TNA Wrestling is facing criticism after accusations surfaced claiming the promotion may be taking advantage of aspiring wrestlers who appear as extras at television tapings.

During the Masters of Wrestling podcast on March 8, 2026, former TNA employee Master Emir and former WWE star Martin Stone discussed what they described as troubling practices involving hopeful talent working around TNA events. According to Emir, he witnessed situations during tapings where extras were allegedly performing tasks that went beyond what should normally be expected of someone simply hoping to gain exposure in the industry.

Emir recalled one particular instance that he believes crossed the line.

“I saw the shenanigans that were going on. They had people who didn’t have hazmat licenses mopping up blood in the ring and not their own blood, but the performers’ blood. These were young hopefuls trying to get a job at TNA. I witnessed all of this, and that was just one of the many things that happened. That’s actually illegal.”

He went on to suggest that the issue stems from a growing number of aspiring wrestlers who are willing to accept nearly any opportunity just to get their foot in the door. Emir believes promotions can take advantage of that passion because so many people are desperate to break into the business.

“But it goes beyond that. The reason they attract these kinds of situations is because now there’s a generation of wrestlers who are basically super fans or marks who want to get into the business. They’re not business-minded people. A lot of them dream about it so much that they’ll do anything to get there, and companies know they can take advantage of that.

They don’t even need to offer contracts anymore. They know there are people who will work just for the chance to be on TV. They know there are plenty of hopefuls out there willing to do it. So instead of going after established talent, they go after the low-hanging fruit people who will work for almost nothing. Why pay when you can get people to do it for free?”

Emir also alleged that some hopeful wrestlers are traveling significant distances just to appear as extras without compensation.

“They even have extras flying in from around the country and not getting paid.”

Martin Stone supported those claims and said he personally knows individuals who have spent years appearing at tapings as extras while covering their own travel costs. While he acknowledged that participating as an extra can make sense for those who already live nearby, he questioned the value of regularly traveling to shows without meaningful opportunities or financial compensation.

“I’m not going to name names, but I do know multiple people who have been extras at TNA for at least two years. Two years wasting their time on that flying themselves in every time they film. If they’re already in town, fine, I get it. But when you’re paying your own way every month just for the chance to appear and you know you’re not really getting anything out of it, that’s a different story.”

WWE continues the road to WrestleMania 42 with the March 9, 2026 episode of Monday Night Raw, which is set to feature several key matches and developments as storylines begin to take shape ahead of the biggest show of the year.

One of the featured bouts will see Oba Femi go one on one with Rusev. Their rivalry escalated last week when tensions boiled over into a physical altercation. The confrontation ended with Femi getting the upper hand by sending Rusev over the ropes, leaving the two on a collision course for a singles match that could further intensify their feud.

Another title match is also on the schedule as Penta defends the Intercontinental Championship against “Original” El Grande Americano. Penta captured the championship just last week and will now make his first defense. With momentum on his side, the champion looks to establish his reign early, though El Grande Americano is aiming to spoil that momentum with a statement victory.

The women’s division will also take center stage with a major gauntlet match to determine the number one contender for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Lyra Valkyria, Bayley, IYO SKY, Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, and Ivy Nile are all set to compete in the match. The winner will earn the opportunity to challenge AJ Lee for the title, making this one of the most significant matches on the night’s card.

Matches announced for WWE Raw on March 9, 2026 include:

• Oba Femi vs. Rusev

• Intercontinental Championship: Penta defends against “Original” El Grande Americano

• Women’s Intercontinental Championship Number One Contender Gauntlet Match: IYO SKY vs Bayley vs Lyra Valkyria vs Ivy Nile vs Asuka vs Raquel Rodriguez

With several high profile names scheduled to appear and championship implications on the line, the episode is expected to play an important role in shaping upcoming WrestleMania storylines.

Monday Night Raw airs live from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington beginning at 8 PM ET. Fans can watch the broadcast live on Netflix.

Reports emerging from Mexico in recent days suggest that former WCW star and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide Hall of Famer Konnan has been hospitalized and may have undergone a leg amputation.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, there has been no official confirmation yet and Konnan himself has not publicly addressed the reports. However, Johnson noted that many within the professional wrestling industry believe the claims to be accurate.

The initial report came from elplancitas on Twitter/X, who wrote, “I can confirm that Carlos Santiago Espada (62 years old) had a leg amputated. For some time now, the Triple A star has been dealing with health problems that have left him in a delicate state in San Diego, United States.”

Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com also commented on the situation and noted that Konnan has reportedly been dealing with serious health issues in recent weeks.

“He’s been in rough shape for a while now, probably since the last time he was on AAA television, so it’s probably been six weeks. I don’t know all of the details. I believe that he will be probably addressing it soon. He’s been in and out of the hospital, mostly in, that much I know. That’s about it, really.”

Konnan has battled multiple health issues over the years. In 2007 he underwent a kidney transplant, and in 2022 he required dialysis due to complications related to a COVID-19 diagnosis the previous year.

Despite ongoing health challenges, Konnan has remained involved in the wrestling industry through his podcast and his continued work with AAA, where he has also served as a commentator.

Konnan no murió, pero sufre amputación.

Puedo confirmar que a Carlos Santiago Espada (62 años) le amputaron una pierna. Desde hace tiempo la estrella de Triple A arrastra problemas de salud que lo tienen en un estado delicado en San Diego, Estados Unidos.@record_mexico pic.twitter.com/FVP7bbfeP7

, El Planchitas🇲🇽 (@elplanchitas) March 7, 2026