Kurt Angle was one of the top stars of TNA. He got to wrestle with some of the best in-ring talent there. This list includes none other than AJ Styles, who Angle credits for making him a better wrestler.

The Olympic Gold Medallist talked about his time in TNA on the latest episode of his podcast. He specifically discussed the Aces & Eights storyline and the problems with it.

Angle was involved in a story with AJ Styles at the time where the two formed a team. Commenting on his experience of sharing the ring with AJ, Kurt said that everyone who gets in the ring with him becomes better:

“Whether I was alongside him as a tag team or working with him, he made me better. Every time I wrestled with him or against him, he made me better.

That’s the kind of guy AJ is, that’s the kind of athlete he is. Everybody he gets in the ring with, he makes the match better and the other person better.”

-Kurt Angle

The former world champion was involved in a storyline with AJ Styles in mid-2012. They faced each other on a couple of occasions before forming a tag team.

The team of Angle and Styles even held the TNA World Tag Team Championship for a brief period. The two stars then went their separate ways after being unsuccessful in recapturing the titles.

You can check out the full episode of The Kurt Angle Show below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Dolph Ziggler Discusses Future Of His Stand-Up Comedy Career
• Jake Roberts Reflects On AEW Debut “I Felt Like I Was At Home Again”
• Matt Cardona’s Advice For Young Talent: “Slow The F*ck Down”
• Drew McIntyre On Vince McMahon’s Original Plans For 3MB
• Shawn Michaels On What Makes Logan Paul A Great Performer

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Former TNA/Impact Wrestling star Rhaka Khan is a wanted woman yet again with a warrant out for her arrest.

The bench warrant was issued on December 14, in Texas, after she no-showed the first day of her scheduled trial.

Legal Problems

Khan, real name Tenesha Daniyall Biggers, has had problems with the law for years, and at one point was on El Paso’s Most Wanted list.

In 2019, Biggers was charged with interfering with child custody and aggravated kidnapping.

She was placed on the Most Wanted list after no-showing her court date at the time.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Khan’s trial was delayed numerous times and was supposed to begin this month.

If convicted, interference with child custody is a felony in the state of Texas, punishable with a jail sentence of up to two years.

Rhaka Khan in TNA Wrestling

After competing in the 2005 WWE Divas search as Trenesha, Biggers would sign with TNA in 2008, debuting at February’s Against All Odds Pay-Per-View.

Khan served as a manager for Scott Steiner and later Petey Williams, and would compete in the first ‘Queen of the Cage’ match at Lockdown in April.

After a face-turn over the summer, Khan would turn heel in November, and would align herself with Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed to form the ‘Kongtourage.’

In April 2009, Khan was suspended for 60 days due to a backstage altercation when Roxxi Laveaux accused her of working too stiff, and she was released in October of that year.

From uninspired storylines to older stars taking the spots of younger talents, there were a number of factors that led to the downfall of TNA after a historic rise. One such factor was sideling top stars such as Kurt Angle when factions like Aces & Eights dominated the TV programs.

The Olympic Gold Medallist talked about this time in the company’s history on the latest episode of his podcast. He was asked if the officials ever invited him to be part of the infamous faction. Angle replied negatively saying that he is glad he was never asked to join the group:

“No. no, they didn’t. I’m glad they didn’t. I don’t think I would have liked being [a part of it]. I know this – if I would have went in, I wouldn’t have been one of the top guys. I would have been hanging out in the mid card somewhere so that it wouldn’t [have] help me at any point in time.”

-Kurt Angle

‘It Grew Out Of Control’: Kurt Angle

When Aces & Eights were running roughshod at the TNA roster, top stars such as Kurt Angle and AJ Styles were working a meaningless programs. Speaking about the time, the former TNA champion discussed how they were just trying to stay relevant and figure out what their position in the roster would be once the storyline was over:

“That was the problem, the Aces & Eights storyline took over TV. It got so big. Same exact thing happened with the nWo in WCW. It was a cool little faction, then all of sudden it grew and out of control. They were just too many. At this point in time, there were a lot of members of Aces & Eights.

We were just treading water just trying to get through the storyline and see where our places were going to be afterward. It’s really difficult when they’re doing a storyline [and] they’re not trying to involve you. You’re not really involved in the storyline. That’s the main storyline going on TV and you got your top two guys – AJ Styles and Kurt Angle, that’s no part of it.”

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Matt Cardona’s Advice For Young Talent: “Slow The F*ck Down”
• Drew McIntyre On Vince McMahon’s Original Plans For 3MB
• Shawn Michaels On What Makes Logan Paul A Great Performer
• The Miz Compares Sami Zayn To Classic TV Series Lead
• Shawn Michaels Reveals WrestleMania Match He Came Up With In The Middle Of The Night

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

What do you think about the Aces & Eights storyline? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

Impact Wrestling’s Brian Myers has spoken out against the sense of entitlement he’s seen in the professional wrestling industry today.

