This Week in Wrestling: Week 36 of 2026

September 11, 2026

Brian Damage

Another attempt by third generation wrestler Tessa Blanchard to breakthrough in the U.S. wrestling market and yet another stumbling block in her way. Blanchard is definitely no stranger to controversy having been accused of making racial comments to another wrestler named La Rosa Negra. Those comments had her blacklisted from several wrestling companies. Blanchard and Negra eventually made up after the two talked and Tessa apologized for her comments. Despite that, Tessa has still been perceived as damaged goods.

Her biggest push came in TNA where she actually won the men’s TNA/Impact world title. Then the pandemic hit and she refused to leave Mexico and was ultimately fired and stripped of the title. She would eventually return to TNA, but many fans rejected her comeback and she left after a supposed contract dispute over money. She signed on with Women of Wrestling, a company that helped put her name on the wrestling map earlier in her career, but had creative differences with management and I believe left before wrestling a single match.

Just recently, it was announced that Tessa signed on with Court Bauer’s Major League Wrestling (MLW). The news actually made some headlines and was even covered by TMZ of all news outlets. Not long after the announcement of her signing was made, Blanchard was removed from MLW’s website, and her debut match was scrapped entirely. Many including myself wondered if her stigma was too much a concern for Bauer and company. As it turned out, Tessa was already signed to a deal with Mexico’s CMLL and when word got back to them that Tessa signed with MLW, CMLL threw a fit and demanded that she choose between the two promotions.

Did Tessa go behind CMLL’s back and sign a contract with MLW? It sure sounds like it. Regardless, this is just the latest issue with Blanchard whether it was underhanded or simply a misunderstanding remains to be seen, but it definitely does not help her image at all. Blanchard is a very talented wrestler with good charisma and could become a megastar in places like WWE and AEW, but neither look remotely interested in touching her. Tessa is legitimately running out of promotions to wrestle for. Some of it was her own doing and in some other cases just bad luck. A shame considering the talent that she has.

Photo Gallery

WWE revealed Bray Wyatt’s character called ‘Sixx’ that debuted at the Pitch Black Match in 2023. This is the first real good look at his outfit during that match…