After months of back and forth negotiations, IMPACT Wrestling has released Killer Kross. In a statement made on their website, IMPACT Wrestling announced the release with the following:
IMPACT Wrestling has come to terms on the release of Kevin Kesar (Killer Kross).
In an interview with me at Starrcast, Kross commented on his relationship with the company.
TAZ is leaving his CBS Radio show. The radio host announced today on twitter that this is his last week on the TAZ & The Moose Show after 2 years.
Listeners of @TazAndTheMoose for past 2 years…awhile back, I decided to leave the show & this is my last week on air. THANK U @CBSSportsRadio the boys @MikeBballDrives @PeteTheBody @MarcMalusis @AndrewBogusch & the GREAT audience who enjoyed the show! #TheTazShow will continue!
— TAZ (@OfficialTAZ) December 16, 2019
IMPACT Wrestling is returning to national cable tonight on AXS TV. In the hype for the new season on their new home, IMPACT has released their epic intro video for the show. Check it out tonight.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Come back tonight to see our coverage of IMPACT Wrestling on AXS.
Joey Ryan has signed with IMPACT Wrestling. Details of the deal were not disclosed, but Ryan claims he will be able to continue his indy dates.
“It made the most sense,” he wrote on Twitter. “@IMPACTWRESTLING has been the most consistent wrestling program on TV for the past 2 years, I get to keep all of my indie dates and best of all, they let me be me.”
Ryan had been on the IMPACT Wrestling roster in 2012 and was part of the infamous Gut Check Challenge. Bruce Prichard has gone on record to say that storyline turned into a worked shoot style angle.
Ryan would be released from IMPACT in 2013 and went on to work for Lucha Underground.
PWInsider is reporting that former WWE Intercontinental Champion, John Hennigan (AKA, Johnny Nitro, Johnny IMPACT. Johnny Mundo, and John Morrison) has signed a deal to see him back in WWE. Hennigan recently wrapped up a long run with IMPACT Wrestling where he was the promotions champion.
Hennigan will likely return to his WWE name, John Morrison. Hennigan has also spend much of his time outside of the ring acting and producing films (Boone The Bounty Hunter).
Its official — IMPACT Wrestling will be moving to AXS TV on Tuesday, October 29 2019. This will make it so IMPACT being on at one point, every night of the week. According to the AXS TV Press release, IMPACT will be airing programming a month prior to their premiere.
AXS TV LAUNCHES IMPACT WRESTLING TUESDAY NIGHTS AT 8pE/5pP WITH DEBUT SPECIALS STARTING OCTOBER 1 & ‘IMPACT!’ PREMIERE ON OCTOBER 29
Flagship Weekly Wrestling Series ‘IMPACT!’ Brings Two Action-Packed Hours of High-Octane Original Programming to the Network Every Tuesday Night
Los Angeles (Sept. 24, 2019) – AXS TV, the exclusive U.S. television broadcast home for IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world’s pre-eminent professional wrestling organizations, today announced IMPACT Wrestling will launch on the network on Tuesday, Oct.1 at 8pE/5pP.
Leading up to the debut of its flagship weekly show IMPACT! on October 29, AXS TV will showcase IMPACT Wrestling’s critically acclaimed pay-per-view events of 2019, broadcasting each of Homecoming (October 1), Rebellion (October 8) and Slammiversary XVII (October 15) in their entirety and hosted by Executive Vice President Scott D’Amore and the voice of IMPACT Wrestling Josh Mathews. Finally, on October 22, THIS IS IMPACT! will serve as a launchpad for the promotion’s AXS TV debut, featuring a preview of the weekly series, profiles on IMPACT Wrestling’s biggest stars and exclusive non-televised matches from BOUND FOR GLORY, IMPACT Wrestling’s biggest pay-per-view event of the year to be held on Sunday, October 20 in Chicago .
Distinguished by its world-class roster of renowned athletes, led by IMPACT World Champion Brian Cage and UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, IMPACT Wrestling will add over 100 hours of original, engaging content to AXS TV each year, ushering a new era of programming following the network’s acquisition by global media company Anthem Sports & Entertainment this month. The IMPACT roster also features legends Rob Van Dam and Rhino, third-generation superstar Tessa Blanchard, high-flying X-Division stars such as Rich Swann and TJP, featured stars such as former Atlanta Falcons lineman Moose, Sami Callihan, Eddie Edwards and Michael Elgin, plus the trail-blazing Knockouts women’s division headlined by Champion Taya Valkyrie, Rosemary, Tenille Dashwood and others.
