AJ Styles believes WWE is sitting on a major opportunity with Chad Gable and is warning the company not to let it slip away following Gable’s recent rise in momentum across WWE and AAA.

Speaking on his Phenomenally Retro podcast, Styles praised Gable’s current run and said the veteran performer is at the highest point of his WWE career to date.

Gable recently completed his run as El Grande Americano in AAA, where he lost a Mask vs. Mask match at AAA Noche de los Grandes. He then returned to WWE programming on SmackDown, continuing his presence on television at a time when his profile has noticeably increased.

Styles made it clear he views this as a turning point moment for WWE creative.

“He’s a bigger superstar than he’s ever been at this very moment,” Styles said. “And if we don’t capitalize, and I say we because I’m a part of WWE, we don’t capitalize on this, we’re dumb. We’re dummies.”

He also strongly backed Gable as a future top-tier talent, suggesting that his in-ring credibility and amateur wrestling background make him believable at the highest level of competition.

“He can be heavyweight champion,” Styles continued. “He’s a legit freaking pro wrestler… there’s no way somebody in the crowd’s thinking ‘I could take freaking Chad Gable.’ Uh dude, legit, he will drop you on your head and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Gable’s recent crossover success in AAA, combined with his ongoing WWE exposure, has sparked discussion among fans and wrestlers alike about how far his current character and presentation can be taken.

Styles’ comments add to that conversation, positioning Gable as someone WWE should strongly consider elevating into a main-event direction while momentum is on his side.

AJ Styles Says WWE Must Capitalize on Chad Gable Momentum

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Steve Maclin has confirmed that his departure from TNA Wrestling was his own decision, while new details point to frustration behind the scenes as a key factor in his exit.

After TNA announced his release, Maclin took to social media to clarify the situation and signal what’s next.

“Last week I requested my release from TNA,” Maclin wrote. “I put my blood, sweat, and tears into everything I’ve done over the last 5 years and I’ll always be thankful for my time there. But now, it’s time to STACK BODIES. See you soon,” he added, ending his message with a whiskey-glass emoji.

Maclin joined TNA in 2021 following his WWE run as Steve Cutler and quickly rose up the card. During his five-year tenure, he became a one-time TNA World Champion and a two-time TNA International Champion, establishing himself as a consistent presence in the main event scene.

However, according to Fightful Select, Maclin had grown frustrated with TNA’s creative direction and pay structure in recent months. Reports indicate that the shift toward shorter-term contracts across the roster also played a role in his dissatisfaction. Sean Ross Sapp added that Maclin had hoped to keep his release quiet before the company publicly confirmed it.

Earlier this year, Maclin was written off television through the Feast or Fired stipulation before returning to challenge TNA World Champion Mike Santana. He was reinstated in March and later competed at Sacrifice, where a brief injury scare initially raised concerns, though he was cleared of a concussion.

He remained active in the title picture, including a loss to Santana on a May episode of Impact. In one of his final appearances, Maclin was shown confronting TNA President Carlos Silva at ringside, shouting, “sit back in your cuck chair!”

Maclin was not alone in seeking an exit, as Myla Grace was also released after requesting to leave the company.

Maclin’s next move remains unconfirmed, though his public comments and reported frustrations suggest he is ready for a fresh start elsewhere.

Steve Maclin Requested TNA Release Amid Frustration With Creative Direction and Pay Structure

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Road Dogg has opened up about his departure from WWE, offering insight into why he stepped down as SmackDown co-head writer earlier this year and how he viewed the company near the end of his run.

Speaking on Busted Open Podcast, Road Dogg, real name Brian James, described feeling disconnected despite WWE’s ongoing business success.

“I still love wrestling, and I want to do wrestling, and I want to do it for somebody that wants it and needs it, and I feel like the WWE didn’t want it or need it anymore,” James said. “They were firing on all cylinders and making money and records… and I was complacent. I felt like I wasn’t earning, I was getting a check, but I felt like I wasn’t earning it, and I wasn’t having any fun either. It got to be so much work that it stopped being fun.”

He admitted fear played a role in delaying his exit.

“I actually stayed longer than I wanted to, just out of fear of unemployment,” he said, adding that his wife encouraged him to finally walk away. “She said she would ‘live with you in a tent,’ and I said, ‘I’m coming home right now.’”

James did not hold back when describing how WWE felt to him creatively.

“It felt like it turned into the business wrestling instead of the wrestling business,” he said. “It just feels like WWE right now, for me, was a money grab… it didn’t feel right. I wanted to step away.” He added, “The facts don’t give a f** about your feelings, and that’s the facts.”*

Looking ahead, James said he wants to contribute to a smaller promotion.

“I’m going to help somebody before this year is up… somebody that’s smaller, and that not only needs the help, but wants the help, wants to learn,” he said. “I am good at television wrestling… what I can do is put on a great television show with wrestling involved in it, and make it pretty.”

While speaking from Jacksonville, Florida, he referenced All Elite Wrestling but denied any immediate news, noting he was in town for a signing alongside Billy Gunn.

James also reflected on WWE’s past view of AEW as competition.

“No, no, no, we didn’t, and we probably should have,” he said. “It was looked at like… this other little money marks company… and I would argue… that was wrong to be looking at it that way.”

He added that AEW has grown stronger, specifically praising the addition of Mike Mansuri.

The appearance also served to promote Ohio Valley Wrestling’s upcoming milestone event, where James is set to handle commentary. He praised the promotion’s roster and Al Snow’s booking, while also noting a difference in WWE’s current presentation.

