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IMPACT Wrestling presents its annual Slammiversary pay-per-view this weekend.
In addition to marking the anniversary of IMPACT being founded in 2002, the event also marks the return of live fans to IMPACT Wrestling programming for the first time since March 2020.
Fans have been unable to attend the IMPACT Wrestling television tapings and pay-per-view events for the past 16 months due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As has been the case for all professional wrestling promotions, the pandemic has certainly presented its challenges to IMPACT Wrestling.
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Empty arenas, cinematic matches and piped-in crowd reactions have all been utilized in an effort to make IMPACT's broadcasts presentable.
Due to the difficult circumstances presented, several IMPACT talents have been forced to 'step up' and carry the promotion through these difficult times.
As we now see light at the end of the tunnel with crowds returning to IMPACT, let's take a closer look at the MVPs of IMPACT Wrestling's Pandemic Era.
#5 Current IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champion Eric Young
Eric Young completely reinvented himself in 2020.
The former leader of Sanity was largely forgotten about as WWE Superstar on Monday Night RAW. So much so, that when he was eventually released by WWE in April 2020 due to budget cuts there were hardly any eyebrows raised.
Young made his IMPACT Wrestling return at Slammiversary in July of that year. EY was a surprise entrant in the Fatal 5-Way main event for the vacant IMPACT World Championship against Eddie Edwards, Ace Austin, Trey Miguel and Rich Swann.
Despite being eliminated by Swann, Eric Young made sure that nobody was to ever overlook him again. After his elimination, Young violently attacked Rich Swann's surgically repaired ankle, kayfabe reaggrivating the injury.
This began a feud with Rich Swann that would quickly become the most compelling storyline on IMPACT television. During Swann's retirement speech on IMPACT, Eric Young once again viciously attacked the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion. Once again focusing his attack on a shattered ankle, Eric Young was quickly the top heel in the company.
The momentum carried Eric Young to once again becoming the IMPACT World Champion after defeating former champion Eddie Edwards on the August 15 episode of IMPACT.
Young dropped the championship to his arch-rival Rich Swann in the main event of Bound For Glory in October. But he continued his momentum by forming the Violent By Design faction. The growing faction currently consists of Joe Doering, Deaner and Rhino, with all members serving as the IMPACT World Tag Team Champions.
#4 Former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann
Former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann had arguably the best and worst times of his professional wrestling career during the pandemic era of IMPACT programming.
Prior to the pandemic, Rich Swann suffered a near-career-ending leg injury at the Bash at the Brewery 2 event in January 2020. This forced Swann to undergo surgery, sidling him for several months.
Rich Swann made his surprising return in the main event of Slammiversary later that year. Swann faced off against Eddie Edwards, Trey Miguel, Ace Austin and Eric Young in a fatal-5 way elimination match for the vacant IMPACT World Championship.
After eliminating Eric Young, Swann was viciously attacked by the former IMPACT World Champion, kayfabe re-injuring his surgically repaired ankle in the process. This led to Rich Swann announcing his kayfabe retirement on IMPACT. However, he was once again attacked by Eric Young after his emotional speech.
This eventually led to Rich Swann facing Eric Young in the main event of Bound For Glory for the IMPACT World Championship. Swann defeated his arch-rival and won the IMPACT World Championship for the first time in his career.
Swann then went on to defend the championship against the likes of Sami Callihan, Chris Bey and Tommy Dreamer. The IMPACT World Champion then continued to make history by unifying the IMPACT World Championship and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at IMPACT Wrestling Sacrifice by defeating Moose in March 2021.
Rich Swann continued to make history as he faced off against AEW World Champion Kenny Omega in a title vs title match at IMPACT Rebellion. Ultimately Omega was successful, becoming the first man in history to hold both the IMPACT Wrestling and AEW World Championship simultaneously. Nevertheless, Rich Swann certainly helped carry IMPACT Wrestling through the difficult pandemic era.
#3 Current IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Kenny Omega
Current AEW and IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Kenny Omega has certainly been a major player for IMPACT during the pandemic.
Kenny Omega shockingly aligned himself with IMPACT Wrestling Executive Vice President Don Callis and captured the AEW World Championship during the 'Winter is Coming' edition of AEW Dynamite in December 2020.
After the match was over, Callis stunned viewers when he announced that Omega's first appearance as AEW World Champion would be on IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV.
