TNA President Carlos Silva Clarifies Recent Report, Says There Is No Ban On Bleeding

There’s been some confusion swirling around TNA Wrestling this week, but President Carlos Silva has stepped in to clear the air regarding reports of a supposed ban on blading and intentional blood during matches.

Speaking with The Takedown on SI, Silva stated point blank that intentional bleeding is not banned in TNA. Instead, the promotion is simply encouraging talent to be more selective and strategic when it comes to using blood in matches. The clarification comes after the company featured two violent bouts in a short span, including a brutal dog collar match between Steve Maclin and Eric Young on TNA Impact! — a match that clearly pushed the limits of the show’s current tone.

The initial report about a potential blading ban originated from PWInsider, which claimed that talent had been informed that the practice was no longer allowed outside of very specific situations. According to that report, the move was tied to efforts to keep Impact! more advertiser-friendly as TNA and parent company Anthem continue their search for a new television partner in the U.S.

Silva did confirm to The Takedown that the company is indeed being mindful of how it’s perceived by potential advertisers and media partners. He also backed up reports that Anthem is actively shopping TNA for a new media rights deal, making presentation a key priority. But he made it clear: the red isn’t going away entirely—it’s just being reined in.

Fans should expect to see less blood on weekly TV, but Silva emphasized that this is about moderation, not elimination. There was no direct mention of TNA’s ongoing partnership with WWE, which is famously anti-blading, but Silva’s comments suggest that TNA isn’t looking to fully mirror WWE’s PG philosophy.

Meanwhile, Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer had speculated that the move might be a nod toward WWE-style presentation, but Silva’s statements seem to put that theory to rest. TNA appears to be walking a fine line—staying true to its edgier roots while positioning itself for a more mainstream platform.

Bottom line: blood isn’t banned in TNA, but it’s not going to be used as freely as it once was. It’s not about going soft—it’s about playing smart as the company looks to level up its TV presence.