Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Tessa Blanchard on choosing Impact over AEW & WWE, intergender matches, comparisons to Chyna

Episode Date: October 26, 2019

Tessa Blanchard talks with Chris Van Vliet before Impact Wrestling's Bound For Glory in Chicago, IL. She talks about why she feels comfortable in intergender matches, whether she could win the World Championship, advice from The Rock, growing up as a third generation wrestler, being compared to Chyna, why she chose Impact Wrestling over AEW or WWE, he tryout with WWE and much more! This episode of The CVV Show on the Blue Wire Podcast Network is brought to you by Sports.Axios.com and Indochino.com My audio equipment provided by Samson Technologies: http://bit.ly/CVVSamson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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This is the Chris Van Vleet Show Ladies and gentlemen Chris Van Vleet Oh yes it is the Chris Van Vleet show And I know you guys have been wanting this one to happen for a while And here it is, it's me It's Tessa Blanchard Detailed and In Dependip

And guys, she's awesome for as intense as she is in the ring. She is equally as awesome outside of it. And thank you for being on this audio journey with me. The podcast officially turns four months old today. It's our podcast anniversary, I guess. Is that word? I don't know.

It is now. October 24th, we are officially four months old. So thank you all for the support. And I don't have a Patreon account. I don't ask for your money. I don't. I don't want your money. Although if you'd like to rock an awesome CVV show,

shirt. You can get one on my website, chris fanfleet.tv. That'd be cool. But I don't want your money. All I'd like for you to do is take a few seconds out of your day to click like, click subscribe, and leave a review if you happen to be listening to this on Apple Podcasts. That's it. Keep your money. I was at Bound for Glory this weekend. It was so awesome meeting so many of you guys, which is because the reality of the situation is I am sitting in my spare bedroom right now, kneeling up against my bed, talking into the mic. It's just me in here. Hello, hello. So it's nice to know that there's somebody else on the other side of the microphone. So when I meet you guys in person, it's awesome, knowing that you're out there. You're a fellow

wrestling fan just like me and you enjoy this. And I ran into someone who said, hey, how long are you going to keep reading reviews on your show? Because I'm about to write one right now on my iPhone. And my answer was, I have no plans on stopping anytime soon. I mean, you guys are just as big at part of the show as the guests are. And this is my small way of tipping my hat and saying thank you. And feel free to take a screenshot and tweet me your reviews, especially if you don't live in the U.S., because that's the only place I can see them on Apple Podcasts. So if you live somewhere else, take a screenshot. Let me know. I'd be happy to read it on the show like this from Ignite Wrestling, who says, The Best Around. I love anything that Chris puts out. He's by far the best and most

entertaining guy talking about wrestling. That is, that's high praise. I don't know if I can live up to that, but I will say thank you to that. So thank you, Ignite Wrestling. And also thank you to our sponsors, sports.axios.com, as well as Samson Technologies, who make sure that the audio is crisp and clean. I've been in the broadcasting world ever since I graduated from college. And I learned early on that audio is the most important thing, because if it sounds distant or it sounds hollow, That's me standing far away from the microphone. People aren't going to be focused on what you're saying if it doesn't sound good. They'll just be like, why does that sound so bad?

So why mics, cables, mixers, everything is from Samson Tech, and you can check them out at samsontech.com. The CVV show also brought to you by Green Roads. And if you've been thinking of trying CBD products, I would suggest you start with Green Roads because not all CBD products are created equal. We've heard a lot about CBD products since this CBD boom started a year or two. ago, but a lot of companies have low quality formulas. Greenroads, though, is a pharmacist founded company dedicated to improving the lives of people who take it. People like me, it's not

like a specific thing that you feel. Obviously, there's, you know, nothing in there that's going to make you feel something instantly, but it's kind of like one of those things where it just takes your brain from like a 16 lane highway down to like a four. Like it really just helps out with like mellowing things out. And the relaxed gummies, they're pretty amazing, and they also taste great, along with the bloop, a little CBD oil under your tongue. That's been something that I've put into my daily regimen, and it's really changed my life ever since I started doing that.

That along with, you know, working out and meditating, that's, those have been practices that have completely changed my life. Use my code. Chris 15. You'll get 15% off your order at greenroadsworld.com. So a lot of people say that Tessa Blanchard is. one of the best female wrestlers in the world today. And I say take the word female out of that sentence because she is just straight up one of the best wrestlers in the world today. We talk about the inspiration

she got from her father, as well as the inspiration she got from the rock. She was the body double or the wrestling double for Paige's character in the movie Fighting with My Family. We also talk about why she chose impact instead of going to WWE or Ring of Honor or AEW. and that she could maybe one day become the impact world champion. Oh, so much to get into here. So let's not wait any longer. Ladies and gentlemen, it's Tessa Blanchard. We've been talking about making this happen for a while.

