Tag: Tessa Blanchard

Impact Wrestling Terminates Tessa Blanchard’s Contract

Impact Wrestling has terminated Tessa Blanchard’s contract and stripped her of the Impact World Championship, according to PWInsider.

Tessa was originally going to defend the Impact World title at Slammiversary on July 18 against Eddie Edwards, Ace Austin, and Trey. The match was going to be her first match since COVID-19. She has been stuck in Mexico due to the pandemic and missed several empty arena TV tapings.

PWInsider also reports that Tessa was supposed to send promos from Mexico for a June episode of Impact, but she never sent them. Reportedly there were even attempts made to get her to return and drop the Impact World Championship, but neither side would come to terms.

Tessa Blanchard won the Impact World Championship earlier in January at the Hard to Kill PPV after defeating then-champion Sami Callihan. She became the first woman to win the title.

Below is Impact’s statement that was originally sent to PWInsider:

Impact Wrestling confirmed that it has terminated its relationship with Tessa Blanchard and stripped her of the Impact Wrestling World Championship.

Booker T Says Tessa Blanchard’s World Title Win “Is The Worst Idea” In Impact Wrestling History

Tessa Blanchard made Impact Wrestling history at Hard to Kill this past Sunday by becoming the first woman to win the Impact World Championship by defeating Sami Callihan. Booker T gave his thoughts on Blanchard’s title win on The Hall of Fame with Booker T & Brad Gilmore.

“Those guys look like they’re just trying to find their spot,” Booker said. “They’re still trying to find a niche.”

“I’m not holding my judgement on it. Big ups to Tessa Blanchard because she’s good. She’s really good at what she does, but this is the worst idea for Impact Wrestling in the history of the company,” Booker T said. “It really is that bad. It’s worse than paying me 10 grand for six-hour power commercial that never aired.”

Booker T gave his reason for why he thought the decision was bad. Gilmore also made a comment about having separation within the men’s and women’s divisions.

“Because now all the men in the company, if they wrestle her and she beats them it diminishes every guy in the company. I mean who’s the top guy in the company now? I cannot see ‘The Man’ Becky Lynch wrestling Samoa Joe or Brock Lesnar,” Booker T said. “I mean this is the worst idea in the history of wrestling. It really is. It makes me question and wonder if somebody tried to blow this thing up on purpose like somebody said, ‘let’s see how bad we can mess this up.’

“My thing is this, if Tessa Blanchard went back and wrestled the women, she should be able to beat all of them. The woman that beats her should be able to go out and beat the men too. The crossover intergender wrestling is something for independent companies. If they want to be looked at as an indie group, keep doing stuff like this.”

Booker T continued to explain why he thought Impact’s move was a bad one by bringing up Ronda Rousey vs. Jon Jones. He also talked about real-life implications like domestic violence.

“I don’t think this is what empowering women is meant to be. I really don’t think so because I’m not saying Ronda Rousey is not a tough woman, but if you put Ronda Rousey in there with Jon Jones, watch what happens. You put her in there with the lower level men, watch what happens to her or Amanda Nunes with the top [guys],” Booker T said. “You don’t want to start blurring those types of lines when it comes to performance especially when it comes to men and women these days. Normally, when a man hits a woman, he goes to jail. I don’t want to see a man put their hands on my sisters. Even as tough as my sisters are, I’m not gonna have that, and to actually see it play and to see someone think this is a good idea for television, for a man and a woman to be fighting, it’s ridiculous.”

Booker T addressed potential backlash to his reaction. He clarifies that his reaction comes from his experience in the industry and what he sought after.

“People can look at it and say what they want to say about it, but for me, it’s not something that I would ever have on my Reality of Wrestling. And people can say, ‘aw man he’s outdated. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.’ It’s not that at all,” Booker T said. “I look at it from what I’ve done in this business as a performance, but I try to make it as realistic as possible. I’ve never seen a female boxer fight a male boxer. I would take Roger Federer of Serena Williams. I’m serious. I’d take Novak Djokovic over Serena Williams just because the guy’s overpowering, and that’s what normally happens in a fight between a man and a woman.”

Source: Wrestling Inc. with credit to The Hall Of Fame With Booker T & Brad Gilmore

Tessa Blanchard Releases Another Statement Denying Racial Slur Accusation

Impact Wrestling World champ Tessa Blanchard has released another statement in which she denies a past alleged incident of calling another wrestler the n-word.

Blanchard released a statement on Thursday saying:

“Over the last week I have been accused of calling a fellow wrestler a racial slur. To read this allegation has been personally upsetting. To be clear, I absolutely did not use that word. That word is not in my vocabulary. That word is not in my heart. Racism is not in my heart.

Yet I know many people have to deal with racism in a way I will never have to. Racism is an awful part of American history, and it is equally awful that its still part of our society today. While I did not do what was claimed, I stand ready to use my platform to support the fight against racism however I can.”

As we previously reported, ex-Impact star Sienna aka Allysin Kay went public over the weekend about an incident that took place in Japan in 2017 involving Tessa and a wrestler named Black Rose. According to Sienna, Tessa called Black Rose the n-word in the locker room and spit in her face.

The woman in question has since done an interview backing Allysin’s claims.

Other women have also come forward saying they had knowledge of the incident, including AEW wrestler Big Swole who said she’s been trying to deal with the situation in private since last year.

