Tonight marked the beginning of a change in management in Impact Wrestling of sorts, as new creative heads Scott D’Amore and Don Callis begin their first set of Impact tapings in charge of the brand. This round of tapings is hailing from their original home in Orlando, Florida in the Impact Zone. Without spoiling match results or storylines (except for one, but hey, Impact revealed it already on their own Social Media), there were some notable debuts and returns on the Impact roster after the first night of tapings. Here’s a little sneak peak at who’s arrived in Impact Wrestling heading into 2018.
KIERA HOGAN
A rising star on the women’s indie circuit, Keira Hogan was actually signed by Impact Wrestling back in August of last year, the same time as Hania The Howling Huntress. While Hania made her Impact debut at the Ottawa tapings (although her match has yet to air), Hogan was nowhere to be seen. She’s been all over the indies though, most notably with SHINE and Atlanta Wrestling Entertainment (AWE), but she’s also appeared for SHIMMER, Queens of Combat (QOC) and WSU. A shot of youthful exuberance, the 23-year old is a welcome addition to the Knockouts Division.
HANIA THE HOWLING HUNTRESS
Speaking of Hania, she returned again to these tapings. She originally debuted at the Ottawa tapings after Bound For Glory, but so far those appearances have yet to air on Impact. A veteran of WSU, she’s also appeared for QOC and Women of Honor. No word yet if her Ottawa tapings have been scrapped in favour for a new debut from this set.
AMBER NOVA
A local talent, Amber Nova was trained by Santana Garrett and works primarily for I Believe In Wrestling (BELIEVE) out of Florida. She’s been used by Impact before last year, last appearing in August in a loss to Taya Valkyrie.
T.E.C.H. (Mike Monroe & TC Read)
This Florida tag team worked the tapings, but it may just have been enhancement. They’re the current Platinum Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions, who also work local Florida promotions like RONIN Pro Wrestling, FEST Wrestling, REAL Pro, and IGNITE.
AUSTIN ARIES
“The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” returned to the Impact Zone tonight, back to the place he called home for several years, most notably from 2011 through 2015, when he became Impact World Heavyweight Champion. He’s also a 6x X-Division Champion and former Impact Tag Team Champion. Aries left Impact in 2015 and returned to Ring of Honor briefly, before jumping to NXT and subsequently the WWE as part of the Cruiserweight Division, before departing this past summer. He’s currently the reigning Defiant and IPW:UK World Champions in Great Britain. Impact themselves announced his return on their own Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/ImpactWrestling/videos/10155501151391026/
And then revealed the result of his return, defeating Eli Drake to become the NEW Impact Global Champion, capturing his second World title with Impact Wrestling.
Tonight in Orlando. https://t.co/bTpMEYjyve with more: https://t.co/dLIF6i8qpz pic.twitter.com/9BsRAFv8cW
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 11, 2018
