Impact Wresting will be introducing new championship belts once again.
During a media conference call on Thursday morning involving Impact executives Don Callis and Scott D’Amore, the company revealed that the new championships will be introduced in April, when they hold the next round of television tapings.
Current championship belts being are holdovers from when the company (briefly) rebranded as Global Force Wrestling last year. When the GFW partnership was terminated, the company covered up the Global Force name with ‘Impact Wrestling’ plates.
Austin Aries returned to Impact Wrestling at Wednesday night’s Impact tapings from Orlando, FL and captured the company’s Global Championship from Eli Drake.
Impact Wrestling held its latest round of TV tapings on Wednesday night from Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. The following are results from the show, courtesy of Jacob Cohen:
– Caleb Konley defeated Rohit Raju
– Impact Grand Champion Matt Sydal (c) defeated Fallah Bahh to retain
– Lashley defeated KM
– Kiera Hogan defeated Laurel Van Ness
– LAX comes out for an in-ring promo and Konnan calls out oVe. The group comes out and Sami Callihan says he hates LAX and the Impact Zone, but it’s because oVe hates everything. Sami says he does respect LAX, and they have bigger problems to deal with now, but they will be tag team champions again in 2018. Konnan says there aren’t any bigger fish to fry than them, because LAX is the whole tuna. Caleb Konley and Trevor Lee attacks LAX from behind and oVe leaves.
– Moose & Johnny Impact defeated Alberto El Patron & EC3
– Eli Drake and Chris Adonis come out to the ring for ‘The Facts Of Life’, and Eli talks about being the greatest of all time. He declares he is the greatest Champion, dresser, and friend of all time… but Austin Aries returns and says Drake isn’t the Greatest Man That Ever Lived. Aries lists his own accolades in the company and says if Drake wants to be great, he has to beat him anywhere and anytime. Chris Adonis attacks him from behind, and Eli calls for a ref to defend the title on the spot.
– Austin Aries returned and defeated Eli Drake to capture the Impact Global Championship.
– Taiji Ishimori & Matt Sydal defeated Rohit Raju & El Hijo Del Fantasma
– Cult of Lee (Trevor Lee & Caleb Konley) defeats T.E.C.H. LAX appears on the screen after the match, and Konnan warns Cult Of Lee that they are coming for them, and there is nothing they can do about it
– Laurel Van Ness defeated Kiera Hogan. Van Ness attacks Hogan after the match, but Allie runs out for the save.
– Hania defeated Amber Nova. Rosemary attacks Hania after the match and chases her away
– Johnny Impact defeated EC3 & Moose & Alberto El Patron in a #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way match.
Impact Wrestling’s 6-sided ring is no more. Impact returns to Universal Orlando tonight for the next round of TV tapings and already we have some significant changes to kick of 2018.
In addition to Impact Wrestling ditching the GFW neon green color scheme, the company has reverted to a traditional 4-sided ring.
It’s also worth noting that the ring apron features the logo of the Twitch streaming service. As of this writing, Impact has yet to announce a formal partnership with Twitch.
Check back later tonight for Impact Wrestling tapings results for the next few weeks.
Former WWE Champion and current IMPACT Wrestling star Alberto El Patron (a.k.a. Alberto Del Rio) recently did an interview with The Miami Herald to talk about his run with IMPACT as well as his past experiences with WWE. El Patron made his IMPACT Wrestling debut back in March of 2017 after being released from WWE in September of the previous year. El Patron explained how much more creative freedom he has with IMPACT as opposed to his previous employer:
“They let you be yourself and just do it on the fly, it feels better. People appreciate that even more, it’s natural. When I went back to Impact Wrestling for Bound for Glory, I was just telling the truth and speaking from the heart and making people open their eyes to the situation.
“And it’s going to continue, as long as I’m at Impact, I have the freedom to say what I think. … I keep hearing people say ‘Every time you’re on the mic in Impact, it’s amazing. What happened? Why wasn’t it like that in the other company?’ Well, the reason was I never had that freedom.”
The former GFW Global Champion also offered his thoughts on former IMPACT Wrestling frontman Jeff Jarrett and the current management within the promotion:
“I was having a lot of fun with Jeff Jarrett, he’s a personal friend. He was the one giving me the opportunity to have my Dad and my Brother in that storyline with LAX. I was always grateful for that and wanted to say ‘thank you’ to Jeff for giving me the opportunity to have them in the ring with me, but it was also a fantastic storyline.
