Is Impact Wrestling For Real?

After Slammiversary 2020, wrestling fans and critics alike are wondering the same thing: is Impact Wrestling for real?

Years removed from its initial peak, a new vision for the company is taking shape and more importantly, taking over. There’s fresh blood on the roster and familiar faces hungry to break out and achieve their potential.

Over the past 10 years what is now known as Impact Wrestling has gone through several transformations, face-lifts and ownership changes. Moves were made to try to elevate the company’s status, but nearly all of them left the company unrecognizable. Jeff Hardy’s failed heel turn, as well as the never-ending and nonsensical Aces & Eights storyline are the two major fumbles from the disastrous Hulk Hogan/Eric Bischoff era. Ironically, the Jeff Jarrett/Dixie Carter era that put TNA on the map also left it in rubble. Now the Anthem Media Group era is underway, and the future looks promising after nearly one year on Impact Wrestling’s no longer new home of AXS TV.

Every division has blossomed. One division in particular has continuously proved the haters wrong and that is the X Division. Former executives like Bruce Prichard and Bischoff have criticized the X Division for its tagline of “no limits.” They couldn’t be more wrong. When the competitors are in the ring for that title, nothing other than their desire to win defines them. It doesn’t matter their gender, size or age, anything is possible as long as they want it. After this weekend the division is now in the hands of Chris Bey, who leads an exciting crop of talent such as Willie Mack and Rich Swann.

The tag team division has also received a much-needed spark. After The Hardy Boyz’ expedition of gold, it appeared that tag team wrestling was left for dead, but OVE, LAX and the Lucha Bros pumped life back into the division. The current Tag Team Champions The North now lead an exciting group, which include The Rascalz, the reformed Motor City Machine Guns and Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows.

Capitalizing on the trend of intergender wrestling, the men’s and women’s divisions have slowly intertwined with each other over the past year. While the Tessa Blanchard run couldn’t have gone any worse, there are still women capable of capturing the Impact World Championship or possibly being a dual champion. The women’s division has arguably the most depth it’s ever had, with Kylie Rae, Jordynne Grace, Taya Valkyrie, Havok, Kiera Hogan, Kimber Lee, Rosemary, Susie, Tasha Steelz and more. Don’t forget the new Impact Women’s Champion: Deonna Purrazzo.

Coinciding with the revamped women’s division is a packed world title scene. Eddie Edwards captured the vacant title and behind him is a hungry pack. Ace Austin is a rising star, Moose is the biggest heel in the company and now Eric Young and EC3 have re-entered the picture.

We’re in the summer stretch towards Bound For Glory, so Impact Wrestling will be letting the wrestling world know if they are for real. A fresh crop of newcomers mixed in with seasoned veterans has redefined the company, hopefully taking it to new heights.