“The incredible athleticism of our roster, dynamic characters and accomplished story-telling deliver must-see weekly programming that has captured the attention of professional wrestling fans around the world,” said Ed Nordholm, Chief Corporate Officer of Anthem Sports & Entertainment and president of IMPACT Wrestling. “We are excited to bring the best professional wrestling on television to AXS TV, long recognized as a premier destination for world class sports entertainment programming”
Since its inception in 2002 IMPACT! has been a leading destination for professional wrestling fans, televised globally in 120 countries, while growing its popularity and reach on YouTube, Twitch, Pluto and social media platforms.
For more information about IMPACT! on AXS TV or for tickets to BOUND FOR GLORY Oct. 20 at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois visit https://impactwrestling.com.
About IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT Wrestling is one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 300 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in creating premium content, events, products, merchandise and music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. Its highly successful flagship, IMPACT!, is broadcast globally, including AXS TV and Twitch in the United States, Fight Network and GameTV in Canada, Sony ESPN in India, 5STAR and Fight Network in the United Kingdom, SuperSport in Africa, and MVStv in Mexico. IMPACT Wrestling is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc.
For more information visit www.impactwrestling.com.
About AXS TV
Launched in 2012 by visionary entrepreneur Mark Cuban in conjunction with AEG, AXS TV has established itself as the premier destination for music and entertainment programming, and is the newest addition to the Anthem Sports & Entertainment portfolio. The network delivers an eclectic programming roster that includes original series, live concerts, music documentaries, live wrestling and mixed martial arts. AXS TV is currently available nationally in the United States and parts of Canada and the Caribbean. For a list of providers, visit www.axs.tv/subscribe. For more information, visit www.axs.tv.
It’s time to admit it: Jeff Jarrett was right about the Pro Wrestling Boom. Yes, I am openly saying that Jeff Jarrett, a high-ranking WWE creative official was right about the boom he sensed coming.
Granted, he’s about 5 years off, but he was right! Give Jeff Jarrett the credit he deserves. Yes — Jeff Jarrett got it right!
The unfortunate side of the equation is that Jeff Jarrett’s Global Force Wrestling isn’t going to be part of the boom. Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling has taken the role of GFW. Lets go back in time.
In April of 2014, Jeff Jarrett and Global Force Entertainment, the parent company that Jarrett founded to house his wrestling and entertainment ventures, announced Global Force Wrestling. At the time, Jarrett didn’t announce a TV home, tapings, or talent roster. For much of GFW’s time, they were a logo and a website.
A week after the promotion was announced, they announced that they had inked a deal with 25/7 Productions, the company behind NBC’s The Biggest Loser. With this announcement, no TV deal was announced.
Over the next few weeks, GFW would begin to announce partner promotions In which they would have a “talent exchange”, but still no TV home or details of a show. The exchange was…pointless?
The Jarretts then announced that they were going to produce New Japan Pro Wrestling’s flagship event of the year, WrestleKingdom. Essentially NJPW used GFW’s connection to get the show on Pay-Per-View in the US. Still no TV deal.
As things got moving, GFW would announce TV tapings and events, but never actually announced details on where or how you can watch GFW on tv. They went so far as to create a TV show name, Global Force Wrestling: AMPED!, but still no TV deal.
Things got so confusing that Jeff would talk about “non-traditional distribution models”. One would assume the possibility of streaming or Youtube. In the same breath, he would talk about a Pro Wrestling Boom..and what that meant no one knew.
I remember listening to podcasts and the hosts would laugh at Jarrett. When Jarrett returned to IMPACT Wrestling, the dream of GFW and the wrestling boom kinda died. In 2016, Jarrett would join Anthem Wrestling Exhibitions, LLC, the new parent company of IMPACT as a “Chief Creative Officer” and Anthem would “Acquire” Global Force. A few months later, Jeff Jarrett would be fired from his position for personal problems that would lead him into rehab and back into WWE.
Fast Forward To Today…
Lets tlak about where we are today… WWE has 7 hours or programming on major TV Networks. 3 Hours of Monday Night Raw on USA Network, 2 Hours of WWE Smackdown LIVE on the FOX Broadcast Network, and 2 hours of NXT Live on USA Network.
All Elite Wrestling now has 2 hours of live wrestling every Wednesday starting in October on the TNT Network. IMPACT Wrestling has 2 hours or programming coming to AXS TV. MLW has an hour on BeIN Network. Ring of Honor has an hour of programming throughout the country (and possibility of ROH coming to cable as well). Heck, even the NWA is going to be presenting some sort of wrestling in show format!