Myers, perhaps best known for his time as Curt Hawkins in WWE, was with WWE from 2006 to 2014, and later from 2016 to 2020.

The former Raw Tag Team Champion has since joined Impact Wrestling, where he recently held Impact’s Digital Media Championship.

Entitlement

In addition to wrestling, Myers also runs a wrestling school with Pat Bucks, the Create A Pro Wrestling Academy.

Speaking during the latest episode of ‘The Sessions’ Myers spoke about the sense of entitlement he has perceived in wrestling.

“There’s too much entitlement. What I had [showing respect] was maybe a little too deep. But what it is now, is too deep the other way. We need something in the middle because the entitlement that people have in the business nowadays is wild to me.

“the entitlement that people have in the business nowadays is wild.”

Brian Myers.

“The story is that when we first got called up, you were not even allowed in the locker room. So Matt and I, changed with extras in every building for at least the first three months. Then we had to go up to Chris Benoit as the locker room leader and say ‘Sir. We’ve been wrestling on TV for a couple of months. We’d like to know if it’s okay if we could change with the boys.’ I don’t know if it needs to be that extreme, but there’s got to be some kind of respect.”

When host Renee Paquette said that asking for permission to enter the locker room must have been a rite of passage, Myers said it served as a reminder of your place.

“It makes you realize just how low on the totem pole you are. That you can’t change with the boys.”

Brian Myers.

Changes

Myers is far from impressed by what he’s seen from young wrestlers today and believes that for things to change, those in charge need to lead by example.

“It [Change] has got to come from up top. It’s got to come from management or top-top locker room guys.”

Brian Myers.

When Paquette suggested that social media and the ability to control what responses you get could be a factor in this entitlement, Myers agreed with the notion.

“I think that’s another big problem in the business. People start blocking everyone who says something bad to them, and before they know it, their timeline is all praise and it messes up your self-impression.”

For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

Brock Lesnar was once interested in crossing the line to work for TNA Wrestling. This is according to Kurt Angle, who has been friends with him for years due to their amateur wrestling backgrounds and pro wrestling careers. 

Throughout 2003, they had some classic matches over the WWE Title, including Lesnar winning the championship from Angle at WrestleMania 19. 

In 2007, Angle wrestled Lesnar for one final time in a match for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. That could’ve been different if Lesnar got the money he wanted from TNA Wrestling. 

The Talk

While speaking on the latest episode of his Kurt Angle Show podcast, Angle revealed that Lesnar reached out to him about potentially joining TNA Wrestling in 2007.

“Okay, Brock calls me. He’s not in WWE,” Kurt Angle recalls. “He says, ‘Listen, man, can you get me in TNA? —’ I probably shouldn’t even be saying this, but you know what, Brock doesn’t care. So he said, ‘Hey, what are you making?’ I told him what I was making and he said, ‘If you can get me that, I’ll come. I approached TNA, and they said, ‘No, we’re not going to give him that kind of money.”

Angle said that he thinks TNA was at the top of their budget and couldn’t give any more money out at the time. He stated the Carter Family funded the venture for a long time and when TNA started making their own money,  it wasn’t enough for them to be able to afford Lesnar. 

Angle added that “TNA would have lit up” if a deal could have been reached to bring in Lesnar.

Lesnar would not return to professional wrestling until 2012 when he returned to WWE on the WWE Raw after WrestleMania 28 as he focused on his MMA career.

H/T to Fightful for the transcription

Impact Wrestling has announced a new multi-year partnership with the DAZN streaming service that will bring the company’s weekly TV show, PPV events and other programming to more than 170 countries.

Anthem Sports & Entertainment and DAZN Announce International Multi-Year Distribution Partnership for Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling

IMPACT’S Signature Series, PPV Events & Other Programming To Be Televised By DAZN To More Than 170 Countries Beginning November 29

TORONTO, ON and LONDON, UK, November 29, 2022 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc., a global multi-platform media company, and DAZN — a leading global sports entertainment platform — announced today an international partnership that will deliver Anthem’s IMPACT Wrestling to more than 170 countries worldwide beginning on November 29.

The multi-year agreement will give DAZN viewers in 170+ countries — including the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, and Brazil — the best seat in the house to IMPACT Wrestling’s weekly IMPACT! flagship series, home to larger-than-life characters, high-stakes matchups and blockbuster drama.

Additionally, DAZN viewers will have access to IMPACT’s high-octane PPV events and premium IMPACT Plus live specials, as well as select titles from IMPACT Wrestling’s archives, directly through the DAZN platform.

DAZN can be accessed on Smart TVs, games consoles, Amazon Fire TV/Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast and Apple TV, as well via the DAZN app on iPhone, iPad, android and other tablet and mobile devices. For all the ways to watch, please visit www.dazn.com.

