As first reported by PWInsider, later confirmed by IMPACT Wrestling, World Champion Tessa Blanchard’s contract has been terminated and she has been stripped of the title.
Blanchard was originally set to defend the IMPACT World Championship at the promotion’s Slammiversary PPV on July 18 in a Fatal 5-Way Match. However, Tessa has been in Mexico and has been unable to leave the country because of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, according to PWInsider, Blanchard was supposed to send promos from Mexico earlier this month but failed to do so. In addition, she was slated to have been part of an edited sit-down interview conducted by Josh Mathews “via satellite.” When that material was not received, it was said that IMPACT had to re-edit the episode with host segments and new voiceovers.
The same report indicates IMPACT sources said that there were attempts to get Blanchard to return to the United States so she could drop the IMPACT World Championship, but neither side could come to an agreement.
Blanchard won the IMPACT World Championship at January’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view after defeating Sami Callihan, becoming the first woman to win the Championship.
She is still signed to Women of Wrestling and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. She also made appearances in 2016 and 2017 for NXT and World Wonder Ring Stardom.
Below is the statement from IMPACT Wrestling:
“Impact Wrestling confirmed that it has terminated its relationship with Tessa Blanchard and stripped her of the Impact Wrestling World Championship.”