One WWE star calls for accountability after Tessa Blanchard opened up about her mental health struggles in recent years.
There was a time when Tessa Blanchard was one of wrestling’s hottest female prospects. Shortly after winning the IMPACT World Championship, however, things took a turn for the third generation star. Several female wrestlers launched allegations of racism and bullying toward Blanchard, and after a leave of absence from IMPACT due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was released from the company.
Speaking in a new interview with Straight Talk Wrestling, Blanchard opened up about her mindset following her exit from IMPACT, revealing that she struggled with severe anxiety about her place in the world of wrestling.
“Honestly, so when everything happened to me, it was even a tough topic to even talk about. I remember, I was living in Tijuana at the time, and I remember some days I would wake up, I didn’t even have the strength to live that day, so I would go back to bed, and I would be in my bed all day long.
There were days where I was tired about life, just because my identity was wrestling. I didn’t know who I was without it, and in a matter of less than 24 hours, from contract offers from the biggest companies, more money than I’d ever seen in my life, to nothing. From this whole storyline we had built for eight or nine months to me begging the TNA office that day, like I don’t want to win it, I don’t want to do this.
“After I didn’t go home, I went on a 27-day media tour in Mexico, where I remember we would pull over in the Uber before every interview, and I would vomit. I was just puking and puking because I didn’t know, it was whiplash, I didn’t know.
I was seeing and hearing and my family, my little brother and sister, were reading all these things about me that I knew wasn’t me, I knew wasn’t in my heart, I wasn’t this person, but it didn’t matter, perception’s reality, right, the truth doesn’t matter. Even the real truth isn’t even out there still, and it doesn’t matter.”
Continuing, Tessa Blanchard said that she eventually took steps to find herself outside the world of wrestling, something that was vital to helping her continue.
But you know, sometimes those things happen because when your feet are pretty far off the ground, when you fall, you fall hard, and I didn’t know my identity without wrestling, and through all of that, through those ups and downs, those really hard days that I didn’t know if I was gonna get through, I found out who Tessa is without wrestling.
I went back to college, I joined Army ROTC, and I found out, hey, I’m good at other things too. Yeah, wrestling is my dream and I love it, and this is what God’s put in my life. But without wrestling, I’m gonna be okay. There is a life after this, and one day, if I get hurt or this isn’t in my life, I’m still gonna be alright.”
According to Blanchard, her mental health reached such lows that she considered ending her own life, but she’s found ways of coping with her mental health and finding herself outside the world of wrestling has been important.
“Accountability Matters”: Chelsea Green On Tessa Blanchard
WWE star Chelsea Green was one of the people who was outspoken about Tessa Blanchard’s behavior in the past, and taking to social media in response to Blanchard’s recent interview, Green pointed out that the star has yet to apologize to those she allegedly bullied in the past. While Chelsea Green doesn’t want anyone to feel as low and depressed as Blanchard described, she believes accountability is necessary.
I don’t wish self-harm or thoughts of suicide on anyone and hope she has found peace. However, a simple ‘I am sorry’ goes a long way. We haven’t heard that yet. Accountability matters, and a redemption tour of interviews won’t erase the actions of an egotistical bully.
I don’t wish self-harm or thoughts of suicide on anyone and hope she has found peace. However, a simple 'I am sorry' goes a long way. We haven't heard that yet. Accountability matters, and a redemption tour of interviews won't erase the actions of an egotistical bully.
— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) August 26, 2024
In recent news, Chelsea Green claims she did not agree to participate in a WWE NXT debutants match.
h/t Fightful