Category: TNA

IMPACT Wrestling Coming To Australia, Conrad Thompson To Host Live Podcast

IMPACT Wrestling has announced they will be coming to Australia with the Down Under Tour.

The announcement notes that IMPACT will be coming to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales for four days beginning on Thursday, June 29 and then continuing on Friday, June 30 and concluding on Saturday, July 1. Two marquee shows will be held at the Equex Centre.

It was also stated in the announcement that Conrad Thompson will host a live podcast from The IMPACT Down Under Tour.

You can read the full press release announcement from IMPACT Wrestling below:

IMPACT Wrestling Announces 2 Shows This Summer In Australia (Winter, Down Under)

Conrad Thompson Will Host A Live Podcast From The IMPACT Down Under Tour
Major Fan Engagement Activities Scheduled With IMPACT Stars, Championship Matches Confirmed

IMPACT Wrestling presents the 4-day, 2-show IMPACT Down Under Tour, marking the company’s first-ever major events and shows in Australia.

The stars of IMPACT Wrestling will be in the city of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia for four days of activities, starting on Thursday, June 29. The IMPACT Tour is supported by the NSW Government Regional Events Acceleration Fund and the two marquee wrestling shows will be held on Friday, June 30, and Saturday, July 1 both at the Equex Centre.

IMPACT Wrestling replaced New Japan Pro-Wrestling in Australia due to NJPW scheduling and talent availability issues. The NJPW Oceania Cup has been postponed.

The IMPACT Down Under Tour will feature most of the IMPACT stars, numerous championship matches and special challenge matches against the best Australia-based wrestlers. The shows will be broadcast worldwide on FITE TV and across IMPACT Wrestling international broadcast platforms, digital and social media.

“We are so excited to bring IMPACT Wrestling to the great fans of Australia, with a big thank-you to the NSW Government and the Regional Events Acceleration Fund for helping this tour,” said IMPACT Wrestling president Scott D’Amore. “Australian fans will see the stars of IMPACT Wrestling in-action, in-person and will experience first-hand the excitement, energy and emotion of The IMPACT Zone when we hit the city of Wagga Wagga.”

Wagga Wagga is located midway between the two largest cities in Australia, Sydney and Melbourne.

The IMPACT Down Under Tour will be the company’s first shows outside of North America since a show in the UK in September 2018 that included Rich Swann, Joe Hendry, Sami Callihan and Moose, among others. IMPACT’s last major international tour was in May 2017 in India.

Renowned wrestling podcaster Conrad Thompson will be coming to Australia for the IMPACT Down Under Tour and he will be hosting a live podcast on Sunday, July 2.

“This is my first time in Australia … I am really looking forward to seeing the fans and having an awesome experience in Wagga Wagga,” Thompson said.

Cam Vale, managing director of Australia-based GLO Sports, said his company is proud to facilitate the partnership between IMPACT Wrestling and the NSW Government.

“The way IMPACT Wrestling has been able to come in and support this event on short notice has been phenomenal and a testament to their international ambitions,” Vale said. “The broadcast reach of this event will be significant; it will drive economic activity and showcase the Equex Centre as a multi-sport venue capable of hosting international events.

“I am fortunate to have worked with Destination NSW on many occasions in my career and am excited about the opportunities the IMPACT Down Under Tour will bring to engage local business and community stakeholders, showcasing Wagga Wagga as a great location for signature events like this.”

The IMPACT Down Under Tour will include major fan engagement elements, including wrestler meet & greets, autograph sessions and more.

“IMPACT Wrestling is giving opportunities to Australian wrestlers, referees and ring announcers to be part of this event, an amazing development opportunity for this region,” Vale said.

FITE chief operating officer Michael Weber said, “FITE is thrilled to distribute another great event from our long-time partner, IMPACT Wrestling, which continues to grow its international market with these live shows in Australia, available worldwide exclusively on FITE.”

