The recent premiere of TNA Wrestling on AMC marked a significant milestone for the promotion, bolstered by the on-screen arrival of Daria Rae, formerly known as Sonya Deville in WWE. Rae has stepped into a new role as an authority figure, working alongside Santino Marella to maintain order during this pivotal era for the company. In a candid interview with Metro, Rae opened up about the timeline of her signing, revealing that her arrival was a mix of intuition and serendipity rather than a long-standing plan. She disclosed that while she had initial contact with TNA President Carlos Silva immediately after her WWE contract expired in 2025, the timing simply wasn’t right for her to make the jump at that moment.
However, months later, a gut feeling prompted her to reach out again. Rae explained that she sent a text to Silva just one day before the company publicly announced their massive broadcast deal with AMC. She detailed the interaction, stating, “I had had conversations with Carlos (Silva) from TNA as soon as I left WWE, and that wasn’t the time for me, and I didn’t know if it would ever be to be honest, and then it just felt right. So I shot him a text, and it happened to be the day before they announced the AMC TV deal. So he’s like, ‘Did you know?’ And I was like, ‘No, I had no idea, but that’s great news,’ and so we went back and forth and made it happen, and it ended up being, I think, perfect timing.”
Her lack of prior knowledge regarding the AMC deal highlights the organic nature of her decision to join the promotion. Rae emphasized that after leaving the Stamford-based promotion, she wasn’t sure if TNA would ever be her home, but the pieces fell into place exactly when they needed to. Now signed to a six-month contract, Rae is poised to bring her trademark intensity and executive presence to the iMPACT Zone. Her role as an authority figure allows her to influence storylines without immediately diving into full-time in-ring competition, providing a fresh dynamic for the roster as they adjust to the new network.
As TNA continues its residency on AMC, the chemistry between Rae and Marella will be a key focal point. With the second episode having just aired on January 22, fans are already speculating on how Rae’s “no-nonsense” approach will clash with Marella’s more comedic style. The next few weeks will be crucial in establishing her authority, especially with major events like No Surrender on the horizon in February. Her arrival signals TNA’s continued commitment to acquiring recognizable talent to draw eyes to their new Thursday night slot.
