14 Ups & 2 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling Rebellion 2021

5. Everybody Cares

As a better human being and a better athlete than anybody that has come before him, @KennyOmegamanX considers it an undeniable fact that he is the best to ever step foot in a ring.

He'll have to PROVE IT in 15 minutes at #IMPACTRebellion! Order HERE: https://t.co/iDC3E058f3 pic.twitter.com/HUjQRD7of4

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 25, 2021

Everyone was talking about the main event coming into the pay-per-view. That in itself makes not only the two guys involved feel grander than they actually are, but the promotion as well.

The Countdown to Rebellion pre-show showcased this beautifully.

Having various members of the IMPACT roster discussing the importance of the match was key here. Everyone from Sami Callihan to Eddie Edwards to Eric Young shared their thoughts on the bout, praising Rich Swann for representing IMPACT Wrestling in such a high-profile situation. Storylines weren’t important during this – everyone in IMPACT was there for Swann.

Furthermore, Jim Ross was shown as part of an IMPACT pay-per-view. That deserves an Up in itself, as does Tommy Dreamer. ‘The Innovator of Violence’ is undoubtedly the biggest diehard IMPACT supporter going today, which was crucial for this pre-show. He spoke highly of how companies have collaborated in the past, and how those working relationships dwindled. This was different, though.

Previous IMPACT pay-per-view pre-shows have featured a panel of hosts discussing the matches on offer for the night, alongside a bonus contest. These are good, but Rebellion’s was great. It didn’t need an extra match. It needed only to focus on the biggest match in IMPACT Wrestling history.