7 TNA Stars Become Free Agents
'Speedball' Mike Bailey heads the list of TNA departures as 7 wrestlers exit.
'Speedball' Mike Bailey heads a list of seven TNA stars who officially became free agents when their contracts with the promotion expired on 1 January 2025.
Fightful Select reports that as 2024 ticked into 2025, Bailey, Steph De Lander, Kushida, Aiden Prince, Bhupinder Gujjar, Jade Chung, and Trent Seven all hit free agency.
AEW has long been rumoured to be interested in Bailey. In November, PWInsider reported that 'Speedball' could debut for the Tony Khan-helmed group in the 2024 Continental Classic, later stating that "Bailey is not being figured into the C2 tournament" after all. That same month, Fightful reported that although Bailey was expected to land in AEW, he was still contracted to TNA at the time of reporting. Now free of his TNA contract, nothing would stop the former X-Division Champion from legally becoming #AllElite.
Steph De Lander has grown as a prominent independent wrestler since leaving WWE in 2022, having worked on the NXT brand as Persia Pirotta. She had worked for TNA steadily throughout 2024 before suffering an injury that has left her unable to compete since August.
Kushida was understood to be bound to an NJPW contract at the same time as his TNA deal. Chung, meanwhile, is the wife of former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander, whose own contract expires on 15 February. Furthermore, TNA's personnel turnover could be set to continue with reports of WWE-linked Jordynne Grace's January departure.
AJ Francis is one wrestler who won't be leaving TNA anytime soon, however. Although his previous deal with the Anthem-helmed promotion expired in late 2024, TNA has since announced that Francis has been re-signed, issuing the following to the media:
TNA Wrestling confirmed today that it has re-signed A.J. Francis, as first reported by Sports Illustrated.
The former NFL player had quite the year in 2024, attacking Joe Hendry during his January debut and battling Nic Nemeth in December for the TNA World Championship at Final Resolution in Atlanta. The leader of Fir$t Cla$$, Francis won the TNA Digital Media Championship in June from Laredo Kid, his first title win in TNA. He also bought the Canadian International Heavyweight Championship, a title that was promoted in Canada for many years and had been retired since 1987, thus becoming a double champion in the process.