So thank you for finally making this happen. Thank you for driving five hours to make it happen. Five hours, nothing. But I also talk to Michael Elgin. We're going to do an interview with Teneal. So it's great. It's all working, and we're here at Bound for Glory. Yes.

Yeah. Exciting day, exciting week. I tweeted out that we were going to do this interview and people are like, they're very excited about this. I'm excited about it. Yeah. There's a lot of people who are like, you know, she's the greatest woman's wrestler in the world right now.

I'm like, well, just remove the word women's. Like, you are. You're one of the best wrestlers in the world right now. Thank you so much. But it's true, you know? And your story's so interesting because I think a lot of people think because of who your father was that this was just predestined for you to become a wrestler. And that was not the story.

the case at all for you. No, I actually, I never wanted to be a wrestler growing up. I always wanted to do musical theater and be on Broadway one day. And growing up, my family put me in, like, the Charlotte Children's Theater in North Carolina, and they put me in, like, anything theater. And all through middle school and high school, I did musical theater. And that's what I always wanted to do. And then my dream changed a little bit. I turned 18. I left home. And I was, I worked in like a night club in downtown Charlotte. I was hanging out with like a rougher crowd and just living life routine. Sure. I didn't really have a goal or anything. I was in college, but I didn't really have like a set goal of something that like I was really passionate about it and wanted to do until I found

wrestling and I thought maybe all, I remember in 2012 the year my dad was inducted just being in Miami with my brothers and sisters and being around wrestling and all that. It sparked an interest maybe. And I really wanted to wake up at like 5 a.m. and go to the radio interviews and go to guest access with my dad and Arne and just be around wrestling. I thought it was so cool. And then when I turned 18, left home, fast forward, I remember waking up one day and I was just like, Tessa, what do you want to do? And I looked up a wrestling school for some reason. I found out high spots was like 20 minutes from my house at the time. And I showed up one day and talked to Michael Bukukukukia who owns high spots. And I was like, I want to be a wrestling.

And he took me in the back warehouse. It was George South, Cedric Alexander, Caleb Conley, some local talents all in the ring. And they let me watch. And then George called me in the ring. And they let me hit the ropes and bump a few times. And by no means was I good. But I like, I fell in love with that. Oh, like, God, this hurts.

But I love this. I didn't even tell my family that I was wrestling because I didn't talk to my family for like a whole year when I left home. Like, changed my phone number, everything. Oh, wow. And Michael, I remember it was like maybe. six months into training and he pulls me out from the back warehouse. It was like a Tuesday night and he was like, Tesla, come talk to me for a second.

And he was like, you can't train here anymore. And I was like, why? And he was like, because I know your dad. And if they don't know your training, then it could be a problem. And I'm like, don't worry, I'll handle it. So I remember I called my family and that's how I started talking to him again was I told them that I was wrestling. And I invited them to come watch me train. my stepdad and my little brother ended up coming like a week after.

I don't think anyone really took me seriously, but I remember they showed up and me and Cedric were in the ring just like doing our thing. Like we just, he's someone who I'm so comfortable in the ring with and I just trust him more than anything. Like we can, we just know each other and we can go. And I was like, all right, Cedric, let's do our thing. And so we're like, going, going, going. And afterwards, my stepdad like rolled up to the turnbuckle.

And he was like, well, you're not good. but you have it. He goes, now you got to go out there and you got to become undeniable. There it is. And that's where it comes from. That's stuck with me. So were you all in on you were going to be a theater actress? I don't think I ever took it like so serious, but it's something that I was super passionate about.

I don't think it's something that I like hard tried to pursue and like realistically make it happen, but I really enjoyed just doing it. So what was the career path if it wasn't going to be wrestling? Honestly, I don't. don't really know what it would be. I have a bunch of different interest and passion. I was in school for business. But there was nothing that I really felt like, all right, this is it. This is what I'm comfortable with. But with wrestling, I get that feeling when I'm in the ring. I'm like, this is what I'm supposed to do. Well, as we sit here now, it's October. And what a year you've had? Like, what an incredible year? If we take it back just a few weeks before, so it's like 12 months

and a few weeks started really with all in for you, you know, and then up until now, like, are you able to step back from this and realize and appreciate what kind of year it's been? I think it's, it all just kind of seems like unreal to me a little bit still, like this year. When I first started wrestling, I was driving 14 hours for a show just to set up the ring and hopefully get an opportunity and make 75 bucks and sleep in my car and then turn around and drive 14 hours back home.

just because I wanted to pay my dues. I wanted to, like, when I first started wrestling, people would always say, like, you're only here because of your family name, you're only here because of this, because of that, anything except for hard work. And I would always say, like, you know, my last name, it might get my foot in the door,

it might get me in front of the right people. It might get me an opportunity, but the second you step into the ring, it doesn't do jack shit for you. So you've got to be able to back it up. You've got to train and work out and live that lifestyle and become great. Because I never wanted to be good.

