10 Ups & 1 Down From Impact Wrestling Slammiversary XVI

8. Blanchard & Allie Over-Deliver

Tessa Blanchard is a prospect. A fantastic wrestler with second generation pedigree, she's regularly linked with WWE, and competed in last year's Mae Young Classic. Speculation states that her inability to land a deal stems from attitude issues, but now, at 22 years old, she has found a home in Impact Wrestling, and looks set to be an important building block going forward.

Billed as a "Grudge Match," last night's clash with Allie didn't have much build, but the work compensated for this. Tessa is a heat-magnet, with her bruising, hard-hitting style unlike anyone else on the roster. Allie, meanwhile, is endlessly sympathetic. This dynamic means you could put these two in any spot on any show and they'd likely come up with something fun, as was the case here, with both performers working super-hard en route to the biggest win of Blanchard's run thus far.

Allie took a rough landing on a botched top rope Hurricanrana, but fortunately looked okay. This was the bout's sole blot. Their edict wasn't to go out and steal the show, but to deliver a solid, heated midcard bout in which the winner and loser both get over, and they succeeded.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.