Steph De Lander Doesn’t Think TNA Takes Injuries More Seriously Since Chris Bey, Says AEW Or WWE Is Her Goal Now

Steph De Lander doesn’t think that TNA is taking injuries more seriously since Chris Bey’s broken neck, at least from what she saw around her own injury. De Lander and Mance Warner quit TNA after the company refused to let De Lander let her wrestle. De Lander says she was cleared by a WWE surgeon, but said that TNA wouldn’t allow her to compete regardless.

De Lander was asked in her interview with TMZ Inside the Ring whether she believes TNA is being more cautious with injuries after Bey suffered his broken neck back in late 2024. She noted that she believes the company is worried from a business standpoint but doesn’t think they take injuries more seriously. She also spoke about her goals, noting that she wants to work for a company like AEW or WWE. You can see highlights below:

On If Her Being Prevented From Working Is Because of the Chris Bey Situation:

“I mean, I think they are worried or they were worried about my situation if I did get back in the ring. I don’t think they could handle a Chris Bay situation happening again with someone else, you know what I mean? Like, financially or PR-wise or whatever else. And I think a big part of them being really hesitant to let me get back in the ring probably has something to do with that situation.

“But in spite of that situation, they still didn’t take my injury any more seriously, or try to get me extra support. Or even down to like — we have a relationship with Bioflex, which does like the red light therapy treatments. And I had asked like, ‘Hey, I know we get free Bioflex products. Do you think I could get some for my neck recovery?’ And I was told, ‘Oh, we’ve already given them to other talent, like people that aren’t injured.’ So I was really trying to just get like bottom of the barrel support in any way. So yeah, I think from like a business standpoint, I think the Chris Bay situation definitely shook them. I don’t think it made them take injuries any more seriously, though.”

On Her Goal At This Point:

“The goal would be — at this point, the goal is WWE or AEW. Like, both of those companies have so much to offer, and I could see myself fitting in on both ends. But at this point in my career, what that means is finally being able to be in a place wherever I end up wrestling in arenas. Wrestling in front of thousands of people. And having an action figure, and being in a video game, and maybe having my face on the side of a truck. Or getting to travel and wrestle internationally — not on an independent level, but in stadiums.

“I’m just excited to take my career to the next level. And I don’t exactly know where that’s going to be or how that’s going to happen right now, but I do know myself and I know that I’m never going to stop until I get there.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit TMZ Inside The Ring with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.