I recently had the opportunity to speak with Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard; she will defend her title against Taya Valkyrie on this week’s episode of IMPACT Wrestling:
Tessa comments on giving Taya a rematch after beating her at Bound For Glory:
Taya came out and decided to talk about how she didn’t respect me, and I thought that was absolutely unnecessary. I beat her. I beat her fair and square; I had her pinned in the center of the ring, I didn’t cheat. I had her beat. For her to go out there and say she doesn’t respect me and ‘if only Tessa didn’t do this’ or if the ref was there sooner [Taya] would be Knockouts Champion—it’s all just a load of bullcrap.
I don’t discredit her for anything; she’s traveled the world and she’s talented; [she’s from] Canada, lived in Mexico and the United States, [competed for] Lucha Underground and now IMPACT, but let’s face it—when I showed up to IMPACT Wrestling, Taya disappeared. No one had heard from or seen Taya for months, nobody even knew where Taya went. She just inserted herself into the title picture, she just took it upon herself, and I think that’s not right. Honestly, I’m the one doing the right thing here, but if she wants to make these accusations—she doesn’t respect me, this, that and a third—that’s fine. That’s why I wanted to [have this match] because I’m a fighting champion and I’m a confident champion. I’m confident that I can beat her, and I can beat anyone anyway that I want to.
I’m a Blanchard and when I arrived in IMPACT Wrestling, I deserved a championship opportunity. I didn’t need to work my way up, but I did work my way up. Madison Rayne, Kiera Hogan and Allie and Su Yung, and everyone in that Knockouts locker room, and I ran through them. I ran through them to get to where I am today, and that’s why when Taya Valkyrie comes back and wants to insert herself into the title picture, I think it’s silly. I think it’s silly, but if that’s the route we’re going to take, then that’s the route we’re going to take.
Do you feel like issuing the challenge to Taya instead of the other way around sends a message to the rest of the Knockouts division?
I hope so, because this Thursday what I’m expecting is to walk in the champion and walk out the champion by any means necessary. To all the Knockouts in the locker room now, to all the future Knockouts—I’m a fighting champion—if they want to come after me? Good luck to them.
Jordynne Grace is set to debut for IMPACT Wrestling in the near future, is Tessa looking forward to seeing her in the Knockouts division?
I don’t know if looking forward to her being a part of the roster is necessarily the correct statement. It’s very exciting for her; good job to Jordynne, my hat goes off to her. She got an IMPACT Wrestling contract, and that’s good for her. She’s on the upswing; she’s talented, she’s hard hitting. I’ve faced her in the ring before on the independent circuit and now she’s getting the opportunity to show her skills on a larger platform. It’s an exciting thing. I’m very happy for her, but one thing is she thinks she’s strong, she thinks she’s unbeatable, she’s this indestructible force—I’m strong. Tessa Blanchard is strong. Tessa Blanchard works 6-7 days a week in the gym, Tessa Blanchard can squat 225 pounds, Tessa Blanchard can press 140 pounds, and Tessa Blanchard doesn’t need to eat 5,000 calories a day to do it.
Are there any specific wrestlers family or otherwise that you try to model your work after?
My favorite wrestler of all time—and I think he’s absolutely incredible—is Johnny Valiant. I think he’s one of the coolest bad guys ever, but also all bias aside, I studied my Dad [Tully Blanchard] and my stepdad [Magnum TA]. I think that my Dad and Arn [Anderson] together was one of the best tag teams of all time. I love their work—all bias aside—I think my stepdad and my Dad are two of the best, so it’s a lot to live up to. There’s a lot of pressure on my shoulders, but I think that pushes me to be the best, not to be good, but to be great, to be one of the best in the world one day.
Are there any type of ‘old school’ ideals that your family tries to instill in you as a wrestler?
Sure, they’re always pouring into my life with advice and I go to them for advice; to be great you have to learn from people that knew how to be great. That’s one reason I love learning from Gail Kim as well, but my Dad always preaches endurance to me, being in top shape. It’s a body business, and if you want to be the best you have to carry yourself and look like the best. You have to be the best, so that’s why I work hard every single day. There are no off days. Even if I’m off the road, you still have to work hard. You have to get in the gym and get in the mindset. Everything is mental strength, so that’s what I do. I work hard seven days a week.
