6 Ups & 4 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling (8 July)

By Adam Morrison /

1. Locked Up

In theory, Sami Callihan being (kayfabe) arrested is a segment that would work, had he not been (kayfabe) fired from IMPACT Wrestling literally a few weeks ago.

Chatting to Gia Miller backstage with regards to the impending contract signing, 'The Draw' was interrupted by 'Deputy Johnson', who informed Callihan that there was an arrest warrant out for him for an alleged assault and battery. The former World Champion had supposedly laid out Don Callis. Cue a gaggle of security guards to escort Sami off the premises in handcuffs.

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Again, this is a great visual. Callihan's character, needless to say, works seamlessly in angles such as this. It sadly just doesn't work when it comes after his aforementioned firing. That went down at Against All Odds on 12 June (less than a full month ago, in short) before he was reinstated on the following IMPACT AXS TV broadcast (airing 17 June).

Making this worse, though, was that a) the match was still being promoted throughout the night, and b) it was revealed Callihan had been framed by Callis, John E. Bravo, and Johnny Swinger on the same episode. Instead of Don firing Sami in his final act as IMPACT EVP, 'The Draw's' arrest could have been dragged out for a few weeks. Some weird booking here.

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