“DAZN is a global leader in premier sports programming, and we are proud to partner with them as we expand IMPACT Wrestling’s international reach even further,” said Scott D’Amore, Executive Vice President, Anthem Sports Media Group. “From the beginning, IMPACT Wrestling has enjoyed a worldwide audience of passionate and knowledgeable fans who crave high-quality professional wrestling content. With this announcement, we hope to make it even more convenient for them to enjoy our flagship series, premium specials and pay-per-view events, while also introducing the IMPACT Wrestling brand to even more sports enthusiasts across the globe.”

Said Veronica Diquattro, CEO of DAZN Global Markets: “We are incredibly excited to sign this multi-year partnership with Impact. This deal will see the promotion’s world-class professional wrestling content arrive on the DAZN platform in more than 170 countries worldwide, reinforcing our growing position as the global home of combat sports.”

For more on this big partnership, visit ImpactWrestling.com.

Jai Vidal has signed an exclusive multi-year contract with Impact Wrestling. 

This signing makes him the first openly gay male wrestler to sign with the company in its 20-year history. The news was made during a special episode of the Outsports podcast LGBT In The Ring where he noted that he was on “cloud nine” after signing his first contract with a big promotion in the United States.

Vidal was introduced to audiences as Shaw’s executive stylist and content creator ahead of her Knockouts World title match against Jordynne Grace. In late 2021, Vidal worked matches on Impact TV against Eric Young and Jonah. 

His signing comes just over three weeks after he made his re-debut on Impact TV alongside fellow LGBTQ pro wrestler Gisele Shaw in one of the first LGBTQ tandems seen on television in the United States. 

Vidal Garners Interest

After strong performances at several independent shows in Las Vegas, Florida and California, Impact became interested in signing him. According to Vidal, the contract offer came “out of nowhere.”

“When I got the call to sign with Impact, I had actually just come back to Florida from the [Impact] show in Vegas,” he told Outsports. “I was running on zero sleep. I got back and saw the voicemail and called them right back.”

Vida joins Anthony Bowens, Fred Rosser, Parrow, Quincy Elliott and Jake Atlas as the only out gay men to sign with one of the promotions in the United States. Impact began working with LGBTQ groups in 2022 including a partnership with the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance. 

On Friday night, Josh Alexander defeated Frankie Kazarian in a 40 minute battle at Over Drive to retain the IMPACT World Championship.

After the match, Alexander was greeted by Bully Ray. Ray praised his match with Kazarian. He told the champ, “that’s what professional wrestling is all about.” He followed that with, “you are the most incredible world champion on the planet right now. Every company out there, I choose you every single day.”

Ray had his trophy with him him and reminded Alexander that when he said when he won the Call Your Shot gauntlet match, that when he decided to cash in, he’d do it face to face. “…I’ll look you in the eye and shake your hand and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I’m challenging you at Hard to Kill.” Ray told him that if he shook his hand that meant he accepted the challenge. Alexander did and the match is set.

Bully Ray Needs HEEEEAAAAATTTT

Bully Ray being Bully Ray had to create heeeeaaatttt. Ever since he returned to the IMPACT Zone, any and every one would tell Alexander not to trust Bully Ray, foreshadowing the most obvious result.

Ray came through while Alexander was ringside talking with his wife, Jade. He blindsided the champ with a big boot, followed by hitting him repeatedly with a chair. Jade pleaded with Ray to put the chair down, but to no avail. As he continued to hit him, Ray asked why he ever trusted him.

He pulled a zip tie from his shorts and tied Alexander to the ring rope. A frantic Jade was still trying to plead with Ray, who dragged her over the barricade by her hair. He warned Alexander to stay where he was before positioning Jade for a piledriver on the concrete.

First, he directed Alexander not to get up or he’d piledrive his wife on the concrete. Immediately after, he yelled for Alexander to get his title. When Alexander did as directed, he made him hand him the title, while still holding Jade in a precarious position. The clip cuts off after this.

Alexander vs. Ray is official for Hard to Kill in Atlanta, GA on Friday, January 13.

• Chelsea Green is “Going Home” After Finishing with Impact Wrestling

The possibility of Chelsea Green returning to WWE has grown given that the Canadian wrestler has finished her time with Impact Wrestling.

Green was with WWE from 2018 to 2021 before being released as part of ‘budget cuts.’

After appearing for Ring of Honor in July 2021, Green would join Impact Wrestling later that month and is a former Knockouts World Tag Team Champion.

Leaving Impact

During this week’s Impact Wrestling, Green lost to Mickie James in what would be the former’s final match for the company.

In a post-match vignette, Green told Deonna Purrazzo that she was “going home” in a segment that mimicked James’ ‘Last Rodeo’ segment.

PW Insider reports that this segment was done to write Green off TV and that her time with the company has ended.

It was reported weeks ago that Green was expected to leave Impact Wrestling when her contract expired.

Going Home?

Green said during the vignette that she is ‘going home,’ which many believe is a nod to WWE.

