Elayna Black, a rising star in TNA Wrestling, recounts a moment in the ring that left everyone – including the referee – convinced she was seriously injured. It wasn't a brutal blow, but a bizarre turn of events involving a pre-match health drink gone wrong.
The incident unfolded during a match against Masha Slamovich. Feeling nervous, Black quickly consumed her usual beet juice, a practice she now deeply regrets. Almost immediately, a wave of nausea washed over her, and the unthinkable happened – she vomited mid-match.
But this wasn’t just any vomit. The vibrant red of the beet juice created a shocking illusion. It looked, to everyone’s horror, like a pool of blood spreading across the canvas. The referee, believing Black had suffered a grievous injury, feared the worst.
Black, despite building a reputation for embracing hardcore wrestling, admits she has a peculiar aversion: the sight of blood. The irony wasn’t lost on her as she battled sickness while a crimson-colored liquid surrounded her. Her first deathmatch as a teenager left her shaken, struggling with the sight of her own clotting blood.
Tonight’s No Disqualification match against Mane Sade presents a new challenge, and a potential repeat of the unsettling experience. Black confesses her sensitivity has actually *increased* with age, making the prospect of blood even more unsettling.
This opportunity with TNA comes after a difficult period. Released from WWE in May 2025, Black initially spiraled, questioning her future. “What the fk am I gonna do for the rest of my life?!” she remembers thinking, overwhelmed by the sudden loss of her dream.
A conversation with CM Punk proved pivotal. He shared his own experience of stepping away and returning stronger, offering a glimmer of hope. Punk’s advice resonated: a setback doesn’t define a career, it can refine it.
Black is determined to prove herself in TNA, not as a consolation prize, but as a force to be reckoned with. She actively seeks feedback from Punk, sending him matches and promos for his brutally honest assessment – a surreal experience for a lifelong fan.
The initial shock of her WWE release forced a period of complete disconnection from wrestling. She deliberately avoided watching or engaging with the sport, needing to determine if her passion still burned. “I wanted to miss it,” she explains, “because if I didn’t miss it, then I didn’t want to do it anymore.”
Her dedication extends to respecting boundaries with fans. While appreciating their enthusiasm, she believes there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, particularly regarding privacy. Recent incidents involving other wrestlers highlighted the need for respectful interactions.
Black also utilizes platforms like OnlyFans, asserting her right to control her own image and body. She believes women should be empowered to make their own choices, and if monetizing her image feels right, she won’t hesitate to do so.
Looking ahead, Black dreams of facing formidable opponents like Mercedes Mone and AJ Lee. But for tonight, her focus is on delivering a brutal and memorable match against Mane Sade, one that will etch itself into TNA’s history.
“Hopefully someone will say one day that this was their favourite hardcore match in TNA,” she says with a determined glint in her eye. “It’s pressure, but good pressure. And I think we’re gonna tear the house down.”
