TNA Wrestler Steph De Lander Reveals Company Told Her to Seek Advice from Steve Austin, Kurt Angle About Neck Injury

De Lander says TNA refused to clear her to wrestle again after neck fusion surgery, leading her and husband Mance Warner to quit the promotion.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Steph De Lander, a wrestler for TNA, revealed in a new interview that the company told her to reach out to WWE legends Steve Austin and Kurt Angle for advice about her neck injury, after refusing to clear her to return to the ring following neck fusion surgery. De Lander said TNA does not have the proper medical staff and budget to handle wrestler injuries like WWE and AEW do, leading to her and her husband Mance Warner quitting the promotion.

Why it matters

This story highlights the challenges wrestlers face in smaller promotions that lack the robust medical resources of larger organizations like WWE and AEW. De Lander's experience raises questions about worker safety and the responsibility of promotions to properly care for and rehabilitate injured performers.

The details

De Lander underwent neck fusion surgery on her C5 and C6 vertebrae in October 2024 and was cleared by her surgeon weeks ago. However, TNA told her she would never be allowed to wrestle for the company again. When De Lander asked for more specialized treatment to get cleared, she says a high-ranking TNA official told her to reach out to Steve Austin or Kurt Angle for advice. De Lander also revealed she paid for her own surgeries and physical therapy, and that TNA does not have a proper medical staff like WWE and AEW to handle wrestler injuries.

  • De Lander had neck fusion surgery in October 2024.
  • In January 2026, De Lander noted her neck was 100% healed.
  • This past Wednesday, De Lander and her husband Mance Warner quit TNA.

The players

Steph De Lander

A wrestler for TNA who underwent neck fusion surgery and was refused clearance to return to the ring by the promotion.

Mance Warner

De Lander's real-life husband, who also quit TNA in solidarity with his wife.

Steve Austin

A WWE legend who TNA reportedly told De Lander to reach out to for advice about her neck injury.

Kurt Angle

Another WWE legend who TNA reportedly told De Lander to reach out to for advice about her neck injury.

Dr. Andrew Cordover

The WWE's spinal surgeon who performed De Lander's neck fusion surgery and cleared her to return to wrestling.

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What they’re saying

“It's one thing for a normal person who has an injury to recover to a level of being okay to get through day-to-day life. It's completely different for a professional athlete to recover to a level of being able to go through full-contact sport, and that's what my argument was is I was trying to explain to them, 'Hey guys, I know I'm going to my local yokel rehab center down the road, but I don't feel like I'm getting enough specialized care to get to a point where I can start wrestling again.'”

— Steph De Lander (TMZ's Inside the Ring)

“Well, maybe you should DM Stone Cold Steve Austin or Kurt Angle and ask them for advice.”

— TNA Official (TMZ's Inside the Ring)

“I actually went to WWE's spinal surgeon to do the surgeries and I got clearance a few weeks ago. I received a phone call on Monday of this week that basically they never wanted to let me wrestle at TNA again. They just didn't feel comfortable with that.”

— Steph De Lander (TMZ's Inside the Ring)

What’s next

De Lander said the judge in her case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow her out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the lack of proper medical resources and worker protections in smaller wrestling promotions compared to industry leaders like WWE and AEW, putting performers' health and careers at risk when they suffer serious injuries.