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Impact Wrestling confirmed to PWInsider.com this evening that it has terminated the contract of reigning Impact Wrestling Champion Tessa Blanchard and has stripped her of the title.
Impact’s statement reads as follows:
“Impact Wrestling confirmed that it has terminated its relationship with Tessa Blanchard and stripped her of the Impact Wrestling World Championship.”
Blanchard had not competed for the promotion since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. She had been slated to return to the company at the 7/18 Slammiversary PPV in Nashville, defending against four challengers, Trey Miguel, Eddie Edwards, Ace Austin and a fourth competitor originally slated to be Michael Elgin, who will not compete unless the company clears him from the suspension that was announced earlier this week.
Relations between Blanchard and Impact had become increasingly icy in recent weeks, especially after Blanchard did not send promos from Mexico (where she has been residing) for the 6/1 episode of Impact on AXS. That footage was slated to have been edited into a sit-down interview conducted by Josh Mathews “via satellite.” When that material was not received, Impact had to re-edit the episode with other content and have host segments of the show changed and new voiceovers cut.
Impact sources cite that there were attempts made to get Blanchard to return and drop the title but that the two sides were not able to come to terms. Blanchard's deal was slated to expire before the PPV. Impact was hoping that she would return for a final appearance, especially as they were of the belief that they could roll the time she was in Mexico not performing and tack it onto the end of her deal, extending her existing deal past its original expiration date. One would think Blanchard's representatives might have had a differing opinion on that.
When it became increasingly obvious that Blanchard returning for the PPV wasn't going to happen, Impact opted to cut bait, terminate the deal and move forward.
Blanchard, 24 years old, is the daughter of Tully Blanchard and the step-daughter of Magnum TA. She debuted for Impact in 2018 and ascended to the Impact Wrestling Championship, winning the belt from Sami Callihan at the Hard to Kill PPV. During her time with the company, she also held the Knockouts Championship and last year won the promotion's 2019 Wrestler of the Year Award.
There is no word that Blanchard’s departure from Impact means for her fiancé Daga, who we are told remains under what is described as a “multi-year” Impact Wrestling contract.
Blanchard's father, WWE Hall of Famer Tully Blanchard, currently works for All Elite Wrestling, managing Shawn Spears.
PWInsider.com has reached out to Blanchard for comment on her departure from Impact and will update upon her response.
This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.
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