I want to be great. I don't want to be passable. I want to be one of the best in the world. And you've got to have that mindset to live that lifestyle. Well, that's where you're at now. You are. I don't know. I don't know.

This year's been crazy. All in was like when Cody asked me to be a part of it, I just kind of was like, really? That was like unbelievable to me. And then just that match and the feeling there was just unreal. And then signing with impact and just transferring from like the knockouts to more intergender stuff and I don't know it's been it's been neat people keep asking like what's next like what's a goal of yours what do you want to do and I'm like I just want to wrestle some of the best in the world and I want to become one of the best in the world I want to make history in my own way you know like

women are making history right now in sports and there's the first this and the first that and the first this and it's great it's so great for like the women's revolution but like I want to find a way to make history in my way and I feel like with impact and intergender wrestling like I'm able to kind of do that in my own way. I think that when you signed with Impact, a lot of people were expecting you to be in WWE. You know, you were part of the May Young Classic. We saw you in NXT.

Why didn't that happen? Why didn't WWE happen? You know, I don't know. There was like a lot of playing with my head a little bit. I'm not saying that I didn't have the opportunity to go there, but impact definitely felt right. I want to, something that's important to me is I'm so confident in my own ability and my drive. And like, no matter what it is, whether I'm waiting tables or in school or wrestling, I want to be the best at it.

Like, that's just how I've always been. I want to be the best at it. And I'm so competitive. But I wanted to become a star on my own. I want to be out here. I want to wrestle the best in the world. I want to be different in my own way. and make history in my own way and do that for myself

and not have someone else take credit for it. Not saying that someone would, but it's just something that's important to me. My resume is important to me. I want to going to AAA to become the first American women's champion and wrestle at the garden and travel all these. I want to do that for me before anything else. I don't know.

It's pretty crazy, though, to think that you and Tully are both active in wrestling at the same time. He texted me the other day. He goes, I'm at TV right now and I'm like, what? You didn't even tell me. But no, it is really, really neat. And it's, all bias aside, the fact that he's my dad, I'm, I'm his fan too.

Like, I'll watch old school brain busters, like my dad and Aaron. I genuinely feel like they are so brilliant in this business and it's such a waste if they weren't in the business in some aspect. So for AEW to have him, he's so valuable. His mind is just the way that he thinks in wrestling, just he's, It's incredible. So I've learned so much from him. Do you remember what your earliest memory is of wrestling? So people ask me that all the time.

And I remember, like, when I was little, my dad taking us. We went backstage, do, like, a few things. I remember Hulk Hogan gave me, like, a chocolate chip cookie and catering. And then I remember. Here you go, brother. The first time I actually saw my dad wrestle was in Lenore, North Carolina. We were a small show. And I remember just thinking, God, this looks so real.

And I was scared. Like, I saw my dad in the rain. and he was bleeding and I was like I tried to run up after the match and like security wouldn't let me and I wanted to go in the locker. I'm crying. They're like, your dad's okay. Like, don't worry. But I remember just being so scared. Wow.

Did you watch it on TV before then? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love old school wrestling. My favorite wrestler of all time is Johnny Valentine. I watch like him in Wahoo McDaniels and it's like one of my favorite matches just because he's like the coolest bad guy to me. Yeah, yeah. I think it's just so cool. So every time I see Greg Valentine's.

I'm like, this is awesome. But I love old school wrestling. What specifically did you learn from your father that you take with you in every match? How to be a star. Not a lot of people carry themselves and know how to present themselves as a star. It's like something that you can't teach almost, but something you can just acquire along the way. And also, I remember my dad when I was training with George South. I was like trying to get advice for my dad.

dad and stuff. And on certain things, because he'll always help me, but he was like, there's nothing that I can teach you yet. And I didn't really understand that until now. And he's like, all right, now I can teach you. Like, where you are right now, now I can teach you. Wow. And I'm like, okay, now I get it. Um, so I'm picking up little things, even still, like, I'm still learning, still trying to get better. Still, like, I'll watch matches back. And there's like, with my dad even and he'll fix little things that I didn't even notice, just the way that he watches matches, the way that he watches someone's demeanor,

the way that they are, the way that they carry themselves in and out of the ring, in front of fans, like, it's really unique. I feel like it's obviously a good person to be sitting under the learning tree of. I'm very blessed. My dad, my stepdad, my grandpa, I've learned so much from all of them, so I'm so blessed. It's been, you know, five years, right?

