Tessa Blanchard leaves TNA Wrestling, enters free agency

News of Tessa Blanchard being released from TNA came with bits and pieces of rumors. The main idea was that wrestling for both TNA and CMLL became an issue, and she was asked to choose one company. Blanchard addressed the story herself by posting a video about why she made the decision. TNA wanted Blanchard to stay, but her heart is with CMLL. Blanchard explained that the contract situation allowing her to wrestle in TNA and CMLL was a dream come true. Over time, TNA evolved with changes in leadership, partnerships, and the network TV deal. The direction of TNA shifted, and she was asked to make a decision on her future. Blanchard has no resentment or ill feelings toward TNA. She understands that it is business. TNA wanted her to stay and offered her the opportunity to continue with them. However, Blanchard realized that her heart is in Mexico with CMLL. Blanchard was grateful to CMLL for offering an opportunity when she needed it most back in 2023. She was in ROTC at UTSA, and the time came when she had to choose between contracting with the military or heading back to professional wrestling. That’s when CMLL contacted her about the Women’s International Grand Prix match, which she won. Blanchard perceived that opportunity as a signal from God that there was unfinished business in wrestling. CMLL welcomed her with open arms. She built a life in Mexico, and CMLL helped her realize why she loves wrestling. Lucha libre is a huge part of her happiness in life. Choosing CMLL over TNA wasn’t an easy decision, however, Blanchard believes it is the right one for her. Blanchard has a lot of goals left to achieve in CMLL. She wants to win the women’s world title, be the first woman to win the Grand Prix twice, wrestle on an Anniversario show, and win a mask or hair in Arena Mexico. Amidst this story, Blanchard didn’t skip a beat in the ring. She wrestled in Arena Mexico on Wednesday night. Blanchard teamed with Marcela to defeat Keyra and Candela. Con una poderosa desnucadora, Tessa Blanchard se llevó la victoria junto a Marcela derrotando a Keyra, que esta noche tuvo como aliada de lujo a Candela. #VeranoCMLL pic.twitter.com/INhi5h2RCk — Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) June 18, 2026 Blanchard has a chance to win La Copa Dinastias on Sunday when she wrestles Lluvia. They are former tag team champions as partners. Lluvia still holds a grudge about vacating the gold when Blanchard left for TNA in 2024. Blanchard returned to CMLL about one year later, and she beat Lluvia in her first match back. We’ll see if Lluvia can even the score. Share your thoughts about Tessa Blanchard choosing CMLL over TNA.

Tessa Blanchard states that she was asked, by TNA, to choose between them and CMLL, with Blanchard's choice of CMLL leading to her TNA release

Over the past few weeks TNA Wrestling’s seen a string of departures that parent company Anthem classified as an ultimately beneficial “workforce reduction”… even though they appear to be for different reasons, and not particularly well coordinated. Reports told us that former World and Knockouts champion Tessa Blanchard requested her release because she was asked to choose between working with CMLL in Mexico or with TNA in the United States, but different outlets heard different things on whether AEW and New Japan partner CMLL gave Blanchard the ultimatum, or if TNA’s partner WWE did. Blanchard appeared on CMLL Informa Wednesday night (June 17), a day after her release was confirmed. According to translation from X account Pep S. Caro which she reposted: she appeared “clear things up”. Doing so involved clarifying that it was “the U.S. company” that told her she needed “to make a decision if you’re a CMLL fighter or if you’re a TNA fighter”. After consulting with her dad (which could refer to either Tully Blanchard or her stepfather Magnum TA, with whom she’s also close) and realizing that she likes her life in Mexico and has “many achievements and goals to pursue” still in lucha libre, the controversial second-generation wrestler chose to be “100% with CMLL”. #CMLLInforma || ¡Tessa Blanchard habló claro! 😱🔥 Entre rumores e incertidumbre, el Diamante Innegable aprovechó para aclarar su situación con el CMLL. 💎⚡ 📲 https://t.co/kelGXKxJdL pic.twitter.com/78ulvRQKMc — Lucha Libre CMLL (@CMLL_OFICIAL) June 18, 2026 We’ll see what the wrestling media and dirt sheets have to say going forward. Let us know if you’re buying Tessa Blanchard and CMLL’s version in the comments below.

It appears that Tessa Blanchard’s time is over in TNA. Fightful Wrestling is reporting that Blanchard asked for her release, and it was granted by TNA. Tessa Blanchard has asked for and secured her release from TNA, @FightfulSelect has learned. Full details are now available for Select subscribers pic.twitter.com/jFWDoTH7eJ — Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) June 16, 2026 This report comes after rumors that TNA didn’t want wrestlers appearing in CMLL, which was only Blanchard with a special deal, due to the WWE ownership of competing lucha libre company AAA. Dave Meltzer confirmed the release of Blanchard. On the topic of the the WWE/AAA/TNA/CMLL/AEW rumor, he added, “Tessa Blanchard appears to be caught in the crossfire of the wrestling promotional war. Basically, TNA doesn’t want a wrestler on their TV working for CMLL. They shouldn’t care. It’s not their war. But wrestling politics are such that people above TNA probably aren’t happy a TNA wrestler was on the same show as their wrestlers in the U.S. is in CMLL.” Blanchard has worked regularly with CMLL over the past year, and she often speaks fondly of the opportunities given by CMLL. Plus, her boyfriend, Esfinge, is on the CMLL roster. View this post on Instagram Blanchard’s first run with TNA ended as reigning world champion (Impact World Championship) in 2020. That run exploded in an unfortunate manner. She was stripped of the title and her contract was terminated. Reports indicate TNA could not reach an agreement for Blanchard to drop the title as her contract was set to expire soon. This incident coincided with the COVID era of wrestling. Those issues came on top of the bullying and racist accusations that surfaced earlier the same year. Blanchard returned to TNA in December of 2024. She was put into a high-profile feud with Jordynne Grace. Blanchard prevailed in that battle as Grace moved on to WWE. Blanchard then challenged Masha Slamovich for the Knockouts Championship, but she never won that title this go-around. Blanchard moved to the mid-card with her faction, including Victoria Crawford and Mila Moore. In the first month upon return, live fans reacted with chants of calling Blanchard a racist. Those chants died down over time. There were no negative reports about Blanchard’s behavior backstage during her second stint in TNA. Share your thoughts about Tessa Blanchard parting ways with TNA.

Tessa Blanchard has departed TNA Wrestling. Sources close to Blanchard told Fightful Select‘s Sean Ross Sapp that she asked for […]