{"id":140047,"date":"2025-08-16T19:27:30","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T23:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=140047"},"modified":"2025-08-16T19:27:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T23:27:30","slug":"sami-callihan-retires-from-in-ring-competition-at-tna-emergence-2025-everything-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/08\/16\/sami-callihan-retires-from-in-ring-competition-at-tna-emergence-2025-everything-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Sami Callihan Retires From In-Ring Competition at TNA Emergence 2025 &#8211; Everything to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At TNA Emergence 2025, Sami Callihan left his boots in the middle of the ring, signifying to the world the end of his in-ring career. Callihan announced he would do so if he was defeated by Mike Santana, which was the case. The Death Machine has been with TNA Wrestling since 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Just before the match started, Sami Callihan laid down the challenge to turn it into a Baltimore Street Fight. Mike Santana gladly accepted. The Death Machine was able to show his hardcore abilities through this match, as <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1953611364552884589\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Santana<\/a><\/span>, <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1956168464319533272\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eddie Edwards<\/a><\/span>, and <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1956503665801404542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Moose<\/a> <\/span>wanted him to.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cultaholic.com\/media\/Sami%20Callihan%20TNA%20Emergence%202025.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Courtesy of TNA Wrestling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Callihan delivered a pair of sick papercuts between the fingers and lips of Santana. Callihan then stapled his chest with a staple gun. He went low and hit the Cactus Driver 97 for two. Santana bounced back with the Rolling Buck 50, but Callihan kicked out at one. Santana then hit Spin the Block to score the victory (even if <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SteveSlamFR\/status\/1956526872470138887\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">many<\/a><\/span>, including Santana, noticed a kick-out, which is pretty frustrating).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSamiCallihan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TheSamiCallihan<\/a> &amp; <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Santana_Proud?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Santana_Proud<\/a> just made the match a BALTIMORE STREET FIGHT!<\/p>\n<p>Watch <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TNAEmergence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#TNAEmergence<\/a> LIVE on TNA+: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/33dWERG6GX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/33dWERG6GX<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v9F7TjKZ75\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/v9F7TjKZ75<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1956522961428529446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>In an <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1952519922715668505\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">in-depth interview with Tom Hannifan<\/span><\/a> on the August 4 episode of iMPACT, Sami Callihan revealed how <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1946000213338198483\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Moose&#8217;s rough words<\/span><\/a> embarrassed him. He said he felt disgusted with himself. Callihan confessed that Moose may have been right to say what he said, as he hasn&#8217;t been feeling the same since his leg injury in September 2021.<\/p>\n<p>He has been struggling with his body issues for many years, and he suffered from bulimia for 6 years. &#8220;I haven&#8217;t been the same Sami Callihan <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wrestlinginc.com\/1274213\/impacts-sami-callihan-says-his-leg-with-never-be-100-again-talks-weight-gain\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">for years now<\/a><\/span>,&#8221; he said. He chose Mike Santana, the new standard of the company, to determine whether he still has it or not.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Two Cactus Drivers and <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Santana_Proud?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Santana_Proud<\/a> is STILL standing! \ud83d\ude32 <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSamiCallihan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TheSamiCallihan<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Watch <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TNAEmergence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#TNAEmergence<\/a> LIVE on TNA+: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/33dWERG6GX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/33dWERG6GX<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zW5BnpKjOZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/zW5BnpKjOZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1956525365477732771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>The Death Machine retired, but not Sami Callihan<\/h2>\n<p>Sami Callihan may have left his boots in the ring, but he is and <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.f4wonline.com\/news\/impact-wrestling\/sami-callihan-ill-be-with-tna-wrestling-for-the-foreseeable-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">remains<\/a> <\/span>a part of the TNA backstage team. The former TNA World Champion has been the company&#8217;s <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a  style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/411mania.com\/wrestling\/christy-hemme-returns-to-tna-wrestling-as-head-of-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Director of Live Events<\/a><\/span> since 2024. He is also the founder and promoter of The Wrestling Revolver, one of the best indie promotions in the USA.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2016, after leaving NXT, Callihan has bet on himself to give a platform for young talents to shine. Over the years, Revolver has welcomed and helped talents such as Zachary Wentz, NXT&#8217;s Wes Lee, Trey Miguel, Ace Austin, Myron Reed, Rich Swann, Jake Crist, Masha Slamovich, Jessicka Havok, Mads &#8220;Krule&#8221; Kr\u00fcgger, Steve Maclin, and so many more.<\/p>\n<p>In 2022, Sami Callihan also founded Piledriver Wrestling Academy, his own wrestling school in Ohio. Ace Austin and Jake Crist joined him as trainers. The Death Machine may have retired yesterday night, but Sami Callihan is not done yet with the wrestling business.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/TheSamiCallihan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@TheSamiCallihan<\/a> has officially retired at <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TNAEmergence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#TNAEmergence<\/a>.<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ThankYouSami?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#ThankYouSami<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Watch LIVE on TNA+: <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/33dWERG6GX\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">https:\/\/t.co\/33dWERG6GX<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Knh30FQceo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/Knh30FQceo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ThisIsTNA\/status\/1956526510409429373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content content-styled max-w-none\">\n<div id=\"freestar-video-parent\">\n<p><em>Header image credit \u2013 TNA Wrestling \u2013 Stay tuned to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_self\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a> for more on Sami Callihan, TNA Wrestling, TNA iMPACT!, TNA Emergence, and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. Catch all TNA events and shows on <a href=\"http:\/\/watch.tnawrestling.com\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">TNA Plus<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At TNA Emergence 2025, Sami Callihan left his boots in the middle of the ring, signifying to the world the end of his in-ring career. Callihan announced he would do so if he was defeated by Mike Santana, which was the case. The Death Machine has been with TNA Wrestling since 2017. Just before the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5457,"featured_media":140334,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6,2192,8959],"tags":[488],"class_list":["post-140047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-impact","category-north-america","category-wrestling","category-tna-wrestling","tag-sami-callihan"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5457"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140047"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140336,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140047\/revisions\/140336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}