TNA Hall of Famer Gail Kim was released by TNA earlier this year in March. This release came as a shock to many including fans and wrestling talent in TNA alike.
TNA President Carlos Silva is the one who made the final decision, and he has commented on this release of Kim on a recent interview with Ariel Helwani.
Silva stated –
“I had to make a couple of hard decisions. Not just with Gail, but with a few other staff,” says Silva.
“When things are going a little bit well, that’s not the time to sit and be happy. Everyone is comping to try and get you. We kind of got a little more aggressive in making changes we thought we needed to make to reinvigorate the locker room, maybe reinvigorate the Knockouts Division. Which I think we’ve done. Elevate a few people that needed to be elevated and give them more responsibility.”
Silva further states that releasing Gail was the “most difficult decision” and that people have “responded well” to it.
Gail Kim has responded to the comments made on her social media.
Kim states, “On comments recently about the KO division needing to be reinvigorated, I want to let it be known that I was pushing for that for a year plus before Carlos Silva came in. To grow homegrown talent and do more with the KO division. I was fighting for that since Scott (D’Amore) departed. My loyalty and passion towards the KO division should never be questioned and how I wanted that division to be upheld. I fought for them on the weekly. Just wanted my thoughts to be clearly delivered.”
Since Kim’s exit, the Knockouts division has grown by adding talent such as The IInspiration, Maggie Lee, Indi Hartwell, Mila Moore, Jada Stone, Harley Hudson, Myla Grace, and Victoria Crawford.