Steve Maclin Opens Up About Injury From TNA Sacrifice Match

Steve Maclin has shared details about the in-ring incident that stopped his match against Mike Santana at TNA Sacrifice. The update came during an episode of the Boots To Boots podcast, where he described the sequence that led to the stoppage.

Maclin said the issue began after he took a superkick that affected him from the neck upward. He explained that while his awareness remained intact, his body did not respond as expected. He recalled running the ropes before briefly losing control, then regaining awareness while on the mat (via Fightful).

“I hit the ropes, and next thing I remember, the next thing I know I’m on the ground trying to figure out what’s going on with my body even though my head from the neck up is normal. This is the first time I’ve ever been rocked in a match where that is the complete opposite. Normally, my body is good and you’re in autopilot moving and your brain is like, ‘We’ll get there.’ This was the complete opposite and it scared the hell out of me because you see me grab the rope. Training sunk in because that saved me from possibly going through the ropes or hitting a rope on the way down. You even see me throw up the gang signs with my hands. I couldn’t move. My body wasn’t computing with my brain. ‘Oh s**t, what are we doing? Okay, give me a second.’”

The match was stopped by the referee, Alice, who had been assigned to the bout in advance. Maclin stated that she recognized the situation quickly and decided to halt the match despite his attempts to continue. The stoppage was signaled using the standard “X” gesture, prompting officials to enter the ring.

“Ref Alice, she was there and she was instantly the savior I needed. That’s why I asked for her for the match. I always ask for her in all my matches because she gets it. She listens to me. I call my audibles to her beforehand, and she knows to relay that. She’s good at her job. She proved she’s very professional at her job that night because she stepped in and knew something was wrong. I was coherently talking to her, ‘I’m good. Just give me a minute. It’s going to drop down, leap frog, drop down, elbow.’ Seeing me do that with the way I had deer legs probably would not have been entertaining to watch. I knew what was coming next, but my body said no. She called for the ‘X.’”

Following the stoppage, Steve Maclin credited Ace Steel and Carlos Silva for their support after the incident.

“The whiplash got me so much off and it drilled the side of my neck where the nerve is. Dangerous spot to get hit. Luckily, I didn’t have any problems after the scans and the concussion protocol I went through at the hospital,” he said.

According to Maclin’s update, he has been medically cleared, with no lasting complications reported following the incident.