Are Ring of Honor Invading IMPACT Wrestling?
Photo Credit: IMPACT Wrestling
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On January 8th we saw Impact Wrestling hold their annual PPV Hard To Kill. The show itself was built up incredibly well and the card was one of the best-looking cards that Impact has put together in quite some time. Right from the off in the pre-show we saw action that would have been well worth being on the main card and you would not have complained if you’d paid for either (or both) Pre-show matches. However as great as Impact made this event, there was another twist to the PPV which had many people talking.
One match that had been announced for Hard To Kill was Jonathan Gresham defending the Ring Of Honor World Title against Chris Sabin, this was a special moment as it would be the first time the ROH World Title has been defended on Impact Wrestling. To add an extra ROH feel to that match we also had Ian Riccaboni join the announce team to call the action as well as Bobby Cruise taking the role as the ring announcer. This really gave the match a sprinkle of ROH flavoring and given what we’d seen over the past month, you wondered what more we could see throughout the night?
At the end of October, Ring of Honor that they would be going on Hiatus until the spring. From this news ROH lead the wrestling fans on a journey to their Final Battle PPV in December, this was a fantastic event and a beautiful way to say a temporary way to say goodbye. During the event, however, we saw various wrestlers seeming set up directions towards new promotions. One of those angles was Deonna Purrazzo confronting the ROH Women’s Champion (at the time) Rok-C who offered a winner takes all match. With Deonna losing at Hard To Kill the match was only for Deonna’s Reina-De Reinas title, however, Impact were still holding a match for a AAA and ROH title which is something for the history books once again.
With the title vs title match set up at ROH Final Battle back in December, then the ROH World Title being defended on Hard To Kill (along with Riccaboni and Cruise being present). You really felt a connection between ROH and Impact Wrestling was being built, very similar to what we’re seeing with NJPW, AAA, NWA (and in the past AEW). Impact Wrestling has had many different relationships with Ring Of Honor of their 20 year history and sadly many have never amounted to anything, however this time it really feels different.
As Hard To Kill progressed we saw The Hardcore War take place between a team of Violent By Design and The Good Brothers vs Heath, Rhino, Rich Swan, Willie Mack, and Eddie Edwards. This was an insane match and eventually, we saw the faces come out on top, however, it was what happened afterward that has had many talking. We saw more ROH talent enter the ring and attack the Impact talent, initially, we saw OGK (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett with Maria) hit the ring and attack Heath and Rhino, then Vincent came out of nowhere to create more havoc. Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse we saw someone walk down the ramp, it was PCO. He then took Swans head off on the outside the ring and the ROH group stood tall among all of the carnage.
The after-effects of all this is all very interesting, we heard Scott D’Amore say “this group were not sent by ROH, they are rogue.” Because of this it even raises questions of who else may go rogue, as we’ve seen from Steve Maclin to Jonathan Gresham. We heard Gresham state that there were 2 groups in Ring Of Honor which lead to friction, this can all lead to some very interesting storylines going forward. The fact that there are many different ways they can go (especially given ROH isn’t in existence right now) it really keeps things exciting.
Ever since the Forbidden Door was created over a year ago, us as fans were always expecting that “invasion” angle. No promotion that anyone has worked with has yet to do it (most disappointingly was the Impact and AEW storyline where it felt it was built for an invasion angle). However, in just 2 events (Final Battle and Hard To Kill), we saw Ring Of Honor go in that direction and it feels like it’s being done very well.
Ring Of Honor invading Impact on the surface is exciting, however, it’s questionable where it may go? We could see this lead up to a Lethal Lockdown or something between team Impact and team ROH? We’ve also had the announcement of Jay White and G.O.D. arriving at the January 21st and 22nd tapings, we could see The Bullet Club be a force in this story too? There have definitely been things set between the group who were involved in the Hardcore war, ROH recently announced their Supercard Of Honor show that will take place on April 1st. We may see all this culminate then?
While an invasion angle is an initial thought given what we saw at Hard To Kill, as well as a possible new partnership for Impact, there is always another direction that things can go. With Ring Of Honor looking to be a promotion that is more independent when it comes to contracts and do less exclusive deals, it sounds very similar to what Impact Wrestling themselves do. Impact work very close to that Pay Per appearance deal and you have to say, it’s been serving them very well. ROH may be taking notes from Impact Wrestling or very possibly a little bit more?
We recently had the news that PCO had signed with Impact Wrestling, this does ask the question what could we see happen with the rest of the group (if nothing has happened already)? Impact Wrestling has had a little trouble with their tag team division over the past year, they have a good number of teams, however, it’s having established “named” teams that Impact struggle with. With OGK turning up you right away have a team who have experience being together and a tag team name that you can market. The same could also be said about Maria, Impact has put a lot of focus on the Knockouts Division in 2021. With Mickie James as The Knockouts World Champion and likely helping the Knockouts behind the scenes with Gail Kim, the division can only grow if you add Maria’s mind to it. With those 3 running the division, the sky is the limit and we really could be getting closer to that all Knockouts show.
When you break down what we’re seeing currently it looks like AXS TV is really beginning to stack up a night of wrestling. we currently have an hour of Before The Impact, followed by 2 hours of Impact Wrestling on Thursday. Come March AXS TV have announced we will be seeing a New Japan program following Impact Wrestling. With AXS TV really pushing the boat out (especially with promotions they have connections with), who’s to say they’re not finished? It’s very possible we could see a Ring Of Honor deal struck onto AXS TV (through Impacts contacts), or we may even see a deal struck behind the scenes between both companies for Ring Of Honor to become part of Impact?
While Ring Of Honor becoming part of Impact may give some people a negative feeling, from what we’ve seen it definitely wouldn’t be implausible. With ROH being very much up in the air currently and looking to follow in the footsteps of what Impact Wrestling themselves are doing (on a contract front), it’s possible we could see Ring Of Honor merge with Impact to create a second show that Impact fans themselves have been calling out for.
Impact fans themselves have been calling for an all Knockouts show for some time so that would likely be top of the list for a second show, however, you never know if between ROH and Impact they may conjurer up something new? We’ve seen a good number of ROH talents appear on Impact and who knows who else we could see appear? We saw D’Lo get taken out last week and Riccabonni appear on commentary once again, are these appearances testers? Anything can happen and if we do see this happen it could open many more doors
Whether we see an invasion angle from Ring Of Honor or a merging between Impact and Ring Of Honor, the next few months are definitely going to be exciting. The fact that after only two events (Final Battle and Hard Kill) both companies have given us fans so much to grip onto, that says so much. It’s arguably Impact’s best story when it comes to all their joint promotions (crossing over between promotions that is) and it’s creating great buzz for ROH just when they need it. Come the spring, everything will surely be revealed and either way they go (assuming it is one of these options), it will be something to feast your eyes on.
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