Tickets for the IMPACT Down Under Tour will go on-sale on Saturday, May 13, at 7 p.m. EST (Sunday May 14, 9am AEST) at www.oceaniaprowrestling.com and via www.intix.com.au.

The $40 million Regional Events Acceleration Fund is part of the $2 billion Regional Growth Fund, designed to support growing regional centres, activate local economies and improve services and community infrastructure for regional communities.

Source: WrestleView

Darby Allin Planning To Climb Mount Everest Next Year

While speaking to TMZ, AEW star Darby Allin said he plans to climb Mount Everest next year.

Around 4,000 people have climbed Everest. 

“That’s been my whole MO since AEW started. That’s why it’s so important for me to meet up with guys like [Travis] Pastrana, and make stuff happen. Do stuff that no wrestler’s ever done before. The thing I’m going to be doing next year that no wrestler’s done before is climb Mount Everest. You heard it here first.”

Allin will take on AEW World Champion MJF, Jack Perry, and Sammy Guevara in the Four Pillars four-way bout at AEW Double or Nothing later this month. 

Source: eWrestlingNews

Eddie Kingston To Undergo Surgery This Week – Details

Eddie Kingston appeared at Sunday’s ROH TV tapings in Orlando, FL to provide an update on his injury.

Just last month, it was reported that Kingston has been dealing with a hernia injury and would likely need surgery. Kingston has now confirmed that he’ll be undergoing surgery on Tuesday, and he believes he’ll be able to return to action in around six weeks.

Kingston’s last match came at the ROH Supercard of Honor pay-per-view event on March 31st.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Earl Hebner Reveals Daughter Katie Has Signed With AEW As A Referee

Earl Hebner, the iconic referee who called the infamous Montreal Screwjob, has announced that his daughter Katie will soon be following in his footsteps.

During a recent appearance on the “Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw” podcast, Earl announced that his daughter will be working as a referee for AEW very soon.

Katie Hebner will travel down to Florida to referee some matches at an upcoming TV taping, her father confirmed.

The younger Hebner had initially hoped to become a wrestler before a cracked bone in her back derailed those plans. Earl added,

“I wanted her to be a referee to begin with, but everybody wants to do their own thing. It’s fine with me, whatever she wants [to do], what makes her happy. So, if it works out, we’ll have another Hebner in the business.”

While Earl said his daughter has come to a deal with AEW, it is unclear which show she will be appearing on.

Source: eWrestlingNews

AEW Rampage Preview 5/5/2023

AEW Rampage will air tonight at a special time – 6:30pm EST. / 3:30pm PST on TNT

  • The Firm Deletion: The Hardy Boys, HOOK & Isiah Kassidy vs. Ethan Page, Stokely Hathaway, Big Bill & Lee Moriarty
  • El Hijo Del Vikingo & The Lucha Brothers vs. Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall, and Aaron Solo
  • Jade Cargill vs. TBA
  • Mark Briscoe vs. Preston Vance

Trinity’s Impact Wrestling Debut (Video)

Trinity has arrived in Impact Wrestling. The star formerly known as Naomi in WWE is taking her glow straight to the top with an eye on the Knockouts Championship. Trinity made her televised debut for Impact during Thursday night’s episode of Impact Wrestling (May 4, 2023).

Prior to the TV taping, Impact teased a major surprise. They spoiled the news to reveal Trinity was in the Impact Zone. Impact hyped Trinity’s appearance throughout the broadcast, and they gave her the main event slot. The time was here to feel the glow as Trinity walked through the curtain.

Trinity soaked in the standing ovation. She said it felt good to be in the ring again, especially in a place where she can glow.

Trinity chose Impact, because the company has the most-storied women’s division in wrestling. The Knockouts division is the place to be for fierce competition, and she wants a piece of it. There have been amazing wrestlers through the years from Awesome Kong and Gail Kim to current stars Mickie James, Deonna Purrazzo, and Jordynne Grace. We’ve seen Trinity win championships before, and now she’s here to win more. The brightest star in the galaxy is ready to shine. Trinity is here for the Knockouts Championship.

