Court Bauer has confirmed Major League Wrestling is in active talks with Tessa Blanchard, less than two months after the former TNA World Champion left the company and said her future was in Mexico.
Asked directly about the rumors in a new interview, the MLW owner did not deflect.
I can confirm. We are in talks with Tessa,” Bauer said. “That’s about all I confirm at this point, but you know, she’s incredibly talented.
Blanchard was granted her release from TNA on June 16 after being told to pick a side. She chose Mexico and CMLL over TNA, saying on CMLL Informa that she had built a life there and was done splitting her dates.
That makes MLW an unusually clean fit. The company co-promoted Fantastica Mania USA in Charleston this April alongside CMLL and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and CMLL talent works MLW cards regularly. Signing there wouldn’t force the choice TNA did.
Fightful Select reported in June that MLW had no contract with Blanchard and hadn’t for years. Bauer’s comments are the first public acknowledgment from either side that talks are happening.
A Debut Nine Years In The Making
Bauer said Blanchard was originally slated to be part of MLW’s relaunch in 2017. The company filmed training camp footage with her at the time, but scheduling conflicts killed the debut before it happened.
He spoke at length about the appeal of multi-generational talent, pointing to her stepfather Magnum T.A. Blanchard is a third-generation wrestler, the daughter of Tully Blanchard and granddaughter of promoter Joe Blanchard.
Her first TNA run ended in 2020 while she was still world champion, amid bullying and racism allegations from former colleagues that she has consistently denied.
Two Debuts Promised For Charleston
Bauer also promised at least two major debuts for MLW’s upcoming hometown shows, describing the atmosphere he’s building toward as historic for the city.
MLW relocated its headquarters from New York to Charleston in November and has sold out every event it has run there. The promotion returns to Festival Hall on Saturday, September 12 for Fightland, paired with a Fusion television taping.
Bauer stopped short of connecting Blanchard to either date.