“It was not something they just did to please me. … I know Jeff is no longer with the company, but we have another group of people with the same idea, with the same goal, which is to take Impact Wrestling to the place where it belongs.”
During his early professional wrestling days in the 2000s El Patron used to wear a mask, a normalcy in the Mexican professional wrestling world. El Patron was then asked about the possibility of competing with a mask once again as the 40-year-old begins to wind down in his career:
“That would be amazing! That would be fantastic, but it’s a little bit difficult when it’s done in Mexico. Once you lose it, you lose it. They don’t want to see you wearing it, they would feel like you’re disrespecting the lucha libre tradition, but I never lost the mask, it was a personal decision.
“I never lost the mask in the ring. I decided to remove that mask and give light to Alberto Del Rio. … Maybe for my last match, maybe for the day when I say ‘adios’ to the pro wrestling business.”
Dave Meltzer mentioned on Monday’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio that former WWE Champion Rey Mysterio could finally be making his Impact Wrestling debut. According to Meltzer, a deal between the sides are still ongoing and have yet to agree to terms.
Rumors about Mysterio talking with the promotion dates back to the summer of 2017. The company is trying to get Mysterio signed for the tapings this week in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios Mysterio made it clear in an interview with ESPN in December that he’s not currently signed to any deal with any promotion. “I’m not locked up to any company,” Mysterio said. “I’m an independent contractor, as we say. I could go work wherever I want. That’s the beautiful thing about being on this side of the fence. You don’t have a commitment with only one company. You can go around and pretty much wrestle wherever you want. You can choose when you want your off-days to be. That was one of my main priorities when I left WWE.”
It was a big night on Impact Wrestling last night. 5 new matches aired, 4 of which were for championships and the other was a career vs career match.
A new X-Division champion was crowned on Impact Wrestling last night. Taiji Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee to win the title. New tag-team champions were also crowned. Full results are below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCOLA0CvZxA
Impact Wrestling Results, January 4th, 2018
Taijji Ishimori defeated Trevor Lee (c) (wins X-Division Championship)
Ethan Carter III defeated Matt Sydal and Fallah Bahh (retains Grand Championship)
Dan Lambert defeated James Storm (Career vs. Career Match)
Eli Drake defeated Alberto El Patron (retains Global Championship)
Impact Wrestling this week will feature a Global Championship match that has been building for weeks. Current Impact Global Champion, Eli Drake, will face Alberto El Patron for the title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gpWdZ6C4Ew
Eli Drake (c) vs. Alberto El Patron – Global Championship
The company sent out the following press release yesterday:
“When Alberto El Patron made his debut on IMPACT in mid 2017, behind the scenes, Eli Drake showed his emotions and let everyone know exactly how he felt. In the mind of Eli Drake, another person was coming into IMPACT and they were going to be given opportunities that Eli felt other people deserved. Eli felt the athletes that had been here, had been working towards a goal were being overlooked by anyone with a larger twitter following. Eli had enough.
It wasn’t long before Alberto El Patron would win the Global Title and then unify it with our World Title. All was right for El Patron and IMPACT had their guy. Then it all came crashing down, Alberto El Patron would be suspended and stripped of the title. With the Championship in a state of abeyance, IMPACT would have one match to determine a new Champion, a chance to move past El Patron and crown a new Champion as fair and as quickly as possible.
Eli Drake would enter at number 2 and somehow outlasted 19 others and in the end Eli Drake got what he wanted (with a detour) and Drake was standing tall as Global Champion. One major weight off his shoulders and another placed directly on them. It was up to Eli now to prove he could be Champion, to prove he had what it takes to Main Event every week, to travel the world and defend his title. If you had to give Eli a letter grade now that we have seen him as Champion for 130 consecutive days, you would be forced to give Eli an A+ for his efforts and skills.
Alberto El Patron has called Eli a “Paper Champion” or someone simply holding onto the title until Patron returned to take what he feels is rightfully his. Now we will see these men go one on one for the Global Championship on Thursday night. Can Drake shut up Alberto El Patron once and for all? Will El Patron prove his point and drive home his claim that he should be Champion? That Alberto El Patron will take IMPACT to all new heights and places we have never been before?
