11 Ups & 4 Downs For Impact Wrestling In 2020 (So Far)

4. Hard To Kill

Impact's first pay-per-view of 2020 was named after what the company's proved to be fore years: Hard To Kill.

Taking place on 12 January in Dallas, the event will always be in the history books for the main event more than anything else as Tessa Blanchard lifted the World Championship from the grasp of Sami Callihan. Because of this huge moment, some of the other matches on the card often get overlooked in the long run, which really shouldn't be happening when you see what went down on the night.

Ace Austin and Trey had one of the more mesmerising X Division Championship contests in recent history, while Eddie Edwards and Michael Elgin had the second of what would become seven singles matches between them, a match that had a lot to live up to following their prominent bout on the previous episode of Impact. Additionally, Moose and Rhino had a chaotic no disqualifications brawl that was far better than any expectations it had heading in, while Brian Cage also had his final appearance in an Impact ring as he was beaten down at the hands of Rob Van Dam.

Perhaps the biggest injustice about Hard To Kill was that no-one seems to talk about the World Tag Team Championships bout from the event. Originally scheduled as The North defending against Willie Mack & Rich Swann, 'Chocolate Thunder' instead went into the title challenge alone following an injury sustained by the former X Division Champion two nights prior. What could have simply been a short bout with Page and Alexander dominating the disadvantaged Mack was instead ten minutes of outstanding wrestling that included a doomsday Canadian Destroyer.

Had the World Championship match not been so historic, it's possible the biggest talking point of Hard To Kill would have been this very match.