Victoria Crawford Stands by Tessa Blanchard Despite Racism Accusations and Merch Backlash

TNA Wrestling is catching serious heat for standing by Tessa Blanchard—and now, Victoria Crawford is stepping into the fire right alongside her.

Blanchard’s past resurfaced once again after TNA released an “I Hate Tessa” t-shirt, which many fans saw as an attempt to cash in on the lingering outrage over Blanchard’s alleged use of a racial slur toward fellow wrestler La Rosa Negra, an incident Blanchard has long denied. The backlash was swift, with fans accusing the company of monetizing racism rather than addressing it.

But instead of backing away, Crawford—formerly known as Alicia Fox in WWE—is leaning in. During an appearance on Going Ringside, she defended her on-screen partnership with Blanchard and praised her talent and toughness in the ring.

“So Tessa’s great. She’s a strong superstar at TNA. She’s been there a long time. You know, Dreamer fills me in on a lot of her career history, which I find very interesting. Like he’s a big fan of hers and in the locker room.”

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Crawford went further, comparing Blanchard to a WWE Hall of Famer:

“She was in the men’s division. She like held up her own there. So she reminds me of like a Chyna, I guess, in a sense of the storytelling of kind of like her ability.”

While fans continue to drag TNA for pushing Blanchard back into the spotlight, Crawford says working with her is helping her grow as a performer.

“She brings it to the table, which I am excited to be teamed with her. I think at this point in my career, it’s either one of those things where if I’m not still learning something, there probably is a different role for me to be in the business, right?”

“I’m looking forward to being with Tessa ’cause she seems to really, like I said, bring it. So I think my style’s gonna change. So selfishly, I’m looking forward to that. But all the girls are different.”

The backlash hasn’t let up, with many fans insisting they won’t support TNA or buy any Blanchard-related merch. Some accused the company of “making light of racism,” while others warned this is why “TNA is begging WWE to buy them.”

Still, Victoria Crawford appears unfazed—choosing to focus on the wrestler standing next to her, not the headlines swirling around her.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.