10 Worrying Signs From TNA Impact Wrestling's Reboot Episode
7. Ignoring New Talent
Impact Wrestling’s roster has undergone quite the facelift over the past few weeks. Former Heavyweight Champion Drew Galloway was the first to walk out the door ahead of the last set of tapings, while Matt & Jeff Hardy (the company’s two most buzz-worthy stars) soon followed. Jade, Mike Bennett, and Maria Kanellis-Bennett departed shortly after, leaving the company with a seemingly threadbare roster ahead of their grand reboot.
They addressed this issue by bringing a number of new faces in. Alberto El Patron made the most startling impression by becoming Impact Wrestling Champion on his first night with the company, but he wasn’t the reboot’s only debutant. GFW tag team Reno Scum wrestled the DCC in the night’s opening match, and later in the show, newcomer Rachael Ellering wrestled Sienna to a spirited loss.
Unfortunately, Impact put absolutely no effort into getting these guys over (Patron aside). Jeremy Borash and Josh Mathews were too busy squabbling like children to tell viewers who Reno Scum & Ellering are, what brought them here, and why people should care about them. Ellering’s match was particularly egregious, and while we’ll touch on the commentary situation a little bit later, there’s no point in bringing new wrestlers in if they’re not even going to be the focus of their own match.
An incredibly cold start for three wrestlers who are presumably going to be pushed on Impact, and one that doesn’t bode well for the other athletes set to debut over the coming weeks.