea Green and Piper Niven also weighed in, leading to speculation that the situation may reflect deeper locker room tensions. The report notes that Cargill has been viewed as a somewhat polarizing presence within the women’s division, with whispers of prior friction surfacing in the background.
Some sources suggested that Cargill has not always reciprocated the respect shown to her by peers who have publicly supported or elevated her. Others characterized her demeanor as coming off insecure at times — though those closer to Cargill have reportedly dismissed the entire situation as nothing more than competitive personalities clashing in a high-pressure environment.
Regardless of where the truth lies, there appears to be agreement on one point: WWE management is expected to address the matter directly, especially with WrestleMania season in full swing. The last thing the company needs is legitimate backstage friction overshadowing a marquee match.
All eyes now shift to this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown, where Ripley is scheduled to appear and begin the official on-screen build toward her anticipated WrestleMania encounter with Cargill. Whether the real-life tension bleeds into the storyline — or gets smoothed over behind closed doors — remains to be seen.
A new report suggests that Lady Frost’s time with All Elite Wrestling may be coming to an end.
According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, Frost’s AEW contract is scheduled to expire on April 1. As it stands, she is expected to become a free agent at that time unless a new agreement is reached. There has been no indication of any specific circumstances surrounding her reported departure, only that her current deal is nearing its end.
Frost has not been a consistent presence on AEW programming in recent months. She last competed on AEW television on the January 10 episode of AEW Collision, where she came up short against Mina Shirakawa. Prior to that, her most recent AEW/ROH appearance took place on the July 11 episode of ROH TV, where she was defeated by Diamante.
Despite limited television exposure, Frost has remained active outside of AEW. She continues to work the independent circuit and most recently picked up a victory over Dani Mo at a Greektown Pro Wrestling event on February 15.
Frost previously revealed in 2024 that she had been under contract with AEW since 2023. Before joining the company, she spent time in TNA from 2021 to 2022 before requesting her release. She also had a brief WWE appearance in 2018, facing Asuka in a short match.
With her contract reportedly expiring in just a few weeks, it remains to be seen whether AEW will look to retain Frost or if she’ll test the waters as a free agent this spring. Either way, April 1 could mark the start of a new chapter in her career.
Just days before the 2026 New Japan Cup gets underway, New Japan Pro Wrestling has confirmed that Tomohiro Ishii will no longer be part of the tournament field.
NJPW announced on its official website that the “Stone Pitbull” has been sidelined with a neck injury, forcing him to withdraw from the 24-man tournament set to kick off on March 4. The promotion issued an apology to fans who were looking forward to seeing Ishii compete in this year’s Cup, especially given the high stakes involved.
The winner of the New Japan Cup will earn a shot at Yota Tsuji’s IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Sakura Genesis on April 4. For Ishii, this year represented another opportunity to finally capture a tournament that has eluded him throughout his storied career. Despite several deep runs — including semifinal appearances in 2017 and 2019 — Ishii has never managed to win the Cup.
With Ishii out, NJPW has tabbed a veteran replacement: former two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion Satoshi Kojima. Kojima will step directly into Ishii’s position in the bracket. Since Ishii had previously received one of eight random byes into the second round, Kojima will now face the winner of the first-round bout between Taichi and Ren Narita.
As of now, NJPW has not clarified how or when Ishii sustained the neck injury. His most recent match took place on February 27 at The New Beginning USA, where he dropped the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship to Boltin Oleg. There were no reported issues coming out of that match, but given the physical nature of the contest, it stands as the most likely point where the injury may have occurred.
Interestingly, Ishii also appeared on the February 28 episode of AEW Collision against Andrade El Idolo. However, that match was taped on February 25 — prior to his loss to Oleg — meaning it would not have been affected by the injury in question.
This latest setback comes shortly after what initially appeared to be another scare. During the February 18 episode of AEW Dynamite, Ishii looked to have suffered a potentially serious hamstring injury while teaming with Orange Cassidy against Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd. Fortunately, that issue turned out to be far less severe than initially feared.
Now, though, it’s a neck injury that has put Ishii on the shelf at a critical point in the calendar. With Sakura Genesis looming and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship picture set to shift following the Cup, Ishii’s absence is a significant blow to both the tournament and fans who were hoping 2026 might finally be his year.
We’ll continue to monitor Ishii’s status and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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