The Problem With Tessa Blanchard That No One Wants To Talk About

It must be noted that despite her glittering lineage, Blanchard's entry into the wrestling business was far from straightforward.

Speaking to The Ringer in December 2019, trainer George South said "Tessa didn't ask for no favours and I sure wasn't gonna give 'em," citing her work ethic. "The wrestling ring don't care what your name is," he added. Performers with surnames like "Blanchard" are often treated cynically in this business, as if their family tree and perceived "silver spoon" pre-ordains them to receive opportunities above others. Tessa fell victim to this, suffering brutal, unrelenting bullying as early as 2014, with South saying other wrestlers would do "anything they could to break her."

Blanchard herself told The Ringer that she believes he 2017 tour of Japan was when "something clicked here I knew who I was and I knew who I wanted to be in the ring and out of the ring." Indeed, The future Impact World Champion excelled between the ropes during that tour. It was there that Tessa emerged as a global breakout star, slotting effortlessly into what was then the most talented pool of female wrestlers in the world, expelling memories of her disastrous 2016 tour (during which a bout with promotional mainstay Kagetsu turned into an uncooperative mess) in the process.

The Rosa Negra allegations emerged just two weeks after this Ringer profile was published, however. Truly, the 2017 tour had been a transformational one inside the ring and out, hence where we are today.

CONT'd...