Report: AEW Is NOT Signing Tessa Blanchard

Major rumour-killer on the big "Tessa Blanchard to AEW" story.

Tessa Blanchard
IMPACT Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling is not trying to sign Tessa Blanchard.

Dave Meltzer stated as much on today's episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, stating that there is no substance to recent talk that the former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion was in negotiations with Tony Khan's company.

SEScoops reported last week that Tessa and her husband Daga were heading to AEW, with the deal considered "all but a formality." The same report also stated that AEW had discussed the idea of working Blanchard's controversies outside of the ring into a televised redemption storyline.

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Said controversies are legion. Accused of inappropriate conduct multiple times throughout her career, the 25-year-old's most recent blow-ups came in IMPACT last year. January saw multiple wrestlers (including Chelsea Green and Allysin Kay) come forward to accuse Tessa of racism, citing an incident in which she allegedly spat in Puerto Rican wrestler La Rosa Nega's face and used a racial slur towards her, all of which Tessa denied.

Five months later, Tessa's IMPACT contract was terminated while she was still World Champion amid reports the promotion feared she'd no-show the Slammiversary pay-per-view.

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Tessa Blanchard's search for a new wrestling home continues. Per Meltzer, it will not be in Jacksonville.

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.