Tessa Blanchard is returning the Impact title, which she denies holding for ransom

The entire situation surrounding Tessa Blanchard’s Impact World title run continues to be fascinating.

Her winning the belt at January’s Hard To Kill PPV was designed to be an empowering moment. But that was largely overshadowed by numerous women reacting to a self-righteous tweet from Blanchard with stories of how she’d bullied them backstage.

She wrestled a handful of matches as champ, mostly tag affairs, and only defended the title once. Then COVID hit, Tessa was in Mexico with fiance Daga, and her run was put on hold. Actually, it was over, but Impact continued to promote her return for last weekend’s Slammiversary, even without any material from the champ.

Impact stripped her of the belt as they announced her release from the company, and that seemed to be that.

But wait!

After Eddie Edwards won the vacant Impact World title at Slammiversary, there were whispers that the belt he received was a new one. The rumor mill said Blanchard asked for $150,000 before she’d send the one she had back to the company.

Tessa’s representatives talked to Fightful, and denied the ransom part of that story. But she really hasn’t sent the World title back. They just claim Impact didn’t give her an address to send it to until last week.

Phew!

This is not the kind of story Impact wanted us to be writing about Blanchard’s reign. But they’re getting some buzz for other things now, and competition is good for the entire business, so... hopefully this is the last time we have to update you on Tessa & Impact.