The Championship isn’t the only thing on the line Thursday night. It is the first IMPACT of 2018 and the future is on the line. Where are we going? The outcome of this match will be like looking into a crystal ball and seeing what direction IMPACT is heading. We can’t wait to find out on Thursday night!”
PWInsider is reporting that IMPACT Wrestling officials are planning on having their next live pay-per-view (PPV) event in either late April or early May of 2018. IMPACT’s first PPV event of 2018 will be their Lockdown event, in which all matches are contested inside of a steel cage.
Lockdown was previously one of TNA’s biggest annual PPV events before it was re-branded in 2015 as a special episode of IMPACT instead. IMPACT hasn’t done a Lockdown episode since January of 2016. The company is also planning on doing more live PPV events in 2018 but now word yet on when those might take place.
Longtime Impact Wrestling Ring Transportation Manager Bob Rosen took to Facebook to announce that his time with the promotion has come to an end. The company decided to let Rosen go after 13 years of service, which included suffering a heart attack during a television taping last year with a 99% blockage of his heart. Here’s what he had to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe6prisGqqs
“Well it’s time to thank everyone who trusted me to build and keep anyone who step foot into one of my rings safe. I’m officially gone from Impact Wrestling (not by my choice!) $.
The last 13years have been the greatest time in my life from the great talent who showed me much respect for what we did with the rings and cages.
“To the back production people who never got the credit they deserve. These people who come together under great stress and pull off some of the greatest show you’ve watched weather it was TNA or IMPACT WRESTLING.And to the friends and fans I had the privilege of making through my time on the road in this business.You will always be my friends ! I’m not gone from wrestling.
“You will see me again because I still believe every talent deserves to work in a great ring ! My passion for this business has taken a hit because on how this staff was treated but I still love wrestling and I will be back .
I’m still building the best rings today !
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!”
IMPACT Wrestling star Alberto El Patron (a.k.a. Alberto Del Rio) recently did an interview with The Orlando Sentinel to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. El Patron discussed feeling at home while working at IMPACT, portraying a heel as a professional wrestler, and possibly retiring soon. Here are the highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqsAYnQ73xc
Feeling at home while working with IMPACT Wrestling:
“I know in a spot like the one Impact gave to Alberto, I need to live my life in a certain way. When you’re asked to carry a company, there are certain things you should and shouldn’t do, certain things you have to do, and I didn’t.
“I enjoy Impact so much because some places, if they see you down, they won’t be good enough to come take your hand and help you with what you’re going through. I really appreciated that.”
Portraying a heel:
“I love being a heel. I don’t like being a babyface and a good guy. But it’s not always about what we want, it’s what the fans want. [Before] this last storyline, they liked me. You can’t force the audience, though, if they want to boo or they want to cheer. Right now, I’m really having fun — I’m working as a bad guy, doing all the heel things, but still getting cheered by most of the fans. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Retiring soon:
“Alberto will continue to do this for two years, then start to think about retirement. I’m not tired of the business, or the fans, or the ring — what I don’t like is what goes on behind the curtain. When I went to Impact, I started to feel like I got my passion back. So I’ll wrestle in 2018, then maybe 2019 I’ll start to think about a farewell tour.”
You can read El Patron’s full interview with The Orlando Sentinel by clicking this link here.
As noted before, Alberto El Patron was recently a guest on Keeping It 100 with Konnan where among other things he also talked openly about his second WWE run. Below are some more highlights from his interview:
Difference between his early pay in Indies and when he joined WWE:
“Well, of course, the first WrestleMania I was in I was like, damn, this is cool. I was always making good money in Mexico after my run in Japan, and MMA companies, but when I started in Mexico I was making $80; that was my salary because my dad didn’t want to put everything on a silver plate for me, he wanted me to work for my stuff, I’m the one going to the promoters and negotiating. My dad never went there and made it easy for me, so in the beginning I was making $80, so driving in a bus for 10 hours to go to Monterrey, and 10 hours back, and then I earned my airplane tickets and I earned more money, so I was doing good. I was also doing good in Japan, but nothing compared to that WrestleMania check.”
