Former World Champion Quits TNA After Creative Frustrations (TNA News)

Steve Maclin and Myla Grace have been granted their TNA releases.

Steve Maclin Myla Grace
TNA Wrestling

Over the weekend, it was revealed that Steve Maclin and Myla Grace have departed TNA Wrestling.

Fightful was first to report on Myla's exit, and this was soon followed up by the story that Maclin had likewise left TNA. In the case of both talents, they requested, and were granted, their release from TNA.

Since then, TNA put out the following press release last night:

Advertisement
June 7, 2026

Myla Grace & Steve Maclin Released

Advertisement
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.

Fightful Select reports that Steve Maclin had wanted to keep things quiet about his release, and TNA released the above press release without informing either Maclin or Myla Grace. The outlet notes that Steve, a former TNA World Champion, had been outspoken "directly and publicly" about his unhappiness at the company's creative direction dating back to last year. Maclin was also amongst a number of talent who didn't feel that creative had improved since TNA's big move to AMC at the start of this year, and the TNA pay scale was another matter that had been discussed internally, with many TNA deals being short-term ones.

For Steve Maclin, this brings an end to five years with TNA, with him most recently having been feuding with current TNA World Champion Mike Santana. After winning the 'fired' briefcase in Feast or Fired in January, Maclin took to social media to vent about his kayfabe firing, leading to him returning to TV to cement a heel turn by attacking commentator Tom Hannifan, before Santana insisted that Steve be rehired, setting up the Santana vs. Maclin main event at TNA Sacrifice. Unfortunately, that match was stopped after two minutes due to concussion concerns over Maclin, though the two did get to rematch last month, where Santana picked up the win.

Advertisement

In the case of Myla Grace, the Northern Irish grappler had been with TNA for just over a year, joining the Anthem outlet in May 2025 alongside Harley Hudson. Grace and Hudson would often team up over the past year, though Myla had only had five TNA matches in 2026, the last of which being a loss to Elayna Black back in March. However, she has been far more active away from TNA, competing for the likes of OTT - where she's reigned for over 200 days as the OTT Women's Champion - RevPro, and in Australia for WSW.

As for what's next for Steve Maclin and Myla Grace, Fightful adds that Maclin's expected to have interest from other companies, while sources believe that it wouldn't be a surprise to see Grace land in either WWE or AEW.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is a long-standing season ticket holder and an FSA Award-winner for his time co-hosting the Fearless in Devotion podcast.