Tessa Blanchard
Discover the story of Tessa Blanchard — a third-generation American wrestler born July 26, 1995. Explore her upbringing, rise in wrestling, controversies, legacy, and motivational quotes.
Introduction
Tessa Blanchard is a polarizing yet undeniably influential figure in contemporary professional wrestling. As a third-generation wrestler, she carries the weight of a storied name while carving out her own path. Her career has included major achievements — including making history as the first woman to win a men’s world wrestling title in certain promotions — as well as controversies and departures. Her journey is a potent mix of ambition, talent, struggle, and resilience.
Early Life and Family
Tessa Blanchard was born on July 26, 1995, in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. She is a member of a prominent wrestling family: her father is Tully Blanchard, her grandfather is promoter Joe Blanchard, and her stepfather is Magnum T. A.
When she was about four years old, following her parents’ separation, she moved with her mother and stepfather. From a young age, Tessa showed interest in performance arts: she studied musical theatre, participated in Shakespeare recitations, and acted in school productions. She was also active in athletics in high school.
After high school, she briefly attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte but eventually left to pursue her wrestling ambitions. She supported herself through various jobs (like bartending and waiting tables) while planning for her entry into the ring.
Her formal wrestling training began at Highspots Wrestling School in Charlotte in 2013 under veteran trainer George South.
Youth and Training
As Tessa honed her skills, she maintained a certain secrecy about her aspirations. For months she trained without informing her father or stepfather; eventually, after about six to eight months, she disclosed her plans to them.
Her ambition was clear early on. She said:
“It was something I did on my own … I had been training for six to eight months before I told my dad and my step-dad.”
She also remarked:
“I put pressure on myself to be the best and to carry on the Blanchard name with dignity and with pride.”
She tried out for WWE in 2014 but did not receive an offer at that point.
Career and Achievements
Early & Independent Circuit (2014–2016)
Tessa’s professional debut took place on June 13, 2014 in the independent scene. She competed in multiple promotions — ECWA, WSU, Shine, Lucha Underground, Stardom (in Japan) — and took part in matches that showcased her versatility.
She won the ECWA Super 8 ChickFight Tournament in 2014. She also engaged in intergender matches and mixed tag matches, pushing boundaries in a sport often segregated by gender.
She wrestled in World Wonder Ring Stardom (Japan) — making it to finals in the 5-Star Grand Prix in 2016.
Impact Wrestling (2018–2020)
In 2018, Tessa joined Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA). She initially made her mark by winning the Knockouts Championship (the women’s title) in August 2018. She defended it against several challengers, including Su Yung.
Tension and feuds followed — including matchups with Taya Valkyrie, Gail Kim, and others.
Her most historic achievement came on January 12, 2020, when she defeated Sami Callihan to win the Impact World Championship, thus becoming the first woman in Impact history to hold the world title (which had been predominantly male).
However, her reign was short-lived. She made just one successful defense (against Taya Valkyrie) before being stripped of the title when her contract was terminated in June 2020, around the time the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted operations.
Work in Mexico, AAA, CMLL & Beyond
After leaving Impact, Tessa worked in Mexican wrestling promotions like AAA (Lucha Libre) and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL). She captured titles such as the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship and also held a CMLL World Women’s Tag Team Championship (with partner Lluvia).
She has also been a champion in The Crash (The Crash Women’s Champion) and words say she held the WOW World Championship in the Women of Wrestling promotion.
Beyond wrestling, Tessa served as the stunt double for actress Florence Pugh in the film Fighting With My Family, portraying the wrestler Paige.
Controversies and Challenges
Tessa’s career is marked not only by achievements but also by controversies. In January 2020, multiple female wrestlers made allegations against her, accusing her of bullying and racism — including an incident where she allegedly spat on a Puerto Rican wrestler and used racist language. Blanchard publicly denied many of these claims, though some details remain contested.
