Tessa Blanchard (July 26, 1995) is an American professional wrestling manager, valet and wrestler previously signed to Impact Wrestling where she is a former Impact World Champion and a one-time Impact Knockouts Champion. She is the daughter of Four Horsemen legend Tully Blanchard and the granddaughter of the late Joe Blanchard. Tessa is also the stepdaughter of wrestler Terry Allen better known as Magnum T.A.
Professional wrestling career
Women Superstars Uncensored (2014-2016)
On November 8, Blanchard debuted for Women Superstars Uncensored and was defeated by Niya in a match for the WSU Spirit Championship at Breaking Barriers III. On February 21, 2015, Blanchard picked up her first victory in WSU when she defeated Sassy Stephie.
Shine Wrestling (2015-2016)
Blanchard debuted for Shine Wrestling as a heel at the SHINE 26 event on April 3 and was defeated by Evie. Later in the evening, Blanchard attacked Leva Bates, causing her and Jessicka Havok to be defeated by Saraya Knight and Su Yung, and later became the newest member of Valkyrie. At SHINE 27, Blanchard was defeated by Bates, and after the match, she and April Hunter both attacked Bates.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2014-2017)
Blanchard appeared in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a member of Adam Rose's partying entourage during May 2014. She also had a tryout match against Chasity Taylor.
NXT (2016)
Two years later, Blanchard returned to the WWE, making her in-ring debut on April 2, 2016 in NXT in a match won by Alexa Bliss. On April 28, Blanchard wrestled and lost to Nia Jax. On June 9, Blanchard had a third match, losing to Carmella.
WWE Mae Young Classic (2017)
Blanchard returned on July 13 to join the first round of the WWE Mae Young Classic where she was eliminated by Kairi Sane. She returned the following night at the Mae Young Classic: Road To The Finals where she teamed with Jazzy Gabert, Kay Lee Ray to defeat Marti Belle, Santana Garrett & Sarah Logan in a six-woman tag match.
Zelo Pro Wrestling (2017-2018)
Blanchard debuted on August 24, 2017 at Zelo Pro Wrestling I where she defeated Kylie Rae. She returned on September 24 at Zelo Pro Wrestling II to defeat Miranda Salinas. During the following year on April 20, Blanchard returned at Zelo Pro Arrival where she defeated Kylie Rae in a title match to become the new Zelo Pro Women's Champion.
Queens of Combat (2014-2018)
Blanchard made her debut for the Queens of Combat promotion at their second event on June 13, 2014 and answered Miss Rachel's open challenge, only to be defeated by Rachel in singles action. She returned to Queens of Combat at QoC 3 on November 30 and competed in a losing effort against Mickie James, and was defeated by Crazy Mary Dobson at QoC 4 on April 13, 2015.
Blanchard entered the Queens of Combat Title Tournament at QoC 5 on June 13, 2015 and defeated Hania in the first round after attacking her with a chair; beginning a heel turn in the process. On the next night, Blanchard cemented herself as a villainess when she cut a promo blasting the QoC roster and the fans. She later defeated LuFisto in the second round by using the ropes for leverage.
Impact Wrestling (2018-2020)
Blanchard made her Impact Wrestling debut on Redemption, when she joined the commentary during a match between Kiera Hogan and Taya Valkyrie. Her first match was held on April 24 where she defeated Kiera Hogan. The following day on April 25 during Impact Wrestling: Under Pressure, Blanchard was handed her first loss to Madison Rayne. During the April 26 tapings, Blanchard defeated Kiera Hogan in a No Disqualification match. Two months later, Blanchard returned during the June 1 tapings, losing to Madison Rayne in their rematch. During the consecutive taping on June 2, Blanchard teamed with Shotzi Blackheart in a match lost to Allie & Kiera Hogan. On July 7 at RISE 9: RISE Of The Knockouts, co-produced by Impact Wrestling and RISE Wrestling, Blanchard wrestled two matches, first defeating Kris Wolf. She later defeated Mercedes Martinez to win the vacant Phoenix Of RISE Championship for the first time.
On June 25, 2020 Impact Wrestling announced they had terminated Tessa's contract.
