You got to be able to work hard. And that's what I do. I work hard, because that's what's necessary. You have to go that extra mile.
Tessa Blanchard
I try not to get my hopes up too high with anything, because I'll never be let down that way.
Tasha Steelz, I've watched a few of her training videos, and she is super athletic.
On numerous different occasions I have had people tell me that I am only booked because of my dad, because of who I was dating, or any other exceptions other than my hard work, so in my mind I wanted to put in the extra hours in the ring.
I was so excited for my spot on the Mae Young Classic.
I've wrestled some of the best wrestlers in the world - both male and female.
They've helped me out so much - Dad from a business aspect and my stepdad on following my heart. They're both so different but so much alike. I get to pick both of their brains.
Every time I step into the ring there is a different obstacle but I'm very confident in myself and my ability.
WOW and Impact are both different brands, but Tessa Blanchard never changes. I'm the same Tessa Blanchard there as with Impact.
There were so many times I was called to go do a match and drive 8 or 9 hours from North Carolina to Orlando, Florida just to go do the NXT extra spots and then nothing, which would break my heart every time, but I was just very young then.
I've gone places where they've told me what I need to do, what I need to say, who I need to be, what moves I need to perform. And at Impact I get to just be me. I have creative control to be me and do what I want.
My favorite wrestler of all-time is Johnny Valentine. I believe him to be the best bad guy ever in wrestling and he is my absolute favorite.
Scott Armstrong got me my tryout at the WWE Performance Center. I went there and got my tryout and it was one of the most physically trying things in my life.
I have a huge family name to live up to and a huge legacy to live up to. I feel the pressure of that every day of my life, but I feel like it's a blessing and a curse.
If Gail Kim gets in my business, I'll make sure there is no more Gail Kim.
I wanted to go and I wanted to drive the miles for no pay, I wanted to set up the rings, I wanted to set up the chairs, I wanted to go to training six-seven days a week for hours upon hours and blow myself up to where I can only work on instinct. I wanted to sleep in my car. I wanted to do all of that.
Everywhere I go, the styles are different. When you wrestle in Japan, it's more strong style. When I go to Mexico, it's definitely more high-flying. And in my matches I've had with Taya in Impact, it's been a lot more ground-based.
I put pressure on myself to be the best and to carry on the Blanchard name with dignity and with pride.
I got to travel to Australia and I got to main event at Korakuen Hall.
I know what my goals are, and I always keep that in the forefront of my mind.
Honestly, the All In women's locker room was such an inspirational group of women. What I love about all the women involved - Chelsea, Britt, Madison, Jordynne Grace, Brandi Rhodes, Tenille Dashwood, Penelope Ford, Mandy Leon - is we all bring something so different to the table for a common vision.
So, I'm a huge Chris Jericho fan. I've always been a huge Chris Jericho fan.
I've always done whatever is necessary to retain my Knockouts title by any means necessary.
I think that wrestling guys has elevated my game in a whole different way. My timing, my transitions, everything is crisp. It's a whole different level.
I don't want to be good, I want to be great.
Witnessing the crowd come to their feet mid-match, that's the ultimate sign of respect.
When I first started wrestling I knew that I wanted to work as long and as hard as it took to be able to have a great match with anyone.
People think that we hired a bunch of actresses and taught them how to wrestle, and that couldn't be further from the truth.
Women today are respected as athletes now and that's a really cool thing to see.
Both my stepdad and my dad have said, 'Follow your heart and your dreams, but Tessa, this is a business and you need to become the best.' They don't sugarcoat things and I'm very, very blessed for that.
I get to travel all over the world and win titles everywhere I've gone.
I was part of the first ever women's match to ever be televised in China. That's something no one can take away from me.
I've gotten to wrestle some of the best women and men in the world - Brian Cage, AR Fox, Scorpio Sky, Tracy Williams, David Starr.
I want to become one of the most versatile wrestlers in the world.
I came into Impact and I ran through the entire Knockouts locker room just like I said I would.
I am grateful to both Impact Wrestling and the WOW executives for working out the details to allow me to pursue my dream of competing at the highest levels within our industry.
I don't think I'd be the wrestler or the athlete that I am today if I didn't have some of the intergender matches that I have.
I am happy to join Selina Majors in providing women with a fully comprehensive training program designed specifically for them. I was trained by men, and while that worked for me, I know a more supportive community for women wanting to join our profession will increase the participation.
I'm a born legend.
And I'm so grateful to have that family name and continue my family's legacy, but I'm also very excited to create my own.
Depending on what country I go to, my style might be a little bit different and my tactics might change a little bit, but at the end of the day, I'm still Tessa Blanchard and I'm still the same wrestler.
I was a music theater nerd in high school.
I never wanted to be a wrestler, I wanted to get into musical theater. I always wanted to be on Broadway.
Female-wise, one person that I really, really, really would like to share the ring with is Gail Kim. I say that because I believe her to be one of the best women's wrestlers in the world!
My dad had already retired by the time I was born.
After my freshmen year of college, I really wanted to pursue wrestling.
I wish my grandpa could have seen me wrestle, even once.
I love hard work and proving people wrong.
I have goals, I have my purpose. I want to build upon what my grandpa and my dad and my stepdad did in the past.
Impact is such a fun place to work, I enjoy it so much I can't stress that enough.
