Just moments ago, Impact star Braxton Sutter announced that he was departing the company, after a three year run with the promotion starting in 2015.
https://twitter.com/BraxtonSutter/status/989648808849141762
Sutter has had an up and down ride with Impact Wrestling since his debut with the company at the February 2015 tapings for One Night Only: X-Travaganza (where faced Kenny King and Jay Rios) and the following night’s One Night Only: Gut Check, where he was defeated by Drew McIntyre (then Drew Galloway). Originally signed under his long time indie name, Pepper Parks, he re-debuted as Braxton Sutter at Victory Road ’16 in March, where he was defeated by Bobby Roode. His most notable feud was against Mike Bennett and his wife Maria Kannellis‘ faction, that included Sienna, Laurel Van Ness and his real life wife, current Knockouts Champion Allie. After being coerced into marrying Laurel Van Ness, he left Van Ness at the altar and declared his love for Allie instead. This lead not only to Laurel Van Ness’ “Hot Mess” gimmick (as the drunken jilted bride, and one that Chelsea Green still pulls out on the indie circuit since her own departure), but elevated Allie to a full time wrestler, rather than the assistant role she held alongside Maria.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Sutter was trained by legendary trainer Les Thatcher and debuted with Thatcher’s Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) in Ohio in 2000 as Pepper Parks. Prior to signing with Impact, he worked many indie promotions around North America, such as CZW, IWA Mid South, Smash Wrestling and more, including appearances for both WWE and Ring of Honor. Since 2010, he’s worked extensively with his hometown promotion, Empire State Wrestling (ESW) in Buffalo, and he currently hosts a popular wrestling and music podcast alongside Every Time I Die guitarist and pro wrestler Andy Williams called Kickin’ Ass with Jesse & Andy. He’s still a regular with Buffalo’s ESW and Toronto’s Smash Wrestling, where he’s currently one half of the Smash Tag Team Champions The Well Oiled Machines, with “Psycho” Mike Rollins. As seen in his tweet announcing his departure, he’s already returned to his Pepper Parks moniker of old. Sutter worked his final Impact match this past week at the tapings in Orlando.