Last month, it was reported that WWE is interested in bringing back Green as part of the new regime.

Green was called up to WWE’s main roster in late 2020 but suffered a hand injury during her first match on SmackDown.

Despite being released, she was allowed to continue attending WWE’s Performance Center while her hand was healing.

Speaking earlier this week, Green rejected the idea of going to AEW and said that she had maintained a great relationship with WWE’s Head of Talent Relations Triple H.

Steve Maclin and Deonna Purrazzo have been dating since 2020 and were engaged this past February.

The former two-time Knockouts World Champion and a former Knockouts World Tag Team Champion has now tied the knot with the former WWE star. 

The Wedding

Deonna recently posted photos from her wedding on Instagram that revealed several wrestlers were in attendance for it, such as Chelsea Green, Dr. Britt Baker, Wendy Choo, McKenzie Mitchell, and Tasha Steelz.

She also shared photos from her bridal party. In one post, Maclin is holding a glass of wine as they kissed on the stairs, and she captioned her post, “Let’s do the DAMN THANG.” 

Deonna opened up about her marriage with Maclin recently as she announced the date and explained why they chose it. The explanation was, “It is November 10th, which is also the Marine Corps birthday, so he is excited because it is a double whammy for him.”

From all of us here at SEScoops, we wish the happy couple the best as they embark on a new chapter in their life together. 

Former AEW star and Dark Order member Alan Angels has a new squad in Impact Wrestling.

Alan is now a part of Eric Young’s Violent By Design faction in Impact Wrestling. Angels helped Eric and Deaner beatdown Sami Callihan on tonight’s episode of Impact.

Angels took to Twitter after the segment and said that he loved violence after joining the faction.

John Silver of the Dark Order responded with a tweet riddled with jealousy.

Alan Angels Departs All Elite Wrestling

Alan Angels contract with All Elite Wrestling expired at the end of June earlier this year and he exited the promotion. Speaking with Fightful, Angels reveals that he was told be AEW that they were not going to offer him a full-time deal and wanted to pay the 24-year-old per appearance.

“My contract, I was told about a month and a half ago, that they are not going to re-sign me. They did offer me a per-appearance, which I decided not to take, just solely based off what I thought was best for me. I feel there is more room to grow outside of AEW, right now, at this point in my career. It’s nothing against AEW or Tony Khan or any of the higher-ups in the business. It’s a personal thing.

“I feel, me going on the Indies and showing people what I can really do and showing people that I am a good fucking wrestler, I feel that will raise my stock — not saying it’s impossible to do that in AEW, but I guess the perception, how fans perceive Alan Angels, is, I’m the bottom guy in Dark Order and I feel I can change that outside of AEW. It’s possible in AEW, but I feel it would take longer.

On top of that, I never got to have a great Indie career. I was on the Indies for three years, got lucky, and got scooped up. As a wrestling fan, being an Indie wrestler and doing cool ass Indie shows, that’s a thing I want to do. There are plenty of places to make money in pro wrestling right now. That’s not to say that I won’t be back in AEW, maybe I will, I don’t know, but that’s pretty much it. They offered me something, I felt it was better for me not to. That’s all it was.”

Impact Wrestling and AAA star Laredo Kid is out indefinitely after having to undergo emergency surgery this week.

Laredo Kid (real name unknown) made his Impact debut in 2017 and returned to the promotion last year.

In 2019, he also made a one-off appearance for AEW, replacing PAC and teaming with the Lucha Bros. to face The Elite.

On the March 24, 2021, episode of AEW Dynamite, Kid returned to AEW, again teaming with the Lucha Bros.

The Injury

On Instagram, a statement on Kid’s account confirmed that he had to undergo “emergency surgery” following a show in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

The statement did not specify what kind of surgery Kid required, but that “due to the severity of what happened the recovery time is not yet known.”

The full statement, translated into English, is as follows.

“I don’t know how or where to start with this news — Yesterday unfortunately @laredokidpro had to be taken by ambulance to the hospital after finishing the fight for the championship in Monterrey. He had to undergo early morning emergency surgery. GAD a little while ago was aware and aware of his situation to alert family + closest friends.

Hopefully in the next few hours, days your situation improves and becomes stable —- Fans, promoters, friends, family and colleagues of Laredo, I will try to keep up with messages and be able to reply to most. * Promoters / events * with dates scheduled in the following months — due to the severity of what happened the recovery time is not yet known, any questions or comments I will be answering msgs, emails, for the time being avoid calls.

Thank you very much to Taurus, Roberto, Abraham, Jorge and AAA for being there all morning and to my closest people thank you for the support — Send your good vibes, prayers and energy so that I can soon get out of this.”

AAA Statement

Kid worked for AAA for years, before departing in 2011 to work on the Mexican independent scene.

In a statement of their own (translated by PW Insider) AAA said that Kid had been suffering from abdominal pain.