Five years since you've started wrestling? Yeah, it'll be six in December. Okay, wow. It's going to be your wrestleversary. Resselversary. Sure, why not? You know, if it's only been six years, what's six years from now going to look like, do you think? Gosh, I don't know.

People ask me that. Because you're going to be 30 then. Yeah, I try not to like, because I'm a very anxious person too. Like, if I think too far ahead, I'll start like overthinking things. Right now my main focus is making history in my own way and wrestling some of the best in the world. There's still people that don't want to wrestle. For instance, Brian Cage, I've wrestled him on the Independence, but I would love to have a TV match with him for a larger audience to see.

He's one of my favorite people to wrestle. Scorpio Sky, I would love to wrestle him one day. I love wrestling the guys. I love wrestling the girls, too, and our knockouts division is so amazing. But I don't know. I like what I'm doing right now, and I try not to think way too far ahead. But I've got goals. I've got dreams.

Did it take some convincing to allow them to let you be in a match, like the one you were in with Sammy Callahan? you know it's something that I've always been passionate about because I trained with the guys that's the way I brought up I was brought up like and I feel like it's helped my timing my transitions my intensity different things like that but it was actually something they approached me with and it just kind of it worked it just was very natural not forced it just worked and I think that's why I love it so much and in some of the guys the way that they think the way we're also different our characters the way that we think we're all different human beings So I feel like I still learned something from each of them. To have the match with Sammy, I didn't know that we were going to be the main event until the night of. They told us that night, and I was just, I thought they were kidding. Like, I totally thought that they were, because they messed with us all the time.

I just thought they were kidding. So that was special for me. That was my first pay-per-view main event so far. And then for it to be an intergender match was just like, it's cool because it's a cool time for wrestling. It shows that wrestling is evolving. It shows that I've always been. passionate about intergender wrestling too because a lot of people are so quick to write it off they're just like man and the woman no um but i strongly believe that there's a way to do it and i think that after sammy and i's match or even after

brian and i wrestled at wrestle circus on the independence and a lot of people saw that match and they're like okay i get it yeah and i love that yeah i love when people are like all right i understand you well i think the best part about that match was sammy didn't hold back at all and i think that that's what made it A believable match. It wasn't a man and a woman wrestling. It was two wrestlers wrestling. I don't expect him to either. I want them to bring it just as much as probably my adrenaline a little bit.

And just I love those kinds of matches where they don't hold back. And I'm going to look out for you. You're going to look out for me and we're going to kill it. And I think that we really, we both wanted to prove something in that match. It was the main event. It was slammerversary. It was an intergender match. It was Sammy and me.

and it just felt special. Yeah. The moment we came back in the locker room, everyone was there and they were clapping, and it was just like this felt important. Can you understand the flip side of it, how people do have an issue with intergenital wrestling? Oh, I understand both ways completely.

And I think that there's, just like any style of wrestling, you know, there's strong style, there's Lucille, there's all these different styles of wrestling. I think there's a wrong way to do everything. But also, like, there's no right or wrong way to do everything, if that makes sense. But intergender wrestling, it's a style. I think that if a man goes out there and just straight up punches a woman in the face,

it's probably not how we should be doing, telling our story. Yeah, there's something about the punching that's not okay. No, which is strange. You can power bomb someone. You can throw their head into the guardrail twice. Oh, God. But there's something about the punching that's like it's a strange line that can't be crossed. I think it's probably like for some people, everyone views it differently.

Some people have been through different things in their life. Maybe it's a trigger for something. Maybe some people just don't have a taste for it. It's just different. It's different for every person. But like I said, it's a style. I think that there's a way to do it and tell that story. But there's also this style of match that you and Sammy had,

and there's a style of match that Joey Ryan has. It's intergender wrestling, but it's like very different styles of intergender wrestling. Oh, completely. Joey's style is so different and unique anyway. Right? But I know that, like, I think Eli Drake had a really big issue with having to face you. Yeah. I never actually talked to him about that issue, like, face-to-face.

But, like, Eli's a great guy. Like, maybe he doesn't have a taste for it, and that's totally fine. Like, that's his opinion. That's him. And it's totally fine. I didn't have a problem with him not wanting to wrestle me. There's been other people who, like, other guys who have said they don't want to have a match with me. It's fine.

I don't take it personal. Like, I get you. That's your. taste, that's your views, it's how you perceive it, it's fine. But then there's, there's guys that do, like, that are fine with it and want to go out there and, like, tell that story with me. And I think that that's, that's really cool. I don't take it personal, you know, it's business. But the reality of the situation is, you're super over right now. If I had the opportunity to have a match with you, I'd be like, hell yeah. Like, wouldn't it make sense to do that?

