I'm not going to pretend to be an Impact fan but I do pay attention and they have been doing some good, compelling things.
What happened last night could be looked on as something special starting. This is Old School territories dream match making from back in the heyday of Pro Wrestling Illustrated when you would have Flair, Hogan and Rick Martel on the cover asking who would beat who.
The biggest NJPW gaijin star right now shows up on Impact to confront the biggest star in AEW. (Thank God Vince didn't get a chance to F up either Jay White or Kenny Omega.) You have NWA signed star Thunder Rosa showing up to push the Impact champion. New Japan team FinJuice shows up and has a match. And I'm sure I am missing someone that someone will correct me on. But what you have is the "forbidden doors" not just opened but blown off the hinges. AEW, ROH, Impact, NWA, AAA and NJPW all working together. Rebel groups coming together to overthrow the boring juggernaut from Stamford.
You want The Elite vs The Bullet Club. You may very well get it. Give me Deonna Purrazzo vs. Tessa Blanchard vs. Kamille. Give me Nick Aldis staring down the winner of Omega/White. This is the stuff we would fantasy book forever as kids.
These are video game matches and PPVs myself and many in my generation have made on WWE video games for awhile.
Glad to see this happening but I still refuse to watch IMPACT.
1. I ain't taking the time to get on twitch to watch this show. And to be fair the few times I've thought about tuning in I would then totally forget what time it was one and have myself occupied later. Glad they have a better commentary team because Josh Matthews was so cringe.
2. If you remember a few yrs ago during Mania week they did a show PPV style special on Twitch and asked fans to provide their own commentary too it live. Well wouldn't you know a podcaster I listen too plus a buddy of mine both have their videos struck down for copyright infringement by IMPACT!!!! Yes the same company that ASKED FANS TO PROVIDE THEIR OWN LIVE COMMENTARY Struck their videos. My buddy lost his channel for good despite fighting it. The podcaster it took him a bit but thanks to people he knows in that field and his lawyer they were able to get his store and the video back.
3. Awhile back they also allowed that dirtbag JDFROMNY (dude who make the Alexa Comments) to do some commentary for them despite the videos being out there (He's also referred to Titus O'neil in the back using black stereotypes involving catering and foods no one wants to talk about).
4. Not a lot of big names or anything up and comers. Its mostly the WWE Midgard rejects, mixed with Indie guys who'd never make it to WWE or AEW besides a very select few. No-one besides Deonna and Sami and the Good Brothers really excite me and when Rich Swann is your title holder that Kenny Omega takes the belt from then theres a problem. '
5. I also have an issue with most of management being ok with what Tessa did prior to throwing her temper tantrum and then Mickie James defending her. There's still backstage issues and wrestlers not being properly paid I was told from people more in the know.
It's ashame how far TNA/IMPACT has fallen. I know it was different management but don't forget what they did with the Hardyz either. I use to watch TNA/IMPACT constantly when it started with the 1 hr Sat nights at 10 or 11 on Spike TV at the time or whatever it was then. When TNA went live during the first 6 or so months and switched to Monday's opposite of RAW I found myself watching TNA more just hoping they'd become legit competition for WWE. Loved the Main Event Mafia, the originally LAX, AJ Styles and Samoa Joe with their battles with Angle, Sting etc, The X division at the time was amazing with Low Ki, Amazing Red, Pete Williams, Aries, King, etc. Motor City Machine Guns, Beer Money, team 3D, Lethal Consequences, The Wolves, etc. Dixie Carter was great too. Such a sweet Lady I met at Lethal Lockdown in Philly when Foley/Sting wrestled.