Match Point is an on-going series at Last Word on Pro Wrestling, where we look at intriguing matchups in indie wrestling and beyond. They may be dream matches, first-time matchups, or hotly anticipated rematches, much like what today’s edition focuses on. Following their highly regarded champion vs champion battle at WrestleCircus, Brian Cage will take on Tessa Blanchard in a must-see rematch at Bar Wrestling’s Breastlemania on October 17, 2018.
A few months ago, Tessa Blanchard took part in a conference call for IMPACT Wrestling in which she answered questions about her upcoming title match, being part of the Knockouts division, her family legacy and more. Her favorite question was when she was asked about intergender wrestling, specifically, who on the IMPACT Wrestling roster she’d like to face if given the chance.
Blanchard’s answer was simple: “I would love to wrestle Brian Cage again.”
Brian Cage and Tessa Blanchard have met in the ring just once, but that’s all it took for the two to tear the house down in an intergender showdown that is still talked about to this day as one of the best such matches in history. The match took place at WrestleCircus‘ The Show Must Go On in February of this year as Cage defended his Ringmaster Championship against Blanchard’s Sideshow Championship in a champion vs champion, title for title bout. Cage and Blanchard battled for almost 18 minutes with Cage ultimately ending up victorious.
Thanks to WrestleCircus, everyone can watch the match (it has over 350K views) as the company made it available free and in full on their Youtube page. Watch it and you’ll know exactly why everyone is so hyped up for the rematch.
https://twitter.com/WrestleCircus/status/1052616333081292800
“I don’t think I would be the wrestler or the athlete that I am today if I didn’t have some of the intergender matches that I have,” Blanchard said in an interview with Vice Canada. “I’m forced to step up my game because the likes of Scoprio Sky, AR Fox, Brian Cage, David Starr…The way that they think, the way that they act in the ring, the way that they move, their timing, their position…it forced me to step my game up and start thinking that way, and it flipped some kind of switch so now I’m able to do that in my other matches as well.”
Clearly a huge proponent of intergender wrestling, Blanchard, the current Knockouts Champion as well as the women’s champion in The Crash, PCW ULTRA, RISE, Women Superstars Uncensored, Zelo Pro and WreslteCircus, is one of the women who really began to carry that mantle after Candice LeRae signed with NXT. Alongside the likes of Kimber Lee, LuFisto, Jordynne Grace (who just faced Cage for the first time at Beyond Wrestling in September), Martina “The Session” Moth, Maria Manic, Meiko Satamura, and Ivelisse, among others, Blanchard is as well known for her matches against the guys as she is her female counterparts.
A focal point of the intergender wrestling scene, Tessa Blanchard has wrestled against some of the best of the best including Brian Cage, David Starr, Scorpio Sky, AR Fox, Will Ospreay, Ricochet, Tracy Williams, Matt Riddle, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Joey Janela, Joey Ryan and more. Blanchard even took part in this year’s Combat Zone Wrestling Best of the Best 17, making her just the second woman and first since LuFisto in 2008, to participate in the tournament.
And then there is “The Machine” Brian Cage.
The current X-Division Champion, Cage is another proponent of intergender wrestling, doing so in a way where he treats all of his opponents equally. Cage has no issue getting in the ring with a woman and slamming her down to the mat just as he would a male competitor, which is something all of his female opponents certainly respect. A self-entitled equal opportunity ass kicker, Brian Cage has had notable intergender matches against Jordynne Grace, Taya Valkyrie, Diamante, Ivelisse, and of course against Tessa Blanchard, a match which has gotten so many accolades based on how it made intergender wrestling look and feel believable. And that is a very important factor with intergender wrestling that really makes certain matches stand out, much like the WrestleCircus one.
At Bar Wrestling‘s Breastlemania, Blanchard receives her rematch and despite the two opponents once again both holding championships from the same company much like during their first meeting, no titles will be on the line. That doesn’t mean the sequel will be any less however as both Cage and Blanchard take way too much pride in the art to give the match any less than 110 percent. Not to mention it’s only fitting the match take place on this intergender loaded card and in this promotion, which was founded by intergender wrestling specialist, Joey Ryan. If anyone else appreciates just how epic this sequel will be, it’s certainly the man behind Bar Wrestling.
And while this rematch is exciting, what’s more exciting is the prospect that this may not be the last time we see it. Blanchard has been very vocal about wanting to see intergender wrestling in IMPACT and with these two there to set the example, it could be an experience for the company it won’t soon regret.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BpBMAWqFcgv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Tessa Blanchard and Brian Cage’s match takes place on Wednesday, October 17 live at Bar Wrestling Breastlemania. The show will be available to view on Highspots Wrestling Network about a week after it airs.