I guess so, but if you put, maybe he's putting like his own, what he thinks about it and his views, like first which is totally understandable too um you know a lot of people have like and eli he's he's he's very strong in the way he feels about wrestling um yeah he's very old school yeah he's very old school and like i'm a fan of his work um and the fact that he he explained it to me too we were uh deeming like for a second and he he like explained to me why because it blew up on twitter a little bit and i think people like jump to conclusions and stuff and i have no ill will towards him about it like everything's cool we're friends like it's it's no big deal Man, this is such a great chat with Tessa.

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fighting someone who's really small. He's like it just doesn't maybe seem that believable. And I'm like, dude, I get it. It's your old school way of thinking. But, you know, Eli's in obviously great shape. You're obviously in great shape. I was so blown away to hear that you haven't worked out your whole life. This was something that's fairly recent.

When I even first started wrestling, I wasn't like huge into weightlifting. I honestly, I didn't really know how to work out. I didn't know how to do my arms and my back and my legs and my chest and I didn't know how to do all that and isolate each body part. But I would watch YouTube videos and like Moose and I work out a lot and he would help me. And then I just kind of like started learning more and more and I got to know my body and what works for me and then trying different diets and working with a coach and like seeing what works for me. Now I'm like pretty familiar with myself and I know how to get in certain shape or like. Sometimes I just want to eat cookies all the time.

Cookies are so good. You lived with Moose. Is that why you worked down all the time together? Yes. He was my roommate for a year and a half, two years. So he's like one of my best friends. What's it like living with Moose? It's an experience.

I tell him that because I'm like, I'm very clean. Sometimes I'm like maybe I have a little bit of OCD. I like things the way I like them. And Moose has a lot of stuff. Moose has, we had a room in our house for his, shoes. Just his shoes. Just his shoes. It was his shoe closet, this whole room. Oh, okay. He used to be sponsored by Nike, too, so he has, like, tons of shoes. And he's, the sad thing is he's given, like, half of them away to charity, and he still has a shoot room. Where is home for you now?

So I have a place in Long Beach, and I also have a place in Tijuana. Oh, really? Yes. Wow. How much time do you spend in Mexico? Well, I decided to get an apartment there because I'm wrestling in Mexico a lot more often too and near the beach and it's just so nice and it's kind of like my getaway also. I just, I love it. But then in Long Beach because I help train with Wow and I help the girls out there. And sometimes I need to be there for like a week or longer at a time. So it just makes sense to instead of like crossing the border every day. Sure.

Did you think we were going to be able to also do Wow while still doing impact? No. So Wow approached me and David McCorme. Clayne said they wanted me to be a part of wow and I was like I just signed with impact. I don't think I'm going to be able to. I'm sorry. And he contacted Impact and talked with them and then they they kind of like both let me know like, hey, you can do this. And I'm like, okay, awesome, let's do it. And I was going through like some changes in my life at the time and I just got out of a relationship. And I was like, you know what? Let's move to Cali. I was living in Florida.

And I was like, let's just do it. Let's jump. And your Wikipedia says you live in Brooklyn. Does it? I think anyone can edit those. So there you go, Wikipedia people. You're wrong. Yeah, you're wrong. I can't live there. It's too cold. Yeah, I guess so a little bit.

Too cold. We're in Chicago right now, and it's... The West Coast is nice. You get, like, that fall weather. Yeah. How different is the style of wrestling in WOW versus what you're doing here in Impact? Well, it's different, mainly because I'm doing a lot of intergender now, too,

and WOW is in all women's promotion. But one thing that really drew me to Wow was I've always been super passionate about basics. Like, know your basics, footwork, just basic things in the ring, because that's what George always drilled into my head when I first started. And I always think that if you get too far ahead of yourself, your basics are always going to come back to bite you in the ass if you don't know them. Like I'm a strong proponent for that. So with the wow girls, some of them are pro girls, like independent girls and some impact girls are on there. But a lot of them, we start from scratch. So we do auditions. And they come,

they audition and they'll come to the training school, which we have in Long Beach, and I'll start them with, like, bumps and hitting the ropes. And I'm not the head trainer. Selina Majors is there. But for season one and two, I would start them from scratch and, like, teach them wrestling, which I love, like, just the beginners. I don't know everything, but, like, I'm really confident in my basics, like footwork and hitting the ropes and just the little in-between details.

Yeah. How quickly would you say, if they come in knowing nothing, how quickly can they do a match? I think it varies with like different girls, their athleticism. We try them out for like a few weeks and stuff and see if they're going to make it or not. There's two girls in particular. One's her name's The Beast and then another one, her name is Faith. And these two in particular, we started them from scratch. And within six to eight months, like I think that they've grown so much in them from season to season.

