Rumors and change are the only 2 things in Impact Wrestling’s world that continue to persist in this ever-changing world of professional wrestling.
The rumors swirling around Impact Wrestling seemingly has reached a fever pitch ever since Bound For Glory weekend a couple of weeks ago. Billy Corgan, yes the lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, but was a successful owner of an American independent wrestling company himself, is now Impact Wrestling’s President and is looking to buy Impact Wrestling himself and re-brand the company. However, even he, on the weekend of the biggest show of the year for Impact Wrestling told both Busted Open Radio and The Dan LeBatard Show that that show may not happen as late as 3 days before the show was to take place. Corgan, as of this article is still looking to buy Impact Wrestling.
While Corgan is actively pursuing ownership of Impact Wrestling and doing a total rebranding of the company, this means that the entire TNA tape library is up for grabs. WWE is right now the prime bidder and looks like a lock to grab the nearly 14-year tape history of TNA. With the additions that WWE has made in the past year, signing former TNA stalwarts like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Austin Aries and Bobby Roode, this could do wonders for the WWE Network.
But now off of all the backstage drama and let’s get to what is really important: the wrestling. Change was everywhere in the Impact Wrestling title pictures at Bound For Glory and the following tapings.
While Bobby Lashley won his TNA World title match with Ethan Carter III in a No Holds Barred match at Bound For Glory, he inexplicably lost his title the following Impact against Eddie Edwards. Lashley had mentioned the previous week in media interviews that it did not matter to him if Impact Wrestling was going to go under and just go away. I question the title change due to Lashley being such an effective champion in all phases of the wrestling game. He has beaten every challenger thrown his way in a dominating fashion. Impact Wrestling might be getting a rebrand, but is Eddie Edwards really the guy that should be the face of the company with Lashley, Moose, EC3, and even Cody Rhodes right there?
Impact Wrestling also debuted a new concept and a new championship during this tumultuous month: The Grand Championship. This is a novel concept as it is 3 3-minute rounds with judges giving out scores each round like in boxing or the UFC. And just like boxing or the UFC, you can win before the 3 rounds are over with a knockout or submission. Impact Wrestling’s newest signee, Aron Rex, the former Damien Sandow, won the 8-man tournament. But with the change happening in Impact Wrestling, Rex began his Impact Wrestling career as a babyface, but the Impact show after Bound For Glory showed a much sharper, heelish persona.
With so much surrounding Impact Wrestling, the tapings after Bound For Glory were meant to go through the last of 2016 because they weren’t sure if they could afford to book Universal Studios and book all the talent that they need for television, there might not be a more curious time to be a fan of Impact Wrestling. You truly do not know what direction the company will go in, or if it will be around to see 2017.
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