Fans’ proposals for a dream match between WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and TNA’s Tessa Blanchard were dismissed by Kevin Nash during a recent episode of his podcast, Kliq This. The WWE Hall of Famer responded candidly to listener questions, providing his honest views on where Blanchard currently stands within the wrestling industry.
Behind-the-Scenes Reputation and Reconciliation
Although Blanchard has held top titles in other wrestling promotions, her absence from both WWE and AEW has sparked much speculation. Her career has been shadowed by multiple allegations of backstage bullying and racism, which first surfaced in 2020. The most notable controversy involved fellow wrestler La Rosa Negra, whom Blanchard accused of using a racial slur against her during a 2017 event in Japan.
In a positive turn of events, the two have since made amends. In April 2023, Blanchard and La Rosa Negra were seen smiling together at a wrestling event, and La Rosa Negra later confirmed the reconciliation, stating she had forgiven Blanchard.
Differences in Major League Baseball as an Analogy
Despite this reconciliation, Kevin Nash’s comments on his podcast highlighted Blanchard’s current professional standing. When a listener suggested a top-tier match between Blanchard and Ripley, Nash dismissed the idea by questioning, “If Tessa Blanchard was supposed to compete in an Iron Woman match with Rhea Ripley, wouldn’t she at least be part of the NXT roster?” He implied that the reason Blanchard isn’t in WWE isn’t due to her talent. Nash summarized his view using a sports analogy, saying, “I don’t think anyone on a double-A team is the person you want to pair with your best three players.”
Fan Take: This news is significant for TNA Wrestling fans because it sheds light on the complex challenges Tessa Blanchard faces in joining top-tier promotions despite her undeniable talent. It highlights larger issues in the sport around reputation, opportunity, and the politics that can influence a wrestler’s career trajectory.