Enter Purrazzo. As current Knockouts champion, the Virtuosa took upon herself to be the first to welcome Trinity to Impact. She credited Trinity for doing her homework. That means Trinity should know that this is the new age of the Virtuosa. If Trinity does get a title shot against Purrazzo, that is not something Trinity can just walk out on. Shots fired! (That was a reference to Naomi and Sasha Banks walking out of WWE.)

Trinity retorted with fire of her own. Stepping in the ring with Trinity will make Purrazzo wish she gets fired again. (That is a reference to Purrazzo being released from NXT in 2020.)

Enter Grace. The Juggernaut wanted to remind them that she has a title match against Purrazzo at Under Siege on May 26. If Trinity wants to wrestle Purrazzo, that’s fine with Grace. If Trinity wants a title shot, then Grace is the one she should be coming for. Trinity stepped aside for Purrazzo and Grace to handle business. Trinity exited the ring to dance on stage as the show closed.

Source: CageSideSeats

Update On AEW’s Plans For Rampage After Collision Starts

AEW Collision will air on TNT starting June 17, 2023, and will be built around the returning CM Punk. 

The program joins AEW Dynamite, which airs every Wednesday night on TBS, and AEW Rampage every Friday night on TNT.

As reported earlier AEW has ended Dark and Dark: Elevation ahead of the launch of the new show. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Rampage would turn into what Dark and Dark: Elevation were as those programs showcased younger talent. 

“The idea right now is for Dynamite and Rampage to tape together on Wednesday nights and Collision and ROH to tape together on Saturday nights,” Meltzer wrote.

Source: eWrestlingNews

AEW Reportedly Changes Plans For Roster Split

There is believed to be a roster split in AEW with the idea of building their reported Saturday show, AEW Collison, around CM Punk as a way to separate him from those who don’t like him. 

Thus, AEW will have to have some sort of roster split for Punk to have people to work with.

Punk is slated to return on June 17th, 2023, at the United Center in Chicago for the debut of the show. 

In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com wrote the following,

“Punk will be the star of Collision most weeks, but he will be on Dynamite at times when needed. Those with unresolved issues with Punk would be on Collision the week he’s on Dynamite,” Meltzer wrote.

Meltzer added that there will be less of a split with the women’s roster due to a lack of depth. Plans are said to be “up in the air” and nothing is final. The idea is still to get people to resolve their issues.

Source: eWrestlingNews

AEW Will No Longer Air Dark & Dark: Elevation

Ahead of AEW launching its Collision show, a two-hour program on TNT starting June 17, 2023, the company has nixed its two streaming shows.

On YouTube, AEW had been airing Dark and Dark: Elevation every Monday and Tuesday. That is no longer the case, as reported by Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast. He wrote,

“AEW Dark and Dark Elevation have ended for the time being. This in part has to do with AEW signing a new deal for AEW Collision to air on Saturdays. Part of the new deal is that AEW Wrestling content will exclusively air on WBD. As of today, this doesn’t include ROH.”

Source: eWrestlingNews

Impact Wrestling Preview 5/4/2023

Impact Wrestling from Chicago, tonight at 8/7c on AXS TV and 8:30pm ET on YouTube for IMPACT Insiders.

  • The debut of Trinity Fatu
  • Impact World Champion Steve Maclin, Champagne Singh and Shera vs. PCO and two partners of his choosing
  • Part Two of the Frankie Kazarian sit-down interview
  • Moose & Brian Myers vs. Yuya Uemura & Bhupinder Gujjar
  • Mike Bailey vs. Jonathan Gresham 
  • Alisha Edwards vs. Jody Threat
  • Sami Callihan has accepted Deaner’s challenge to meet him in the ring tonight on Impact
https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1653402637545480193