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Tessa Blanchard Responds To Bullying Accusations, More Female Talent Speak Out

NWA World Women’s Champion Allysin Kay, Chelsea Green, and Priscilla Kelly took to Twitter, blasting Tessa Blanchard after the Impact start tweeted out, “Hey women, try supporting one another. Cool things happen.”

NXT Superstar Chelsea Green responded, “You’ve consistently put down, bullied, and belittled countless female coworkers, including me. Is that support?”

Blanchard has since responded to Green’s bully comment, writing, “I’ve never been anything but kind to u. I’ve dealt with mean girls since I started…not saying I’m a saint, hell I’ve had my ups & downs & I’ve made silly decisions…Such is life. u have ZERO merit in your comments…Instead putting me down here for a little clout…you’ve got my #!”

Kay brought up claims about Blanchard during a trip to Japan, “Remember when you spat in a black woman’s face and called her the N-word in Japan? Was that you ‘supporting women’? The AUDACITY of this tweet.” Green responded to Kay with a .gif that said, “I remember that.”

In regards to Kay’s story, Blanchard wrote, “Not true. That’s my statement and the most attention I’ll give it because of how actually ridiculous it is.”

Puerto Rican wrestler, Black Rose, has since responded, thanking Kay and Green, while also saying the story happened in 2017. Rose worked for Stardom in 2015 and 2017. Blanchard also worked for Stardom in 2016 and 2017.

“@Sienna & @ImChelseaGreen Thank you so much!…That story!…Yes, that’s happens on Japan 2017! If Tessa Blanchard do not Remember it…Can I! I am not a mean girl with any coworkers around the world. Be kind of #racist is not ridiculous is a #sickness.”

Additional wrestlers have chimed in over the last couple hours, including NXT UK’s Isa Dawn writing to Blanchard, “As someone who experienced your bullying firsthand, received regular verbal abuse, was spat on, had rumours spread about me, dealt with multiple attempts by you to blacklist me from other companies, (plus more), I just pray you now follow your own advice.”

Fellow Impact star, Moose, was in support of Blanchard, writing to both Kay and Green, “I guess you and @ImChelseaGreen are absolute angels with a clean past. The timing of these tweets from you guys shows a lot about your characters.”

Former Impact star Rebel (Tanea Brooks), AEW’s Shanna, and Renee Michelle had more to say about Blanchard’s trip to Japan.

“I like to think people change over time. But I can confirm the bad behavior & non supportive attitude in Japan, I was there,” Rebel wrote.

“She did more nasty stuff in Japan…Never forget. Practice what you preach sweetheart. I standby @LaAbusadoradePR, she’s a fun loving person who would never disrespect anyone. Much love to you Rosa,” Shanna commented.

“The day I got the call from my gf La Rosa Negra of the incident-she made me promise to keep my mouth shut because she was afraid of being blacked ball by her. As promised, I did. So I helped her get into Marvelous which is another Japanese promotion,” Michelle revealed.

Allysin Kay followed up on why she’s telling the story about Blanchard now, saying she was given permission to make it public.

“The reason I’ve never said anything until now is because it wasn’t my story to tell. I made it clear to La Rosa that I had her back, and today was the day she gave me permission. You can’t force someone to come forward, but you can be there for them. THAT is ‘supporting women.'”

 

Tessa Blanchard is the new Impact World Champion after defeating Sami Callihan via pinfall at last night’s Impact Hard to Kill PPV in Dallas, Texas.

The PPV ended relatively quickly as Blanchard celebrated with the title, but she spoke to the live crowd about her win.

“Over the past eight months this has been my life, Sami and oVe has been the thorn in my side, and tonight, we did it,” Blanchard said. “Nobody, nobody in this life is perfect. We’re all human. And it doesn’t matter what you say about me it doesn’t matter what you call me. I have one of the strongest minds that I’ve ever known. So, whenever you come for me, you come for all of these people. I am now the standard bearer of Impact Wrestling. And man or woman, pound for pound, I am one of the best in the world and I am now your World Champion!”

Blanchard looked to somewhat address the recent controversy about her that came to light on social media yesterday.

Impact didn’t have Blanchard talk at Saturday’s Media Day.

Tonight, a handful of other PPV winners weren’t available to speak to the media after their respective matches. Blanchard also didn’t have a presser after her big victory.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Tessa Blanchard Gets Engaged To Fellow Impact Wrestling Star Daga

Top Impact Wrestling star Tessa Blanchard will be planning for another big event soon. While in Playas de Rosarito, she got engaged to fellow wrestler Daga.

Tessa stated in an Instagram post, “My whole heart for my whole life. ??”

Daga also works for Impact Wrestling. Their relationship has not yet been mentioned during Impact Wrestling programming.

Blanchard is currently scheduled to face Sami Callihan for the Impact World Championship at January’s Hard to Kill event. During an interview on Wrestling Inc.’s WINCLY podcast earlier this year, Daga spoke about if he gets nervous with Blanchard competing in intergender matches.

“Yeah, but I also feel that she is the best in the world,” revealed DAGA. “I’m worried but I know she can handle any style.

“This is wrestling – it’s not a ballet. I enjoy the matches that she’s involved in and I’m her No. 1 fan.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5GQQH5Ausb/?utm_source=ig_embed

Source: Wrestling Inc.