Tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders, it’s the last stop on the road to Rebellion!
Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders, experience the fallout from Sacrifice and Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive!
IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling present Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive LIVE TONIGHT at 11pm ET streaming exclusively on FITE.
CARD
This Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and YouTube for IMPACT Insiders, don’t miss a special LIVE edition of IMPACT! featuring expert analysis and never-before-seen matchups ahead of Multiverse United: Only the STRONG Survive.
Josh Alexander vs. Kenta for the Impact World Championship (Never Before Seen)
Will Ospreay vs. Homicide
Miyu Yamashita’s Impact debut
Fans of Impact Wrestling were shocked on Friday to learn that Impact World Champion Josh Alexander would be relinquishing the title due to a torn triceps, after nearly a full year as champion. Following the announcement and Impact’s Sacrifice event, Alexander has taken to Twitter to issue a message to fans regarding his injury.
“Thank you to all who reached out. For anyone who’s ever taken the time to support & bought a ticket to see me do what I love,” the tweet read, “I appreciate all the support more than I can even put into words. It’s time for me to give back. Next time you see me I’ll be better than ever.”
Alexander’s tweet was accompanied by an image with a longer message, detailing that this is only the second time in his career he has stepped away for an injury. His message declared that he’d be better than ever when he returns and capped off with him noting that he’d be stepping away from social media for the time being. “I’m stepping away from social media to spend some much needed time with my family and to concentrate 100% of my energy on myself.”
The news about Alexander’s injury came hot off the heels of the announcement that Mickie James, the Knockout’s World Champion, would also be shelved due to an injury. Both injuries had effects on the card for Sacrifice, with James’ match against Jordynne Grace getting scrapped and Alexander getting replaced by Steve Maclin in a six-man tag match.
The new Impact World Champion will be determined at Rebellion. Alexander was set to defend against KUSHIDA at Impact’s upcoming NJPW cross-promoted event, Multiverse United. With Alexander out, KUSHIDA will instead face Maclin at Rebellion to determine the new champion.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Mickie James has suffered an injury.
On Thursday night, Impact Wrestling took to Twitter to announce that Mickie James is dealing with an injury and will no longer be able to defend her Knockouts Championship against Jordynne Grace at tonight’s Sacrifice pay-per-view event.
You can check out the official announcement below:
“Due to an injury, @MickieJames will be unable to compete at Sacrifice. We will give an update and address the Knockouts World Title situation tomorrow night at Sacrifice.”
Friday night’s Impact Wrestling Sacrifice pay-per-view event in Canada that will air at 8:00 PM EST on Impact Plus and FITE.tv.
Sacrifice Card
*Future of the Knockouts Championship will be addressed
*Busted Open Match: Bully Ray vs. Tommy Dreamer
*Josh Alexander, Rich Swann & Frankie Kazarian vs. Time Machine (Motor City Machine Guns & KUSHIDA)
*Digital Media Championship: Joe Hendry © vs. Brian Myers
*X Division Championship: Trey Miguel © vs. Lince Dorado
*Tag-Team Titles: Ace Austin & Chris Bey © vs. Bad Dude Tito & Shane Haste
*PCO vs. Kenny King
*Speedball Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham
*Deonna Purrazzo vs. Gisele Shaw
The jam-packed road to Sacrifice, Multiverse United and Rebellion continues on an all-new IMPACT! this Thursday at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.
In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo on the “Instinct Culture” podcast, Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion Mickie James touched on the current state of women’s wrestling, as well as her plans to attend WrestleMania 39 as a fan for the very first-time next month.
Citing Lita and Trish Stratus competing at WrestleMania 39, Saraya’s (Paige) recent in-ring return in AEW, and Impact Wrestling’s thriving women’s division, James said,
“How amazing, how exciting of a time is it in 2023 when we are looking at Lita as a Tag Team Champion with Becky? Now looking at Team Bestie going to be at WrestleMania, two women who I’ve shared a lot of history with, and who I admire, look up to, find hella inspiring, and I just adore. You see that happening there. You see, in IMPACT, I’m the Champion in 2023, and our tag team division is shining so bright, and the women in that locker room. Then you see over at AEW, Saraya comes back from a career-ending injury. Someone who they said, ‘Oh, she’s never going to wrestle again.’ What a freakin magical time in professional wrestling and not just in women’s professional wrestling, just in professional wrestling across the board,” James continued. “For a long time, it used to be like, ‘Oh, well, they’re retired,’ or ‘they’re this,’ and it would all be about this whole new — and it was never that way about the men as much as it was for the women.”
James also discussed her plans for WrestleMania 39 weekend, revealing that she plans to attend Night Two of WrestleMania as a spectator.
“I’m going to be there for WrestleCon. I’m going to be out there in LA. I’m really hoping — because we’re doing DressleMania this year and one of the things that we’re auctioning off is — I’ve already texted both of them, ‘I really hope you guys are wrestling on night two,’ because I’m actually going to be in a suite that we’re auctioning off for one of the winners for DressleMania and they’re watching. It is my first time ever watching WrestleMania as a spectator. I’ve never been. I could never go when we were kids. We didn’t have the money. Never went as a child have only been as a talent. For my first time ever, in the history of the world, in the history of Mickie James, I’m going to be going to WrestleMania as a spectator. I’m just praying that my friends are wrestling night two, so I can watch it there live, in-person, because I really would love to see it live in person.”
Mickie James is also slated to be a part of WrestleCon as she defends her Impact Knockouts World Championship in a four-way match at IMPACT x NJPW Multiverse United: Only The STRONG Survive, against Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw, and Miyu Yamashita.
