IMPACT Slammiversary 2020: Every Debuting And Returning Star's Grade One Year On
2. Eric Young
Grade: A
Eric Young was one of IMPACT's saving graces during the pandemic era, both in terms of his in-ring work and his work behind the microphone.
From the moment his music hit, revealing him as a surprise entrant in last Slammiversary's vacant World Championship match, you could see there was something inside of 'EY' that would take him to the next level in IMPACT. Lifting the World Championship for a second time just weeks later, 'The World Class Maniac' immediately became a must-see character.
Young's story arc with Rich Swann was sublime. You felt emotion for Swann when he was again sidelined with a career-threatening injury, while finding intense hatred for Young at the same time as you were compelled by his character.
You believed he was a cynical b*stard because he acted as such, even to such an extent on IMPACT's Press Pass media conferences. Dropping the title to Swann at Bound For Glory was inevitable when he lifted it from Eddie Edwards' shoulder; even then, there were moments during the pay-per-view main event where you thought, "What if?".
Sidelined with a torn ACL suffered during a set of television tapings in March, Young is now the default spokesperson for his Violent By Design stable. Even while injured, Eric Young can still find a way to grab your attention.