IMPACT Wrestling was originally slated to present the second annual IMPACT Rebellion PPV this past Sunday, April 19, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to cancel the live event, originally scheduled to take place at Terminal 5 in New York City. But instead of canceling the event altogether, in early April IMPACT taped the scheduled matches in Nashville, Tennessee at a closed location, and now Rebellion will air as a two-part special on IMPACT television on AXS-TV, starting on Tuesday, April 21 and concluding the following week on Tuesday, April 28. Here’s a run-down of the four big matches announced for Night 1 of 2020’s IMPACT Rebellion.
Keira Hogan vs. Kylie Rae
Just before the pandemic halted the wrestling world, Kylie Rae signed with IMPACT Wrestling and for a couple of weeks, made the rounds to meet the other Knockouts. On April 7, she met Susie (the “normal” alter ego of Su Yung) before both were interrupted by Keira Hogan, who challenged Kylie Rae to this match at IMPACT Rebellion. The two young stars of the IMPACT Knockouts Division haven’t faced each other in singles competition since 2016 when they were both with Booker T‘s Reality of Wrestling in Houston when Kylie Rae successfully defended her ROW Diamonds Championship against Hogan, but a lot has changed since then. A tougher, grittier Hogan will be looking to end Kylie Rae’s momentum in IMPACT before it’s even started.
When @IamKylieRae met @realsuyung…and @HoganKnowsBest3 spoiled the fun. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/n5ilPueLEI
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 8, 2020
IMPACT X-Division Championship: Ace Austin (c) vs. Willie Mack
This feud started when Ace Austin came out to help Willie Mack in a match against Johnny Swinger & Disco Inferno back in early March when Mack was unable to find a partner (his usual partner, Rich Swann, was injured). Austin tried to recruit Mack to his new stable, that includes Reno Scum (Adam Thornstowe & Luster the Legend), in hoping that Mack would help Austin get IMPACT tag team gold. Mack refused and the following week he won a Scramble to become the #1 Contender for Austin’s X-Division Championship at IMPACT Rebellion. On April 7, Austin sent out Reno Scum to slow Mack down for this match, but Willie Mack defied the odds and won the handicap match, fueling Mack further to try and take Austin’s title on Tuesday night.
Rhino, Tommy Dreamer & ??? vs. oVe (Dave Crist, Jake Crist & Madman Fulton)
Rhino has been having his issues with oVe going back to mid-February. He faced Dave Crist on February 18, and in early March he tangled with Madman Fulton, which only escalated the growing feud. Two weeks later, he joined forces with his old ECW running mate Sabu to take down Dave Crist & Fulton together, which resulted in a couple more matches against oVe’s enforcer, Madman Fulton. Two weeks ago, oVe – who are currently lacking their leader Sami Callihan due to his distraction with Ken Shamrock – sent out the Crist Brothers (Dave & Jake Crist) to try and shut down Rhino, who this time partnered with another ECW ally in Tommy Dreamer, but again, oVe came up short. Fulton stormed the ring and helped beat down Rhino and Dreamer, who have promised another Extreme ally to even the odds on Tuesday night but are keeping it a game-time mystery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNQKUANlPEc
Ken Shamrock vs. Sami Callihan
Following his loss to Tessa Blanchard at IMPACT Hard to Kill in January (where he lost his IMPACT World Championship), Sami Callihan went into hiding for several months. During his absence, strange computer glitches began to plague IMPACT’s television and on March 17, during the announcement of Ken Shamrock as the 2020 inductee into the IMPACT Hall of Fame, it was revealed that the “hacker” was Sami Callihan. Callihan threw a fireball in Shamrock’s face and on March 31, revealed he was getting sick of old-timers taking spots from the younger talent in the company. An infuriated Shamrock and fired up Callihan now head into IMPACT Rebellion this Tuesday for a monstrous grudge match, especially after how last week’s contract signing went.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkrR_o3yNqc
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. We provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can watch IMPACT every Tuesday on AXS-TV and see past episodes of IMPACT Wrestling on IMPACT+.
