UPDATED: Former Champion Signs New Deal With TNA Wrestling, Set For this Weekend’s Events (SPOILERS)

UPDATE: Fightful Select has more details on Tessa Blanchard returning to TNA Wrestling after four years away from the company. Talent in AEW, WWE and TNA said they were in disbelief that TNA would be willing to hire Blanchard back. The news was kept away from the TNA roster, as well as many staff members who would usually know. This was done due to fear of backlash. There are some in the company that are still friends with Blanchard, but one person said that TNA is hoping there’s enough new talent on the roster that isn’t as familiar with her past and willing to work with her. Another source suggested Blanchard will be on her “best behavior” during this run.

TNA has been planning to bring Blanchard back for at least two weeks, with a “top person in Anthem” making the decision. That person was said to be warned against it by others in the company. Anthem President Carlos Silva, who just joined, was not the person behind the decision.

It is believed that Blanchard will return as a heel. There were plans to have her work with Jordynne Grace, but Grace reportedly “pushed back” against that.

One source suggested that TNA was trying to bring in new talent as they expect to lose Speedball Mike Bailey, Jordynne Grace and Josh Alexander.

Original: A former champion is set to return to TNA Wrestling and could do so as soon as tonight at their Final Resolution event. PWInsider reports that former TNA Knockouts and World champion Tessa Blanchard signed a new deal and was flown into Atlanta yesterday to take part in their weekend events. That includes Final Resolution tonight and tomorrow’s TV tapings.

It’s believed that Blanchard will work with Jordynne Grace starting out, but that isn’t confirmed. Grace is set to face Rosemary tonight and her deal is up in early 2025. There had been talks about bringing Blanchard back months ago, four years after she was let go back in 2020.

Blanchard’s contract expired heading into Slammiversary 2020. She was living in Mexico at the time, during the COVID-19 pandemic. TNA thought they could extend her contract to add time when she was away from the company, in order to get her back to drop the World title. Negotiations stalled and Blanchard didn’t send in promos for TV, so TNA stripped her of the title and refused to bring her back. However, that was when Scott D’Amore was in charge, and TNA has new management now.