I've wrestled both of them now and I feel like they've both grown so much. And they're girls that started at Wow, and we've groomed them and given them a character and taught them everything they know now. They'll even come and watch some independent shows and just they love wrestling. They're very passionate about it, and you can tell. Passion is something that you can't teach. And I think in the ring, you can tell when someone's passionate and when someone's just kind of doing it. Sure. But there are two that started from scratch, and I think that they're great.

Do you go back and watch your matches? All the time. Okay. Because I'll watch things, and there's things that I don't like. or things that I would change or maybe little things that I see that maybe someone wouldn't even notice. Yeah, yeah. I'm so nitpicky. Yeah, well, that's the only way to improve with anything that you do.

Yeah. Did you watch fighting with my family? I did. Well, obviously. My mom messaged me and she's like, I saw your face. And I'm like, yeah? Mom. That was a cool experience, though, because I literally, I was in my apartment in Florida.

And I got a call from WWE and they said, hey we need you to fight a California tomorrow and I'm like okay what for they're like we'll tell you when you get there and I'm like what were you like this is it I've got the job like I'm gonna be I was confused because obviously you didn't know it was about a movie oh I didn't know anything so they were like I need you to pack for either three days or three weeks and I'm like that's quite the difference um so I landed they had someone pick me up took me to my hotel and I'm there they gave me an address to be at the next day. I show up to the studio. It was myself and three other girls. And there was a ring set up and it's Dave Taylor's there, a WWE ring. Thea Trinidad, who's Zelina Vega now,

was there. And they had us in the ring rolling around, trying some stuff out, working with each other, asked us if we could do certain moves and then like took some photos, looked at us, like our body types and whatnot, I guess, to compare with the actress. And we found out, And at the end of the day, they ended up telling me that I was staying and sent the other girls home and told me what we would be doing. And I ended up actually staying there for a few months. Oh. They put me up in a hotel in Studio City for like a few months. We trained every day.

Worked with like different people from Hollywood and stunt coordinators and whatnot. And the rock ended up coming and training with us. Which is very cool. Because I think a lot of people see the Rock's name attached to a project like that. And they go, oh, yeah, he just showed. He showed up for his scenes and then, you know, basically told them what to do. No, he showed up. He was so hands-on with our matches.

And I actually learned a few things from, I remember actually in training. This is funny. He was, I forget what we were doing. We're doing something, but he pinned me. And then I kicked out and he hit me in the face. And I'm like, it's okay. That's cool. No, but it was a cool experience.

And then when we had the match at the Staples Center, I wasn't supposed to go to the UK. It was supposed to be another girl in the UK because they weren't going to get me a work visa. So I was just supposed to do all the stunt doubling in America. And when we go to the Staples Center, Thia and I had the match. They treated it as an extension of Raw. Right. Rock came out and hyped up the crowd.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And afterwards, his manager came and grabbed me and Thean said, he would like to see us in his locker room. So we went there, met his family. And he had no idea that I was my dad's daughter. He just thought it was like an indie name or like a worker name. And then he had like, like, put over my wrestling and, like, talk to me about my wrestling.

And the things that he said, like, really meant a lot because he didn't know who I was, like, that he just thought I was good. Yeah. And so then when he found out that I was my dad's daughter, he was like, that's crazy. But this is crazy. You trained with the Rock, so you basically had a match with the Rock. I guess. I mean, kind of.

I don't know. But I went home after that, and then they called me, like, in a week. And they said, we're sending you to the UK. and I went there for a few months. Wow. And lived in London and we traveled around to do like the different scenes and whatnot. It was just overall a really cool experience. Good thing you weren't signed somewhere because you wouldn't have been able to do any of this.

Yeah. Everything happens for a reason. Totally. But like if you were with impact, they wouldn't have been able to be like, yeah, take four months off to film a movie, you know, where it's not even you. But if your mom saw you in the movie, are you actually? Like, is your face actually in the movie? So I was watching it and I think you can tell, anyone who knows like my wrestling or like it's a fan,

you can tell it's my wrestling, I think. Like watching it, I can tell it's me. But maybe that's just me, I don't know. Did Brock give you some advice that, you know, you carry with you now? Um, something that was like really cool was, this was after the movie was filming. He followed me on social media and I had posted,

I had just gone through like a little bit of a hard time, in my life and I was like really hard dieting like all in in the gym like I was going through a breakup at the time and I was just like focused on like being the in the best shape that I could and just I wanted to just drown myself in my dieting and my workouts and just wrestling and I posted a picture in the gym and it was like just flexing and I don't know it's in the gym I like that you're making the flexing phase he messaged me and he said hey what's your phone number I need to give you a call. And I was like, I sent it to him and I didn't know what was going on. I was at the ring and I got a call and it was him. And he was like, you look like you've stepped up your training. You look just next level. Like, what are you going through?

