The MVPs of IMPACT Wrestling's Pandemic Era

#4 Former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Rich Swann

Rich Swann won the IMPACT World Championship for the first time at Bound For Glory 2020

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 is the Unified World Champion and will face Kenny Omega in a TITLE vs TITLE match at #IMPACTRebellion on April 24th. #Sacrifice pic.twitter.com/OGLYldLbNP

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) March 14, 2021

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.

.@KennyOmegamanX and @GottaGetSwann have arrived at #IMPACTRebellion! pic.twitter.com/B9BkmjWwKt

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 26, 2021

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.