Why Tessa Blanchard Asked For Her TNA Release

Tessa Blanchard's second run with TNA Wrestling has come to an end and the former TNA World Champion is no longer a part of the promotion.

Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp has reported that Blanchard asked for and was granted her release. PWInsider noted that Blanchard could not continue to wrestle for both CMLL and TNA because of pro wrestling politics due to TNA's working relationship with WWE, the majority owners of CMLL's main rival in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. Given the choice, Blanchard opted to remain with CMLL.

Blanchard made her return to TNA in December 2024 and was a featured performer in the promotion's Knockouts division. Her final match took place on the May 28 episode of Thursday Night IMPACT where she defeated Harley Hudson.

Blanchard has remained a controversial figure in pro wrestling due to allegations of racism and bullying made against her in January 2020 and "She's a racist" chants had been common during Blanchard's TNA appearances since her return.

Blanchard did not capture any titles during her second TNA stint, but she became the only female to hold the TNA World Championship during her first run with the company (then IMPACT Wrestling) from April 2018 to the summer of 2020, and Blanchard also had a 147-day reign as Knockouts World Champion.

Blanchard was a regular performer for CMLL from October 2023 to November 2024. Blanchard returned to CMLL in October 2025 and has been a regular for the Lucha Libre promotion ever since. She is also engaged to CMLL's Esfinge.