At the end of our event Campeonato Showcenter on October 23, 2022, Laredo Kid was attended to by medical personnel upon presenting severe abdominal pain. He was taken to a nearby hospital to be looked at and to find a diagnosis.

After midnight on Monday, October 24, he underwent surgery with positive results.

He is currently stable and under medical supervision.

We will continue to provide updated information as we receive it from his doctors.”

We here at SEScoops wish Laredo Kid a full and speedy recovery.

Mia Yim is no longer officially a member of the IMPACT Wrestling roster.

According to a report from Fightful Select, Yim has wrapped up her contractual obligations with IMPACT. Her contract has now expired and she opted not to re-sign or extend the deal, thus making her a free agent.

Yim returned to IMPACT this past spring, where she signed a short-term deal that ran through Bound For Glory. After opting not to extend, the contract ran out this past weekend. IMPACT is said to have left the door open for her to return.

Her time with IMPACT was said to have gone well, as she had a good relationship with everyone backstage and in the locker room. Yim has been competing in professional wrestling since 2010 when she began with Combat Zone Wrestling.

She has also competed for organizations such as SHINE Wrestling, Shimmer, Full Impact Pro, and WWE. After wrapping up her first run with IMPACT in 2017, Yim signed with WWE in 2018, joining NXT.

Yim had a brief run on the main roster in 2020 but was released from her contract the following year. Now a free agent, it will be interesting to see where she opts to sign given the wealth of options at her disposal.

Impact Wrestling’s roster has shrunk after the most recent tapings, as four stars have reportedly finished with the company.

Impact held its eighteenth annual Bound for Glory this week, and has confirmed the date and location for their next pay-per-view Hard to Kill 2023.

Departures

PW Insider reports that Mike Bennett, Maria Kanellis-Bennett, Vincent, and Matt Taven are believed to have finished with the company.

Bennett, like his wife, returned to Impact this past January at the Hard to Kill pay per view, after being released from WWE in 2020.

Bennett’s departure, as well as Taven’s, is unusual as the pair are in their first reigns as Impact World Tag Team Champions.

Vincent also joined Impact Wrestling at Hard to Kill 2022, alongside Bennett, Kanellis and Taven.

Honor No More

The four departing wrestlers all debuted at the same time, and as part of a group, later dubbed by Kanellis-Bennett as ‘Honor no More’ in January 2022

The group, which included PCO, came about during Ring of Honor’s hiatus (which ended in April 2022,) and consisted of prominent former ROH talent.

Later that month, Kenny King, a former ROH and Impact Wrestling star, returned to the latter promotion and joined Honor No More.

The following month, Eddie Edwards would be revealed as the group’s leader.

The recent Bound for Glory event saw a mixed result for Honor No More, as Bennett and Taven retained their tag titles on the show against the Motor City Machine Guns.

On the other side of things, PCO would fail to win the Call Your Shot Gauntlet and Edwards would be unsuccessful against Impact World Champion Josh Alexander.

Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace has put in the hard work in the gym and stayed true to her goals to get into peak shape as she continues to find success as a top wrestler in the entire wrestling business. 

Grace recently took to Twitter to show off her amazing body transformation and provided an inspiring message.

Jordynne Grace is Putting in The Work

She also shared a video from showing off her bodybuilding results. Her dedication has shined through her hard work while sticking with her bodybuilding program as she not only got in better shape but also climbed the ranks in Impact Wrestling to become the top star in the Knockouts division and continue garnering attention from fans.

Grace won the Knockouts World Championship for a second time in the inaugural Queen of the Mountain match at Slammiversary in June. On Friday night at the Bound for Glory pay-per-view event, Grace successfully retained the title over Sasha Slamovich at Bound for Glory.

You can check out her spirited post-match promo below, where she spoke about being an underdog going into the bout and preparing for it more than her opponent did: 

Impact Wrestling is returning to Atlanta, Georgia next January for its annual Hard to Kill event.

During last night’s Bound For Glory Pay Per View, it was announced that Hard To Kill will be held at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 13.

This will be the first time Hard to Kill will take place in Georgia, after previously being hosted in Dallas, Texas, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Hard to Kill

Despite being the newest Pay Per View event for the company, Hard to Kill has become one of the big four shows that Impact hosts each year.

The inaugural event in 2020 saw Tessa Blanchard capture the Impact World Championship from Sami Callihan, the first (and to date only) woman to win the title.

2021’s event took place without live fans due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and saw Rich Swann, Chris Sabin, and Moose face AEW’s Kenny Omega & The Good Brothers.

Last year’s event saw then-Knockouts World Champion Mickie James retain against Deonna Purrazzo in a Texas Death Match, the first all-female main event.

Main Event?

No matches have been confirmed for Hard to Kill 2023, but we may already know what will headline the event.

During last night’s Bound for Glory Pay Per View, Bully Ray made his return to Impact Wrestling, winning the Call Your Shot Battle Royal.

