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After the surprise firings of Tessa Blanchard and Michael Elgin last week, Impact was forced to scramble to reconfigure their previous five-way title fight as the main event of Slammiversary. Blanchard was World Champ and Elgin was the top contender to dethrone her. Many viewers and non-viewers were curious how Impact would address the situation on their weekly television program.
Tonight’s episode of Impact Wrestling opened with an announcement from Josh Mathews and Madison Rayne in regard to the Slammiversary main event on July 18.
The IMPACT World Championship has been declared vacant but a brand new champion will be crowned on July 18th at #Slammiversary!
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) July 1, 2020
It will be @TheEddieEdwards vs. @TheTreyMiguel vs. @The_Ace_Austin vs. a mystery opponent for the IMPACT World Championship. #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/QLJmtqGNJs
The Impact championship bout is now a four-way and still includes Ace Austin, Eddie Edwards, Trey Miguel. The new addition is a mystery opponent.
Conspicuous by absence, the names of Tessa Blanchard and Michael Elgin were not mentioned at all. Impact was put in a tough spot, which could be argued as of their own making, by firing those two with all TV taped heading into the Slammiversary PPV. It feels weird to brush the situation under the rug. I’m not saying Impact has to get into all the details, but they also shouldn’t pretend viewers live in Harry Potter Town with Blanchard and Elgin as He Who Must Not Be Named.
As for potential people to fill the role of mystery opponent, EC3 is the odds-on favorite. Eric Young could be a nostalgia underdog. Moose might be able to parlay his self-proclaimed status as TNA Heavyweight Champion into a shot for the Impact championship. My personal pick would be bringing back Bully Ray, assuming he is free of any contractual obligations with ROH.
The other Slammiversary news coming out of tonight’s Impact Wrestling was the announcement of a tag title bout. The North will defend against Ken Shamrock and Sami Callihan.
The Slammiversary card to date is:
- World Championship: Ace Austin vs Eddie Edwards vs Trey Miguel vs mystery opponent
- Knockouts Championship: Jordynne Grace vs Deonna Purrazzo
- X-Division Championship: Willie Mack vs Chris Bey
- Tag Team Championship: The North vs Ken Shamrock & Sami Callihan
- Knockouts #1 Contender Gauntlet: Rosemary, Nevaeh, Susie (aka Su Yung), Kiera Hogan, Taya, Tasha Steelz, Alisha Edwards, Kylie Rae, Kimber Lee, Jesicka Havok
Are you satisfied with Impact’s approach to changing the Slammiversary main event? Who do you want to see be the mystery opponent?