Josh Alexander has revealed the impact Scott D’Amore’s firing has had on his decision to leave TNA next year.
The former TNA World Champion has announced he will be a free agent in February next year. AEW and WWE are expected to be interested in signing Josh Alexander so his time in TNA is likely coming to an end.
His exit will come a year after former TNA President Scott D’Amore was fired from the promotion in a shock move. He had pushed Josh Alexander as his world champion for nearly a year and his exit had a big impact on the TNA star.
Josh Alexander appeared on Insight with Chris Van Vliet and was asked if Scott D’Amore’s TNA exit played a part in him leaving the promotion as well.
He revealed his exit had “somewhat” of an impact and said that he cried when he learned the former TNA boss was leaving the company. Josh Alexander added that he would still be considering free agency even if Scott D’Amore was in TNA, so his exit wasn’t the only thing making him leave the company.
Josh Alexander On Leaving TNA & Scott D’Amore’s Exit
“Somewhat. When I first found out he was [gone], I teared up. I’m not gonna lie. I was thinking about these last six or five years I had in TNA and everything along the way. When I started, I had zero relationship with him. Other than he was the guy that got me a visa and was giving me this opportunity. Over time, we developed this relationship of trust. He coached me along. Gave me so much help, and put me with the right people to make sure I was leveling up. My skills in storytelling, promos, in-ring wrestling, and stuff like that. Just putting me with these certain people. He didn’t have to, but he knew it would benefit me.”
“And then leaving? We ride or die for this guy. The entire locker room—especially with the rebranding of TNA thing happening at the end of BFG, and then it was like the debut of TNA—we were riding high. We just sold out the Palms. These shows were insane. Then it felt like the rug was just pulled out from under you.”
“So it’s like, how do you react to that? How do you feel about the relationship we built? I was just like, ‘I’m losing a mentor, and that sucks, but it’s also the wrestling business.’
“So I can’t say it’s 100% the reason why I’m thinking about free agency. I would have thought about free agency regardless. Scott, when we negotiated the three-year deal that I signed to keep me there up until this February, he told me, ‘You’re either going to be worth so much I can’t keep you at the end of this, or I’m going to make sure you get paid to stay here. But you’re going to be worth much more.”
