Rich Swann is back in TNA Wrestling—but not under contract.
After his quiet departure from the company earlier this year, Swann made a surprise return and joined AJ Francis†faction First Cla$$, replacing KC Navarro. While that move made waves on-screen, behind the scenes, things are much looser than they appear.
Despite his reappearance, Swann is not locked into a traditional TNA deal. According to sources via Fightful Select within the company, heâ€s currently working on a per appearance basis—joining a growing list of talent doing the same.
“TNA sources confirmed that heâ€s currently on a per appearance basis, along with a number of other wrestlers.â€
Back in April, it was reported Swannâ€s contract had quietly expired and that he left on good terms. His return to TNA wasnâ€t tied to a new long-term deal—just appearances as needed. This setup reflects a broader trend in TNA lately, with many performers opting for short-term or flexible agreements instead of committing long-term. Swann, a former TNA World Champion, now finds himself in that camp.
Swannâ€s history in wrestling is full of twists. He had a run in WWE from 2015 to 2018, where he became Cruiserweight Champion. But his WWE tenure ended abruptly following a domestic incident in late 2017. Though charges were dropped and the case closed, WWE released Swann in February 2018.
He would go on to rebuild his reputation in the independents before joining TNA (then IMPACT Wrestling) later that same year. Swann eventually won the IMPACT World Championship in 2020, defeating Eric Young. He later headlined Rebellion 2021 in a title vs. title match against AEWâ€s Kenny Omega.
Rich Swann might be flying solo when it comes to contracts, but heâ€s no stranger to rebuilding from scratch. From getting fired by WWE to climbing back up the ranks and capturing TNA gold, heâ€s proven he doesnâ€t need a long-term deal to make an impact
Do you think TNA should lock Rich Swann down with a full-time deal—or is the per appearance setup the smarter move? Share your take below.
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