Create-A-Pro owner and AEW vice president of talent development Pat Buck has issued a public statement in response to TNA Wrestling blocking the Nic Nemeth vs. MJF main event from his promotion’s May 1 show in Melville, New York.
Buck issued the following statement to PWInsider.com: “I don’t usually speak on things like this, but this one’s too ridiculous to ignore. TNA, specifically Carlos Silva, forced a change to the main event of our Create A Pro show three weeks out after it was already approved and promoted. Not sure who that helps. Create A Pro is a training school with a promotion focused on developing talent while running consistent live events. We’re a school, dojo, and a mom and pop business… just with two dads. Live events are a necessary training tool, and they’re disappearing, even at the highest levels, because they’re not as cost effective and the money is in television. In a direct way, we are providing a service for your talent to make $ and keep their skills sharp. Do you not see that? We train wrestlers for wrestling companies. And now a wrestling company has stepped in and hurt another wrestling company that helps wrestlers get to wrestling companies. Makes perfect sense. Maybe I’m the one missing something. I’m annoyed, as it’s hard to ignore how unnecessary, and honestly how cringe, this situation is.”
Buck also addressed the lack of any attempt from TNA to make the situation right after the change was forced.
“And to be fair, talent wasn’t pulled, but altering a main event match like that on our limited stage has the same impact. Anyone who has actually promoted shows understands that. When something changes that affects another promoter’s show, you make it right. Whether that means sending talent, strengthening the card, or finding a way to return value, you don’t just create the problem and walk away from it. That didn’t happen here. And if any attempt is made now to make it right, it’s a bit too late. You meet people with grace, not chaos.”
Buck also highlighted the history between Create-A-Pro and TNA, pointing out that the promotion has previously benefited from their relationship.
“Create A Pro isn’t a competing media company. It’s a training ground that built its own platform to develop talent. No TV deal, no streaming, and we’re not attached to any bigger company, yet. Between CAP/WrestlePro, we run around 25 events a year and reinvest back into us, our leases, rings, and the equipment needed to put on shows. Equipment that, at one point, your company needed to rent to operate in this market. And at another point, when your company needed content and additional matches, talent was placed on Create A Pro and WrestlePro shows because there wasn’t enough content to support it. Did anyone let you know about a past positive relationship? Years ago your company used our students for extra work in a meaningful way. Now it looks more like carrot dangling, ring crew, and helping with catering but that’s an entirely different conversation.”
Buck also took aim directly at Silva while praising Tony Khan’s approach to the broader wrestling ecosystem.
“I’m willing to believe Carlos may not know who I am, and that’s fine. But if you’re in an executive position, you should probably understand the room you’re operating in and the etiquette that comes with it. Maybe Tony Khan can give a quick crash course on how to protect your brand while still helping the overall scene. It’s times like this I’m glad to work for someone who actually champions the entire sport, not tries to shrink it. And yeah, I’m on the payroll but these words are from experience not influence. At the end of the day, we’ll adjust like we always do. But if the goal is to grow this industry, or even your own company, this isn’t the way to do it.”
The situation extends beyond the Create-A-Pro show. Leon Slater vs. Ricochet for the Mark Hitchcock Memorial SuperShow has also been canceled due to TNA’s updated policies, and Moose was pulled from Scott D’Amore’s Maple Leaf Pro event in Las Vegas, where he was slated to face a wrestler under contract elsewhere.
MJF has also been outspoken about the situation. After calling Silva an “actively dumb motherf***er” on social media, he appeared on Busted Open Radio and added, “What Carlos Silva is doing is disgusting. And if anybody supports him or that company at this point, it is very hard for me to wrap my head around.”