And I'm like, wow. I'm like, what? That's crazy that you can just tell that from like one picture. And we ended up having like a good like hour conversation where he just like talked to me about life and like gave me like real sound advice. and he acted as a sounding board for like some things that were like it was just really like he didn't have to do that that was he was very down to earth and just it was very genuine and he told me like hey this is my number save it like if you feel like that again like let me know um and that was just like really really cool to me yeah yeah so have you reached out to him since uh he he he messaged me not too long ago and was like i see what you're doing like keep it up like good work and like every every now and then nothing consistent but like uh the fact that he even reached out like that he even reached out like that in any capacity is like that's a good person. Like someone who probably has every right to have a huge ego and has every right to not do that. It's just the fact that he did, that's really, really neat to me. We've had him on the show a bunch of times

and he's always just been so kind. It's like, you realize you're the most famous person in the world. And you don't, like, rock always says, though, it's nice to be important, but it's important to be nice. Yeah, and it doesn't matter if you're mopping the floors. It doesn't matter if you're the star on the show, the camera guy. It doesn't matter what he treats you all the same. You don't find that in everyone.

Yeah, yeah. Since you mentioned you'd like to have a match with Cage, if Brian Cage remains the Impact Champion, why not have a match with him for the title? I am not saying no. You know, never say never. Like there's no reason that you can't, like you were knockouts champion, amazing.

But there's no reason you can't be the actual champ. You know, who knows? I get that like on social media sometimes and like I've thought about it and stuff. It doesn't really seem just because it's not something that's really been done since China, you know? Yeah. And that wasn't even the world title. Yeah, the international title. But a lot of people compare me to her a lot and I don't know. I think that would be like if that were to ever happen or if that were ever to be reality, like that would be another way that I could make history in my own way.

What about the X Division title? Yeah, that's tonight. I know. Um, I'm really, really focused on it. You know, OVEs, like, they've been just poking at me and poking at me, like, week after week after week after week. And, uh, Sammy and I had a great match, but Sammy's like, he's always got a trick up his sleeve. Um, I'm hoping that tonight's a little bit different, uh, but my main, I've got like tunnel vision

tonight, like OVE and the X Division championship, because if I win that, then I do have option C. Yeah. Um, but one, one thing first. But, you know, here's the thing. There's been plenty of talented women wrestlers over the years. There's been plenty of intergender matches. What's different about you? How have you been able to take it to this next level?

You know, that's something I've been asked before. And I don't know, I believe in myself so much. I believe in my ability. I believe in my drive and my work ethic. And some things I think, maybe even my acting background has helped, like, take over different moods and different certain scenarios or to be. I don't know. For me,

something's just, it just feels natural. It just feels real. It feels when I'm in the ring, I become that person. And that becomes my predicament or my situation. And I got to get through it. And it just,

it's real to me. I don't think I'm memorizing anything or memorizing a spot or I don't feel like that. I genuinely like become that person. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and a lot more people are going to see this with you guys going to access. I think this is a big,

big step up for impact. Especially that, you know, we're used to watching 8 o'clock Monday, that's raw. And Wednesday, you've got your options at 8 o'clock. Friday. It's Smackdown. 8 o'clock Tuesday on a TV channel that a lot of people get. I feel like this is going to take things up even out of the frame with this one, even more.

See? So we did there? How excited are you for this access deal to happen? I'm so pumped. I've been, well, I've actually been working with access a lot with wow. So they're based in LA, so I would go to their offices a lot just to do stuff outside of wrestling, too. They'd have me hosting their Summer Slams or I hosted one of their rock shows and just different, like, hosting things that they would have me do through Wow. But now the impact is there.

I think it's great. The staff there is amazing. The channel's amazing. I think to be on the channel with New Japan and with Wow is really cool. But it's a huge step up. I think that we needed it. and I think that we deserve it. And I think that our roster and what we have is an amazing alternative.

I don't think we are competing with anyone with what we have. So to have that larger platform is just, it's a huge blessing for us. Why was Impact the right fit for you? A lot of people ask me that too. Oh, man, I keep asking those questions you've been asked before. No, no, no, no, it's okay. Because here's the thing. And it's no disrespect to Impact.

I love Impact. And I've been a fan for years. But I think people see you in Impact and they go, well, that's cool. also like when are you going to go to WWE or AEW? And I don't, I think that there's, unfortunately, people discount, you know, what you're doing here. Sure, I can see that. You know, I think it was just a gut feeling. It felt right.

