Tessa Blanchard has confirmed the reason behind her request to be released from TNA Wrestling. This ended her second run with TNA Wrestling. TNA is undergoing a significant period of internal transition. Blanchard addressed the situation during an appearance on CMLL Informa. She clarified why she chose to commit fully to CMLL rather than continue splitting time between promotions.
Her comments come just hours after TNA announced multiple departures, including Blanchard, Sami Callihan, and longtime creative figure Tommy Dreamer. You can read The Unlocked Info’s updated story on Tommy Dreamer. The company is restructuring its creative and talent operations heading into the summer.
Blanchard: “I Needed to Decide Where My Life Is”
Speaking in Spanish on CMLL Informa, Blanchard said TNA officials told her she needed to choose between being a CMLL wrestler or a TNA wrestler. This prompted her to evaluate her long‑term priorities. Tessa Blanchard stated, “Here, I have a life, and I feel very happy. The U.S. company (TNA) asked me, ‘Tessa, you need to decide whether you’re a CMLL wrestler or a TNA wrestler.’ I took my time to think it over with my dad, whom I trust very much. My life is here. I’m not just another foreigner… I’m the most Mexican Gringa.”
Blanchard emphasized that her decision was not abrupt. The result of wanting stability and a singular professional focus was where her line of thinking went.
Why She Chose CMLL Over TNA
Blanchard said she felt she had already “reached the top of the mountain” in TNA. She previously held both the Knockouts Championship and the TNA World Championship — the latter making her the first woman to hold a major U.S. promotion’s top title.
She told CMLL Informa that her goals now lie in Mexico: “I have many goals to achieve here, and I already reached the top of the mountain in TNA. I won everything over there, but here I have many dreams and goals to pursue. I needed to focus my career and my life here in Mexico, and from this moment on, I’m 100% with CMLL.”
Blanchard had been working for both promotions simultaneously. However, CMLL’s increasing reliance on her, while her personal life was rooted in Mexico, made the decision clear.
Timeline of Her Final TNA Run
Blanchard returned to TNA in late 2024. She began a program with Jordynne Grace before later challenging Masha Slamovich for the Knockouts World Championship. She did not capture the title during this run. Her final TNA Wrestling match took place on May 15. It was a win over Harley Hudson that aired on the May 28 episode of TNA IMPACT.
Her release request surfaced Tuesday and was confirmed by TNA the following day.
TNA’s Ongoing Internal Shake‑Up
Blanchard’s exit is part of a broader wave of changes inside TNA:
- Tommy Dreamer departed the company’s creative and talent relations teams this week.
- Sami Callihan exited the promotion.
- Delirious (Hunter Johnston) is expected to serve as the point person for creative moving forward.
- Brian “Road Dogg” James has been discussed internally for a potential creative role after leaving WWE earlier this year.
The restructuring comes as TNA attempts to stabilize its creative direction and prepare for its summer slate.
What’s Next for Tessa Blanchard
Blanchard made it clear she is now fully committed to CMLL. She believes she has more to accomplish both professionally and personally. Her departure from TNA closes a chapter that included historic achievements, controversy, and a return run that ultimately ended on her own terms.
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