Tag: Tessa Blanchard

Tessa Blanchard’s MLW Future In Question After Signing Announcement Disappears, Removed From MLW Roster Page

Tessa Blanchard’s recently announced move to Major League Wrestling may not be as certain as it appeared just days ago.

Questions regarding Blanchard’s status with the promotion surfaced after MLW quietly removed references to her signing from its official website. The development comes shortly after the company announced that the former TNA World Champion would make her MLW debut at Fightland 2026 on September 12.

The sudden disappearance of the announcement has led to speculation about whether Blanchard’s relationship with the promotion has changed behind the scenes.

Adding another layer of uncertainty to the situation, CMLL recently clarified that Blanchard’s involvement with MLW was only intended to be a one-time appearance. According to the Mexican promotion, there is currently no broader agreement involving Blanchard, MLW, and CMLL beyond the previously announced Fightland date.

Further fueling questions is the fact that Blanchard was reportedly never added to the official Fightland lineup despite the initial announcement of her appearance. It remains unclear whether the event page simply was not updated or if plans changed after the signing news became public.

The situation is particularly noteworthy because Blanchard recently spoke publicly about her future, describing MLW as her “second home” while emphasizing that CMLL remains her primary wrestling destination.

At this point, neither MLW nor Blanchard has commented on the removal of the announcement or her disappearance from the company’s online roster page.

Until either side addresses the situation, the status of Blanchard’s planned MLW debut remains uncertain, leaving fans waiting for clarification just days before Fightland is scheduled to take place.

Tessa Blanchard Signs With MLW Following TNA Exit

Tessa Blanchard has found a new home in professional wrestling.

According to comments made during an appearance on TMZ‘s Inside the Ring podcast, Blanchard confirmed that she is set to join Major League Wrestling after departing TNA earlier this year.

“I’m going to be starting with MLW here soon, and I’m super, super excited for everything to come,” Blanchard said.

The move marks the first time in Blanchard’s career that she will compete under the MLW banner. The former TNA World Champion and Knockouts Champion indicated that she plans to make an immediate impact once she arrives, with her sights already set on the MLW Women’s World Championship, currently held by Shotzi Blackheart.

Blanchard also expressed interest in becoming a cornerstone of the promotion’s women’s division, suggesting she hopes to establish herself as one of the key faces of that roster moving forward.

An additional benefit of the deal is that it allows Blanchard to continue working with CMLL in Mexico. MLW’s working relationship with the lucha libre promotion gives her the flexibility to remain active in both organizations.

During the interview, Blanchard also addressed her departure from TNA, explaining that she was ultimately forced to choose between remaining with TNA or continuing her association with CMLL. She opted to stay with the Mexican promotion, leading to her exit from TNA.

Blanchard’s arrival adds another notable name to MLW’s growing women’s division and immediately creates a potential championship match with Shotzi.

Once regarded as one of the top female performers in North America, Blanchard’s career has experienced several highs and lows over the past several years. Despite the controversies and setbacks that impacted her career trajectory, she has remained active in professional wrestling through various promotions, including CMLL and TNA.

Now, with MLW officially in her future, Blanchard is preparing for the next chapter of her career and appears ready to make her presence felt as soon as she steps into an MLW ring.

Report: Tessa Blanchard Granted Release From TNA

TNA Wrestling’s recent wave of roster departures reportedly continues, as Tessa Blanchard is said to have parted ways with the company.

According to Fightful Select, Blanchard requested and received her release from TNA. As of this writing, TNA has not publicly commented on the report or officially confirmed her departure.

The reported exit brings an end to Blanchard’s second run with the promotion. She originally competed in TNA from 2018 to 2020, establishing herself as one of the company’s top stars during that period. Her accomplishments included reigns as Knockouts Champion and TNA World Heavyweight Champion, making her one of the most decorated performers in company history.

However, her first tenure ended under controversial circumstances. During her championship run, allegations regarding past racist behavior and bullying resurfaced, generating significant backlash. Around the same time, Blanchard was unable to appear for TNA during the COVID-19 pandemic while serving as world champion, ultimately leading to her release from the company.

When she returned to TNA in late 2024, fan reaction was mixed, with some audiences continuing to reference the previous controversy during her appearances.