And a lot of the times, even with matches, sometimes I have a gut feeling about something. And sometimes I'll say something. Sometimes I won't. And then the times that I don't, I'm like, damn, and I wish I said something. And it happened this weekend where I was like, I had a gut feeling and I didn't say anything and I should have. But with this. it, Moose had been trying to get me to come over for a while. Brian had been trying to get me to come over for a while.

And I had been asked to do a tryout match, maybe like, it was Moose's first pay-per-view because I came to support him. And I was asked to do a try-out match that week at the tapings. And I ended up just saying no. And I didn't really feel comfortable there backstage. When I first started, I was still very new. And a lot of girls, I, I thought I didn't really know much about the Indies when I started, but I thought everyone just got along.

And a boy was I wrong. You know, when I first started, the Indies were hard for me. Like, I would have people say things about my name. I would say they would think that I just got certain bookings or whatnot because of my name or I got opportunities too early or before I could really back it up. And, you know, maybe it's true. Maybe it's true, whatever. But some girls can be really mean, like really mean. And I didn't have like a great feeling there.

And maybe I was like quick to judge and whatnot because right now like I love our locker room. I love working here. And when they offered me a contract, I was hesitant, but I was like, you know what? Two years, let's do it. Let's jump. And it was a gut feeling and I did it. And I don't regret it. I feel like I've learned so much here just from Gail Kim, from Jimmy Jacobs.

You know, I've always felt confident about promos and whatnot, but Jimmy Jacobs has a way of, like, turning the switch to, like, a next level and the way he thinks about things, and his mind is so creative. Oh, yeah. So I learned so much from him. Gail, she's so athletic. She's one of, I honestly think she's one of the best women's wrestlers of all time, and I don't think she got the credit for that enough. So having a match with her, that was a dream. and to have her last match with her, that was a dream. But her being our age and I learned so much from her

and now working with the guys, working with DeLo and Dawn and Scott and Chris Saban, and their minds also, like, the way that they work, because they've been through it, they've experienced it all. So to work with them and learn from them is, it's great because they genuinely care about the end product. It's not about something being passable. They care so much that they don't mind taking the time to get there.

It's not like, all right, let's shoot this one take. All right, that was good enough. It's like, no, this can be better here. And this can be better here. And they analyze it. And it's like they don't want it to be good. They want it to be great. So they don't mind taking the time.

That's your mantra. Yeah, I love it. I love it. It's a great fit. And it's been very helpful for them because your great work ethic and your great in-ring performances have really helped them, you know, kind of put their name back on the map. Well.

I don't know. I'm just, I love being here. I love working here. I don't feel like you take compliments very well. I don't know. I get awkward. You are, but you know, you're obviously very confident in your abilities, you know. You don't need someone else to tell you that. But, you know, you're doing incredible work. And I want to acknowledge you for everything you have done. Oh, thank you so much. Seriously, thank you.

No, and it's so exciting to see how far you've come in this relatively short period of time, knowing that you have 20 more years or something left. We're just getting started here. We're just getting started. Just getting started. So thank you. I want to be super respectful of your time. So thank you for making this happen.

Oh, thank you. And, yeah, I'm so excited to see what's going to happen for you next. Me too. I don't even know. Well, there you go. Tessa Blanchard. And, man, how exciting is it that her career is really just getting started here? Tessa and I had been going back and forth to try to schedule this interview,

try to be in the same place at the same time. So I'm glad that it finally happened, bound for Glory Weekend, although she didn't win the X-Division title. Although it certainly looked like she was going to. Then Ace Austin at the last minute just swooped in there. So thanks to Tessa for her time. Thank you to you for listening.

Nothing would make me happier than if you took a screenshot, shared this. Tag me, tag Tessa. If you haven't subscribed yet, if you haven't left a review yet, please, you know, take a few seconds out of your day. do that. This is the first of many interviews I did in Chicago at Bound for Glory weekend. I also have interviews with Big Mike, Michael Elgin, and Teneal Dashwood, better known as Emma, from WWE. We talk about

why she was released from her WWE contract, kind of came out of nowhere and surprised her, and we got to get into the nitty-gritty of why that happens. So look out for that soon. I'm also looking to line up some interviews with the stars of NWA Power. Yeah, that's going to be good. Who would you like to see me chat with? I guess see me chat with on my YouTube channel. Who would you like to listen to me chat with here on the podcast? So thank you for an awesome four months so far.

And we're just four months in. We're just getting started, people. And I've waited so long to get into the podcasting world. And I'm so glad that 2019 was the time that I did it. And what better time? 2019 is the most exciting time for pro wrestling. I want to say probably ever. Yeah, so why not? And I think this quote sums it up perfectly. This is from Napoleon Hill who says, don't wait. The time will never be just right. That's fitting. Well, don't wait to have a great day. Don't wait to have a great weekend. If you're listening on the weekend. And we will see and also hear you soon.

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