This past weekend (September 1st), Cody and The Young Bucks’ All In PPV proved to be a night of celebration for independent wrestling.
The card featured a Fatal 4-Way match between Madison Rayne, Britt Baker, Chelsea Green and Tessa Blanchard. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Blanchard reflects on her experience of the historic event and her continued her success in Impact Wrestling. Highlights of the interview below.
Being a part of All In event: “I was laying in the ring, just listening to the crowd. I never quite experienced such an electrifying moment like this and I just sat there with goosebumps as our referee was saying, ‘Soak it up, ladies.’ Witnessing the crowd come to their feet mid-match, that’s the ultimate sign of respect. Honestly, the All In women’s locker room was such an inspirational group of women. What I love about all the women involved—Chelsea, Britt, Madison, Jordynne Grace, Brandi Rhodes, Tenille Dashwood, Penelope Ford, Mandy Leon—is we all bring something so different to the table for a common vision.”
On sharing the All-In ring with her opponents: “First off, there are not three other women I would have rather shared that moment with. Years from now, when we talk about the women we came up with and learned from in the business, these are some of the names I will mention. Madison is an incredible talent, and from our short time together at Impact, she taught me so much. She has so much passion and, after Saturday night, she proved why she is one of the best. Chelsea doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what she’s capable of. [She’s] an amazing athlete and a brilliant mind. She aspires to be different, when people tell her she can’t, she goes out there and proves that she can. She pushes the envelope and comes out as one of the most unique performers I’ve ever seen. Britt, she’s one of my best friends outside of wrestling. We have faced a lot of the same hurdles, but one of the main things about Britt is that she has one of the most selfless hearts. Every time her and I share the ring, I discover something new about myself. That’s invaluable because she challenges me as an athlete and as a performer. One thing these women all have in common, though, is that we know it isn’t about just us. It’s a much greater vision. When we all spoke, we were all in agreement that we wanted to leave it all out there and display our love for this sport.”
On wanting to help elevate the Knockouts division: “When I first started wrestling I knew that I wanted to work as long and as hard as it took to be able to have a great match with anyone. Like Gail Kim, like Mickie James, like Charlotte, like Natalya. I want to be great. I want to be the best in the world one day. Impact is full of such talented individuals and we are awarded such amazing minds such as Gail Kim, Jimmy Jacobs, Don Callis and so many more people who are so invested in each of us individually. I don’t want to be good, I want to be great. Now that I am Impact Knockouts champion, that vision and the work that follows will not stop.”
Blanchard also discusses wrestling for nearly five years and having her father and stepfather walk her to the ring.
You can read the full interview here.
What did you think of the interview? Would you like to see another All In PPV event? What do you think is next in store for Tessa Blanchard? Let us know in the comments below!
