Remember PCO smashing the TNA Digital Media title?
The 57-year-old pulled a shoot stunt during The People vs. GCW show where he trashed TNA and destroyed the Digital Media title in the process. It’s been reported by now that PCO is no longer in TNA. The way officials handled the Digital Media title controversy was by giving it to Steph De Lander, who claimed to have won the belt in their divorce.
PCO had no issues expressing his anger over the new TNA management, “Of course, I’m very upset at TNA’s new management.” he said during a Fightful interview. “but I have to take full responsibility because I should have seen the red flags before, and I should have asked to get off my contract and ask for my release,” PCO said. “I felt like I was in my comfort zone a little bit because this TNA roster is the best dressing room I was part of. No backstabbing, no crazy pranks. Such a nice locker room. The production team, their production is skating on thin ice.
“They do miracles with little. I like them a lot. Creative-wise, the creative team, I got along good with everybody. In 2024, I had the most wins on pay-per-view with Jordynne Grace and Moose with nine wins. That sounds crazy thinking that now I am talking to you without a contract with TNA. That’s out of the ordinary.”
Nevertheless, PCO explained his actions last month and It all boils down to him being frustrated with the way management handled contract negotiations. During his Fightful interview, he talked TNA backing out of their verbal agreement, which didn’t sit right with the former TNA star.
“In November, we go to Fayetteville, NC for TV tapings. I see the Vice President, and we’re talking about my contract for 2025,” PCO said. “‘Yes. Yes Carl, for sure, we will re-sign you.’ I laid down the foundation and I said simple and clear, ‘I’ll be happy with the same salary and same conditions at 2024. For the inflation, maybe bump me to better seats on my flight.’ He said, ‘Yeah, sure, sure, sure.’ I said, ‘Just work on the contract and send it to me and I can sign it and return it to you.’ On [November] 29, it was WrestleCade.
“I had to miss WrestleCade because I had family personal issues that were really serious and bad. I couldn’t go to WrestleCade, and I got a text message from them, ‘Just called to check in. Missing you at WrestleCade. Hope everything is well with the family.’ Nice message like that. I was pretty confident. The last show of the year, Final Resolution, I called before and said, ‘What about the contract?’ They said, ‘We’ll discuss that on [December 13] in Atlanta.’ I get to Atlanta and see everybody coming in and out of the office. I see some people quitting, and it seems to be like a tough day. I walked in, they told me what we discussed in Fayetteville, ‘We can’t do that anymore. It’s going to be a different deal.’
“They changed it. We had already shook hands on it. I’m very old school. A handshake, you give me your word and look me in the eye, for me, it’s a done deal and a promise, especially if you said, ‘I promise.’ I’m surprised, but I’m listening. I can’t believe what they’re changing the deal to, with the new one. I said, ‘I don’t think I can accept that, but I’m going to think about it tonight. I’ll be back with my answer tomorrow. One thing is for sure, I would like for you to give me your word….’ it was something not about money.
But TNA bulking out of their original deal wasn’t PCO’s only problems with management. The Canada native detailed getting a concussion in December 2024 and how nobody in TNA helped him financially,"Nobody came with me, no assistance whatsoever, on my own, 'put that on your credit card, we'll reimburse you' — like I know how much it's gonna cost?" he explained.
It’s safe to say that TNA and PCO won’t be working together for a long time. Though PCO is no longer with the promotion, he’s still very active on the independent scene. TNA has not publicly responded to PCO’s interview.