The Impact Wrestling Hall of Famer has earned a title match at any time of his choosing and could headline Impact’s next Pay Per View.

After the event went off the air, Ray confronted Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, and the two slammed Mike Bennett through a table.

A former Impact World Champion is back with the company and seeking one more reign on top of the promotion.

Last night saw Impact Wrestling host their biggest event of the year, Bound for Glory, marking the 18th event in the show’s lineage.

Bully Ray Returns

In the third to last match of the night, a 20-person intergender ‘Call Your Shot’ gauntlet match took place.

The match segmented entries are similar to WWE’s Royal Rumble match.

During the match, Bully Ray made his Impact Wrestling return as the #14 entrant and would win the entire thing.

Ray eliminated Johnny Swinger (with an assist from Tommy Dreamer) and Tasha Steelz, before pinning Steve Maclin to win the match.

As a result of his win, Bully Ray now has a championship opportunist for any title, at any time of his choosing for up to a year.

After the show ended, Bully Ray confronted Impact World Champion Josh Alexander, who retained in the main event against Eddie Edwards.

The intense staredown was interrupted by the returning Mike Bennett, and both Ray and Alexander slammed him through a table.

Bully Ray in Impact Wrestling

Working for Impact from 20015 to 2015, Bully Ray’s highest point came in 2013 when he was revealed as the leader of the Aces and Eights.

As part of the group, Bully Ray became a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion and feuded with Hulk Hogan.

Ray is also a two-time TNA World Tag Team Champion and was inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014, alongside his ‘brother’ Devon.

Eddie Edwards is immensely proud to be the longest-tenuring wrestler competing for Impact Wrestling.

Edwards joined the promotion in 2014 alongside Davey Richards as The Wolves, mere weeks after making a one-off appearance in WWE NXT.

Since then, Edwards has become a triple-crown champion for Impact and is the leader of the Honor No More faction.

The Veteran

Joining Impact, then TNA Wrestling in 2014, Edwards is the longest full-time wrestler still with the company.

Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, the former Impact World Champion addressed this milestone.

“Impact has treated me with nothing but respect. A relationship with respect goes both ways. That’s the best type of relationship and I’m proud to be a member of impact I’m proud to be the longest-tenured roster member at this point and I want to keep it going until the wheels fall off.”

Bound for Glory

Edwards has been with Impact longer than anyone, but is yet to headline the promotion’s biggest Pay Per View event: Bound for Glory.

That changes this Friday when he’ll challenge Impact World Champion Josh Alexander in the main event of Bound for Glory 2022.

Speaking about the title match, Edwards said it means the world that Impact has faith in him to headline their biggest night.

“It’s been the staple. It’s our biggest event of the year and to be able to do it with the main event with the world title on the line against Josh Alexander it’s kind of it’s like the perfect storm.

“it’s kind of it’s like the perfect storm.”

Eddie Edwards on his upcoming Impact World Championship match at Bound for Glory.

“The company obviously believes in Josh, that’s clear and that’s for good reason. But they give me a shot here in the main event and I plan on going out there and do what I do best.”

Edwards is already a two-time former Impact World Champion, having defeated Bobby Lashley in 2016 and won a five-way match in 2020.

Something for Everyone

While Impact was once considered the biggest opposition to WWE, that title now belongs to AEW.

The wrestling scene now has more promotions than ever before, with the NWA, MLW, GCW and others trying to find their place.

Speaking about what sets Impact apart, Edwards encouraged fans to tune in to Bound for Glory, where they’ll be something for everyone.

“You’re going to find something that you love that’s gonna hook you. Whether it’s the Knockouts. It’s tag team wrestling. It’s hardcore craziness or it’s the main event Josh against Eddie Edwards, there’s gonna be something for everybody.”

Roster Changes

As Impact’s veteran, Edwards has seen plenty of changes made to the company.

Several stars have left over the years, with many finding success in WWE, AEW or other promotions.

Edwards said that he doesn’t feel bad about anyone doing what he feels is the right decision for them.

“People are going to come and go. That’s how professional wrestling is. You know, business is business and people make their own decisions as to what they need for their lives and I’ve always respected that. So some people will come and some people will go but the mainstay will be me representing impact to the best of my ability.”

Impact Wrestling Bound for Glory 2022 will take place at the Washington Avenue Armory, at Albany, New York.

Heath Slater is enjoying his run in Impact wrestling. Though his start with the company wasn’t ideal and he got hurt only hours after signing a contract with the promotion. Thankfully they took good care of him during his time off.

The Impact Wrestling star recently had an interview with Paltrocast. He was asked if he intended to stay with the promotion for 2 years when he signed. Replying to it, Slater claimed that it was definitely the plan since he signed a two-year contract:

“Well, I definitely wanted to stay for two years because I signed the contract for two years. What was crazy is that the day that I signed the contract, not even four hours later I got hurt.” recalled Heath Slater, “So it was one of those, ‘Oh no, what the hell just happened?’ Type deal.

