Max Caster is out at TNA Wrestling after a single appearance. TNA announced Monday that Caster “will no longer be wrestling for TNA” following the Riyadh reference in his Bound For Glory entrance rap.
In its statement, TNA said “insensitive comments” were made by Caster referencing attacks in Riyadh that killed and injured many people. The company said the segment should never have made it into the show, that the responsibility is TNA’s, and that it sincerely apologizes.
TNA added that it has removed the segment from replays and its social channels and is taking steps to prevent a repeat. Its thoughts, the company said, are with the victims, their families and everyone affected.
Caster debuted Sunday in Tampa, losing to Moose after answering Moose’s open challenge. During his entrance rap he said “you don’t even have to fly to Riyadh,” and the line drew backlash online before TNA pulled the clip from social media.
Fightful Select reported Monday that the line was neither scripted nor approved, and that TNA executives were unhappy about it.
Wrestling outlets tied the line to recent attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Saudi civil aviation authorities said three Saudi citizens were killed and several people injured in two attacks there on October 8.
Caster became a free agent when his AEW contract was not renewed at the start of October. TNA had only confirmed him for the Moose match and had not said he signed a deal.
