AEW President Tony Khan has confirmed that Tay Melo’s request to be released from the corporate can be granted.
Throughout the media call ahead of the AEW Redemption 2026 pay-per-view event, Khan was asked about Melo’s status following reports regarding her future with the promotion.
Bryan Alvarez had previously reported that Melo requested her release from AEW in 2025, but that the request was denied.
Addressing the report, Khan clarified that Melo did ask to be released, however the request got here after the June 6, 2026 episode of AEW Collision, where she and Anna Jay unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships.
Based on Khan, Melo told him that she desired to step away from skilled wrestling. In response, he said he would honor her wishes and grant her release from AEW. He said,
“With Tay (Melo), also loads of inaccurate things I saw about Tay, and to be honest, on this case, there was smoke to the fireplace but people were reporting the fireplace within the incorrect place, so what does that actually accomplish? And with Tay, Tay had said she desired to step away from wrestling. She has said, ‘I like AEW and I like the people here but I desired to step away from AEW and step away from wrestling,’ and that’s what she told me. That wasn’t in 2025. That was weeks ago at Collision after she wrestled against the Divine Dominion, and she or he got here to me after the match, and said, ‘I would really like a release,’ and I used to be shocked, and we had a really nice talk. It’s far on the contrary of what I’ve seen reported about this being last yr or that it’s been an ongoing thing, and I heard from Tay this week and she or he said she’s not putting those reports out and it really bothered her, and we haven’t had an unpleasant conversation ever. I’ve all the time had a excellent relationship with Tay, and she or he has asked about stepping away recently. It hasn’t been an extended thing and likewise, I haven’t kept her here. Since that talk, I haven’t brought her back, booked her, and I’m gonna’ give Tay that release.”
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