Tessa Blanchard appears to be poised to be headed back to TNA.Fightful Select had heard from various talent around the wrestling world on December 12 that believed Tessa Blanchard was en route back to TNA sooner than later. On December 13, Wrestling Observer reported that was the plan.Fightful had spoken to talent in AEW, WWE and TNA Thursday, in disbelief that the company was moving in that direction. The news was kept away from the entire roster as of the time of the details emerging, and even many of the staff who are usually in the know. We're told this was done intentionally, as there was fear of backlash internally. There are some people that remain with the company that have remained friends with Tessa, but one person in the know said that the hope is that there's enough new talent to work with that haven't soured on her. Another source believes Blanchard will be on "best behavior" as this is a major opportunity.We're told that the plan has been in motion for at least the last two weeks, and was the decision of "a top person in Anthem," and they were warned against by others in the company. It is not the work of new Anthem President Carlos Silva, who just joined the company.The plan is to have Tessa Blanchard involved by next month, where she's slated to work against Jordynne Grace and win. We're told that Jordynne Grace had pushed back on working with Blanchard. The current plan is for Blanchard to come into the company as a heel.Tessa Blanchard left TNA in 2020 after refusing to give up the TNA Championship and allegedly holding the company up for more money to drop the title. She was crowned champion amid allegations of using racial slurs towards La Rosa Negra and bullying numerous talent across wrestling. We've never heard of a specific apology that was made, but she an La Rosa Negra posed for pictures together in recent years. The situation made her untouchable by WWE, who had interest prior to the allegations. There were a couple of people early on who pushed for her to join AEW in 2019 by some who are no longer with the company, but it was made clear that talent did not want her there at that time.Blanchard eventually joined WOW as the product that was originally planned to become a women's wrestling alternative became a Tessa Blanchard rehabilitation project. That didn't end up lasting long, and Blanchard left and ended up working in Mexico. We're also told that as of 2020, Blanchard was no longer working with the high profile agent she had prior.One source believed TNA was motivated to bring in new talent as they expect to lose Speedball Mike Bailey, Jordynne Grace and Josh Alexander.In an update, we're told that Tessa Blanchard hasn't been seen at the venue yet, but is expected there later. A number of talent and staff reached out to Fightful today to communicate they had no idea Blanchard was coming in until the reports emerged.
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