WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash made it clear he isn’t buying into the idea of a high-profile match between WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley and TNA star Tessa Blanchard, offering a blunt assessment of Blanchard’s current place in the wrestling world.
During a recent episode of his Kliq This podcast, Nash addressed a fan’s suggestion that Ripley and Blanchard compete in a best-of-three “Iron Woman” series—a match some would consider a dream booking scenario. However, Nash quickly shot it down, questioning Blanchard’s credibility in today’s wrestling landscape.
“If Tessa Blanchard was somebody that should be in an Iron Man or Iron Woman match against Rhea Ripley, don’t you think she’d at least be on the NXT roster?” Nash said. He continued with a pointed analogy: “I doubt somebody from the double A squad is the person you want to go best of… best of three with.”
Though Blanchard remains one of the most controversial and polarizing figures in modern wrestling, her in-ring talent has never been in serious doubt. A former Impact World Champion, Blanchard made history as the first woman to hold a recognized world title in a major U.S. promotion. However, her career trajectory dramatically shifted in 2020 following allegations of backstage bullying and racism, including a serious claim by La Rosa Negra that Blanchard used a racial slur and spat on her during a 2017 altercation in Japan.
Blanchard denied the allegations, but the controversy damaged her reputation. She has since been absent from WWE and AEW discussions, despite her family pedigree and prior championship success. In a sign of personal growth, La Rosa Negra and Blanchard publicly reconciled in April 2023, appearing together at a wrestling convention. La Rosa Negra confirmed the two had spoken privately and that forgiveness had been offered.
Despite this positive development, Nash’s comments highlight that Blanchard’s industry reputation remains a significant hurdle. While she is currently signed with TNA Wrestling, her on-screen presence has been limited. She suffered a concussion at TNA Under Siege in May and hasn’t appeared at recent tapings. No official update has been provided regarding her return to action.
Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley continues to be one of WWE’s top stars, dominating the women’s division and headlining major events. For now, any talk of a Ripley vs. Blanchard feud appears speculative at best—and with Nash’s comments, it’s clear some within WWE see a wide gap between the two performers’ trajectories.