Before re-signing with TNA, Blanchard had been working extensively for Mexico’s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), where she captured the CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Lluvia. Although she initially stepped away from CMLL after returning to TNA, she resumed working for the promotion in 2025 and continued making appearances there while remaining under the TNA banner.

That dual affiliation reportedly became a point of tension behind the scenes. Recent reports indicated that some within TNA were unhappy with Blanchard continuing to work for CMLL, particularly given the complex relationships between WWE, TNA, AAA, AEW, and CMLL.

One match that reportedly drew attention was Blanchard’s bout against Persephone during CMLL’s WrestleMania weekend event in April. Persephone is associated with both CMLL and AEW, and the situation reportedly created frustration among certain decision-makers connected to TNA.

While nothing has been officially confirmed, speculation has emerged that Blanchard may have been forced to choose between continuing her relationship with CMLL or remaining with TNA. If true, the report suggests she opted to continue her work in Mexico.

With Blanchard now reportedly gone, TNA has seen several notable names leave the company in recent weeks, following the reported departures of Myla Grace and former TNA World Champion Steve Maclin.

For now, fans will be waiting to see whether Blanchard addresses the situation publicly and what her next move will be as she continues her career outside of TNA.

Report: TNA Frustrated With Tessa Blanchard’s Ongoing CMLL Appearances

A new report suggests that TNA Wrestling officials are not pleased with Tessa Blanchard’s continued involvement with CMLL, adding another layer of complexity to the increasingly interconnected relationships between major wrestling promotions.

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is reportedly dissatisfaction within TNA regarding Blanchard working events for CMLL. The report claims that TNA does not want its contracted talent appearing for the Mexican promotion, despite Blanchard having maintained a presence there for several months.

Blanchard returned to TNA in late 2024 and has spent the past year and a half competing in the Knockouts division, challenging for both singles and tag team championships. At the same time, she has continued making appearances for CMLL, where she has been wrestling since October 2025.

The issue reportedly escalated during WrestleMania 42 weekend when Blanchard faced Persephone for the CMLL World Women’s Championship. While the match itself drew attention, the bigger concern behind the scenes appears to be Persephone’s connection to both CMLL and AEW.

TNA currently maintains a working relationship with WWE, and WWE’s acquisition of AAA has intensified the rivalry between AAA and CMLL. With that backdrop, Blanchard competing against a performer tied to AEW and CMLL reportedly created discomfort among some decision-makers associated with TNA.

Blanchard and Persephone had previously shared the ring in tag team matches throughout the year in Arena Mexico, but the high-profile singles encounter during WrestleMania weekend is said to have been the tipping point that sparked internal frustration.

Meltzer noted that the larger promotional battles currently involve WWE versus AEW and AAA versus CMLL, suggesting that TNA may be getting caught up in conflicts driven by larger companies. Nevertheless, the reported pressure being placed on Blanchard regarding her CMLL appearances has fueled further discussion about TNA’s position within the broader wrestling landscape.

As of this writing, neither TNA nor Blanchard has publicly commented on the report. It remains to be seen whether her future appearances with CMLL will be affected or if the situation will have any impact on her role within TNA going forward.

Backstage Details On Tessa Blanchard’s TNA Return

TNA Wrestling delivered a shocking twist at Final Resolution 2024 as Tessa Blanchard made her highly polarizing return to the company. Blanchard, whose exit in 2020 was riddled with controversy, re-emerged to attack Jordynne Grace, setting the stage for what appears to be a heated new rivalry.

During Grace’s match against Rosemary, a masked figure—draped in a ski mask and coat—interfered, blindsiding the former Knockouts Champion. The intruder revealed herself after delivering a devastating Hammerlock DDT, pulling back the mask to confirm her identity as none other than Tessa Blanchard. The crowd reacted with a mix of shock and audible disapproval as Blanchard posed confidently, signaling her intent to reclaim her spot in TNA.

Blanchard’s history with TNA Wrestling is both groundbreaking and controversial. In 2020, she made history by becoming the first woman to win the TNA World Championship after defeating Sami Callihan at Hard to Kill. However, her departure later that year turned sour after reports surfaced that she refused to return the championship belt and allegedly demanded more money to vacate the title. Compounding the controversy, allegations of bullying and racial misconduct—specifically involving wrestler La Rosa Negra—further stained her legacy.

