Perch & Carlie Bravo Alleges Past Disparaging Comments Made By Tommy Dreamer Towards Them, Mickie James Defends Dreamer

As noted before, TNA Head of Talent Relations and booker Tommy Dreamer departed from TNA Wrestling this past Wednesday. Dreamer’s departure was later confirmed by TNA to be part of a larger workplace reductions taking place within the company.

Indies referee Perch recently claimed in a three-part post on Twitter that Dreamer had made “discouraging” comments at him backstage during his time in TNA. Perch claimed that Dreamer had told him that “he would do everything he could to make sure I don’t earn a job in the wrestling business.”

“Tommy Dreamer pulled me aside backstage at a TNA show, telling me he would do everything he could to make sure I don’t earn a job in the wrestling business. All I did was try to learn and grow from experiences, though his words were very discouraging for a young student to hear.

I didn’t set out to prove him wrong, I simply thanked him for their advice and went another direction. The pro wrestling business is for everybody, you just have to find where you fit in best. Don’t perform just for someone else’s ideal vision, perform out of your own passion!!

Take critique like a professional and thank them for their time. However don’t allow someone to ‘coercive’ you. Share your burning desire to succeed in the pro wrestling business with others who appreciate you

This is a community, not a tyranny.”

Tommy Dreamer pulled me aside backstage at a TNA show, telling me he would do everything he could to make sure I don’t earn a job in the wrestling business. All I did was try to learn and grow from experiences, though his words were very discouraging for a young student to hear pic.twitter.com/mcTpRGlwKT

— Perch (@PerchXLV) June 20, 2026

Take critique like a professional and thank them for their time. However don’t allow someone to ‘coercive’ you. Share your burning desire to succeed in the pro wrestling business with others who appreciate you! This is a community, not a tyranny😄✨🩵

— Perch (@PerchXLV) June 20, 2026

Following Perch’s tweet, AEW and Ring of Honor talent Carlie Bravo also gave his account of a backstage incident he had with Dreamer. Bravo claimed Dreamer had told him that he couldn’t hire him to join TNA since “he didn’t know if he could market ‘cocky black guy’ to the world.”

“He told me I was very talented but couldn’t hire me cuz “he didn’t know if he could market ‘cocky black guy’ to the world”.

Needless to say, I’m on top of the game and never changed one bit.

Run it up. Fuck what anybody else says.”

He told me I was very talented but couldn't hire me cuz "he didn't know if he could market 'cocky black guy' to the world".

Needless to say,
I'm on top of the game and never changed one bit.

Run it up.
Fuck what anybody else says. https://t.co/oTHwR5JbTH

— Bad News & Tattoos (@CarlieBravo) June 20, 2026

In response to Perch’s tweet, TNA Hall of Famer Mickie James defended Dreamer stating that he was loved and respected by many within the wrestling industry and claimed that Perch was conveniently leaving out a lot to his story to make Dreamer look bad.

“Perch, listen, I don’t know you. But I do know [Tommy Dreamer] well enough to know that “if” he truly said this. There is far more to this story that you are conveniently leaving out. If you are going into come on here & attempt to bury someone. Especially someone who is as loved, respected, and responsible for helping soooooo many folks, including myself, in this industry. Then at least be completely honest. I understand you want to speak “your truth” & possibly gain a bit of recognition by jumping on the bandwagon, however if this is your path of 15 seconds of [X] buzz … at least have the common decency to speak “the whole truth”. This ain’t it, it’s also pretty dumb because Tommy will always have a job in the business. I don’t know if I can say the same for you. Have a blessed day.”

Perch, listen, I don’t know you. But I do know @THETOMMYDREAMER well enough to know that “if” he truly said this. There is far more to this story that you are conveniently leaving out. If you are going into come on here & attempt to bury someone. Especially someone who is as… https://t.co/dZGVvji99W

— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) June 20, 2026

In a response from someone who told James that Perch’s tweet was a three-part story and she only responded to the first part, James stated “lol. True.“

lol. True

— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) June 20, 2026