Tonight marks the first Impact Wrestling show following on from Slammiversary this past Saturday where many stars either made a debut or returned to IMPACT. Slammiversary was huge success and IMPACT certainly delivered following an excellent promotional campaign that likely saw many former and new fans purchasing the PPV.
As I said IMPACT delivered just as promised as many former stars and couple of new stars in the making made an IMPACT on what was already a great night of wrestling. So I thought I’d look at all those who made their return, rating their surprise and their Impact as well as trying the predict their future and how well I think they will do.
Motor City Machine Guns
Surprise: There were rumours around some wrestling Media sites that the Motor City Machine Guns were signing for IMPACT, it was well known that Chris Sabin was already working back stage for IMPACT. However this was still a surprise outing with many believing that the Good Brothers would answer the Rascalz open challenge, but out came Motor City Machine Guns.
3 Stars
Impact: What a debut for the Motor City Machine Guns, what a first match against the Rascalz, I am sure this is a match people didn’t realise was a dream match and picking up a win that has seen them earn a title shot.
4 Stars
Future Prediction: Well they have already earned themselves a title shot that sees them taking on the North on tonight's episode of IMPACT on Axis TV, I could see them winning the titles and breaking the North’s historic reign. This would of course would lead to them working a programme with the North that could honestly go all the way to the Bound for Glory show, maybe see some sort off best of 5 or 7 series. After that there some amazing teams that the Machine Guns could have some great matches with, a rematch against the Rascalz, working with TJ Perkins and Falla Bah, Reno Scum and of course the good Brothers who we’ll get into later.
Heath Miller
Surprise: Many expected to see the former Heath Slater now Heath Miller, of course the commentary team referred to him as just Heath, as Rhyno had hinted at him on a couple of IMPACT television shows. However to turn up as he did, did come as surprise to many.
3 and Half Stars
Impact: He didn’t have the greatest of impacts and having audio issues did not help, plus taking out Rohit Rahju is not exactly making a statement against a top star. He did get a second segment along side former partner Rhyno where we find out that he is not actually signed to an IMPACT contract, although Rhyno did tell him to turn up to the IMPACT show tonight
2 and Half Stars
Futute Prediction: It looks like were going to get some sort of storyline where he will have earn his way to getting a contract. I know some may say that this is just copying the same storyline done by WWE but out of all the returns and debuts, Heath is a star that needs the most rebuilding. I expect big things for him. I honestly think he can rebrand himself as top star for IMPACT much the same as Christian did, back in day, he has got himself in great shape, he has always been a great worker and has fantastic promo skills, I see a world title in his future.
Rich Swann
Surprise: So not a huge a surprise as he was obviously already contracted to IMPACT Wrestling but he had unfortunately been out injured, although he was not scheduled or advertised to appear so seeing him back stage was a surprise. What was an even bigger surprise was announcing himself as the fourth entrant of the Main Event, in his earlier interview he was seen on crutches and even stated that he was still healing and had his eye on the world title but it was all a ruse as clearly he was healed and ready to compete.
3 and half Stars
Impact: Rich Swann made a massive IMPACT introducing himself as the surprise 4th entrant, I think it shocked every viewer that night, as many were expecting a returning world champion. Swann however was a great swerve and considering he was coming back from a serious leg injury he looked incredible making a splash in the match and managing to shockingly eliminate the returning Eric Young.
4 Stars
Future Prediction: It looks like he will be working with Eric Young coming out of Slammiversary, after eliminating the former champion in the main event. Eric Young would go on to absolutely annhilate Rich Swann working over the injured leg causing him to be eliminated from the fatal 5 way. After this the future is looking good for Swann, there are so many great matches he has yet to have, he made it clear that his focus is on the Heavyweight title so I do not expect him to return to the X Division but he could also rekindle his team with Willie Mack and have a run with the tag titles.
Deonna Purrazzo
Surprise: So not much of surprise again as she of course had an already scheduled match for the Knockouts title having already signed a few weeks back and she did not have a 90 day non-compete clause, so was able to sign and debut earlier. Still it was a great signing she is a tremendous addition to an already stacked Knockouts division. She may not have been a surprise for Slammiversary but her signing for IMPACT was a surprise to many, most expected her to sign with another company, but I think she saw the fact that she would have better competition on IMPACT.
