A while back, we told you about AXS TV’s plans to expand their pro wrestling coverage beyond their partnership with New Japan and into women’s wrestling with a new deal to broadcast WOW (Women of Wrestling) from Los Angeles Laker’s owner Jeannie Buss, original GLOW creator David McLane and MGM Television.
The currently web-only promotion’s first tapings for AXS are coming up next month in Los Angeles. Until now, WOW’s biggest name has been 2017 Mae Young Classic entrant, occassional NXT enhancement talent and Florida independent standout Santana Garrett. Garrett is the show’s current champ, and one of the handful of wrestlers on its roster who works under her own brand rather than a character name (WOW is a Lucha Underground-like standalone fictional universe).
Their newest signee will undoubtedly follow Santana’s lead and represent under her own name, even if the gimmick she works might be slightly different from the ones fans are used to on Impact Wrestling or shows like ALL IN.
Here’s the press release touting WOW’s signing of Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard:
TESSA BLANCHARD SIGNS WITH WOW-WOMEN OF WRESTLING
Third Generation Wrestling Star Signs with Jeanie Buss’ WOW Superheroes for Debut in Los Angeles at AXS TV Tapings
Los Angeles, CA – September 5, 2018 – Los Angeles Lakers owner Jeanie Buss announced that Tessa Blanchard, one of the biggest independent wrestling stars in the country today, has signed to become the newest WOW Superhero in the Buss owned WOW-Women Of Wrestling.
Tessa Blanchard was born for the business and is a third-generation professional wrestler. The long line of wrestling royalty includes her grandfather, Joe Blanchard, her father Four Horsemen member, Tully Blanchard, and step-father Magnum T.A.
“Knowing the expectations of our WOW fans to see the best in women’s professional wrestling, we are elated to sign Tessa Blanchard,” WOW Owner, Jeanie Buss said. “Tessa enhances and elevates our athletic roster of talent beyond measure and we can hardly wait to showcase her skills in the series set to broadcast on Mark Cuban’s AXS TV.”
Blanchard is a global presence and has held the championship title in the U.S., Mexico and Japan and is currently the champion of the worldwide-distributed Impact Wrestling promotion based out of Canada. If the 22-year-old third-generation wrestling star is able to capture the WOW Championship that will be broadcast on AXS TV in January 2019, Blanchard could arguably be one of the brightest stars in the world of professional wrestling.
“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,” Blanchard said. “The success I’ve experienced in the past month in winning the Impact Championship, winning in Chicago at the ‘All In’ event in front of over 10,000 people, and now signing with WOW is what dreams are made of. My next dream to come true that will top off my year’s success will be when I beat Santana Garrett to win the WOW World Championship.”
The WOW Live Event Tapings happen on October 10th and October 11th, 2018 in downtown Los Angeles at the famed Belasco Theater. AXS TV will record all the WOW action, for broadcast beginning in early 2019. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com by clicking here.
For more information about WOW and its Superheroes, visit http://www.wowe.com/ @wowsuperheroes
Tessa also signed a “long-term” deal with Impact not too long ago, so this is the latest example of the Anthem-owned company being very talent friendly under Don Callis and Scott D’Amore.
Does Blanchard make you more likely to tune in to WOW on AXS next year, Cagesiders?