TNA: Tessa Blanchard Makes Return from “Suspension” at 9/25 TNA Impact! Show, Backstage Update on Matt Cardona Working Without TNA Contract, AKIRA Issues New Statement on Masha Slamovich Domestic Abuse Allegations

Tessa Blanchard Makes Surprise Return from “Suspension” at Thursday’s TNA Impact! Show

Thursday’s TNA Impact! show on AXS TV and Sportsnet 360 featured Tessa Blanchard making her surprise return from suspension.

During the singles match between Jody Threat and Victoria Crawford, Blanchard’s music played and she came out to the stage. This led to Threat being distracted long enough for Crawford to hit her with an Axe Kick for the pinfall victory. Following the match, Crawford got out of the ring and made her way to the stage to celebrate with her friend Blanchard.

Tessa Blanchard is BACK and the distraction cost @JodyThreat the victory! @VIX_CROW

WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/sg1roEgKBq pic.twitter.com/jnRREHzJSD

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 26, 2025

This was Blanchard’s first appearance in TNA since this past July’s Slammiversary 2025 event due to her storyline suspension from her attack on TNA interviewer Gia Miller.

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Backstage Update on Matt Cardona Working Without TNA Contract

As noted before, Matt Cardona has been working without an actual contract with TNA Wrestling and instead is currently on a per date type deal since March of 2024. This past Tuesday’s WWE NXT show featured Cardona among the TNA talents who made a surprise appearance and was involved in the TNA invasion storyline.

Fightful Select reported that one source spoken to stated that Cardona is still currently working without an actual contract in TNA.

It was reported that Cardona had previously left TNA when the company moved away from using unsigned talent but that policy has since shifted allowing opportunities for Cardona such as this past Tuesday’s NXT show appearance.

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AKIRA Issues New Statement on Masha Slamovich Domestic Abuse Allegations

As noted before, Masha Slamovich is currently dealing with domestic abuse allegations made against her by her former partner and current indies wrestler AKIRA. TNA recently launched an internal investigation into Slamovich and pulled her scheduled match against Ash By Elegance for the TNA Knockouts World Championship from the card of this Friday’s Victory Road 2025 event.

AKIRA issued a new official statement on Thursday on Twitter thanking everyone for the support they have shown towards him. AKIRA also asked for fans to not direct any ill will towards Slamovich despite her alleged abuse towards him.

“I appreciate everyone who has come to my defense. I still have concern for my ex partner and despite what others may say, I want to forgive. I do.

I don’t hate her. I don’t wish her ill will.

I would have held it close to my chest and never have said anything, but I am thankful for people messaging me and telling their stories. I have grown a great deal, and I hope others do too with whatever they get out of my past.

However, please do NOT wish ill will, enough of that has been said and it’s been hard to detach. I loved her and still love her in the bottom of my heart and anyone pushing her to do something drastic, needs to learn the art of forgiveness.

I believe that she has good in her and that she will evolve in a positive way. I believe that she is one of the best wrestlers I’ve been blessed to meet. I want her to grow as a Human and I want her to continue her work as a wrestler when she finally becomes that person.

The woman I loved was put on this earth to be a wrestler, and I would never see her do anything but that.

We live life and we fail. We all have. We must take accountability and repent for those actions in which we hurt others, but I believe in forgiveness and change. If we don’t have that in this world, we have nothing. I believe there is good in people and good in the world, and despite everything I still believe in the good in her.

She taught me many things about myself during and after, and the person I became after it is finally someone I can look in the mirror and see doing the things i aspire to.

Do not wish pain and suffering. Wish for change and accountability. Be better than the people who live within the world and bring nothing but pain to it.

I am not asking for idle hands or recompense. I am asking to remember that in order for people to learn, we must remember it’s about second chances.

‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4:32″