The Post-TNA Free Agency Shuffle Begins

Sami Callihan is reportedly in talks to join Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, less than ten days after his sudden firing from TNA Wrestling. The former TNA World Champion, who retired from active in-ring competition last year, is the top name on WWE producer Jeremy Borash’s wishlist for the newly acquired Mexican promotion. The move would reunite Callihan with his former creative collaborator and place him at the center of the revived Los Perros del Mal faction.

Callihan’s sudden availability follows a brutal wave of layoffs at TNA Wrestling on June 17, 2026. As reported by Ringside News, the company executed a series of workforce reductions that caught the locker room by surprise. Despite securing a new television deal with AMC for its weekly broadcast, TNA continues to lose money, forcing the parent company Anthem Sports & Entertainment to slash costs.

The cuts did not just hit undercard talent like Aiden Prince; they gutted the backstage leadership. Callihan, who had transitioned to a producer role after his retirement, was terminated alongside ECW legend Tommy Dreamer. Nobody is safe anymore.

Callihan's run in TNA was marked by absolute chaos and violence, including his notorious feud with Tessa Blanchard and a series of bloody Barbed Wire Massacre matches. He was the locker room leader who held the product together when other stars fled for bigger paydays. To be discarded in a standard workforce reduction just ten months after retiring for the company is a bitter pill to swallow.

Now, WWE is looking to capitalize on TNA’s financial misery. WWE acquired a majority stake in AAA in April 2025, partnering with Mexican entertainment conglomerate Fillip while keeping the Peña family on board to run daily operations. Since then, WWE has used the promotion as a developmental testing ground, sending NXT talent south of the border to gain seasoning in front of rowdy Mexican crowds.

The Borash Connection and the Perros del Mal Factor

Jeremy Borash, WWE’s Vice President of Content and Development, has taken the creative reins in Mexico. Borash has spent the last year drawing up plans to revive one of the most famous heel groups in lucha libre history. That plan came to fruition on the June 20 episode of AAA on FOX.

On that broadcast, a new version of Los Perros del Mal debuted with a shocking beatdown. A group comprising NXT’s Bronco Nima and Karmen Petrovic, along with SmackDown’s Angel and Berto, attacked El Grande Americano. Daga, a former member of the original faction under the late Hijo del Perro Aguayo, led the assault.

As reported by WrestleTalk, Borash is the creative force behind this revival. He wanted a group that combined WWE's polished production style with the raw, chaotic energy of the original Perros. Bringing in Angel and Berto was a logical decision, as they are the real-life nephews of Hector Garza, a founding member of the original group.

But the faction needs a veteran adversary, and that is where Callihan fits. Callihan retired in August 2025 due to a mounting list of injuries, ending a career defined by high-impact violence and hardcore brawls. However, sources indicate WWE has approached the 38-year-old about returning to the ring for a limited, high-profile schedule in AAA.

The history between Callihan and Borash runs deep. The two worked closely in TNA during the late 2010s, where Borash helped produce some of Callihan’s most famous cinematic segments. It is a proven formula.

Borash was the mastermind behind TNA's 'Delete' universe and the cinematic matches that kept the company relevant during its leanest years. He understands that Callihan does not need to execute top-rope moonsaults to be effective. A well-placed baseball bat shot and a menacing promo can do the work of a dozen high-flying spots.

The In-Ring Reality and Physical Concerns

AAA is the perfect fit for a broken-down version of "The Death Machine." The promotion's booking style is famously chaotic, relying on weapons, brawls into the crowd, and intergender matches. Callihan would not need to work twenty-minute technical clinics; he could rely on his signature Cactus Driver and stretch muffler to get over.

He also has a built-in opponent in Daga. The two ran a heated program in Lucha Underground and later clashed in TNA over the X-Division Championship. Daga’s stiff, strike-heavy style would mesh perfectly with Callihan’s hardcore brawling, providing a ready-made feud to anchor the top of AAA's cards.

Daga has spent the last year rebuilding his reputation as a ruthless heel in Mexico. His current role as the leader of the new Los Perros del Mal makes him the perfect foil for Callihan. Their history of physical, boundary-pushing matches ensures that the fans will buy into the animosity from day one.

There are, however, major reasons to doubt the success of this potential signing. Callihan’s body has taken immense punishment over two decades in the business. The wear is real.

Asking a wrestler who retired due to physical wear-and-tear to return to the ring in Mexico, where the rings are notoriously stiff, is a massive risk. If Callihan cannot perform at a competent level, the run will quickly devolve into a sad nostalgia act. Stiff Mexican rings pose a major threat to a wrestler with a history of leg injuries and concussions.

Furthermore, TNA talent are reportedly frustrated with WWE's influence on their bookings. Meltzer noted that TNA performers are struggling to make a living due to restrictive contracts that prevent them from working other independent dates. WWE's shadow looms large over the entire industry, and Callihan might hesitate to jump back into a corporate structure after his recent firing.

Credibility and Probability Assessment

Let's look at the credibility of these rumours. The reports regarding Borash's creative control over the new AAA faction are highly credible, originating from the Wrestling Observer and corroborated by Ringside News. The connection between Callihan's firing and WWE's recruitment drive is currently in the discussion phase, but the dots connect too cleanly to ignore.

"TNA’s latest round of cuts suddenly makes a lot more sense, and it does not sound great."

We assess the probability of Sami Callihan debuting in AAA at sixty percent. The financial reality is that Callihan is now an independent contractor who needs to earn a living after his producer salary was cut. WWE has the budget to pay him, and Borash has the creative influence to make the transition comfortable.

Here are the key factors driving this signing rumor:

  • The deep personal and professional relationship between Jeremy Borash and Sami Callihan from their TNA days.
  • WWE's financial power to fund high-profile talent acquisitions for its new AAA project.
  • AAA's booking style which can protect a physically limited veteran through brawls and gimmick matches.

The Expected Impact

If the deal goes through, expect Callihan to make his debut in the autumn of 2026. This would allow WWE to build toward a major showdown at their scheduled Triplemanía 34 event in September. Callihan’s presence would give the new AAA on FOX show the star power it needs to secure a U.S. broadcast partner.

Ultimately, signing Callihan is a gamble on name recognition over physical reliability. If Borash can manage Callihan's physical limits, it could be a masterstroke. If not, it will be another reminder of the risks of relying on retired veterans to anchor a new era.