Tessa Blanchard says her exit from TNA Wrestling came down to an ultimatum, and she has now publicly declared herself “100% with CMLL.” Speaking on CMLL Informa, Blanchard revealed the promotion told her she had to pick one side, and she chose Mexico.
“The U.S. company (TNA) asked me, ‘Tessa, you need to decide whether you’re a CMLL wrestler or a TNA wrestler,'” Blanchard recalled. She said she weighed the decision carefully before committing fully to her future south of the border.
Blanchard secured her release from TNA on June 16, with the promotion confirming her departure the following day. In recent months she had been competing more regularly for CMLL than TNA, fueling speculation about where her long-term future would land.
The former Knockouts Champion explained that she had not responded to the flood of messages until she could address the situation on her own terms.
“The truth is, I have received a lot of messages from friends and news, and I haven’t replied to any of them yet,” Blanchard said. “I want to sort things out and set the record straight today.”
Tessa Blanchard Calls Mexico Home
Blanchard, who has leaned into her ties to the country, framed the choice as a personal one as much as a professional one. She had been building toward a permanent move after her return to CMLL earlier this year.
Here, I have a life, and I feel very happy,” she said. “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.
She added that while she has accomplished her major goals elsewhere, there is still unfinished business in CMLL.
“I have many goals to achieve here, and I already reached the top of the mountain. 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 remained active in TNA right up to the split, with recent on-screen involvement including her attack at Slammiversary and a booked in-ring return on Impact before deciding to go all-in with CMLL.