Personal life
Blanchard was in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler Daga. She was previously in a relationship with Ricochet while both were living with Apollo Crews in Orlando, Florida. On January 10, 2023 Blanchard and Daga released a joint statement to announce they were getting a divorce.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Buzzsaw
- Magnum (Diving double knee facebreaker)
- Slingshot belly-to-back suplex
- Signature moves
- Butterfly suplex
- Diving senton
- Double arm suplex
- Double knee facebreaker to opponent seated on the top rope
- Draping Flatliner (Reverse STO from the corner)
- Jumping cutter
- Jumping neckbreaker
- Military press slam
- Modified triangle hold
- Octopus hold
- Running knee strike
- Springboard bulldog
- Tequila Sunrise facebuster
- Indian Deathlock
- Nicknames
- "The Queen of the Carolinas"
- "Forever"
- "La Unica"
- "La Diamante del Ring"
- Tag teams and stables
- Valkyrie (w/ Serena Deeb, Allysin Kay, Taylor Made, April Hunter, Saraya Knight & Su Yung)
- Mount Tessa (w/ Vanessa Kraven)
- Undeniably Impressive (w/ Indi Hartwell)
- Wrestlers managed
- Kameron Kade
- Entrance music
- "Lo Horseman (Instrumental)" by Smoke DZA (Independent circuit)
- "Miss V.I.P." by Jasmine Denise/Warner Chapell Productions
- "This Time I Want It All" (w/ Undeniable Intro) by APM Music (IMPACT)
- "Solita" by Ozuna ft. Bad Bunny, Almighty, and Wisin (The CRASH)
Championships and accomplishments
- East Coast Wrestling Association
- ECWA Women's Championship (1 time)
- Winner of the ECWA Super 8 Chickfight Tournament 2014 (October 11, 2014)
- PCW ULTRA
- PCW ULTRA Women's Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #42 in the 2015 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #38 in the 2016 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #43 in the 2017 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #15 in the 2018 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #5 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #155 in the 2024 PWI Top 250 Females
- Remix Pro Wrestling
- Remix Pro Fury Championship (1 time)
- SHIMMER Women Athletes
- SHIMMER Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Vanessa Kraven as Mount Tessa
- The Crash
- The Crash Women's Championship (1 time)
- Women of Wrestling
- WOW World Championship (1 time)
- WrestleCircus
- WC Sideshow Championship (1 time)
- WC Lady Of The Ring Championship (1 time)
External links
2015 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Nikki Bella • Paige • Sasha Banks • Santana Garrett • Gail Kim • Charlotte • Naomi • Cherry Bomb • Courtney Rush • Taryn Terrell • Bayley • Brie Bella • Sexy Star • Cheerleader Melissa • Lufisto • Nicole Matthews • Becky Lynch • Kimber Lee • Natalya • Jessicka Havok • Awesome Kong • Candice LeRae • Brooke • Athena • Ivelisse • Jade • Madison Rayne • Leva Bates • Barbi Hayden • Angelina Love • Emma • Saraya Knight • Veda Scott • Velvet Sky • Madison Eagles • Kay Lee Ray • Marti Belle • Kellie Skater • Nikki Storm • Evie • Heidi Lovelace • Tessa Blanchard • Portia Perez • Alicia Fox • Cat Power • Crazy Mary Dobson • Xandra Bale • La Rosa Negra • Malia Hosaka • Vanessa Kraven |
2016 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Charlotte Flair • Sasha Banks • Asuka • Becky Lynch • Bayley • Jade • Natalya • Gail Kim • Sexy Star • Sienna • Ivelisse • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Rosemary • Allie • Nicole Matthews • Kimber Lee • Candice LeRae • Paige • Heidi Lovelace • Evie • Cheerleader Melissa • Nia Jax • Santana Garrett • Naomi • Dana Brooke • Madison Rayne • Kay Lee Ray • Alexa Bliss • Lufisto • Amber Gallows • Marti Belle • Emma • Taylor Made • Vanessa Kraven • Su Yung • Ember Moon • Tessa Blanchard • Jessicka Havok • Shayna Baszler • Crazy Mary Dobson • Malia Hosaka • Thunder Rosa • Carmella • KC Spinelli • Veda Scott • Jessica James • Xandra Bale • Kaitlin Diemond • Eva Marie |
2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |
WWE Mae Young Classic 2017 contestants |
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Abbey Laith • Ayesha Ray • Bianca Belair • Candice LeRae • Dakota Kai • Jazzy Gabert • Kairi Sane • Kavita Devi • Kay Lee Ray • Lacey Evans • Marti Belle • Mercedes Martinez • Mia Yim • Miranda Salinas • Nicole Savoy • Piper Niven • Princesa Sugehit • Rachel Evers • Reina Gonzalez • Renee Michelle • Rhea Ripley • Sage Beckett • Santana Garrett • Sarah Logan • Serena Deeb • Shayna Baszler • Taynara Conti • Tessa Blanchard • Toni Storm • Vanessa Borne • Xia Li • Zeda |