11 Ups & 10 Downs For Impact Wrestling In 2020

5. Chris Bey's Natural Rise

A handful of appearances in 2019 as an enhancement talent led to Chris Bey being officially signed to Impact Wrestling in 2020. At the time of his signing, Bey was arguably still a slightly an unknown name to many. That's why his rise throughout the X division during the past nine months has been terrific.

'The Ultimate Finesser' hasn't been shoved down our throats as such, and was instead left to his own devices to get himself over to this new fanbase. Quickly establishing himself as the division's new top heel once Ace Austin departed for the World Championship scene, Bey became the new X Division Champion at Slammiversary, and although his reign lasted a singular month, it didn't matter. Bey has still been able to maintain his high-level position on the roster, going so far has to main event the Final Resolution special on Impact Plus as he unsuccessfully challenged World Champion, Rich Swann.

Look at that journey from March to December.

He's, quite rightly so, been deemed the 2021 One To Watch in Impact's end of year awards, and, really, can you argue with the fans' choice here? His brief alliances with both Johnny Swinger and Rohit Raju were random, yet brilliant. Matches he had more recently against Eddie Edwards and Trey Miguel proved he didn't need to be involved in any sort of storyline to succeed in the promotion. He's a capable pair of hands between the ropes, and can pull off things that were previously only living in our imaginations.

Even aside from the award, you know that 2021 will be the year of Chris Bey. While he's sunken away from the World Championship to challenge for the X Division Championship again, you can just see that Bey will be an Impact World Champion one day. If there's anyone on Impact's roster right now who's never been a former World Champion that could be a champion in the next 365 days, it's 'The Ultimate Finesser'.