Impact Wrestling’s build to the big 20. Part 1
Outside Impact Wrestling. A long time "Jerichoholic", Mick Foley, Kurt Angle & Hardys fan, pop open a little bit of the Bubbly, read what's being written by me with an open perspective & enjoy.
- Impact Wrestling’s build to the big 20. Part 1 - February 25, 2022
- (Exclusive) Rosemary: A Journey through the Valley of Shadows – PART 1 - September 19, 2021
- Revival of the X-Division: Tale of the Tape - June 20, 2021
Hardcore Country at the Royal Rumble
WWE shocked the world after they invited Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Mickie James to participate in the Royal Rumble. Despite “controversial decisions” to not fully showcase or give Impact Wrestling fair recognition due to “censorship” by Vince McMahon as well as Charlotte Flair essentially being used to snub the Knockouts Champion. Mickie James was brought in more or less on her requested terms & conditions.
Mickie James was brought in as an independent wrestler, representing Impact Wrestling as it’s Knockouts Champion & given permission to use her own theme from the independent scene/NWA/Impact Wrestling as well as bring the Knockouts Championship to the Royal Rumble & into the match (copied by Flair & 24/7 Champion Bailey 🙄 to take the spotlight away from Impact Wrestling & Mickie James). WWE also “banned” anyone from mentioning the terms “Knockout” as well as asking Mickie James about what she’s done since leaving the WWE but, this was something she took in her stride, a price worth paying if it showed everyone that any negativity or petty nitpicking (yes, even from me) is overshadowed by not only how much attention this one off appearance has gotten Impact Wrestling, but Mickie James used this as an example of letting bygones be bygones, not holding grudges over what happened last time she was at the WWE & frankly just showing the next generation of wrestlers & fans how to be a professional.
The emotional impact this has put on her was clear from start to finish & during the interview with Sami Callihan (via Callihan Uncensored) she would go on to state that this is how she wanted her last appearance at the WWE to be, showcasing another company, showing that there is more outside the WWE bubble but more importantly, this appearance benefited both parties. WWE & Impact Wrestling gained from this & Impact Wrestling turned a lot of heads from fans who would normally shoot down the company for any reason they could muster.
Championships still have a huge IMPACT
Since 2020 the recognition of making any of Impact’s titles stand out more has been driven up, in 2021 we say the return of the Knockouts Tag Team Championship as well as the introduction of the Digital Media Championship alongside the reinvention of the X-Division by Josh Alexander & the World Championship get a massive twist in direction after Kenny Omega held it through to Slammiversary, only to drop it to Christian Cage who would pass the baton onto Josh Alexander at Bound For Glory before Moose finally, after over 5 years in the making would steal the title & kick off this year with one of the most exciting main event matches at Hard To Kill against Matt Cardona & W.Morrissey.
Championship belts in Impact Wrestling have either been given a long storied build or as was the case with our current Knockouts Tag Team Champions The IInspiration, would be quickly dropped onto them to then add to the new champion’s development. The best example however of a championship really impacting a superstar’s merit & reputation has to fall onto the recently crowned Digital Media Champion Matt Cardona.
What seemed to be a “cheap gimmick” or to some of the harshest critics “a novelty”, has rapidly become one of the most talked about parts of Impact Wrestling, since Jordynne Grace defended the belt at Terminus 1 against Kiera Hogan, the Digital Media Championship quickly found it’s place on Impact Wrestling as a global title, that will be defended anywhere & is open to all challengers.
Matt Cardona who had recently lost the GCW World Championship as well as the main event at Hard To Kill would then use this new title not only to play into his hands, but after defeating Jordynne Grace for the title it added new meaning to the belt, raised it’s merit & appeal tenfold Cardona using his own history of the Internet Championship belt he created as a novelty, then brought into the WWE as Zack Ryder to turn a lot of heads, making Cardona one of the “Must Have” wrestlers on anyone’s card if he’s willing to work there. Soon after winning & defending the Digital Media Championship at least twice, Cardona would become the new & (at time of writing) current NWA World Champion something which might never have happened if he hadn’t had won the DMC Title at Impact Wrestling.
The storylines surrounding the Knockouts & Impact World Championship belts continue to surprise & boost interest in the company, Moose & Mickie James both putting on unbelievably brutal matches at Hard To Kill & No Surrender against anyone who has tried to beat them. The X-Division is getting more diversity in what it’s competitors can bring (more on that on next point) & so far the only title that needs a bit of a shake up & consistency is the Knockouts Tag Team Championship as the current Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers surprised the world at No Surrender with their return to The Bullet Club.
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