Her contract didn't expire til June 30th. No , this is a case where Tessa's ego has screwed her. Its one of those issues where unlike Ric Flair who put money down to carry the WCW World title and it grew in escrow , and he wanted his money back before dropping it....Tessa just demanded money. She demanded a silly figure for a title belt and knew no way would Impact pay that. If they were gonna pay $150,000 it would be for a contract.
Any company that signs Tessa will get someone who was unwilling to cut promos at home. Refused to put someone over on her way out and then refused to send belt back. I doubt she's a popular person Impact will ever bring back.
Sami could run that and before the WWE created a new IC title had Sami cut promos at home , with him walking around his place as champion. Saying he was gonna keep the belt forever. (you could do a comical Summerslam match at Sami's home which has a ring in back yard and someone comes there with referee and suddenly makes him defend the belt)