Her exit from Impact coincided with both the pandemic and the growing backlash. After leaving the U.S. scene, she relocated to Mexico and continued wrestling in Latin America for a time.
In more recent years, her return to TNA (Impact Wrestling) in late 2024 drew critical attention from fans and wrestling insiders, given her past controversies and the surprise nature of her re-entry.
Legacy and Influence
Despite the turbulence, Tessa Blanchard’s career adds several dimensions to wrestling history:
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Pioneer of Gender Crossover
By becoming the first woman to win a major world title in a promotion typically dominated by men, she pushed boundaries around gender roles in wrestling. -
Multi-cultural Wrestling Presence
Her work across U.S. and Mexican promotions shows her adaptability and appeal across wrestling cultures. -
Legacy Carrier
As part of the Blanchard family, she continues to contribute to a multi-generational narrative in Western pro wrestling. -
Complex Symbol
Her life — full of triumphs and controversies — is a reminder that public legacies are rarely simple. Her journey provokes debate about accountability, redemption, and the cost of fame.
Personality, Strengths & Wrestling Style
Tessa is known for her intense ambition and a willingness to shoulder pressure. She has said that she sets high standards for herself and strives to honor her family name with pride.
Her in-ring style is dynamic: a mix of power, technical skill, agility, and risk moves. She’s competed in intergender matches, which requires versatility and confidence.
She is also resilient: after career setbacks, she reentered the ring and continued to pursue her goals in foreign markets, showing psychological toughness.
At times, she has spoken about balancing identity and reputation — how public narratives sometimes distort reality, and how she has had to confront “her side” of stories.
Famous Quotes & Insights
Here are some of Tessa Blanchard’s notable quotes:
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“It was something I did on my own … I had been training for six to eight months before I told my dad and my step-dad.”
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“I put pressure on myself to be the best and to carry on the Blanchard name with dignity and with pride.”
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“Being lean doesn’t make you any more worthy, any more beautiful or any more valuable.”
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“I want to become one of the most versatile wrestlers in the world.”
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“Both my stepdad and my dad have said, ‘Follow your heart and your dreams, but Tessa, this is a business and you need to become the best.’ They don’t sugarcoat things and I’m very, very blessed for that.”
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“Carrying on the Blanchard name is a huge honor for me because my grandfather, my father and my step-father — they’ve all put a lot into their legacy and for me to carry that on, it’s a lot of weight on my shoulders.”
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“Honestly, the All In women’s locker room was such an inspirational group of women. What I love about all the women involved … is we all bring something so different to the table for a common vision.”
These lines reveal her drive, awareness of legacy, and respect for community.
Lessons from Tessa Blanchard
Tessa Blanchard’s story offers multiple lessons:
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Legacy is a gift and a challenge
Being born into a wrestling family opened doors, but also set high expectations and scrutiny. -
Ambition must be coupled with integrity
Pursuing greatness demands accountability, especially in public arenas. -
Versatility matters
Her ability to cross gender lines, styles, countries, and promotions enhanced her reach and resilience. -
Resilience through adversity
Facing backlash, off-ring controversies, and professional roadblocks, she has repeatedly shown capacity to come back and adapt. -
Voices on both sides
Public narratives are complicated. While fans may see controversy, performers live the nuance. Her attempts to state her own side of stories underscore complexity in public life. -
Personal evolution is continuous
Reinvention, learning, and renewed ambition remain possible even after setbacks.
Conclusion
Tessa Blanchard is a figure of contrasts: decorated champion, controversial persona, boundary-pushing performer. Her life and career are not easily categorized, but they are undeniably compelling. She represents both the excitement and pitfalls of modern wrestling stardom.
Whether one views her as a trailblazer, a cautionary tale, or a complex mix of both, her impact is felt. For fans, analysts, and aspiring wrestlers, her journey is instructive: to lead in a ring, one must master more than technique — one must wrestle identity, expectation, and redemption.