Masha Slamovich was on the verge of a major move in her wrestling career—possibly heading to WWE—before serious domestic violence allegations flipped everything upside down. Now, her future in the ring is uncertain, but according to one promoter who knows her best, she’s taking steps to turn things around.
In an interview with TMPT, GCW owner Brett Lauderdale opened up about Slamovich’s decision to step away from wrestling. Having known her long before she was Masha, Lauderdale spoke to her directly and connected with people close to her. He said the headlines don’t tell the whole story—but confirmed that something was serious enough for her to pause everything.
“In this instance, she’s someone we worked with for so long. I knew her before Masha was a thing, I knew her when she was still Anne. Of course I spoke to her directly and spoke to people close to her. It’s just a tough situation. We don’t know context or history, we just know the headlines.”
According to Lauderdale, Slamovich knew she needed time to step back and get herself together—and she’s doing exactly that.
“But it was clear that there was enough stuff that wasn’t okay that warranted her taking a break and getting herself together. That’s what she told us she was going to do, and my understanding is she has done that. She’s making changes in her life.”
Brett added that while it’s a deeply personal matter, he believes she’s doing what she needs to do to move forward—inside or outside of wrestling.
“It’s still none of my business, but it’s my understanding she’s doing what she thinks she needs to do to get a hold of things and put herself in the right direction. I don’t know what the future is going to bring, whether in wrestling or outside wrestling, but I wish her the best.”
When asked why he’d stop working with someone he’s known for so long, Lauderdale didn’t hesitate—his loyalty is to the promotion.
“People will say, ‘How are you going to stop booking this person? You’ve known them forever.’ But I’ve had to tell people, here’s the thing: no one person is bigger than GCW. GCW has to go on. There is no one person that’s worth hurting GCW or bringing GCW down, and that’s one of these circumstances right now. GCW has to be the most important, and we have to put GCW first.”
Before the controversy, Slamovich’s TNA contract was already nearing its end, and insiders say her departure was already in progress. Reports also noted that she wasn’t expected to win at Victory Road, and Ash by Elegance was scheduled to take the Knockouts Title regardless of the allegations.
Now, she’s off the radar. WWE, NXT, and even a TNA return all seem uncertain—for now. But according to those close to her, she’s focused on doing the work and getting her life back on track.
Whether she returns to wrestling or walks away for good, Slamovich’s story is still far from over. One thing is clear—she’s facing the fallout head-on, and those around her are watching closely.
Do you think Masha Slamovich deserves another shot in the wrestling world? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where you stand.
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