3 Star
Impact: What an IMPACT Deonna has made in her short time, in her first appearance she made her self known to the former champion, attacking her and applying her Fujiwa Arm-bar and making her tap. At Slammiverasry her PPV debut she took on Jordynne Grace in an incredible match, in which she became the new IMPACT Knockout Division Champion.
4 and Half Star
Future Prediction: She will go on dominate the Knockout division in which she will have incredible matches with and array of fantastic talent. From a re-match against Grace, taking on No.1 contender Kylie Rae and that’s just the tip of the Iceberg there so many great competitors on IMPACT and it just got even better.
Eric Young
Surprise: I think most fans would have guessed that Eric Young would go back to IMPACT, it’s Eric Youngs home, he had an incredible run with what was TNA, working his way from a mid card comedy act to a headliner. However having just been given the swerve that is Rich Swann being the forth mystery competitor I doubt anyone thought that Eric Young would be entering the match to become the fifth competitor.
3 and Half
Impact: Although he would not go on to win the fatal 5 way elimination match, he certainly made his presence known, eliminating Trey, before being eliminated him self by Rich Swann. Enraged by being eliminated he took his anger out on Rich Swann’s recently injured leg which would go on to be the reason Rich Swann was eliminated.
4 Star
Future Prediction: So one would guess that he will go on to run a set of matches against Rich Swann and that will just be the start. He will play a role in helping to establish new talent but I do not doubt for a second that that’s the only role he’ll play, I am very sure he will be given at least one more run with the Heavyweight title.
Good Brothers (Gallows and Anderson)
Surprise: It was made aware that Gallows and Andersson had agreed terms with IMPACT Wrestling, but due to there non-compete clause they could not officially debut until the day of Slammiversary. IMPACT took advantage of that by adding it to the promotion of Slammiversary so at 1 minute past Midnight the Good Brothers were introduced as IMPACT stars, stating there intentions to be at Slammiversary. Most expected that they would be the team to accept the open challenge laid out by the Rascalz but they did not, maybe they would be the ones to challenge the winner of the Tag Team Championship Match, nope that was the Guns again. They finally made their appearance to save Eddie Edwards from an assault by Ace Austin and his muscle Mad Man Fulton, taking out the big man and hitting Ace with the Magic Killer
3 Star
Impact: I am sure that the Midnight introduction added a few late minute buys to the PPV numbers, being the ones to make the save of Eddie Edwards indicates that they will be faces.
4 Star
Future Prediction: I think they will start a feud with Ace Austin and Mad Man Fulton who I am sure will be out for revenge for spoiling their plans. After that there are a stack of great tag teams that they can go on and have incredible matches with, including the North and the Motor City Machine Guns.
EC3
Surprise: This was huge a surprise with literally 30 seconds of the Slammiversary PPV left to go on comes the title screen and there it is, EC3 is back in IMPACT Wrestling.
4 Stars
Impact: Many will say it was waste of a introduction but many will not realise how many extra viewers will be tuning in tonight’s episode of IMPACT Wrestling to see EC3 make his official debut.
4 and Half Star
Future Prediction: He is future world champion, I assume he will be first contender to take on the new IMPACT heavyweight champion Eddie Edwards and they have great matches written all over them. Although I do not expect him to take the title off of Eddie, he will still have plenty of great stars to have awesome matches with, I’m sure he will just be happy to be wrestling on television regularly once again, however he will be looking to become the main man once again.
Final Thoughts
Slammiversay was almost a rebirth of IMPACT Wrestling it would seem that they are able to reinvigorate their brand and that would certainly be the case once again. With the Speaking Out movement IMPACT were hit quite badly making the choice to release Joey Ryan, Micheal Elgin and Dave Crist and then they had the whole debacle with former IMPACT champion Tessa Blanchard’s contract running out before they could get her to drop the title, on top of her refusing to do Promos from her home during the global pandemic, causing IMPACT to release her and strip her of the title. IMPACT lost two of the competitors scheduled for the Slammiversary main event forcing them to change plans. Everyone talked like it was the end for them once again, however they would go on once again to prove everyone wrong and the future of IMPACT wrestling looks bright.
Andrew More
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