Two weeks ago, IMPACT Wrestling dropped the trailer video for July 18, 2020’s Slammiversary XVII event, which focused around a news broadcast discussing the April 15 Black Wednesday of the WWE and those who became free agents. In the video, it was heavily implied that some of the names flashed would be heading to IMPACT at the pay-per-view. The original video hinted at Eric Young, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Drake Maverick (formerly Rockstar Spud), Maria Kanellis, “The Miracle” Mike Bennett, Brian Myers (formerly Curt Hawkins) and EC3 as potential candidates for the Slammiversary return. On Tuesday, IMPACT released an updated video with additional content. While the original footage remains in the second half of the new video, there’s a new beginning that features new names, while the original section has seen an edit. It was also based around a tag line that “(a)t least one former World Champion will make his return to IMPACT” at Slammiversary.
At least one former World Champion will make his return to IMPACT on Saturday July 18th at #Slammiversary.
ORDER NOW: https://t.co/cjK3GrKZ0H pic.twitter.com/uMea05Cipw
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) June 17, 2020
In the new beginning section, we are shown new images of former IMPACT World Champions Kurt Angle, Eric Young, Mr. Anderson (formerly Mr. Kennedy in WWE), “Cowboy” James Storm, Austin Aries, EC3, Chris Sabin, and Bully Ray. The second section has seen a few edits as well, such as the removal of Rockstar Spud following him re-signing with WWE (NXT to be exact) last week. But they’ve also added in more photos of the previous names, as well as one of former 5x IMPACT World Champion Sting (4x TNA World Champion, 1x NWA World Champion), whose WWE Legends deal has recently expired. But perhaps the most interesting addition is that of former NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush, who was one of the first names announced on Black Wednesday. Prior to his WWE run from 2017 to 2020, Rush was one of the indies most exciting young stars, competing in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), EVOLVE Wrestling, and more. He won the Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) World Heavyweight title in early 2017. Lio Rush has all the tools to dominate the X-Division and is adaptable enough to enter any other division in IMPACT as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwKPKXK_7B4
We’ll have to wait until July 18 to find out which of the names teased actually debuts, but in the meantime, IMPACT keeps dropping hints, including perhaps the biggest at the end of Moose‘s TNA World title defense against Hernandez.
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 at 8pm EST and see past episodes of IMPACT Wrestling on IMPACT+.