Why the company brought him back in 2015:
“To be honest it’s because, and this came from Triple H himself and Johnny Ace; apparently Vince [McMahon] was mad after a TV taping because he didn’t feel that the heels were being real heels. You know nowadays heels want to be cheered and be cooled, but in those days when a heel was a badass and ass-kicker, those days are gone,” he said. “Nowadays, everyone wants to be cheered and wants thousands of followers on social media. They are afraid of heat that the business can give them, so McMahon wasn’t happy, and believe it or not Triple H agreed to it, so he said, let’s do it. He mentioned how I was doing great things on the independent circuit and Lucha Underground and how I was in phenomenal shape. After a while of negotiations, I ended up going back.”
WWE calling him the night before his return and how they made him:
“They called me a night before Hell in a Cell; they called me for weeks on it, I said that they needed to pay me, and that I was doing fantastic on the independent circuit. For someone like me, who has a name in Mexico, and for the name that the WWE gave me, no matter what, WWE made me. They gave me a name and gave me an opportunity, The haters were say that I talk crap about WWE; yeah, I talk crap about the things I don’t like, but I also put the mover on things that are real. The reality is that they made me and they made me go from a national icon to an international icon, and because of that I did fantastic when I was not in the company. Long story short, they asked me if I can come back to the company the next night, I said I could, and I ended up signing a contract at 2-3 in the morning; sending everything via fax, and the next day I was there for my big comeback.”
The League Of Nations stable and how none of its members wanted to be a part of it:
“WrestleMania was around the corner, and they said that we have these guys [Barrett, Rusev, Sheamus, Del Rio] and were like, let’s put them together and do something. None of us wanted to work as a team, or be on a team. Everybody was just not happy by doing that, and we talked to the boss and ended up splitting,” he said. “You know, because they showed me the way, they opened my eyes and I was just being home one day per week, I asked myself if it was really worth it, and I said that I didn’t think so. I remembered when I was free and enjoying my family and my time, I said to myself that I was going to leave. I talked to WWE and they were like, no, just hold on, we are going to bring you back to the Champion Del Rio, the badass Del Rio, but that didn’t happen.”
You can check out some more highlights from El Patron’s appearance including him talking about his relationship with Paige here.
IMPACT Wrestling’s Laurel Van Ness was recently a guest on the “With Spandex Podcast” to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. Here are some of the highlights:
The origin and evolution of her character in IMPACT:
“Well, everyone asks me that. It started out basically where, yes, when I was left at the altar, everything that happened after I was left at the altar, so me dropping down to my knees and being the most dramatic human in the world, that was me. Then when I got to the back, everyone was leaving, that was the last day of tapings, and Dutch [Mantel] came up and said, ‘I just want you to cut a quick promo. We don’t know if we’re gonna use it. You’re gonna sit, and you’re gonna cry.’ So as I was doing this promo, drinking champagne, which was real champagne, it was like my second bottle of champagne.
“Oh yeah. I’m drinking the champagne, and he’s kind of shouting ideas at me, like, ‘Oh, sing. Sing ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.’ Do you know that song?’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, sure.’ He’s like, ‘Act crazier. One more take, but do it even crazier.’ When that aired, it kind of took off in this weird way I never thought it would. So then when I came back for the next set of tapings they were like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna roll with this crazy bride. I think we’ll keep you in the dress.’ I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’
“From there on it was them saying to me, ‘Do whatever you want and be as crazy as you want, and hopefully we have to tell you to dial it down.’ So every time I went out there I did something crazier. You know, more outlandish than the last time I went out there. But I can’t just say it was only me, because what I loved about Laurel, and I still love about Laurel is that every time I was kind of going through a match someone random in the locker room, it could have been Dutch, it could have been Abyss, it could have been EC3 or Spud. Random people have always had ideas. One idea, Pat Kenney was like, ‘Oh, you should do an airplane around Kong.’ I was like, ‘Sure. Done.’ He said that as I walking out, and then that became Laurel’s thing.
“Someone else was like, ‘Hey, I saw this funny spot where you take the girl down, and then you pin her like Cameron from WWE. Pin her on her stomach, and you think that that’s real.’ So then I’m like, ‘Easy. I’ll do that,’ as I’m going out there again. And the next time it’s like, ‘Oh, you should get tangled up in the ropes, that’s funny. And then you should get hit with this move,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay. Sure.’ So it’s kind of like this weird character where it doesn’t matter what you tell me to do, I can go out and do it because I am the most unexpected kind of random character. Nothing that I do you question and be like, ‘Wait. Why?’ You know what I mean? Because it’s fun like that.”
