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Former WWE star provides to hitch Tony Khan’s promotion

A former WWE superstar who recently parted ways with TNA is interested in wrestling for one of Tony Khan‘s promotions. The talent in question, Steve Maclin, has been actively performing on the indies as of late.

The 39-year-old star’s five-year-long stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling came to an end this past June, when it was announced that Maclin had been granted his release from the company, accompanying rumors of his creative frustrations with the Nashville-based promotion. The “Bulletproof” grappler continued to wrestle on the independents after competing in his final TNA match against Mike Santana for his World Championship in May.

On the latest edition of the Boots to Boots podcast, the former TNA International Champion was asked by a fan if he would consider performing in Ring of Honor, a company currently owned by Tony Khan and serving as a sister-promotion to AEW. Maclin replied affirmatively, and recalled facing Jonathan Gresham for the ROH World Title before ROH had been acquired by AEW. He further voiced his interest in competing in Ring of Honor to carve his place in the decorated promotion’s history, and to check off a major box on his professional bucket list.

“Yes, I would love that. I got to wrestle Gresham a few times for the Pure Title when he was at TNA. At that time they were using ROH before ROH was bought by AEW. It was kind of cool to stick my toes into that water a little bit and kind of dabble into Pure Rules. It was fun because it just opens up the playbook. But to go there and have the Code of Honor and then just the history to be a part of that too. Then again, it’s another check off a bucket list of working for almost every major company.” [H/T- Fightful]

Maclin had worked for WWE for around seven years prior to his TNA run beginning in 2021.

Steve Maclin’s wife is a champion in Tony Khan’s ROH

Steve Maclin had tied the knot with his real-life partner Deonna Purrazzo back in November of 2022. The Virtuosa has been signed with AEW since 2024, although as of late she has been wrestling primarily in Tony Khan’s other promotion, Ring of Honor. She made history at ROH Final Battle last year when she won a tournament to become the first ever ROH Women’s Pure Champion, a belt she has already defended several times since then.

Ring of Honor Women's Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo (Image via X @ringofhonor)Ring of Honor Women's Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo (Image via X @ringofhonor)
Ring of Honor Women’s Pure Champion Deonna Purrazzo (Image via X @ringofhonor)

It remains to be seen whether Tony Khan will offer Maclin the opportunity to compete in the same brand as his spouse.