Controversial WWE Legend’s Daughter Released
The daughter of a controversial ex-WWE star has been released from her promotion.
Tessa Blanchard is the daughter of Tully Blanchard, who had a short stint with the Stamford promotion in the late 1980s. Tully represented the company from 1988 to 89, with his run abruptly ending after failing a drug test. At the time, he was aligned with Arn Anderson as the Brain Busters and managed by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
Like Tully, Tessa, too, has had her run-in with controversies. She competed in WWE multiple times between 2016 and 2017 on NXT as well as in the Mae Young Classic, where she was eliminated in the first round by Kairi Sane.
After competing in Japan, she returned to the United States and joined TNA in 2018. Her first stint lasted till 2020, becoming a one-time Impact Knockouts Champion and an Impact World Champion.
She was released by TNA after she refused to return to the States from Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic to fulfil her contractual obligations.
While representing CMLL in 2024, she returned to Total Nonstop Action at Final Resolution, a decision that was negatively received by fans due to her “racist” behavior in the past.
A report by Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp revealed that she had asked for her release from TNA, which was granted, although no official reason was given.
While she continues to be employed by CMLL, speculations are rife that the Mexican promotion gave her the choice to select between themselves and TNA, leading her to choose the former. TNA has an ongoing business relationship with WWE, which owns AAA Lucha Libre, CMLL’s long-standing rival.
Ex-WWE Star Gail Kim Reveals Truth About Her Influence In Tessa Blanchard’s TNA Push
Amid Tessa Blanchard’s yet another controversial release from Total Nonstop Action, former WWE Women’s Champion Gail Kim is pushing back on reports claiming that she was the driving force behind the 30-year-old’s push in the company.
As fans discussed Tessa’s latest departure, one fan singled out Kim, claiming that she was supportive of Blanchard’s return despite her controversial past.
“Good, and I still give Gail Kim the side eye for advocating for her so hard to her come back, all because her racism and bullying weren’t towards anyone Asians cause that’s clearly the only time she cares,” the fan wrote on X.
In response, the former WWE star stated that she never advocated for Blanchard’s return, rejecting the accusation.
Wrong. I never advocated for her. I just didn’t fight giving her a second chance to everyone who wanted to bring her in. Not every decision around the KO division was made by me just so everyone is clear on that. I was TR and a producer. I never did creative either. Don’t speak on matters you actually don’t know anything about.
Being part of a process bc it was my job is different from advocating hard.
Kim’s response shows her acknowledging that she was a part of the discussions due to her producer and talent relations duties, but she clarified that she had minimal influence in bringing the third-generation wrestler back to TNA.