Her unique smudged makeup look:
“Oh my gosh. It’s my favorite thing ever. It’s so funny, because I go in in the morning and I get my makeup done. I’m looking good, I take selfies. Then they’re like, ‘Okay, Chelsea. You’re on in three matches,’ and I’m just like [smearing] makeup all over my face. My lipstick’s going everywhere, and smudging my makeup.”
Winning the IMPACT Knockouts Championship:
“It’s crazy, isn’t it? It’s so crazy. Bound for Glory week was such a whirlwind. With it being filmed in Canada, it was really exciting for me. Although it was on the East Coast and I’m from the West Coast, still felt like I was kind of in my hometown, I don’t know. It felt like this wrestling world had come full circle, and for it to come full circle and then for them to be putting the title on me was also really overwhelming.
“I wrestle Rosemary for the title, which you’ll have seen by now I guess. She could tell you the same thing, and Gail would say the same thing. They told me three times that I was winning that match. I didn’t realize that that match was the finals at the tournament for the title.”
You ca read the full highlights of Van Ness’ interview on the “With Spandex Podcast” via Uproxx at this link.
IMPACT Wrestling star Chris Adonis (a.k.a. Chris Masters) recently did an interview on the Arm Drag Takedown podcast with Pollo Del Mar to talk about a variety of professional wrestling topics. Adonis discussed getting over “The Master Lock Challenge” in WWE, working with Shawn Michaels early in his career, and his thoughts on IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Eli Drake. You can check out the highlights here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTGH4B1EOCc
Getting over “The Master Lock Challenge” in WWE:
“They were trying to take a step back from doing all the crazy stuff and get [fans] conditioned back to just some basic stuff that’s fundamental and works, like the full nelson. It’s a simple move, but it works if it’s presented right the way.”
Having the opportunity to work with WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels early in his career:
“Everything he did, he just did really well. Not only do you have great moves you execute, you execute the right emotions at the right time. You execute all those little things, and the storytelling aspect, which goes along with the emotions at what’s happening, how you’re ‘selling’ — how you’re able to bring a crowd into it and convey pain.
“You put all that together, and you realize it doesn’t really matter how innovative a move…it just matters the performance overall.”
His thoughts on Eli Drake:
“He’s been kind of a homegrown talent in Impact and has worked really hard to get where he’s at. People are really starting to react to him, so it’s really the right time for them to do something with him.”
You can listen to Adonis’ interview on the Arm Drag Takedown podcast by clicking here.
Recently, Impact Wrestling has been looking to shed themselves of high-paying contracts which were signed by the Dixie Carter regime. Neither Bobby Lashley nor Ethan Carter III are expected to re-sign with the company when their contracts are up.
According to a recent report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, at least one if not both of them are on their way to WWE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM8SGVA3u-c
Impact Wrestling in 2018
The report does not mention which wrestler is more likely to end up in the promotion, however.
While Impact has been hesitant to re-sign anyone with a high-paying contract, they have signed other performers. Johnny Impact and Taya are both believed to have signed new deals with the promotion which will also allow them to film Lucha Underground. Brian Cage is another name which has been talked about as someone the company is looking at.
44-year-old Tyrus appeared on the “Arm Drag Takedown” podcast recently and went into further detail regarding what led to him leaving Impact Wrestling.
Tyrus and Jeff Jarrett History
Tyrus stated that Jeff Jarrett had originally told him to sign with his GFW and not Impact because Impact was going to fold. Then low and behold, Jarrett was named Impact Wrestling President.
“When Jeff Jarrett came along — because him and I have an uncomfortable history — I just wasn’t comfortable with the management. They [TNA] didn’t want me working for Jeff.
“Basically, it came down to either stay with Impact or I could go with Global. I was making more with Impact, and Global didn’t have the resources to pay me what I was making. [Jeff] was basically saying it was better for me to come to Global because Impact was about to fold. He was very adamant about that. Two weeks later, at the TV tapings, guess whose ass is there working the shows? Jeff Jarrett,” Tyrus said in a jaw-dropping revelation. “I was like, ‘Bitch, you crazy?!’ Who does that?”
