Category: TNA

The IInspiration Announce They Will Be Stepping Away From Wrestling Indefinitely

WWE released more than 80 wrestlers in 2021, and among those let go were Peyton Royce and Billie Kay. Formerly known as The Iiconics, the Aussie pair switched things up and now go by their real names, Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay and calling themselves The IInspiration. The pair were absent for a short while before signing with Impact Wrestling, and it now seems they will be stepping away from the business for even longer after a short stay with the company.

Lee and McKay, who dubbed themselves The Iinspiration upon arriving in Impact, released a joint statement today revealing that there time with Impact has come to an end. Not only that, but they will be taking a break from wrestling entirely, writing that they will stepping away from in-ring action indefinitely.

“We will cherish these IMPACT memories forever. We are excited to start a new chapter in our lives and explore other opportunities that may come our way,” the statement reads. Lee and McKay signed with Impact in October, six months after they were part of WWE’s April 2021 cuts. The two won Impact’s Knockouts Tag Championships in there very first match.

Source: TheSportster

Impact Wrestling Rebellion Results 4/23/2022

COUNTDOWN TO REBELLION

Eddie Edwards defeated Chris Bey

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The Influence (Madison Rayne & Tenille Dashwood) (c) defeated The IInspiration (Cassie Lee and Jessie McKay)

REBELLION

Steve Maclin defeated Jay White & Chris Sabin

AAA REINA DE REINAS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Taya Valkyrie defeated Deonna Purrazzo (c) to become new AAA Reina De Reinas Champion

IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Ace Austin defeated Mike Bailey & Trey Miguel (c) to become the new X-Division Champion

Tomohiro Ishii defeated JONAH

IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – 8 TEAM ELIMINATION CHALLENGE MATCH
Violent By Design (Eric Young & Joe Doering) (C) defeated The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson), Rich Swann & Willie Mack, Rhino & Heath, The OGK (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven), Zicky Dice & Johnny Swinger, W. Morrissey & Jordynne Grace, and Major Players (Matt Cardona & Brian Myers)

Violent By Design eliminated Heath & Rhino to retain the tag team titles. 

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Tasha Steelz (c) defeated Rosemary

IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Josh Alexander defeated Moose (c) to become the new Impact World Champion

AEW Rampage Preview 4/22/22

Tonight’s AEW Rampage episode was taped earlier this week from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

* Adam Cole vs. Tomohiro Ishii in a qualifier for The Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament, the opening match of the night

* Lance Archer vs. Serpentico

* Eddie Kingston vs. Daniel Garcia. Santana, Ortiz and Jericho Appreciation Society members are banned from ringside

* AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Marina Shafir in the main event

* Tony Schiavone interviews Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland

* Tony Schiavone interviews The Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament participants Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Toni Storm

* Appearances by Shawn Spears, Rocky Romero, Jay White, Orange Cassidy, and more

Impact Wrestling Rebellion 4/23/2022

DATE: April 23, 2022 8:00 pm
LOCATION: MJN Convention Center, Poughkeepsie, New York
AVAILABLE ON: Pay-Per-View, FITE TV

CARD


IMPACT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Josh Alexander vs. Moose (c)

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Rosemary vs. Tasha Steelz (c)

IMPACT X-DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Mike Bailey vs. Ace Austin vs. Trey Miguel (c)

AAA REINA DE REINAS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Taya Valkyrie vs. Deonna Purrazzo (c)

IMPACT WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP – 8 TEAM ELIMINATION CHALLENGE MATCH
Violent By Design (c) vs. The Good Brothers vs. Rich Swann and Willie Mack vs. Heath and Rhino vs. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA

IMPACT KNOCKOUTS WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The IInspiration  vs.  The Influence (c)

Jonathan Gresham vs. Eddie Edwards

JONAH vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Chris Sabin vs. Jay White vs. Steve Maclin

IMPACT Preview 4/21/22

It’s the last stop before IMPACT Wrestling’s spring pay-per-view extravaganza, Rebellion! IMPACT! tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders!

* Bullet Club vs. Honor No More

* Violent By Design vs. Decay

* Ace Austin and Mike Bailey battle Trey Miguel and Laredo Kid 

* Fan-favorite tag teams collide when Rich Swann and Willie Mack square off with Heath and Rhino! – Before the IMPACT, streaming this Thursday at 7:30pm ET exclusively on IMPACT Plus, YouTube and Facebook.

AEW’s New Video Game Will Be Called Fight Forever

Within AEW‘s first year, some of those within the company confirmed that work had already begun on the promotion’s first video game. Revealing that information might have been a mistake as at the time, wrestling fans were used to WWE launching a game every single year. Since then, WWE 2K has taken more than two years to work on WWE 2K22, and AEW taking its time over what will be its very first console game is being encouraged.

Even though a recent report suggested the game could be here by September, details about it are still few and far between. However, Tony Khan has finally revealed what the game will actually be called. The AEW owner appeared in front of the in-house crowd for this week’s Rampage taping, revealing to them that the game will be called AEW: Fight Forever. The company filed a trademark for that name last month according to The Wrestling Observer.

Fans at the taping were encouraged to chant Fight Forever so they could be recorded and used in the game, which is pretty cool for anyone in attendance. A number of wrestler chants were also started up and recorded for the games including FTR, Aubrey Edwards, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, Jeff Hardy, Sting, Adam Cole, and Hangman Page, indicating some of the other wrestlers who will be a part of the roster.