Blanchard’s return was reportedly kept under wraps from much of the TNA roster and staff, a move likely made to avoid leaks and backlash. According to Fightful Select, sources within TNA, WWE, and AEW were in disbelief at the decision to bring Blanchard back, given her turbulent past. However, it seems TNA higher-ups are banking on her ability to move forward, with reports suggesting she is set to be on her “best behavior” for this new run.

Interestingly, Jordynne Grace has been at the center of the situation, both as Blanchard’s first target and as part of TNA’s larger plans. With Grace rumored to be leaving the company soon—alongside Josh Alexander and “Speedball” Mike Bailey—Blanchard’s return appears to be a strategic move to fill a looming void in TNA’s roster.

Not everyone in the locker room is thrilled about the decision. Grace, in particular, has reportedly pushed back against the idea of working with Blanchard, and it remains to be seen how the rest of the TNA roster will respond. Still, there are some within the company who remain friends with Blanchard and believe her fresh start could be successful if handled correctly.

The decision to bring Blanchard back was not influenced by new Anthem Sports President Carlos Silva, who recently stepped into the role. Instead, the move reportedly came from an unnamed Anthem higher-up, signaling that Blanchard’s return has been in the works for some time.

With her reintroduction as a heel, it’s clear TNA is leaning into Blanchard’s divisive reputation to fuel her character. The question now is whether fans—and the locker room—will embrace this second chapter for one of the most controversial figures in modern wrestling.

During a post-attack comment, she reminded the fans “who the company was built upon.”

TNA Final Resolution 12/13/2024 (Results) – Return Of Tessa Blanchard

Pre-Show Results

  • Johnny Dango Curtis def. Leon Slater
    Johnny Dango Curtis kept Leon Slater grounded early with some old-school grinding offense, aiming to neutralize the high flyer. Slater eventually found his rhythm, hitting some impressive dives, but his attempt at a swanton 450 missed the mark. Seizing the moment, Dango rolled up Slater with his feet on the ropes for the underhanded victory.
  • Jake Something Goes Solo
    It was announced that Alexander Hammerstone was injured and unable to compete in the tag match. Jake Something brushed off concerns about finding a new partner, boldly declaring he’d fight on his own.
  • Frankie Kazarian def. Jonathan Gresham
    Jonathan Gresham’s technical prowess gave him control for much of the match, but Frankie Kazarian had tricks up his sleeve. After a slingshot cutter and a failed attempt to cheat with his feet on the ropes, Kaz found another way—thumbing Gresham in the eye before locking in a chickenwing submission. Gresham had no choice but to tap.

Final Resolution Results

  • X-Division Championship: Moose (c) def. Kushida
    Moose dominated early, slamming Kushida into steel steps and powerbombing him onto the apron, leaving him motionless. As the referee’s count neared 10, Moose arrogantly stopped the count to inflict more punishment. However, Kushida dodged Moose’s charging attack, sending the champ crashing into the steps. Kushida targeted Moose’s left arm, expertly wearing him down with precision submissions. Despite the pain, Moose powered through with one arm, eventually landing a dropkick to intercept Kushida’s handspring elbow and finishing with a devastating Spear to retain the title.
  • The Rascalz def. Sami Callihan & PCO and Jake Something
    With Hammerstone out, Jake Something went solo in this three-way tag bout. Jake showcased his resilience, powerbombing everyone in sight. But in the end, the Rascalz’s speed gave them the edge. Zachary Wentz hit a flying stomp on Jake, followed by Trey Miguel securing the pinfall.

Mystery Continues
Post-match, Sami Callihan showed respect to the Rascalz, but the eerie “23 mystery” video played again, teasing answers but delivering none. Callihan grew visibly agitated, accusing the Rascalz of being behind the cryptic messages.

  • Ace Austin def. Trent Seven
    Trent Seven disrespected Ace Austin by tearing up a Chris Bey t-shirt after a powerbomb. That lit a fire under Austin, who rallied back. Seven nearly had it won after a Burning Hammer on the apron and a piledriver, but Ace shocked everyone by kicking out. Channeling Bey’s spirit, Ace hit the Art of Finesse and followed up with The Fold to secure the win.
  • Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary Ends in Chaos
    Jordynne Grace appeared to have the upper hand, nearly sealing the victory with a musclebuster. Just as the referee counted, someone yanked him out of the ring.

