IMPACT Wrestling wrapped up three days of television tapings in Las Vegas, Nevada at Sam’s Town Casino, that should take the company through to its January 6, 2019 pay-per-view Homecoming, in Nashville, Tennessee. Like many of IMPACT’s tapings, there was some indie appearances in probably enhancement roles, some debuts that look like they may stick for a bit, and even a memorable return. Without spoiling the match results, here’s a look at the names that appeared over the past three days in Las Vegas.
Kikutaro
Japan’s comedic wrestling legend Kikutaro, who relocated to Las Vegas a year or so ago to work the US more, while this was Kikutaro’s IMPACT Wrestling debut, it’s not the first time he’s worked for the company. He originally appeared in TNA Wrestling back in 2004, under the name Ebessan as part of Team Japan, teaming with Osaka Pro‘s Kuishinbo Kamen and All-Japan‘s NOSAWA Rongai (who now competes as Black Tiger), in a match against Team NWA (Chris Sabin, Elix Skipper & Sonjay Dutt). It appears it was more of a one-shot though, as he was a surprise announcement for the return of the Turkey Bowl that saw two teams compete against each other.
https://twitter.com/WebConn69/status/1062396307547971584
The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz & Trey Miguel)
The Rascalz is one of the hottest indie factions in pro wrestling right now, featuring four stellar young talents in Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, Trey Miguel and Myron Reed. Xavier has been with IMPACT for over a year now (winning the 2017 Super X Cup) and Wentz has made a few appearances this year, but this is the first time they’ve teamed together as their Rascalz faction. The current PWG World Tag Team Champions are an instant threat in the IMPACT Tag Team division. Trey Miguel also made his official storyline debut with the stable, although he worked enhancement once last year and working an all-Ohio match back in September.
Ruby Raze
A six-year veteran of the California and West Coast indie circuit, Ruby Raze is a regular with Alternative Wrestling Show (AWS) out of South Gate, California, who has also worked with Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF), Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, RISE, and Bar Wrestling.
.@Razerpops is making her Impact Wrestling debut at tonight's tapings in Las Vegas, facing Jordynne Grace. pic.twitter.com/Ie74ybLTVf
— SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) November 13, 2018
The Pillars of Destiny (Paul Titan & Hunter Grey)
A massive tag team from the indies, The Pillars of Destiny work such promotions as Rocky Mountain Pro (RMP), Main Event Pro Wrestling (MEPW) and New Era Wrestling (NEW). Hunter Grey actually had a WWE Tryout earlier this year at the same ones that featured Chelsea Green.
At the Impact tapings in Las Vegas @RoyceIsaacs and @JNeez are making their debuts in a match for Xplosion against Pillars of Destiny pic.twitter.com/IwF3F0W1mm
— SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) November 12, 2018
The One Percent (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs)
This new tag team has been gaining ground on Saturday mornings as part of Ring Warriors this year, as well in Californa’s Rival Pro Wrestling (RPW) and FSW, where they’re former FSW Tag Team Champions. Individually, Jorel Nelson has been working the West Coast circuit since 2011, working with EWF, Maverick Pro, PCW ULTRA, DEFY Wrestling and others, and is a 2x EWF American Champion. Royce Isaacs is only a few years in, but he’s already had a couple tours in Japan with DDT Pro, worked The Crash Lucha in Mexico, and is a regular with Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, where he’s currently a double champion with the United TV Championship and CWFH Heritage Championship.
Ray Lyn
Pittsburgh’s Ray Lyn has been one of the names to emerge into the vacuum of the past year on the women’s scene in indie wrestling, following the loss of such names as Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, Deonna Purrazzo and others to NXT, with 2018 being her biggest year yet. A regular with RISE who has also worked SHIMMER, Queens of Combat, Women’s Superstars Uncensored (WSU) and more, IMPACT fans got their first glimpse of Ray Lyn at the RISE/IMPACT Twitch special, RISE of the Knockouts, in a tag team match with Karen Q.
At the Las Vegas Impact Wrestling tapings right now, former SoCal regular and master twerker @Ray_lyn is facing @Tess_Blanchard pic.twitter.com/G289ScaZ2N
— SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) November 12, 2018
Chris Bey
Chris Bey is only 22-years old, but he’s been taking the West Coast scene by storm the past year as one of the top emerging young stars. A regular with Maverick Pro (he recently lost the MPW Championship) and Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, he’s also worked for PCW ULTRA and Las Vegas’ Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW), where he’s a former FSW No Limits Champion and current (and 2x) FSW Tag Team Champion.
“The Business” Hammerstone
A big Suplex Machine from the west coast, Hammerstone is a regular with Oregon’s West Coast Wrestling Connection (WCWC) and has worked with Championship Wrestling From Hollywood (CWFH) and Paragon Pro Wrestling (PPW) out of Las Vegas. Hammerstone had a WWE Tryout last October and is the current FSW Champion.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqIgi0Xnb-B/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1xej97gpm61r1
Heather Monroe
A graduate from the Santino Bros. Academy in California, Heather Monroe is another emerging star from the West Coast scene. She’s one of the regulars with Bar Wrestling, where she teams with Joey Ryan’s better half, Laura James, in The Killer Baes, but she also works for SHIMMER, RISE, AWS, Championship Wrestling From Hollywood, The Crash Lucha and many more promotions.
.@Heatherisme is making her Impact Wrestling debut at the tapings in Las Vegas against Su Yung. pic.twitter.com/ZS2G5eYc6i
— SoCal UNCENSORED (@socaluncensored) November 12, 2018
Disco Inferno
Another one-shot for the Turkey Bowl, Las Vegas resident and former WCW Superstar Disco Inferno made a surprise appearance in the Thanksgiving episode “classic”.
https://twitter.com/WebConn69/status/1062201077955612672
Raven
Rumors of Raven‘s return started early, as IMPACT’s Konnan tweeted a photo of himself and the former ECW and NWA World Heavyweight Champion backstage in Vegas. And sure enough, he returned. We won’t mention how or why he returned, but we will say it has something to do with his ECW arch-nemesis Tommy Dreamer. Interestingly enough, Raven returned to the ring this year to team with Dreamer against Eli Drake and Disco Inferno…
@TheRealDisco @theraveneffect
Disco you were here a day early
Here he is booy pic.twitter.com/idoI11O1C6— Konnan (@Konnan5150) November 13, 2018
Thanks to reader Joe Vernola for some updated info!
