14 Ups & 2 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling Rebellion 2021

by Adam Morrison

1. An Elite Champion

Kenny Omega is the World Champion of IMPACT Wrestling.

What the actual hell?

‘The Best Bout Machine’ dethroned Rich Swann in the evening’s main event. It was the perfect display of drama mixed together with Omega and Swann just being two very good professional wrestlers.

Omega wasted no time in attempting murder on Swann – a theme on Rebellion apparently – by spiking him head-first on the ring apron. If you watch this GIF of the spot, you’ll see he’s being positioned upside down, like a tent peg. Thus, his neck and back became the target for the rest of the bout.

Ken used a barrage of forearm strikes to Rich’s lower back, which were met with Swann’s hot Frog Splash, stiff kicks to the face, and general willingness to land on his neck far too many times. Those Dragon Rush suplexes are gnarly, as was that Croyt’s Wrath. A plethora of V-Triggers throughout the match saw Swann nearly have his head caved in, with a One-Winged Angel cementing Swann’s fate.

All of this was amazing. Brian Hebner and Aubrey Edwards both being referees was great, with Aubrey yanking a chair away from Omega after ‘Baby Hebner’ took a Lethal Injection. Tony Khan and co. sitting at ringside – and Scott D’Amore looking on from afar – showed two very different emotions. Mauro Ranallo was his usual amazing self, sneaking in Dave Meltzer references where possible.

After one of the greatest IMPACT matches ever, it all created the 29th IMPACT World Champion in history. Kenny by gawd Omega.

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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.