why did ash by elegance relinquish her title

Ash By Elegance relinquished her TNA Knockouts World Championship title because she announced that she is stepping away from in-ring competition and is no longer able to compete. She cited personal reasons and expressed that "life throws you some curveballs," but did not provide a detailed explanation for her decision. The announcement came at the TNA Victory Road event on September 26, 2025, where she emotionally stated she had to forfeit the title with a heavy heart. This decision was made shortly after a scheduled title defense was canceled due to ongoing domestic abuse allegations against her intended opponent, Masha Slamovich. Following Ash's relinquishment of the title, TNA held a battle royal to determine the new champion.