Tessa Blanchard Returns
The masked attacker revealed herself as Tessa Blanchard, making her presence felt with a hammerlock DDT on Grace. Backstage, Tessa declared her intentions: she’s back to reclaim what’s hers.

https://x.com/ThisIsTNA/status/1867754696053539171

Jordynne Grace responded about the attack from Tess Blanchard later in a backstage interview.

  • #1 Contender Match: Joe Hendry def. Josh Alexander, Mike Santana, and Steve Maclin
    In a chaotic four-way clash, Josh Alexander resorted to underhanded tactics, zip-tying Santana to the barricade and landing a low blow on Steve Maclin. Before Alexander could seal the win with the C4 Piledriver, Joe Hendry intervened, hoisting Alexander up for the Standing Ovation slam to claim the victory. Hendry now has a world title shot at Genesis on January 19.
  • Knockouts Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) def. Tasha Steelz (Falls Count Anywhere)
    With Alisha Edwards ejected from ringside, Masha Slamovich and Tasha Steelz brawled all over the arena. The final moments unfolded on the entrance ramp, where Slamovich countered a cutter, sent Steelz into the ropes, and delivered a vicious knee strike. She followed up with a piledriver on the ramp for the decisive win.
  • TNA World Tag Team Championship: The Hardys (c) def. Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards (Tables Match)
    In a brutal tables match, both members of the opposing team had to be put through tables to win. Myers went first after a double-team crucifix slam, but Matt Hardy evened the score with a Twist of Fate on Myers through a table. The action escalated into the stands, where Jeff Hardy delivered the highlight of the night—a Swanton Bomb off the upper deck to drive Eddie Edwards through a table for the win.
  • TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) def. “Top Dolla” AJ Francis
    Nic Nemeth started fast, but KC Navarro’s interference allowed AJ Francis to take control. Navarro was eventually ejected, but Francis continued his dominance. On a chokeslam attempt, Nemeth countered mid-air into a Fameasser, then sealed the deal with a superkick and The Danger Zone to retain the title.

Post-Match Showdown
After the match, Navarro returned to attack Nemeth, with Francis ready to deliver more punishment. Joe Hendry ran in for the save, clearing the ring. Tensions escalated as both Hendry and Nemeth grabbed the world title simultaneously, engaging in a heated tug-of-war and intense trash talk to close the show.

Tessa Blanchard Is Coming To CMLL

Tessa Blanchard will be appearing at the CMLL Women’s Grand Prix.

CMLL took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce that Blanchard will be teaming up with Stephanie Vaquer, Zeuxis, La Catalina, Johnnie Robbie, Makoto, Sumie Sakai, and Mei Suruga on Team World for the Grand Prix.

The team will face off against Marcela, Lluvia, La Jarochita, Reyna Isis, Dark Silueta, Skadi, Hera, and Sanley in Team Mexico.

https://twitter.com/CMLL_OFICIAL/status/1709714977399984384

Backstage News On Tessa Blanchard – WOW

As we’ve noted, Tessa Blanchard and WOW Wrestling reportedly had a falling out ahead of the promotion’s re-launch.

It was alleged that during a mid-April class, Blanchard cut a promo on Samantha Sage, who is known as Americana. The promo reportedly saw Blanchard “tear apart” Sage, which led to other trainees speaking up.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, Tessa Blanchard is not figured into WOW’s plans and she was not at their recent tapings. It was not told officially that she was fired.

While issues between Tessa Blanchard and WOW were first learned in mid-April, sources noted that they had witnessed friction as far back as January.

Blanchard was reportedly “livid” that a planned January tryout was canceled by CBS due to COVID, with David McLane getting the finger pointed at him. Blanchard reportedly believed they could have done a tryout via Zoom or at an isolated school.

One source told the outlet, that things had to have gotten bad between David McLane and Tessa Blanchard because he was consistently on her side for years, even through multiple controversies.

Sources within the company also revealed that WOW was even able to lure back some people that swore they’d never work with Blanchard again only to see “more of the same.” Tessa’s attitude initially was chalked up to just being “passionate” among the higher-ups.