“I was like, ‘Oh, shit! Well, I’m out.’ Unless him and I were going to have a sitdown, which just wasn’t going to happen, I knew this was not going to be a spot for me,” he said. “I just wasn’t comfortable with it.”
Former six-time IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Angelina Love was recently interviewed on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show to discuss a variety of professional wrestling topics. Love discussed being pulled from her debut on SmackDown while in the crowd, and explained why she left IMPACT Wrestling. You can check out the highlights here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQiIySoA8B4
Being pulled from her SmackDown Live debut while in the crowd:
“I was literally sitting, planted in the crowd, with my debut segment on SmackDown next, and I got pulled. My segment got completely cut out, and the people I was supposed to work with went straight into a completely different storyline. In 2006, there were talks about doing something with JBL, but that never happened. Then I had gone back up to SmackDown in August of that year, to do something with Matt Hardy.
“I remember they had me [sitting] in the front row in the crowd. The first segment was Booker T, when he was King Booker, knighting Finlay and Regal. The next segment was Matt Hardy supposed to go over Psicosis or Super Crazy, he was supposed to go over one of them. I was standing there, so happy and clapping, and he would [come over] and say, ‘who’s this blonde girl?’, and eventually I would end up being his girlfriend. We’re like minutes, if not less, of my segment starting, and the guy, the floor manager who planted me, patted me on the shoulder, pulled me over and said ‘your segment got cut.’ [Eventually] I was told that as soon as the show started, Vince rewrote the whole show.”
Why she decided to leave IMPACT Wrestling:
– “Once [Davey Richards and I] had our blow-off match, the writing was on the wall, and I’m just at a point in my life where I’m a mother, I’ve been with Impact for 10 years. I saw where it was going, and it just was not something that I [was interested in]. Use me full force, because I’m worth it, or I gotta go. I know my worth.”
You can listen to Love’s interview on the Pancakes and Powerslams Show by clicking here.
Former IMPACT Wrestling star James Storm recently spoke to Cerrito Live on a number of professional wrestling topics. Storm discussed his departure from IMPACT Wrestling and his thoughts on the future of the promotion. You can check out the highlights here:
Leaving IMPACT Wrestling: “It actually hasn’t [become] official for me, but, yes, I have left Impact Wrestling and it’s just one of those things where it just kind of felt like I did everything I can do with that company and the landscape of it has changed from the time I was there.” Storm continued, “but so many people want to frown upon Dixie [Carter] and Jeff [Jarrett] and all that, but the reason I thank them and Bob Ryder is because basically if it wasn’t for those guys, there would be no ‘Cowboy’ James Storm.
“There might not be an AJ Styles and might not be a Bobby Roode, might not be all these other guys who got the breaks that Jeff gave us when he started up TNA Impact Wrestling back in the day.”
His thoughts on the future of the promotion: “I wish I could say either way and I never wish bad upon anybody and I definitely don’t wish bad upon Impact Wrestling because I’m not there anymore because to me, it gives the boys another place to work where they might not have another place to work. It gives them television exposure and all of that. And as far as where they’ll be, I don’t know.
“I just know that they need a lot of work in different departments. It’s definitely not the wrestling side because the boys are bringing it. So, hopefully, like I said, hopefully, they’ll be around for a while, just to give the guys another place to work and be able to make a living.”
You can listen to Storm’s interview on Cerrito Live by clicking this link here.
On the heels of Don Callis being added to the Impact Wrestling management team, 2 of the promotion’s biggest stars have signed new contracts. The deals should see both performers (who are engaged) continue to play prominent roles for the company.
Don Callis mentioned that both Taya Valkyrie and Johnny Impact (Hennigan/Mundo/Morrison/Nitro) were re-signed to the company on the latest “Killin’ the Town” podcast.
A report from PWInsider is stating the deal will allow Taya and Johnny to perform for both Impact and film seasons of Lucha Underground.
HUGE news breaking on @KillingTheTown, show drops a bit later this week at 7AM eastern…don’t miss it!!!!!!!!
In addition to hiring Don Callis, the company has also parted ways with John Gaburick and Dutch Mantel.