Pro Wrestling is going to be on almost every night of the week. Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and whatever day IMPACT ends up on. To say the least, the wrestling boom Jarrett promised us is here…5 and a half years later and without his company…but it’s here.
The ‘Smokeshow’ is done for IMPACT Wrestling.
IMPACT Wrestling confirms that it has released Scarlett Bordeaux from her commitments to IMPACT. We wish her every success in her future endeavors.
IMPACT Wrestling has not yet granted a release for Killer Kross.
Former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion, Eli Drake, is officially done with the company, according to Drake. In April of 2019, IMPACT Wrestling announced that they are parting ways with Drake and the termination of the contract was made official as of May 31.
According to the original report from PWTorch, Drake refused to work a match with former IMPACT Women’s Champion, Tessa Blanchard.
Drake said in a statement on Tuesday that he was a free agent.
“After 4 years with Impact Wrestling, some ups, some downs, I would like to thank them for the overall great experience. Through these years, I had the fortune of carrying 3 different title belts, having my own talk show (Fact of Life), and was always given the trust to craft my own promos, virtually from day 1. I appreciate the chance that was taken on me and the trust I was given, as well as the friends and experiences I gained along the way. I wish Impact Wrestling nothing but continued success and growth moving forward.
Today, I am OFFICIALLY a FREE AGENT”
Where would you like to see Eli Drake next?
IMPACT Wrestling Announces New UK TV Deal with 5STAR
TORONTO | LONDON – IMPACT Wrestling, a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., announced today a new broadcast deal with Viacom-owned Channel 5 to broadcast its flagship weekly show IMPACT! on 5STAR across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland starting on April 26, 2019.
This is a renewal of the partnership of IMPACT Wrestling’s deal with Channel 5, which launched IMPACT! on 5Spike in spring 2017. 5STAR, which is also part of the Channel 5 stable, is available on Sky TV (128), Freeview (30), Freesat (131), Virgin Media (151) and other DTT platforms.
New episodes of IMPACT! will premiere on 5STAR from 26th April at 11pm with weekly episodes airing in the same timeslot on Friday nights.
“Since IMPACT Wrestling’s inception in 2002, the UK has always been one of our most passionate markets,” said Ed Nordholm, president of IMPACT Wrestling. “We are excited to extend our broadcast partnership with Channel 5 and launch our weekly programming on 5Star, whose younger audience more effectively aligns with our core fan base.”
Cherry Yeandle, Senior Manager, Acquisitions and Co-Productions said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our relationship with IMPACT Wrestling and are looking forward to bringing all of the high-octane action to 5STAR. As well as quenching the appetite of the UK fans with this flagship weekly show, we are excited to introduce a new audience to all the wrestling drama – with its young audience demographic, we see 5STAR as a perfect fit.”
In 2018, IMPACT Wrestling enjoyed strong weekly audiences on 5Spike and a social media reach of over 48 million in the UK.
IMPACT Wrestling showcases top professional wrestling stars such as IMPACT World Champion Johnny Impact, Rob Van Dam, Brian Cage, Moose, Killer Kross, Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan, Mexican superstars such as Pentagon Jr. and Fenix, the high-flying X-Division and the Knockouts, including Champion Taya Valkyrie, third-generation star Tessa Blanchard and Rosemary.
For more information, visit www.impactwrestling.com and www.channel5.com/5star.
About IMPACT Wrestling
IMPACT Wrestling is one of the world’s largest wrestling entertainment properties, creating more than 300 hours of original content annually across television and other digital platforms. IMPACT Wrestling specializes in creating premium content, events, products, merchandise and music, as well as the management and promotion of professional wrestlers. Its highly successful flagship, IMPACT!, is broadcast globally, including Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT worldwide on Twitch, Pursuit Channel in the United States, Fight Network and GameTV in Canada, Sony ESPN in India, 5Star and Fight Network in the United Kingdom, SuperSport in Africa, and MVStv in Mexico.
For more information visit www.impactwrestling.com.
About 5STAR
5STAR is the home to drama, documentaries, factual entertainment and comedy for young audiences. Launching in Britain in October 2006, the channel rebranded as 5STAR in 2016 under the ownership of Viacom International Media Networks. 5STAR is available on main digital TV platforms in the UK, including Sky TV (128), Freesat (31), Virgin Media (151) and Freeview (30). The channel reaches over a quarter of the UK viewing public each month as a sister channel to Channel 5, 5USA and 5Spike. Over the past few years original content on the channel has grown including, Celebs on the Farm, Young Dumb and Banged Up in the Sun and Rich Kids Go Skint, alongside UK drama, Clink.