14 Ups & 2 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling Rebellion 2021

3. Ace's Reign Goes North

Josh Alexander triumphed in a cracking show-opening bout to become the X Division Champion.

His match with TJP and Ace Austin was insanely smooth. Every single movement came together to create a perfect example of what the X Division needs to be going forward; its old self. This is exactly the sort of match you would have expected to see in the golden days of the division.

Ace’s double Fold on both challengers was a terrific highlight, but the majority of this centred around the transitions between submissions. Alexander’s Ankle Lock and TJP’s kneebar and octopus hold were both cinched in at numerous points, all providing an abundance of near-falls. Ace flying onto Josh’s shoulders as he attempted a Fold on TJP also popped your writer massively.

Madman Fulton was an underrated gem in this one. He got involved on more than one occasion, but he did so quite sneakily. He tripped up TJP as he was merely walking past, rather than TJP having to set himself up. TJP took care of him from then on, removing him from the match as Alexander spiked Ace with the second Divine Intervention of the match to lift the gold.

A solid pay-per-view opener. Hampered only by an awkward moment where Josh had to reverse Austin’s fancy corner headscissors into an Ankle Lock, this was how you open a pay-per-view of this magnitude.

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Can be found raving about the latest IMPACT Wrestling signing, the Saints Row franchise, and King Shark in The Suicide Squad.