I've gone places where they've told me what I need to do, what I need to say, who I need to be, what moves I need to perform. And at Impact I get to just be me. I have creative control to be me and do what I want.
I think that wrestling guys has elevated my game in a whole different way. My timing, my transitions, everything is crisp. It's a whole different level.
You got to be able to work hard. And that's what I do. I work hard, because that's what's necessary. You have to go that extra mile.
I love getting in the ring with Britt Baker. She is one of my favorite people that I got in the ring with.
Both my stepdad and my dad have said, 'Follow your heart and your dreams, but Tessa, this is a business and you need to become the best.' They don't sugarcoat things and I'm very, very blessed for that.
After my freshmen year of college, I really wanted to pursue wrestling.
I think that I am misunderstood because people perceive me to be a certain way because I am generational. They expect me to be entitled and expect me to have things early on. I think people misconstrued that honestly.
After my WWE tryout in 2014, I thought for sure that I was going to get signed and that it is finally happening and that I was going to finally be there. Then, when it didn't happen I was heartbroken. I always think it is because God had a plan for me.
I am grateful to both Impact Wrestling and the WOW executives for working out the details to allow me to pursue my dream of competing at the highest levels within our industry.
I try not to get my hopes up too high with anything, because I'll never be let down that way.
There were so many times I was called to go do a match and drive 8 or 9 hours from North Carolina to Orlando, Florida just to go do the NXT extra spots and then nothing, which would break my heart every time, but I was just very young then.
In a perfect world, I would love to be great at everything.
Taya has never beaten me in a fair fight one-on-one. Taya has always needed a stipulation or a special guest referee or something that puts the odds in her favor.
I've gotten to wrestle some of the best women and men in the world - Brian Cage, AR Fox, Scorpio Sky, Tracy Williams, David Starr.
I would love to wrestle Scorpio Sky again, that's one of my most favorite matches.
I was part of the first ever women's match to ever be televised in China. That's something no one can take away from me.
Witnessing the crowd come to their feet mid-match, that's the ultimate sign of respect.
