Tessa Blanchard returned to TNA Wrestling at TNA Final Resolution, her first time back in the promotion since leaving in 2020.
Blanchard left TNA Wrestling in June 2020 when her contract was terminated. Blanchard, who was the reigning TNA World Champion at the time, was reportedly asked to send in promos during the COVID tapings, but didn't do so. TNA reportedly wanted her to come to the tapings and lose the title, but that never happened, leading to the company terminating her contract.
Before winning the TNA World Title, Blanchard was accused of bullying and using racist language towards La Rosa Negra.
Speaking on Figure Four Daily, TNA producer Lance Storm was asked about Tessa's return.
"A, I've always liked Tessa. I first met her back at a NWA convention in Charlotte. I've known her for a long time, worked with her briefly in her last and my first TNA run. I do think that, at some point, people deserve second chances. I don't know if mistakes, no matter how bad you make when you're young, should follow you the rest of your life. I'm hoping it will work out for her and everyone. We'll see how things go," said Storm.
Asked if she was met with open arms backstage, Storm replied, "It's wrestling. Everybody is going to react professionally. If you were against it, you would probably avoid her. I only saw positive responses and interactions. Most people don't want to make a scene, so if there were people who weren't happy about it, they kept quiet. All I saw was positive reactions. Clearly, she's a very talented worker. I think she would have been smart to apologize, say, 'I was young and stupid,' ages ago because people have been forgiven for much less, faster. Not issuing that apology made it drag out a long period of time. Do people deserve a second chance at some point? I'd like to think so."
Blanchard initially denied the allegations of using racist language. She posted a photo of herself and Negra smiling together in 2023.
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