Impact Has Always Been Lit

 

Impact Wrestling is celebrating their 20th anniversary with this Sunday's "Slammiversay". In the world of professional wrestling Impact Wrestling is the little engine that could. Everytime it appeared that the end was near for Impact, an miracle happened keeping them in business.

While Impact is the little engine that could, it may also be wrestlings best kept secret. Through every era since it's inception, Impact has produced quality, entertaining matches and always featured exciting upcoming stars.

Personally the mid 2000s-early 2010s TNA/Impact was probably the most exciting time in the company despite the many many missteps by those in charge at the time. The X-Division and Knockouts Division really were the pillars of the organization at that time. It shows because both divisions from that era have left a legacy that's still emulated today.

The six-sided ring while polarizing really made TNA stand out. Gimmick matches like Lethal Lockdown and Ultimate X matches always gave fans their money's worth. Matches like King Of The Mountain and Reverse Battle Royal we just gon ignore.

The company introduced many names on a larger scale to the world. Folks like AJ Styles, Abyss, Gail Kim, Bobby Roode, Monty Brown (Could have been a huge star), Awesome Kong, Homicide, Hernandez, Samoa Joe, Jay Lethal, James Storm, Eric Young, ODB, Madison Rayne, Angelina Love and Velvet Sky, Santana and Ortiz, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. 

They made people realize Christian Cage could be a main event player, same for names like Mike Kanellis (I loved the Miracle act) Johnny Impact and Austin Aries. 

Guys like Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, RVD and Booker T. Seemed rejuvenated working there. Bobby Lashley really found his stride, especially during his second run with the company. Matt Hardy crafted his genius "Broken" persona and universe under the Impact stars.

EC3 became a star while there, same for names like Pentagon, Fenix, Taya Valkyrie, Brian Cage, Trevor Lee (Cameron Grimes),  Eli Drake, Trey Miguel, Josh Alexander and Tessa Blanchard (before she went through a tailspin).

Currently Rich Swann, Tasha Steelz, Brian Meyers, Chris Bey, The Good Brothers, Steve Maclin and Matt Cardona have shown they could be successful when given the opportunity.

We cant leave out Moose. Who I always felt was talented but was skating more on the bum side in my book. He has greatly improved his wrestling skill, promos, and overall character since the pandemic started. Now he is a pillar of Impact.

Impact even blessed us with the greatest nonsensical promo in wrestling history. That's right the Steiner Math promo!

I previously wrote about how Impact is a trailblazing organization in the professional wrestling world. I still stand by that, I also encourage anyone to go back and watch old TNA/Impact matches. You will either remember how damn good or see for the first time how damn good TNA/Impact was and is. 

Then you will sit back and realize despite the behind the scenes issues, and questionable creative choices over the years. When it comes to the actual in-ring product the company has always been lit.