A new report has come out about Women of Wrestling (WOW) and Tessa Blanchard. While it’s new news, it feels like old news. This information comes from Fightful Select, so please subscribe to them.
One of the biggest things coming out of these reports is that Tessa Blanchard has not been fired from WOW, but is not in any of the company’s plans going forward. In my opinion, this seems as though David McClane doesn’t want to ruffle feathers by firing a friend, and is giving her the opportunity to sit things out while getting paid. During the ramp-up to WOW’s return, David McClane spoke highly of Blanchard, claiming she was the “LeBron James of wrestling.”
McClane was willing to do anything to sign Blanchard, and through a pseudo-partnership with Impact Wrestling VP Scott D’ Amore, he was able to do just that. Despite all of the controversy, McClane wanted to take a huge chance on, in his opinion, the future of wrestling. The report indicates that things are now rocky between Blanchard and McClane.
Following the recent show tapings, recordings planned for June were postponed in a company-wide email, due to a positive Covid test. Fightful was told that Blanchard was “livid” that a January tryout was canceled by CBS due to COVID. Blanchard thought said tryout could have been done over Zoom, or an isolated location, but this wasn’t approved – cited as a waste of money. Putting tension on their relationship, Blanchard would point the finger at McClane, who has done everything to keep the controversies under wraps and encouraged WOW management to not speak about the allegations against her.
Following Fightful’s recent reporting of the WOW/Tessa situation, many in the promotion believed that legal recourse could ensue, and talent were nervous about being pulled into the situation. Some talent didn’t even want to work with Tessa, but WOW, and seemingly McClane himself, were able to convince talent to reconsider. Some did, only to be met with “more of the same” from Blanchard.
WOW, initially conceptualized as contracting “globally exposed free agents” and getting a major tv deal, ultimately become a rehabilitation of Tessa Blanchard. It appears that these plans are now changing – after the signing of former 3× WWE Divas champion AJ Mendez. Many people within WOW didn’t think Mendez would accept the promotions offer, but when she did, plans shifted to Tessa as the primary on-screen talent, while Mendez would be the veteran face of the company.
Mendez, who provided commentary at WOW’s first tapings, hinted on Twitter that she may be getting back into ring shape – spreading rumors that she could be making an in-ring return. To me, these reports of her becoming the face of WOW all but prove that her return is imminent, and the phasing out of Blanchard is in full swing.
The return of WOW has been a rollercoaster of news since its rebirth, and the mark inside of me thinks this is all a work, playing on Blanchard’s bad karma, only to lead to the biggest match WOW could pull off; the best wrestler today, Tessa Blanchard vs the returning best in the world veteran, AJ Mendez. I highly doubt this is the plan, but a fan can dream.
