TNA President Carlos Silva Explains Why He Let Gail Kim Go After 17 Years

TNA President Carlos Silva finally addressed the controversial departure of Hall of Famer Gail Kim, and according to him, it wasn’t personal—it was about progress.

During his July 9 appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Silva was asked directly about Gail Kim’s exit after an impressive 17-year run. Ariel framed the situation as a major shakeup in TNA, and Silva didn’t deny it.

“So Gail, I mean Hall of Famer, TNA Hall of Famer, been there for years… You know, I think we just—when you come into an organization, you have to look at what’s working and what’s not working. And sometimes you have to make changes because you’ve got to move forward to continue the growth.”

Silva admitted the decision wasn’t easy but insisted it was necessary to keep things evolving.

“So we kind of got a little more aggressive in making some changes that we thought we needed to make to sort of reinvigorate the locker room, maybe reinvigorate the Knockouts Division—and I think we’ve done that. Elevate a few people that needed to be elevated and given some more responsibility. And that was one of the changes we made.”

He also confirmed that Gail wasn’t the only one cut in the shakeup, with changes hitting both the talent roster and the front office. Silva claimed the result has been positive behind the scenes.

“And look, so far, everyone’s responded well. We have a great team and some great camaraderie going right now.”

When asked whether the locker room was truly upset over Gail’s departure—as some reports suggested—Silva acknowledged there were emotions involved but pushed back on the idea that morale had tanked.

“There are always going to be people that are upset. I mean, Gail had been there a long time. Of course, it wasn’t an easy decision to make. It’s the most difficult decision I’ve had to make so far in running TNA.”

Still, he emphasized that the company’s focus has been on rebuilding trust and energy in the aftermath.

“I think what’s important is what you do after that—and how you bring people together, how we bring the locker room together, how we share what’s going on with our talent and help them to feel like they’re part of the business.”

“So far, the feedback I’ve been getting is people like the way things feel now. They like the energy. I’m a big energy guy, I’m a big positive attitude person, and I think it makes a difference. So we’re trying to inject that into the organization.”

This new statement comes months after Gail Kim’s firing in March 2025, which sent shockwaves through TNA and the wrestling world. Along with Kim, Ariel Shnerner, Rob Kligman, and Michael Shewchenko were also let go. Kim’s departure sparked internal backlash, with more than a dozen talents voicing frustration. Some even considered leaving once their contracts expired, while others became uneasy about their future in the company.

Kim was widely known for advocating behind the scenes—especially for the Knockouts Division—and wasn’t afraid to challenge creative direction. While some expected tension due to her outspoken nature, many insiders saw her as an asset, not a problem.

The internal reaction to Kim’s dismissal was even louder than the fallout from Scott D’Amore’s exit. Although Carlos Silva publicly claimed the firing was part of internal changes, many wrestlers and staff saw it as a red flag. AEW and WWE are both expected to make offers, with some reportedly already pushing for her recruitment.

Gail Kim’s time in TNA may be over, but her impact is still being felt—and her next move will likely turn heads.

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