Being a professional wrestler is a difficult career path, but for foreign-born talent looking to work in the United States, there is an added layer of financial and logistical stress. On the Wrestling Life with Ben Veal podcast, Australian wrestler Steph De Lander opened up about the challenges of maintaining her visa status.
The High Cost of a Dream
De Lander revealed the staggering amount of money she has had to spend just to be able to legally work in the United States. “I’ve spent probably at least 25 to 30 grand on my visa in the last four years, just so I can live here,” she said. “And I don’t have a green card. I’m not a citizen. I’m still on, like, the base level… an athlete in America visa.”
Life After a WWE Release
She explained that for a foreign talent, getting released from a company like WWE creates an immediate crisis. “You are truly up a creek without a paddle when you get released as a foreigner,” she stated. “And you completely have to rely on other people to help you with that, because it’s all word of mouth. It’s all you know someone who knows someone who can help you with this… and that is the only reason why I’m still able to be in the country.”
She specifically credited fellow wrestler Chelsea Green and Matt Cardona for helping her navigate the difficult process after her own WWE release. “I will never be able to repay back Chelsea and Matt for everything that they’ve done for me, because, yeah, they really come through,” she said.
Steph De Lander is currently a featured star on TNA programming. Her journey highlights a rarely discussed aspect of the wrestling business and the hurdles that international talents must overcome to pursue their dreams in the United States. Check out the full interview below.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Wrestling Life with Ben Veal with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