But thank God they stuck with me. They extended my contract that 11 months. It was one of those like sign of respect things where they stuck with me. They paid me throughout to where I’m just like, I tip my hat to ’em.”

‘Have My Cake And Eat It Too’: Heath Slater

After following the gruesome WWE schedule for over a decade, Heath Slater finds the Impact schedule to be very easy. He explained that it allows him to be the father he wants to be while also being a wrestler:

“With Impact scheduled, usually you’re off for two weeks. Then the third week, you go out and do the TV tapings or the Pay Per View tapings. If there is a PPV tapings, you’re still home for a full week before you have to go out.

I do get time to be the dad, the father that I am and love to be. I don’t miss out on too much anymore. It’s like I kind of have my cake and eat it too because I get to do that life, and I get to wrestle.”

You can check out Heath Slater’s full interview below:

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• MJF Reveals His Retirement Plan

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Impact Wrestling officials will be looking to re-sign several of its talent as their contracts are slated to expire. 

It was previously reported that Mia Yim’s deal was slated to expire this year. Chris Sabin is under contract with Impact Wrestling through this year.

The Names

Fightful Select reported today Yim has been under a short-term deal with Impact carrying her into October. The exact date is October 9th, which would make her a free agent after that date. This would mean she is under contract through next month’s Bound  For Glory pay-per-view. 

Also, Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven’s deals are currently set to expire soon.

Yim previously worked for Impact from 2015 to 2017 under the ring name of Jade, where she won the Knockouts Championship. Yim also became the Queen of the Knockouts in 2016 prior to signing with WWE in 2018.

Yim was among the names to be released by WWE last November, including her husband Keith Lee. 

Yim made her return to Impact Wrestling this past May at the Under Siege event, where she saved Taya Valkyrie from a post-match beatdown at the hands of Deonna Purrazzo.

Former TNA/Impact Wrestling star Raven will take his place in the promotion’s Hall of Fame, the company has confirmed.

During last night’s Victory Road event, a video package confirmed Raven’s induction, using prose from Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven.’

The induction will take place at Impact’s Bound for Glory event on October 7, at the Albany Armory in Albany, New York.

Raven and Impact Wrestling

After runs in ECW, WCW and WWE, Raven joined Impact (then TNA Wrestling) on January 22, 2003, two days following his WWE release.

In June 2005, Raven would capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at that year’s Slammiversary.

After losing the World Championship to Jeff Jarrett, Raven would form the group Seratonin, consisting of himself, Frankie Kazarian, Johnny Devine and Matt Bentley.

Following a 2008 release from the company, Raven returned after over a year away in May 2009, working alongside fellow ECW alum Dr. Stevie (Steven Richards), and Daffney.

Raven’s final match for TNA/Impact came in November 2010, defeating then-TNA television Champion AJ Styles in a non-title match at a Live event.

Hall of Fame

Raven is the latest big name to join Impact’s Hall of Fame, which was founded in 2012 with the induction of Sting.

The Icon is one of three men to be both Impact and WWE Hall of Famers, alongside Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett.

The group also contains long-time Impact referee Earl Hebner, first-ever Knockouts Champion Gail Kim, and first World Champion in the promotion Ken Shamrock.

Team 3-D are the only tag-team to be inducted in the Hall of Fame, which also includes Impact veterans Abyss and Awesome Kong.

Bobby Fish has arrived in the Impact Zone.

The former WWE and AEW star made a surprise appearance at this evening’s Victory Road special from Skyway Studios where he immediately made his presence known to the Impact locker room.

Fish cut a promo about how controversial he’s been since his AEW departure, where he was most likely referring to the shoot comments he made against CM Punk following Punk’s blow up at the post-ALL OUT media scrum. He made it known that he was a guy who always did his job well, and that he has not joined Impact for the bull***t.

WHAT!!!!@theBobbyFish is in THE IMPACT ZONE!?#VictoryRoad pic.twitter.com/lhqkj2qDu4

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 24, 2022

Fish made sure to state that he doesn’t officially work for the company, so Impact cannot fire him for any reason, and that he was in search of good competition. This brought out Raj Singh and Mahabali Shera, who confronted the former multi-time NXT tag champion thinking they would get one over on him due to the two-on-one advantage. Unfortunately for the heels, Fish would nail Shera with a kick and trap Singh in a heel hook before they eventually retreated.

.@theBobbyFish wants a FIGHT and @TrueRajSingh & @MahabaliShera are here to bring it to him!#VictoryRoad pic.twitter.com/x4uMQrD9uW

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 24, 2022

As a reminder Fish left AEW near the end of August after the company decided to not renew his contract. At this time it is not known whether Fish is under contract with Impact or on a per-appearance deal.

Continue to follow Sescoops for more updates on Bobby Fish.

