Ex-TNA Employee Accuses Company of Exploiting Indie Wrestlers for Free Labor

Former TNA talent Master Emir is calling out the company for what he describes as the systematic exploitation of independent wrestlers, accusing TNA of using unpaid labor under the false hope of earning a contract.

On the January 24, 2026 episode of the Café de René podcast, Emir unloaded on the company’s backstage practices—claiming that rather than compensating extras like most major promotions, TNA lures local talent with empty promises and then forces them to perform grunt work for free.

“TNA are some of the biggest swindlers on the planet,” Emir said. “Most companies pay extras to be at their shows, right? You know this. They’ll get 0 for the day or whatever it is, 0. Tony Khan pays very well.”

But according to Emir, TNA doesn’t pay extras at all. Instead, they allegedly lure in local wrestlers with a promise that over 50% of those who work as extras eventually get signed—a line Emir claims is used to bait desperate performers.

“They send a statement to local talent and they say, ‘If you do extra work for us, you’ll more than likely—this is the exact verbiage—over 50% of the people who do extra work for us get a contract,’” he said.

Once those hopeful wrestlers show up, Emir claims they’re treated more like unpaid labor than actual prospects. As for in-ring opportunities? Emir said they’re almost nonexistent.

“These indie pro wrestlers go there and work 14 hours a day,” he continued. “They make them do things like serve other wrestlers food—yes, in the canteen, I witnessed it—pick up trash, clean blood off the ring. Of course, they set up the ring and everything else. At the end of the day, do they get a dark match? Maybe one in 50. That’s it. Free labor. Free labor, people.”

Master Emir made it clear he wasn’t making anything up, stressing that what he described came from firsthand experience.

“This is how they treat people, and I have firsthand account of this. So anybody who questions this, I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. I’m not fabricating this story,” he said. “And Renee knows this. This is the type of company they are.”

As of now, TNA has not responded to the claims. But the accusations come at a sensitive time for the company, which has recently debuted on AMC and is trying to re-establish itself as a credible alternative in the wrestling industry.

Do you think Master Emir’s claims are just the tip of the iceberg—or is this a case of a bitter ex-talent venting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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