Omega's first IMPACT appearance drew record viewership and ratings for IMPACT on AXS TV, as well as setting Twitch and social media records for the company.
But it hasn't stopped there, the AEW World Champion has continued to make history during his IMPACT Wrestling appearances. In April 2021, Kenny Omega captured the IMPACT World Championship for the first time. Omega defeated Rich Swann in a title vs title match at IMPACT Rebellion, becoming the first person to ever hold the IMPACT and AEW World Championships simultaneously.
The IMPACT Rebellion event did record business for IMPACT Wrestling. The event had the most buys, streams and purchases of an IMPACT Wrestling pay-per-view since Anthem purchased the company in 2017.
While some of Kenny Omega's IMPACT appearances have been fleeting, there's no doubt he's contributed a significant amount of buzz and eyeballs to the product during the pandemic.
#2 Current IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo
Current IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo is arguably one of the best female professional wrestlers on the planet today.
The pandemic began for The Virtuosa by being released by WWE due to budget cuts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. After being released by WWE she returned to IMPACT Wrestling during the May 26 episode of IMPACT on AXS TV.
Purrazzo immediately found success in IMPACT, defeating Jordynne Grace to win the Knockouts Championship for the first time at Slammiversary. The Virtuosa's momentum only continued from there.
Purrazzo successfully defended her Knockouts Championship against Jordynne Grace in the first ever Knockouts 30-minute Iron Man match at IMPACT Emergence, winning by two falls to one.
Deonna Purrazzo eventually dropped the Knockouts Championship at Bound For Glory, losing the championship to Su Yung who was a replacement for Kylie Rae. However, Purrazzo quickly won the championship back the following month, defeating Yung in a No Disqualification match at Turning Point.
Since then, Deonna Purrazzo has defended the Knockouts Championship against the likes Rosemary, Taya Valkyrie, Havok and ODB. She also defeated legendary wrestler Jazz in a Title vs Career match at Hardcore Justice, ending Jazz's in-ring career.
The Knockouts division has long been a cornerstone of IMPACT Wrestling programming. Despite the difficult circumstances presented by the pandemic, Deonna Purrazzo has been able to elevate the division to new and impressive heights.
#1 Former IMPACT Wrestling Grand Champion Moose
Former IMPACT Wrestling TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose has arguably had the greatest year of his career during the pandemic era of IMPACT Wrestling programming.
Moose's rise into the main event scene began in the early stages of the pandemic. At Rebellion 2020, Moose appeared with the old TNA World Heavyweight Championship and declared himself the new champion. Whilst the championship wasn't officially recognized, Moose continued to refer to himself as a World Champion.
Whilst holding the title, Moose defended it against the likes of Tommy Dreamer, Jake Something, Hernandez, Suicide and more. Moose then entered a feud with former TNA World Heavyweight Champion EC3, who had just returned to the company.
This culminated in a cinematic match at Bound For Glory 2020, in which Moose defeated EC3, reclaiming the TNA World Heavyweight Title that had been stolen from him and 'controlling his narrative.'
Moose then entered a feud with IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann. Moose had earned an IMPACT World Championship match at IMPACT Genesis in January 2021 by agreeing to stop a beatdown of Swann's best friend Willie Mack.
Swann and Moose were forced to become tag team partners at IMPACT Hard To Kill later that month, however. Moose replaced Alex Shelley and teamed with Rich Swann and Chris Sabin in a losing effort against AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers. Despite losing the match, Moose's performance was widely praised.
The TNA World Heavyweight Championship was eventually officially recognized as a World Championship by IMPACT Executive Vice President Scott D'Amore. This led to a unification match between TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose and IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann at IMPACT Sacrifice in March 2021. Unfortunately for Moose, Rich Swann left victorious and the unified IMPACT World Champion.
After Kenny Omega won the IMPACT World Championship, Moose eventually earned another shot at the IMPACT Wrestling World Title. This took place at IMPACT Wrestling Against All Odds. However, the Omega vs Moose match took place at AEW's home location of Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida.
The match was excellent but marred by controversy as Omega picked up the victory after interference from AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks. Moose has physically transformed over the pandemic, getting into the best shape of his career. Furthermore, his in-ring work and promos have improved immensely during that time period.
Moose is easily doing the best work of his career right now. With Moose recently re-signing with IMPACT Wrestling for several years, it would appear that the best is truly yet to come.
