- Credit: EWrestlingnews.com
- Santino Marella thought he had found an ally in Daria Rae — but that quickly proved not to be the case.
During the debut episode of Thursday Night iMPACT! on AMC, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella made an in-ring appearance to address some recent turmoil in his life. Marella spoke candidly about his daughter, Arianna Grace, turning on him and how the situation had left him struggling. He revealed that the TNA Board of Directors believed he needed assistance in his authority role and, with that, introduced Daria Rae, formerly known as Sonya Deville.
Rae initially praised Marella, seemingly positioning herself as his support. However, the tone soon shifted as she declared that TNA neither needed Marella nor his antics. Rae confidently stated that she could do his job better than he ever could — and that she fully intended to prove it.
Daria Rae spent her entire in-ring career with WWE, where her contract was not renewed in 2025. During her time there, she also held an on-screen authority role.
- TNA Wrestling has a new authority figure, and it’s Daria Rae, formerly known as Sonya Deville. Rae made her debut at the Thursday Night iMPACT! premiere on AMC, revealing that she had been brought in by the TNA Board of Directors to assist Director of Authority Santino Marella.
While Rae initially appeared to be aligned with Marella, her true intentions quickly became clear. She bluntly stated that she was there to replace him, declaring that TNA no longer needed his “silliness.”
Before concluding her segment, Rae announced that she would be introducing a new Knockout to the roster. She then unveiled Elayna Black, formerly WWE’s Cora Jade.
Black spent four years with WWE before being released in 2025. After a brief run on the independent scene and a hiatus during the summer, her appearance on iMPACT! marked her official return to professional wrestling.
- Image credit: TNA
