The Wrestling Underground, Wrestling Opinion

IMPACT Wrestling Teasing Major Names for WrestleMania Weekend Show

IMPACT Wrestling is hinting that a former World Champion is set to return for the promotion at the April 4th show in Rahway, New Jersey, entitled United We Stand.  This tease, goes hand in hand with the teases of ‘extreme icons’ coming back to the promotion as well. It should be noted that the two teases are not shared and it sounds like these are separate sets of people, not one in the same.

So let’s play the guessing game.  Firstly, Sting, Mick Foley, Bully Ray, Chris Sabin and Matt Hardy are all on the shelf, retired or with other promotions.  Bully, and Sabin are with ROH and Bully can’t bump anymore, really.  Sabin is out with another torn ACL, and Hardy is still with the WWE but also has back, and spine issues.

Then you have the talent under exclusive contracts to the WWE in Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Jeff Haryd, Bobby Roode, Eric Young, Lashley, EC3, and Drew Galloway.

That leaves six wrestlers who are former IMPACT World Champs.  (note: it said IMPACT, not NWA or just World Champs).  So first we have the unlike guys.  Rob Van Dam fits both criteria but has head vision issues and head issues, making it impossible for him to return full time to pro wrestling, but RVD has stated he wants to work some more regardless, and has worked some 12 or so matches a year, including last year.

Mr. Anderson is another name that is unlikely, mostly because he left the promotion on bad terms.  Apparently Anderson was unable to perform (either drunk or high) and nearly hurt Eric Young very badly, resulting in his firing on the spot.

Then there’s Alberto El Patron, who walked out on the promotion because…he’s a dick?  I doubt IMPACT would ever bring him back.

And of course we have Austin Aries, who was rumored to be returning to the promotion following his over-the-top departure at Bound for Glory, but that never happened.

So that leaves us with two; James Storm and Nick Aldis (aka Magnus).  Both men have good standing in wrestling, neither man has any issues with the new regime that we know about, and NWA and IMPACT have worked together before.  My guess is that it’s Aldis but I could be wrong.

 

The extreme icons are more than likely, Sandman, Raven and Tommy Dreamer.  Raven and Dreamer have been appearing on IMPACT semi-regularly over the last few months and Sandman is Dreamer’s tag partner on the indies.