No big surprises there, of course, but perhaps a couple of interesting ones. Cole and Hardy being in the game even though they signed with AEW within the last year. Edwards having her own chant is also a cool inclusion. WWE games don’t tend to use different or even recognizable referees. AEW makes a bigger deal of its refs though, particularly Edwards who is the promotion’s leading official.

AEW’s game finally having a name leans into the reports that it could well be here before the end of 2022, as well as the news that there is now a publisher attached. Very little has been revealed about its gameplay at this point though, and there hasn’t really been anything close to a proper trailer. That might well be coming soon, and perhaps the chants recorded for Fight Forever this week will make a cameo appearance.

Source: TheSportster

AEW and NJPW Announce Crossover Pay-Per-View “Forbidden Door”

AEW, the second-biggest wrestling promotion in the United States, will partner with Japan’s number one promotion NJPW to produce a crossover pay-per-view called “Forbidden Door” in Chicago on June 26.

The announcement was made during last night’s AEW Dynamite. AEW President Tony Khan appeared on the ramp and was soon joined by New Japan Pro Wrestling president Takami Ohbari. TK was about to make the announcement, but the pair of promoters was interrupted by Adam Cole, a man who knows NJPW very well.

Cole appeared on the big screen and announced an event called “Forbidden Door” which will feature talent from both All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Cole then revealed that he will be going one-on-one with New Japan veteran Tomohiro Ishii on Friday’s Rampage. New Japan roster member “Switchblade” Jay White then joined Khan and Ohbari on the ramp to boast about selling out Madison Square Garden and remind everyone that it’s still the Bullet Club era.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1516942066294607872
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1516940662838464512

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/20/22

Tonight’s AEW Dynamite on TBS will air live from the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the Road to Double Or Nothing continues.

* The Dynamite debut of Hook vs. TBA

* CM Punk vs. Dustin Rhodes

* Wardlow vs. The Butcher

* Britt Baker vs. Danielle Kamella in a qualifier for The Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament

* Kyle O’Reilly vs. AEW World Tag Team Champion Jungle Boy in a qualifier for The Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament

* Darby Allin vs. Andrade El Idolo in a Coffin Match

* Tony Khan has a “huge announcement” to make

Wrestling Community Divided On Barbed Wire Crown Spot From AEW Rampage

A spot during the Texas Deathmatch for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship between ‘Hangman’ Page and Adam Cole has stirred up some controversy on social media.

Some legends of the pro wrestling business reacted to a tweet sent out by Fightful‘s Sean Ross Sapp where he posted a video of the spot in question. With the show airing live on the Christian holiday, Good Friday, some eyebrows were raised when ‘Hangman’ Page placed a crown of barbed wire on the head of Adam Cole at the conclusion of the bout.

For those unfamiliar, Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, on which Jesus Christ was tortured, had a crown of thorns placed upon his head, and was then Crucified to a cross. There were obviously parallels between the crown of thorns and the barbed wire crown, and viewers noticed.

Sapp’s tweet accompanied the clip with the caption, “Lmaoooooo Hangman Page put a crown of barbed wire on Adam Cole’s head on Good Friday.” Finding humor in the situation was something Eric Bischoff seemingly did not, as he wrote back, “You find this funny?”

Another veteran, Brian “Road Dogg” James also chimed into a debate on the topic, asking, “Would it be ok if they mocked ANY other religion?”

The fan perception was varied in their response, with one fan going as far as to vow they will quit watching AEW altogether because of the “unacceptable” part of the match. Others pointed to the various times religion was poked fun at in WWE — the Austin 3:16 idea being a spin-off of John 3:16, Vince McMahon’s infamous angle with Shawn Michaels and God, etc.

Page ultimately emerged victoriously and retained the AEW World Championship yesterday, following up the barbed wire crown of thorns with a Deadeye through a table for the 1-2-3. You can see full results from last night’s show at this link.

You can see the spot from AEW Rampage below, as well as various tweets:

https://twitter.com/MiskatonicLab/status/1515118334907334657
https://twitter.com/chrisjudy123456/status/1515218506488463360
https://twitter.com/LazRuiz2/status/1515128431549288453

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Jonathan Gresham Reportedly Signs With AEW

ROH World Champion & PROGRESS Unified World Champion Jonathan Gresham has reportedly signed with AEW.

After weeks of speculation, a new report from Fightful Select confirms that Gresham has signed an AEW contract that will also see him perform for ROH.

Gresham will make his AEW TV debut at Battle of The Belts II this Saturday night on TNT as he defends the Ring of Honor strap against ROH veteran Dalton Castle.

AEW has also signed “Gates of Agony” Kaun and Toa Liona to similar contracts, as reported earlier this week. Word is that there are other talents who are signed to these AEW/ROH contracts, and names should be confirmed soon.

Gresham became the Undisputed ROH World Champion by defeating Bandido in the main event of ROH Supercard of Honor on April 1, which was the first show booked by new ROH owner Tony Khan.

Gresham has worked for Impact Wrestling in recent months, and will face Eddie Edwards in a non-title match at the Rebellion pay-per-view on April 23. There’s no word yet on if this will be his final date for Impact.

Gresham has also worked several indie dates in recent months, but there’s no word on if this new AEW/ROH contract will allow him to continue taking those bookings. Gresham captured the PROGRESS Wrestling Unified World Title on March 20 at Chapter 130 by defeating Cara Noir. Since then he has retained over Malik and Warren Banks, but there’s no word on how the AEW/ROH contract will impact his PROGRESS run.

Source: Wrestling Inc.