Tessa Blanchard’s brutal beatdown of Gia Miller at TNA Slammiversary shocked everyone — and her indefinite suspension that followed only added fuel to the fire. But it turns out her TV absence wasn’t punishment at all. It was part of the plan.

According to Fightful Select, Blanchard’s time off from TNA programming was never about backstage heat or legit disciplinary action. It was all storyline, designed to give her some personal downtime for medical reasons.

“Tessa Blanchard’s kayfabe suspension was to give her some time off for elective procedures.”

That suspension was set in motion after a savage attack that saw Blanchard viciously assault Gia Miller after a match with Indi Hartwell. She slapped Miller hard before slamming her head multiple times into the steel steps — a segment that ended only when security pulled her off.

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After weeks away, Blanchard made her return on the September 25 episode of TNA iMPACT! — and went straight back after Gia Miller. That heated post-match assault wasn’t just a one-off. Now, the two are booked to square off at Bound for Glory on October 12.

While fans may have been led to believe Blanchard was suspended due to her unhinged behavior, it turns out the angle was just a way to cover her absence while she handled personal matters.

Blanchard is still one of the most hated heels in the company, and Gia Miller remains the crowd favorite. Their match at Bound for Glory is set, and it’s shaping up to be a showdown with real tension behind it — both in and out of character.

Do you think TNA handled Tessa Blanchard’s suspension the right way, or should they have been more upfront about the real reason behind her absence? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — we want to hear what you think.

Steve Carrier is the founder of Ringside News and has been reporting on pro wrestling since 1997. His stories have been featured on TMZ, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and more.

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