MLW Had Planned Masha Slamovich’s Title Win Before Pulling Tessa Blanchard

Masha Slamovich’s MLW debut and championship victory were reportedly planned before Tessa Blanchard was pulled from the promotion’s September 12 event. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Slamovich was always planned to debut at the television tapings in Charleston, South Carolina, and win the MLW Women’s Featherweight Championship.

Blanchard’s removal followed uncertainty surrounding her scheduled MLW debut. The former TNA star had been announced for Fightland on September 12, but CMLL later clarified that her agreement covered only that appearance. Blanchard was set to face Lady Frost. MLW subsequently removed promotional material featuring Blanchard and announced that she would wrestle Starlight Kid in Mexico City on the same date. The reason behind the change has not been publicly confirmed.

According to the newsletter, MLW had considered putting the championship on Blanchard eventually, before she was pulled from Fightland.

A source close to the situation told the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Tessa Blanchard’s public comments about wanting the title “were more than just what you would naturally say in an interview.” Meanwhile, MLW had reached an agreement earlier in the summer for Slamovich to join the heel version of Contra Unit.

Despite the situation involving Blanchard, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter notes that the working relationship between CMLL and MLW is still expected to continue.