After the initial Fightful report was published, several people reached out to suggest that there could be legal recourse between the two sides and they were concerned about potentially being involved in it.

It was also revealed in the report that AJ Lee was at the recent tapings and worked commentary. After the tapings, a company-wide email went out informing staff that the scheduled early June tapings will be postponed due to a positive COVID test.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tessa Blanchard Has Falling Out With WOW Wrestling, Status With Company Uncertain

Tessa Blanchard may be done with WOW Wrestling after a reported falling out between the two sides.

What many deemed to be inevitable seems to have happened. According to a report by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightflul, WOW talent have claimed to Fightful Select that Tessa Blanchard recently had a falling out with the company and her status with the promotion going forward is uncertain.

Ironically, when WOW Wrestling announced that Blanchard was going to be part of their upstart promotion, something that was seen by fans and insiders as both a huge get, but also a risk, they quickly promoted a t-shirt design with the word “nuclear” on it. The hint was that Blanchard had nuclear heat with all the big wrestling promotions and that she was unhireable. WOW was going to take a chance and make her a big part of their plans. It appears to have backfired.

https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1521912386587926531

After she deactivated her social media account, reports are that a fallout occurred between the two parties. As a result, her status for this week’s tapings is unclear and if she doesn’t appear, it will indicate that she might be done with the promotion. Much of what is going on backstage is being kept tight-lipped and because those who work for WOW signed a non-disclosure agreement there isn’t a lot of detail forthcoming. What is believed to be the situation is that Blanchard might have seen herself as someone with more power than she actually has and that could have been the root of the issue.

One source alleges that Blanchard tore into wrestler Samantha Sage during an acting class and other talents spoke up about how uncomfortable it was. The acting classes were canceled from that point until further notice and Blanchard’s involvement was apparently decreased. Another source suggested that Blanchard is no longer a trainer in the promotion, her role being given to Selina Majors. Many think that Blanchard is gone from WOW and an announcement will follow.

Social media has been flooded with comments about the news, many people suggesting no one has dropped the ball more with her career than Blanchard has. Despite being given multiple opportunities and having a ton of natural talent, she can’t seem to stop herself from being her own worst enemy. Attitude issues, problems with other talents and allegations of prejudice have followed her around for the past few years.

Source: TheSportster

Tessa Blanchard Reportedly Returning To Action Soon With Relaunch Of The “WOW: Women of Wrestling” promotion.

Tessa Blanchard is reportedly planning a return to action soon.

After a year and a half as a free agent and much speculation on her future, Fightful Select reports that Blanchard is scheduled to work for a planned relaunch of the “WOW: Women of Wrestling” promotion.

A press conference to announce the WOW return is scheduled for Wednesday night. Word is that a roster is not in place yet, and the relaunch won’t occur imminently, but it is in the works.

There’s no word on if Tessa has actually signed a contract yet, but she is set to be involved with the project.

Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss is attached to the WOW project as she technically still owns the promotion. Several former WOW talents have not heard of the relaunch, and have not been contacted to be a part of the roster. Some former WOW talents have not heard from WOW creator David McLane since last year when they were e-mailed and asked to not post in regards to controversies of bullying allegations surrounding Blanchard.

The WOW relaunch itself has been known among some within women’s wrestling circles for a few months now as several names have been contacted to work the project, but none ended up agreeing to be a part of the roster outside of Blanchard.

Tessa had been WOW World Champion from the February 15, 2019 episode until dropping the title to The Beast on the November 23, 2019 episode. It was announced last summer that WOW and AXS TV had parted ways.

Blanchard has been away from pro wrestling for the most part since finishing up with Impact Wrestling last year, leaving the promotion as World Champion as her contract was terminated days before it was set to expire. She became a free agent more than 18 months ago. It was reported in December that she was still celebrating her marriage to Daga, and had not decided on her future in the business. It was then rumored earlier this year that Tessa and Daga were in talks with AEW or headed to AEW, but nothing ever came of it. Tessa also had talks with the NWA at one point in the last year, but nothing came of those discussions.

Tessa has not wrestled since dropping the Warrior Wrestling Women’s Title to Kylie Rae in September 2020.

Source: Wrestling Inc.