Source: eWrestlingNews
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc, the parent company of Impact Wrestling, announced changes to its management team today. This includes Scott D’Amore being named the new President of Impact Wrestling.
The following was issued:
RICHARD SCHAEFER NAMED PRESIDENT OF ANTHEM SPORTS GROUP
Scott D’Amore promoted to President of IMPACT Wrestling
Lou D’Angeli joins as Vice President of Marketing
Mike Pine’s Talon Partnerships joins as
Strategic Advisors handling Brand Partnerships
LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2023 – Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc., a global, multi-platform media company, announced today that respected global combat sports executive Richard Schaefer has been named President of its sports properties, which are to be re-organized as a separate operating group under the name Anthem Sports Group Inc. (ASG). These properties include ASG’s iconic IMPACT Wrestling promotion, trailblazing all-female MMA organization Invicta Fighting Championships, and, Fight Network, the world’s premier 24/7 combat sports channel.
Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in the combat sports and boxing realm, Schaefer will oversee ASG and play a key role in building strategic partnerships and relationships with leading sponsors, brands, agents and athletes in the industry. The hiring of Schaefer is a testament to Anthem’s commitment to building global prominence of its events and broadcasts. Under Schaefer, ASG will aggressively pursue additional acquisitions in the combat sports and professional wrestling businesses. Schaefer’s wide-ranging background in professional boxing will also be leveraged to establish a boxing promotion platform.
“Richard Schaefer is a major force in the combat sports and boxing arena,” said Leonard Asper, Anthem President and CEO. “As one of the industry’s most respected executives, he leads with integrity and brings an unprecedented wealth of expertise—cultivated from more than two decades working alongside the sport’s biggest brands and most legendary fighters. Anthem is pleased to welcome him to our executive team as the President of Anthem Sports Group, and we look forward to reaching even greater heights as a global sports powerhouse under his guidance.”
Stated Schaefer: “I am beyond thrilled to be joining the Anthem team and ASG. Len Asper, Ed Nordholm, Scott D’Amore and Shannon Knapp have built a fantastic business, and I am honored to be working with them. Together, we will create a global destination which attracts the best talent and delivers the most exciting content across all aspects of combat sports. All of our assets under the ASG umbrella will create new and innovative synergies when dealing with distribution platforms, sponsors, venues and fan interaction.”
Schaefer brings a long track record of success to ASG, having served as the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, where he was integral in developing the platform into a key player in the sport. Over his 20+ years in the combat sports space, he promoted or advised some of the most iconic stars — from Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez, to UFC Superstar Jon Jones. Helming over 527 promoted events, he is one of the leading all-time promoters in boxing and has generated record-breaking gate and pay-per-view revenues.
Anthem has also brought in two senior executives and promoted Scott D’Amore to President of IMPACT Wrestling to highlight its goal of growing the Sports Group. D’Amore and Shannon Knapp, the President of Invicta FC, will report to Schaefer.
“Scott has established himself as the leader of IMPACT Wrestling since joining us in 2018, re-establishing the promotion as one of the finest professional wrestling promotions in the world,” said Ed Nordholm, Chief Corporate Officer of Anthem.
Schaefer will be working with former WWE and Cirque du Soleil executive Lou D’Angeli, who has joined Anthem Sports Group as Vice President of Marketing. In this role, D’Angeli is overseeing all aspects of marketing, advertising, promotion, and public relations for ASG.
D’Angeli has more than 25 years of experience in event marketing and promotion, having served as Vice President of Marketing for Cirque du Soleil where he was responsible for all marketing, advertising, public relations, and digital media strategy for North America. Additionally, he served as Director of Marketing for WWE, developing and implementing all national advertising strategies, social media initiatives, and fan festivals and experiential events.
“In just a few months, Lou has been a leader in increasing awareness and attendance at both IMPACT Wrestling and Invicta FC events,” continued Nordholm. “With his past experience in event promotion and marketing at such iconic brands, we are very lucky to have Lou on the team and his expertise is already providing dividends.”
Anthem also announced that Mike Pine & Talon Partnerships have been retained by ASG as Strategic Advisors, focused on securing sponsorships and new revenue initiatives for IMPACT Wrestling and Invicta FC. While Pine & Talon’s initial emphasis will be placed on the Sports Group properties, Talon’s scope will also include Anthem’s diverse entertainment offerings.
Previously, Pine has held the Head of Global Sales/Chief Revenue Officer positions for four separate billion-dollar companies. Under Pine’s leadership, Talon has grown into a world-class organization with the singular purpose of delivering revenue for its high-profile clientele — ranging from renowned sports and entertainment properties and influencers to NCAA and professional athletes, and more.
“Mike is a true combat sports veteran, having worked with several world leaders in the MMA and professional wrestling industries,” added Nordholm. “In addition to his expansive knowledge, he comes armed with unparalleled insight and ideas that go outside the box—forming strategic partnerships and initiatives that fit the mission of each brand, while exponentially growing awareness and revenue. We are confident that the talented team that we have assembled under Mr. Schaefer’s leadership is well-positioned to expand our offerings in the combat sports arena, utilizing world-class IP directed at combat sports enthusiasts.”
About Anthem Sports & Entertainment, Inc.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Toronto, Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Cleveland. Anthem’s portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world’s premier combat sports channel with broadcast distribution across 10+ countries and available globally through multiple OTT platforms; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s leading wrestling organizations; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in sports wagering, Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNet Movies, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.anthemse.com.
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