Sami Callihan Says He Pushed Back Hard on TNA During the Zoom Call That Got Him Fired

Sami Callihan didn’t go quietly. When TNA Wrestling informed him via Zoom call that he was being let go as part of what the company described as a ‘workforce reduction,’ Callihan made sure his voice was heard — pushing back on management and making the case that they were making a mistake.

Callihan opened up about the experience on Busted Open Radio, walking listeners through what that day actually looked like. By his own account, he kind of went off on the call, arguing directly to TNA brass that the decision was the wrong one. It’s a candid admission that reflects both his passion for the business and his frustration with how things ended.

Callihan had been working in a behind-the-scenes capacity for TNA, adding a layer of creative and operational involvement beyond just performing. Losing that role in a broader round of cuts clearly stung — not just professionally, but personally, given how vocally he fought against it in the moment.

The ‘workforce reduction’ framing from TNA suggests the move was at least partly financial, though that kind of corporate language rarely tells the full story. What Callihan’s willingness to speak publicly about the circumstances does tell us is that he isn’t moving on without making his perspective known.

With his outspoken personality and years of experience both in the ring and backstage, Callihan figures to land somewhere. But for now, he’s made clear that the ending with TNA was anything but a mutual, amicable goodbye.