“Everybody seems like a top guy, like there’s no mid card entertainment,” he said.

After more than a decade in WWE creative, James said leaving lifted a long-standing burden.

“I’ve been nervous, job scared for 15 years, and then I quit,” he said. “and it’s like, oh, that’s all I had to do.”

Road Dogg Explains WWE Exit and Criticizes Company Direction

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Stevie Richards used a milestone episode of his show to deliver strong opinions on the current wrestling landscape, naming a non-WWE bout as the best match of 2026 while sharply criticizing WWE’s creative approach.

Joined by co-host James Romero, Richards focused heavily on the mask vs. mask match between Ludwig Kaiser and Chad Gable, who competed under the El Grande Americano personas at AAA Noche de Los Grandes on May 30 in Monterrey, Mexico. The match ended with Gable unmasking in front of his family and has received widespread praise. WWE later aired the bout on Netflix following RAW.

Romero set the tone early. “Probably the best match of 2026” and “would win most people’s match of the year,” he said, while questioning WWE’s output the same weekend. “How can a WWE PLE not hold up to something from AAA with a much reduced budget, but it’s just so much better in every single respect.” He added bluntly, “Clash in Italy was terrible. The booking was awful.”

Richards used the comparison to highlight what he sees as a core issue in WWE’s storytelling.

“How can WWE get both these guys so wrong in so many different ways, or at least not have them live up to their potential on the main roster,” he said. “It wasn’t a match looking for a storyline, it was a storyline that led up to a match. WWE does it all backwards. This is proof of how WWE has it all incredibly backwards in the wrong way. You should be able to do this every single week on WWE TV.”

Richards also praised the reported AAA creative direction, linking it to The Undertaker. “He might be Booker of the Year if this continues,” Richards said.

The criticism toward WWE extended beyond match structure. Richards agreed with Romero’s description of the product as “soulless.” He argued that the company prioritizes corporate interests over storytelling.

“This is a corporation we’re watching, everything is done in excess and not efficiently,” Richards said, adding that WWE is “creatively bankrupt and have been for a long time… it’s because all these other masters that Triple H is serving.”

Both hosts strongly praised Gable and Kaiser. Romero declared, “I think Chad Gable is the best wrestler in the world, and I don’t think it’s close.” Richards compared Gable favorably to Kurt Angle, stating, “Chad’s getting over when they essentially have not pushed Chad,” and adding he “might be more versatile than Kurt.”

Richards also credited Rey Mysterio for his role in AAA. “Rey Mysterio has better business sense than TKO,” he said.

Despite the praise, both men expressed concern about what could happen when the performers return full-time to WWE programming. Richards repeatedly questioned how long it would take for momentum to fade.

He also pointed to LA Knight as an example of missed potential, noting his limited in-ring presence on RAW since before WrestleMania and criticizing how his character has been handled.

Romero echoed those concerns, criticizing a recent segment involving Jimmy Uso as ineffective and calling a possible feud a step down.

The discussion framed the AAA match as a standout moment in 2026 and a broader critique of how different promotions approach storytelling and talent presentation.

Stevie Richards Criticizes WWE Creative Direction Under TKO

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Steve Maclin’s run with TNA Wrestling has officially come to an end, with the promotion confirming on Sunday that both Maclin and Myla Grace have been released effective immediately.

In a brief statement posted on its website, TNA announced that it had come to terms with the departures of both talents and wished them success in their future endeavors. Shortly after the announcement, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that Maclin had been granted his release from the company.

Maclin later addressed the situation himself, revealing that he had requested his release the previous week and thanking the promotion for the opportunities he received during his five-year tenure.

“Last week I requested my release from TNA. I put my blood, sweat, and tears into everything I’ve done over the last 5 years and I’ll always be thankful for my time there. But now, it’s time to STACK BODIES. See you soon.”

Additional details from Fightful Select indicated that Maclin had hoped to keep news of his departure private. However, TNA issued a public press release announcing both departures, reportedly without consulting either Maclin or Grace beforehand.

The report also noted that Maclin had been vocal about concerns regarding the company’s creative direction. Sources indicated he was unhappy with the overall product following TNA’s move to AMC earlier this year. Pay structure issues were also said to be a point of frustration internally, although many TNA wrestlers are currently working without full-time contracts.

Despite his departure, there is believed to be significant interest in both Maclin and Grace from wrestling promotions outside of TNA.

Maclin’s exit comes only months after he reportedly signed a new contract with the company in January. His final match took place at TNA’s May television tapings in Sacramento, where he unsuccessfully challenged Mike Santana for the TNA World Championship.

Earlier in the year, Maclin was involved in one of TNA’s most notable storylines. After drawing the infamous pink slip briefcase in the 2026 Feast or Fired match, he was seemingly fired from the company. The storyline later evolved with Maclin remaining on television, turning heel and targeting Mike Santana. Santana eventually demanded Maclin be brought back so they could settle their issues in the ring, leading Director of Authority Santino Marella to reinstate him and grant him a World Championship opportunity.

That championship bout at Sacrifice was cut short after Maclin suffered an injury early in the match following a superkick. While initial concerns suggested a concussion, it was later confirmed that he had not suffered one.

Now officially a free agent, Maclin closes the chapter on a five-year TNA career that included championship opportunities, major storylines, and a reputation as one of the company’s most outspoken talents. With interest already expected from elsewhere in the wrestling industry, attention will quickly turn to where he lands next.