When you look at the history of IMPACT Wrestling you look at names like AJ Styles or Samoa Joe, but in 2019 there are another group of athletes who are becoming household names and putting on shows every single week.
Just look at the Main Event for Slammiversary on Sunday, July 5th in Dallas, TX. Brian Cage is the World Champion after defeating Johnny IMPACT at Rebellion in Toronto and immediately he was met by Michael Elgin. Those two men will clash over the World Title at Slammiversary. If we start with those larger than life men, you have the base or foundation for a great Roster.
Brian Cage
The IMPACT Wrestling World Champion is a different kind of athlete. Brian Cage can do things that X-Division Stars dream of doing in their matches. Cage is larger than life, he looks like Wolverine or any Super Hero you can dream of seeing on the big screen and Cage has a very high wrestling IQ. There seems to be nothing that Brian Cage can’t do. A life long wrestling fan, his favorite wrestler being the late great Kanyon, Brian Cage simply loves to compete.
What will happen when Brian Cage defends the Championship against Michael Elgin?
Michael Elgin
When Michael Elgin came to IMPACT Wrestling it didn’t just cause Brian Cage to take notice. Everyone in wrestling took notice. Here is a man who could have gone to any wrestling company in the world, he spent years in Japan, but Elgin wants to be World Champion and have that viewed by everyone. So Elgin rolled the dice, left Japan and is now competing for the World Title at Slammiversary against Brian Cage. Everyone is excited for this match and they should be. It will be a showdown and we will not pick a winner today. There are many nights left before Slammiversary and Elgin can continue sending messages to the Champion. This rivalry has been about action and physicality. It has been about honor and pride and only one man can leave as World Champion on Sunday, July 7th in Dallas, TX.
After our Main Event, when you start looking at the next wave of athletes, you have men like Johnny IMPACT, Rich Swann, Moose, Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan, Willie Mack, Ace Austin and Killer Kross.
Out of those listed, you could be looking at 8 possible World Champions. Sami Callihan was named Wrestler of the Year in 2018, he was responsible for the Moment of the Year in 2018 and had the Match of the Year in 2018. The only thing Sami Callihan hasn’t done in IMPACT Wrestling yet is win a Championship. Is that moment coming in 2019? When you talk about Sami Callihan, you have to talk about Dave Crist, Jake Crist and Madman Fulton. The fact is, Dave and Jake have been World Tag Team Champions on IMPACT Wrestling and Madman Fulton is the king of all monsters. If Sami Callihan directs Fulton towards the World Championship, is there anyone that can stop him? Seeing Fulton in the mix with Elgin or Cage isn’t that much of a stretch. Fulton has the size and power to make it happen and the brains of Callihan behind him.
What about Dave or Jake Crist? Could they survive in a singles position? Dave seems like a natural leader on his own and Jake has been called the most underrated athlete on the roster. So it does seem that either one of those men could survive in the shark infested waters of the IMPACT Wrestling Singles Division.
Remember the night Fallah Bahh challenged for the World Title? Fallah came very close to capturing the Gold on that night. Is Fallah a legit contender? He has slimed down, he has Scarlett Bordeaux in his corner and he, when triggered, is one of the most dangerous men on the planet.
The Tag Teams of IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT Wrestling also has a host of Tag Teams to look out for in 2019. Teams like The North, comprised of Ethan Page and Josh Alexander. They have their World Tag Team Title match at Bash at the Brewery against LAX and on that night, they might be able to capture Tag Team Gold. Ethan and Josh are lethal, powerful and quite dangerous. They are the embodiment of the word “team” and they strike as a unit, bringing new meaning to the phrase “We The North.”
That World Tag Team Championship Match will take place at Bash at the Brewery just 2 nights before Slammiversary. Right now, LAX have two teams hunting for their titles and both teams have their night to shine. The Rascalz get the title chance at Slammiversary, but The North might be Champions come Sunday, July 7th in Dallas. Bash at the Brewery is LIVE Friday, July 5th in San Antonio, TX and airs on IMPACT+ at 8PM ET.
The Knockouts of IMPACT Wrestling
The Champion is Taya Valkyrie, but the Knockouts Division is deeper in 2019 than perhaps at any other time in company history. From Taya to Tessa Blanchard to Jordynne Grace to Madison Rayne and the arrival of Havok in the mix with Su Yung, Rosemary and Kiera Hogan. Alisha Edwards is also one that we need to watch out for and the Division has become the cornerstone of IMPACT Wrestling it once was in the past.
This deep look into the current IMPACT Wrestling Roster shows a young and hungry group of athletes. Who else will join this group? Who will lead them? Do they need leading? Right now, Brian Cage is the man at the top of the food chain, but that can change at Slammiversary.
LAX have been doing their thing as the 4x World Tag Team Champions and the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in IMPACT Wrestling history. However, The North and The Rascalz are coming for gold.
Taya has been Champion for quite some time, but with Jordynne, Tessa, Madison, Su, Rosemary, Alisha, Havok and Kiera all at her doorstep how long can she remain Champion?
The X-Division Champion right now is Rich Swann and the X-Division has been something special to IMPACT for years. The Championship is special. Will someone like Ace Austin or Jake Crist or even Dave Crist take that title from Rich?
Who out there, the athletes who are not currently signed can come here and change the game? Is Joey Ryan sure about his decision to stay independent? Could he come to IMPACT and become Champion? Who else is out there that would want to test themselves against the best in the world?
Don’t miss IMPACT Wrestling each and every week to see the very best on this planet compete in thrilling matches, compelling situations and more.
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