IMPACT Slammiversary 2020: Every Debuting And Returning Star's Grade One Year On

Grade: A+

IMPACT Wrestling took a major chance on Rich Swann in 2020.

Did it pay off? Look at his grade.

The Maryland native returned from a serious ankle injury as the mystery fourth man in the World Championship main event, beginning his impeccable feud with Eric Young in the process. Slammiversary wasn't intended to be Swann's night; it didn't need to be. He simply had to get over as the sympathetic babyface.

You need only look at Swann's journey from last year's Slammiversary to this year's to comprehend why he's one of the company's top draws.

In the past twelve months, he's main evented every pay-per-view and five of the nine IMPACT Plus specials, won his first World Championship, defined his career with feuds against the likes of Eric Young, Moose, and Kenny Omega, and, similarly to Drew McIntyre, he's been the flag bearer for the company during a time they desperately one.

It simply doesn't matter that his first match post-Rebellion was a loss to W. Morrissey. That was about getting Morrissey over, so he had to beat a former World Champion; Swann can take a loss to him. He's already a legendary figure within IMPACT history as far as your writer is concerned.

Should he and Willie Mack lift the World Tag Team Championships, Swann will no doubt bring those titles up a level, too.