Steph De Lander’s explosive interview on TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast shed light on the harsh financial realities of suffering a major injury while working for TNA Wrestling. Following her recent departure, the Australian star revealed that she bore the entire financial burden for her two neck surgeries and the subsequent physical therapy.
“I Was Really Trying to Just Get Bottom-of-the-Barrel Support”
Because she was not on a guaranteed salaried contract, De Lander received no income from TNA while sidelined. To make matters worse, she claimed the company denied her requests for basic recovery tools. Despite TNA having a corporate partnership with BioFlex, a company that provides red light therapy treatments, her request for the equipment was rejected. “I was told, ‘Oh, we’ve already given them to other talent.’ People that aren’t injured,” she revealed.
De Lander speculated that TNA’s ultimate refusal to clear her for in-ring competition was heavily influenced by the severe spinal injury recently suffered by Chris Bey. She theorized that management was terrified of the financial and public relations nightmare of another major injury occurring in their ring.
“From a business standpoint, I think the Chris Bey situation definitely shook them,” De Lander observed. “I don’t think it made them take injuries any more seriously though,” she added, referencing the company’s failure to provide her with specialized medical support or basic rehabilitation equipment during her own grueling recovery process.