Steve Maclin will compete in the first ever triple threat barbed wire massacre match in IMPACT Wrestling history this weekend at Victory Road. This event takes place from Nashville, Tennessee and airs live on IMPACT Plus.

Ahead of this grueling match, Maclin spoke with SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay about his upcoming match at Victory Road, who he wants to see join IMPACT, working towards his psychology degree, preparing for his wedding with “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo, and more.

Here are some highlights of what Steve Maclin said about:

On Who He Wants To Join IMPACT Wrestling:

I would love to have [Wesley] Blake here, and it would be fun to share the locker room and the road again with him and for him to be able to show the world how good he actually is. Because I know a lot of people say he’s underrated, but he is and he’s one of the best in the world at what we do. I would love for him to showcase his talents here.

His Next Goals In IMPACT Wrestling:

“Obviously, after barbed wire massacre, my eyes are on either Josh Alexander or Eddie Edwards at Bound for Glory. Whoever comes out with that title, that’s what I’m gunning for, and I’ve been gunning for for a while. Personally, I hope Josh holds on to it. That’s, I think, the match that people are quietly talking about and thinking that’s going to happen, and I know at some point he and I will be in the ring, whether it’s for the title or not. That’s the one guy I’ve been wanting to work with personally and within IMPACT Wrestling.”

Working On His Psychology Degree:

“I originally wanted to get into Health Fitness when I first started college, when I got out of the Marine Corps at 25. Then I got into wrestling, so wrestling took over. Then as I’ve been growing, mental health has become a big thing amongst my friends in my area and dealing with that. Once I was let go by WWE, I was looking into jobs at the VA (Veterans Affair Medical Center). I was, ‘all right, well, maybe wrestling might be done.’ I don’t know. I don’t want it to be, but I need to pay the bills and help feed our family.”

“It’s a two way street for both of us. It’s not just one way. So we both work hard together. For Deonna [Purrazzo] and I, I looked into social working and I was like, ‘Oh, wow, that’s something I would like to get into.’ But every application was like, Oh, you need a psychology degree or a degree in something.”

“So ‘Okay cool, maybe that’s my avenue down the road’ because not many veterans at the VA hospital I go to are social workers there or help there. So why not have somebody that’s experienced in it and can relate to you and be able to just sit and talk to somebody to get to know them and help them out however you can? Just be that voice.”

His Favorite Things About “The Virtuosa”, Deonna Purrazzo:

“For how she is in the ring and how she’s so glamorous and is the Virtuosa and loves the attention, I love that outside of the ring, she does not like attention. I don’t know if people know that she’s very–just wants to keep to herself and she doesn’t want to be the spotlight outside of the ring. It’s funny, and I think that’s just one of the quality traits that I love about her, too, just because that’s just who she is.

Victory Road & The Fallout will run this Friday September 23rd & Saturday September 24th from Nashville, Tennessee. The event will air live on IMPACT Plus at 8pm est / 7pm cst.

Impact Wrestling officials are entering an interesting time for the promotion as several talent contracts are slated to expire. 

Fightful Select reports Mia Yim’s contract is due in October, while Maria Kanellis confirmed that she is signed with the promotion through Bound For Glory. 

Maria has stated that she has had talks with WWE, AEW, and Women of Wrestling (WOW). Her contract isn’t the only wrestler whose contract may be up as Matt Taven and Mike Bennett’s current deals expire soon.

These two stars are the current Impact Tag Team Champions. Sabin is under contract with Impact Wrestling through this year.

The Good Brothers also dropped their titles when their deals went up with Impact Wrestling after helping multiple tag teams become better.

NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Aussie Open will take on the Motor City Machine Guns on this Thursday’s Impact Wrestling, with the winner earning an Impact Tag Team Title shot at October’s Bound For Glory. 

This will be the go-home edition of Impact for Friday’s Victory Road special. Digital Media Champion Brian Myers defending against Bhupinder Gujjar in a ladder match and Jordynne Grace vs. Zicky Dice are the other bouts confirmed for this show. 

Aside from all the ongoing AEW drama the cycle of pro-wrestling continues to carry on.

Today it was revealed that the legendary D’Lo Brown is finished with Impact Wrestling after three years. The report was made by PW Insider and later confirmed by Executive VP Scott D’Amore, who had the following to say about Brown’s departure.

“We appreciate D’Lo’s contributions to Impact Wrestling over the last 3 plus years. We wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”

Brown’s Run With Impact

Brown returned to Impact in 2019 as a producer and agent, and later did some work as a color-commentator. He also competed for the company through his prestigious 28-year career, including a run with one of the promotion’s top factions, The Aces & Eights.

Brown rose to prominence during his run with WWE in the Attitude Era. There he was a one-time Intercontinental champion, and a four-time European champion, even holding both the belts at one point in his career. He started as a member of the Nation of Domination before breaking off as a singles star.