Former WWE Champion Joins Impact Wrestling?

Major developments at last night's Slammiversary pay-per-view.

Rhyno WWE
WWE.com

It looks like former WWE Hardcore and SmackDown Tag Team Rhyno is back in Impact Wrestling, having made one hell of an appearance at last night's Slammiversary XVII pay-per-view.

The return came after Brian Cage had successfully defended his Impact World Heavyweight Championship against Michael Elgin in the night's penultimate bout. The defeated challenger attacked 'The Machine' after the bell, laying him out then going after colour commentator Don Callis, before a hooded Rhyno emerged and Gored the hell out of the Canadian powerhouse.

Though he wasn't mentioned by name, there should be no doubt that this was 'The Man-Beast':-

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Rhyno's re-debut came just weeks after turning down a deal to stay with WWE, where he'd been since 2015. He has genuine pedigree in Impact, too, having held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship back when the promotion was still called TNA.

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Recent months have seen a number of other ECW standouts shuffle back into Impact, with Sabu, Rob Van Dam, and Tommy Dreamer all making appearances. RVD even wrestled on the Slammiversary show, falling to Moose in singles action.

Whether or not Rhyno has signed an Impact contract remains to be seen, but it looks like he'll be featured going forward.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.