{"id":19947,"date":"2018-06-08T22:54:04","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T02:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=19947"},"modified":"2018-06-08T22:54:04","modified_gmt":"2018-06-09T02:54:04","slug":"so-you-want-to-get-back-into-impact-wrestling-a-quick-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/06\/08\/so-you-want-to-get-back-into-impact-wrestling-a-quick-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"So You Want To Get Back Into Impact Wrestling: A Quick Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the bravest attempts of TNA naysayers, the company now called Impact Wrestling<\/strong> (named after TNA’s flagship show that just hit it’s 14th year anniversary<\/a>) is in its greatest resurgence in years. Sure it’s had some hits over the years, most notably the Broken Universe in 2016<\/a>, but for the most part, the past decade has not been kind to TNA\/Impact fans. In many ways, TNA deserves a lot of the harsh criticism of past regimes. But Impact Wrestling, that’s a whole other story.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of 2017, Impact Wrestling finally ended up in good financial hands, when Canadian corporation Anthem Entertainment<\/strong>, the parent company of The Fight Network<\/strong>, purchased the company. For much of 2017, it suffered some growing pains (to say the least). Lots of Impact’s familiar faces began to leave, either of their own volition or due to the new regime not having anything for them, Jeff Jarrett<\/strong> was brought back to the company in a leadership capacity as he was struggling with his own well documented substance abuse issues (which he’s beaten and moved on to greener pastures), the list goes on. But around the time that Jeff Jarrett was finally let go from Anthem and the leadership was handed over to Scott D’Amore<\/strong> and a handful of others, Impact began to make a turnaround. It was several weeks prior to last year’s Bound For Glory<\/strong><\/em> in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that Impact began to showcase itself not as “WWE Lite” (as many have called in for the past two decades), but as a true melting pot mosaic of wrestling diversity. Along it’s regular Impact cast of regulars (those they kept around), they began to introduce into it’s storylines performers from around the world, from the likes of AAA<\/strong> in Mexico, to Pro Wrestling NOAH<\/strong> in Japan, to dozens of top indie promotions around North America. It began to feel fresh again, with an emphasis on in-ring wrestling, and the production began to morph into its own territory, rather than simply copying formats used by the WWE.<\/p>\n

And then, in December of last year, Anthem announced it had finally cemented it’s Executive Committee, with Scott D’Amore (who had been temporarily manning the reigns following Jarrett’s exit) and Don Callis<\/strong> being appointed Executive Vice Presidents, and working with Anthem Wrestling President Ed Nordholm<\/strong> as the new official leadership of Impact Wrestling. And the results have been nothing short of spectacular. They’ve brought in multiple names from the indie circuits that many hoped the WWE would land (such as Brian Cage, Tessa Blanchard, Su Yung<\/strong> and more), as well as struck up new partnerships, with the likes of Lucha Underground<\/strong>, House of Hardcore<\/strong>, and even casual alliances with Ring of Honor<\/strong>. For the first time in decades, a major North American promotion was working hand in hand with nearly every top promotion in the country without ignoring or stepping on the work those promotions had done.<\/p>\n

With that being said, there has never been a better time to get back on the Impact train. Whether you were a TNA Original from the earliest days, to the amazing X-Division and Knockouts Division of the late 2000s, or you were there for the Hulk Hogan-Eric Bischoff<\/strong> days, or even fell away when The Hardys returned to the WWE last year at WrestleMania<\/strong>, let us just tell you that Impact Wrestling has indeed changed, and it’s for the better. Better wrestling than it’s had in nearly ten years from top to bottom, a rock solid roster of talent that would rival any other promotion on paper, a Knockouts Division that may be more stacked than ever before, and production like they’ve never known. But if you\u00a0are<\/em> to come pact to the Impact Zone (as in watching on television and becoming a fan again, not necessarily returning to one of its tapings), how can you possibly catch up? Well here’s a quick rundown of what’s been going on and what you need to know as we head towards Slammiversary XVI<\/strong> <\/em>on July 22, 2018, live from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.<\/p>\n

“THE BELT COLLECTOR” AUSTIN ARIES IS THE IMPACT WORLD CHAMPION<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"
Photo: Impact Wrestling<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived” Austin Aries<\/strong> is back in Impact Wrestling, returning this February after a disappointing stint with the WWE. One of the most entertaining members of TNA during his previous run from 2011 through 2015, Aries is currently “The Belt Collector” in the wrestling world, holding multiple championships from around the world – along with the Impact World Heavyweight Championship, he’s also the World Series Wrestling (WSW)<\/strong> Heavyweight Champion from Australia and the DEFY<\/strong> Heavyweight Champion (indie promotion out of Seattle). He only just recently lost his UK titles, the IPW:UK<\/strong> World Heavyweight Championship and the Defiant<\/strong> World Championship. He came back as a huge face and was beloved for months, but in the past few weeks, he’s kinda gone bad again. After a series of matches with Pentagon Jr.<\/strong> from Lucha Underground, including losing his title to him, Aries won the title back after a low blow, signalling his return to the arrogant rule breaker we all know and love. So right now, a dastardly Aries is your World Champion. He’s still finishing things up with Pentagon Jr., but former Ring of Honor star Moose<\/strong> is waiting in the wings – the big man has been taking exceptions to some of Aries comments of late and the man who has dubbed himself “Mr. Impact Wrestling” is probably getting hungry to face Aries in the ring sooner than later.<\/p>\n