AJ Mendez, Tessa Blanchard Involved With WOW - Women Of Wrestling Relaunch

Former WWE Superstar AJ Mendez and Tessa Blanchard will be a part of the relaunched WOW - Women Of Wrestling promotion.

WOW announced during a press conference on Wednesday that the all-women's promotion would be returning and they have reached a multi-year distribution deal with ViacomCBS.

New episodes of WOW - Women Of Wrestling will appear on weekend syndication from autumn 2022. Historical seasons of WOW are expected to be available on CW Seed and Pluto TV from December 2021.

AJ Mendez also appeared at the press conference and revealed she would be involved with WOW as an executive producer and colour commentator. This is Mendez's first involvement in wrestling since she departed WWE in 2015.

Former IMPACT World Champion Tessa Blanchard was also announced as one of the promotion's top stars. The 26-year-old had been out of the business since she was fired by IMPACT in June 2020. There had been rumours of interest from AEW and WWE over the past year but a recent report noted she was considered "nuclear" due to allegations of bullying and making racist remarks against Blanchard.

Speaking about the relaunch of WOW, owner and executive producer Jeanie Buss told ET: "Wrestling's presentation of women has long been very important to me, and we now are presenting the epitome in sports entertainment that will highlight the athleticism of these superstars as we reintroduce WOW. Our partnership with the entire ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group family allows us to continue our mission of providing wrestling fans and WOW Superheroes what they have all deserved: a global platform for a dedicated women's wrestling league."

Dan Cohen, President of ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group, added: "We are thrilled to partner with Jeanie Buss and David McLane to create a significant global footprint for WOW and expand our diverse, world-class content portfolio. This series offers audiences unique, compelling and creative entertainment that features female 'superheroes' in the ring, behind the cameras and in all aspects of the business. Both in the U.S and abroad, we believe this is an event program that will make some noise in the marketplace."

Outside of Blanchard, other women's stars involved with the relaunch of WOW are The Beast, Danni, Alex Gracia, Briana Montez, Kate Smith and Imo Akpan.