TNA issues apology and axes Max Caster hours after controversial wrestling debut

Max Caster has been removed from Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling following controversial comments he made on his debut at Sunday’s TNA Bound For Glory 2026 pay-per-view.

Caster, known for his time in All Elite Wrestling as part of The Acclaimed faction with Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn, generated significant backstage heat over a line that referenced the recent airport attack in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During his entrance in an open challenge match against Moose, the former AEW World Tag Team champion rapped, “And it’s the firing squad. I drop bombs. You don’t even have to fly to Riyadh.”

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Max Caster removed from TNA wrestling as statement released

The promo unsurprisingly received heavy backlash from wrestling fans, and TNA released a statement on Monday (October 12), apologising for the "insensitive comments" and confirming that "Caster will no longer be wrestling for TNA."

A statement read: "Making light of violent attacks is wrong. This should never have made it into the show, and that responsibility is ours. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected. We sincerely apologize.

"We have removed the segment from replays and our social channels and are taking steps to ensure something like this never happens again."

Taking place at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Bound for Glory is TNA's biggest event of the year, and many fans have questioned the organisation for even signing him up in the process.

"So you brought in Max Caster, you knew what you were signing up for and what he does, and decided to fire him because of it," one person wrote on X in response to the statement.

"The same company that allowed Jeff Hardy to wrestle while drunk at VR 2011," another replied, while a third questioned: "Whose fault was this tho? Nobody asked him what he was going to say?"

Caster has a long-standing reputation for drawing controversy with his rapping. During his time with AEW in August 2021, the 37-year-old made references to COVID-19 tests being fake, Simone Biles' mental health, the Duke lacrosse rape case, and a sexual joke about a wrestler.

It led to the segment being removed from programming, and AEW founder Tony Khan condemned it, as it led to him being removed from television for a brief period.

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Sheamus was considered by TNA before Max Caster

TNA will be regretting their decision to sign Caster after his distasteful rap and, according to False Finish HQ, former WWE star Sheamus - real name Stephen Farrelly - was considered by TNA before Caster made his debut at Bound for Glory.

Sheamus recently became a free agent in October after leaving WWE following almost two decades with the company, with the former multi-time world champion turning down a restructured contract extension before his departure.

He established himself as one of the organisation's most prominent stars and could have been in Caster's place at Bound for Glory had he not stepped up to face former world champion Moose.

Following his exit from the WWE, Sheamus has indicated that "all challengers are welcome" for the next chapter of his career, and there are talks of AEW potentially signing him.