Impact also recently announced a complete reversal on their previous policy of holding the Intellectual Property rights of any characters created on their show.
2 days ago (i.e before his hiring was officially announced) Callis casually pointed out he won control of TNA Wrestling in 2003 by defeating Eric Watts.
In 2003 I created the Ultimate X match that put the X division on the map, later I beat Erik Watts for control of the company #Over
Impact Wrestling sent in a press release announcing the hirings of Don Callis and Scott D’Amore. The two will serve as Executive Vice Presidents. Along with Impact Wrestling President Ed Nordholm, the trio comprise the company’s new Executive Committee.
Impact Wrestling’s new Executive Committee’s responsibilities include developing the creative direction for the Company and managing the execution of the Company’s business plan.
Don Callis will remain on board as color commentator for New Japan Pro Wrestling. His Killing the Town Podcast (with co-host Lance Storm) on the Jericho Network at PodcastOne.com will continue.
Here’s the official announcement:
IMPACT Wrestling Hires Senior Executive Team
TORONTO – Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions LLC, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp. and parent company of IMPACT Wrestling, announced today that Don Callis and Scott D’Amore have joined the company as Executive Vice Presidents. Reporting to Ed Nordholm, President of the Company, they will form a 3-member Executive Committee with overall responsibility for developing the creative direction for the Company and managing the execution of the Company’s business plan.
Don Callis has built a critically acclaimed 15-year career in the wrestling business as a performer, color commentator and writer for WWF, ECW and TNA. After retiring from wrestling in 2004, he obtained an MBA and established another successful career in international business. Callis recently returned to the world he loves and is now the color commentator for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (a role that he will retain) and co-hosts the hit podcast “Killing the Town” on The Jericho Network.
Scott D’Amore has held just about every position in the wrestling industry, including performer, trainer, promoter, writer and producer. D’Amore is an IMPACT Wrestling original, having been with the company from its early days in the Asylum until his departure in 2010. In his time away from the organization, D’Amore applied his entrepreneurial spirit to transform The D’Amore Group from a family-run construction company into a multi-faceted real estate development company. He has kept his hand in the industry, running Border City Wrestling in Windsor in collaboration with the Entertainment Technology program at St. Clair College. He also owns and operates Can-Am Wrestling, a successful professional wrestling training facility that has produced numerous top talents in the wrestling industry today.
”I am excited that Don and Scott have made this commitment to the Company,” said Ed Nordholm, president of Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC. “The 50 years of experience and success in the wrestling industry brought by Don and Scott, combined with the global media, marketing, sales and financial expertise of Anthem, provide the management depth and expertise that will propel IMPACT Wrestling to greater success as we continue to expand our footprint, embrace digital opportunities and grow the brand.”
For more information, visit www.impactwrestling.com.
Last week Squared Circle Sirens broke the news that Impact Wrestling Knockout Laurel Van Ness has requested her release.
A problem with Van Ness asking for her release is that she will be winning the Knockouts Championship on the episode of Impact Wrestling that airs this Thursday. Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that Van Ness requested her release on the same night that she won the title at the recent set of TV tapings.
The former WWE Tough Enough competitor, who is currently dating Zack Ryder, probably should have informed management about her desire to leave prior to being crowned the new Knockouts Champion.
It remains to be seen how Impact handles her departure – whether she’s stripped of the gold or if she drops the title at the next set of tapings before being granted her release.
Over the weekend former WWE star and current IMPACT Wrestling talent Matt Sydal missed two advertised appearances for British Championship Wrestling (BCW) and did not return the booking deposit he received ahead of time. Because of this, BCW went public with the story and announced Sydal no-showed both events without returning said deposit which consisted of $1,200.
Sydal’s manager, Bill Behrens, did return his cut of $300. Earlier today BCW announced on their official Twitter page that the issue has been resolved thanks in large part to the intervention of IMPACT Wrestling:
“We at BCW would like to thank @IMPACTWRESTLING for stepping in and taking control of the situation and can tell you today we received our deposit back in full. They were very professional and helpfull in this situation”
*** Please read regarding the Matt Sydal Situation ***
We at BCW would like to thank @IMPACTWRESTLING for stepping in and taking control of the situation and can tell you today we received our deposit back in full. They were very professional and helpfull in this situation
– The changes continue to roll in for IMPACT Wrestling, as several talents and managerial figures have parted ways with the company. ProWrestling.net reports that IMPACT has also closed down their Nashville offices after having their last day on Thursday. IMPACT has been based out of Nashville since its inception back in 2002. It will now reportedly be based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which is the home of their parent company Anthem Sports.
