De Lander tells WWE releases: Firing boosted my career
Steph De Lander, Awesome Championship Wrestling women's champion, advised recently released WWE wrestlers that her own departure from the company marked a career high point. "Getting released from WWE was the best thing that happened to my career," the Australian wrote on X. "It doesn’t have to be the end of the story!"
De Lander shared further guidance in an interview, emphasizing personal processing of emotions before committing fully to independent wrestling. She noted that wrestlers now control their presentation and legacy outside WWE, despite lower pay and greater challenges. The 2022 WWE release propelled her to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where she captured the TNA Digital Media Championship and engaged in prominent feuds with Matt Cardona and Sami Callihan.
After two years sidelined by a neck injury, De Lander returned to the ring last month at ACW and defeated Indi Hartwell and J-Rod to claim the women's title.
De Lander competes next for ACW on May 16 at the MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.