– WWE Hall Of Famer Diamond Dallas Page recently wrote a piece for Player’s Tribune entitled “Letter To My Younger Self.” The highlights can be read below:
“Wrestling, man,” you tell Smokey. “I tried it when I was 22.”
“Seriously?” Smokey will say. “You’re kidding. What was your name?”
“Nah, bro, totally serious. I was ‘Handsome’ Dallas Page.”
“Wheeew, well, you could never use that gimmick today,” Smokey will shoot back, and of course everyone will laugh their asses off — before going back to counting up money and drinking. But you … you’ll be in too deep now, kid. Now those wrestling thoughts will be in your head, and there’ll be no getting away from them. So while everyone else is focusing on their cash and booze (I think it was Goldschläger shots that night), you’ll start doodling in this blotter pad that you have in front of you — just sort of in your own world. They won’t even notice.
“That is, until you pop your head up, and — like no less than a fucking bolt of lightning just hit you — say the three words that will change your life forever.
“Diamond Dallas Page.”
“Huh?” They’re confused. But you barely even notice — you’re on a roll now.
“I mean, I’m 31 — I’m too old to be a wrestler now. But you know what I could be? A manager. What if my name was Diamond Dallas Page!” And whether it’s the idea itself or just the fact that everyone is hammered at that point, you’ll never know … but the entire room seems to love it. So you’ll toast more shots — and now you’re really off and running.
“You know how Jimmy Hart has the Hart Foundation? Well, O.K., what if I had … the Diamond Exchange?” More cheers, more shots.
“And what if I had a whole entourage full of hot — I’m talking smoking hot — ladies, and I called them … the Diamond Dolls?” More cheers, more shots.
“Oh that’ll be a stretch,” Smokey says, and everyone laughs.
“By now half the room is passed out drunk — and to be honest, you might’ve sworn that the entire night was a passed-out dream yourself. That is … if you didn’t happen to wake up with your face stuck to a notepad — the very same notepad where you had written it all down.
Anthem Sports and Entertainment have changed their stance on wrestlers using their Impact gimmicks after leaving the promotion.
The company issued the following statement to Sports Illustrated recently:
“We have seen the character development and will be interested to see where they take the concept. Our new talent agreements all incorporate language that allow talent to continue to use their IMPACT persona after they leave the company. We are working with our legal team to amend our existing agreements to extend this to all of our current and former talent.”
“Broken” Matt Hardy
Several theories are going around regarding why Anthem may have changed their tune on this one. The company took a PR hit during negotiations with the Hardyz in the spring and most likely are hoping to repair some of that damage. Matt Hardy also provided new information to the USPTO recently which may have strengthened his case. Hardy also has an Intellectual Property rights lawyer working for him.
Former WWE Champion and IMPACT Wrestling star Alberto Del Rio recently took part in a conference call to answer a variety of professional wrestling topics. Del Rio discussed Paige’s return to WWE, and his controversial promo from Bound For Glory. You can check out the highlights here:
Paige returning to WWE TV:
“It’s fantastic, it was just about time. I used to say this all the time, people forget that she had neck surgery, screws behind her neck,” El Patron said. “That’s the reason why she was out of the business and it takes time to recover from something like that and then she started working really hard for her big comeback, and now she’s there. She’s doing what she has been doing since the beginning of her career in WWE. She’s killing it, she’s doing a fantastic job. I said it before and I’ll say it again, she has all the potential to be the most successful Diva of all time. We have to give her time.”
His controversial promo at Bound For Glory:
“Part of it was the storyline, part of it was completely real. Everybody knows about the suspension,” he said. “The company and I talked about this and we decided it was the right thing to do at the moment because when the whole drama happened, we didn’t have the right evidence to prove to the audience, the sponsors, the TV networks that I didn’t do absolutely anything. So, in order to protect the company, the wrestlers in the company and all the people working for it, we decided to do that.”