Impact Wrestling is promising the return of a former World Champion to headline the promotion’s United We Stand special over WrestleMania weekend.
There have been 24 Impact World Champions since the belt became the promotion’s main title in 2007 following the split from the NWA, after which Impact (then TNA) no longer recognised the NWA World’s Heavyweight Title as its primary belt as it had previously.
This list only includes Impact/TNA World Champions, so nobody who held the NWA Title from 2002-2007 under the TNA banner is eligible.
We have also not included anyone currently active with the promotion, as the advertising specifically promises the return of a former champion.
Here we take a look at all of the names eligible and give our estimation of the likelihood of them appearing on the show.
Kurt Angle
Title Reigns: 6
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 31, 2016 (vs. Bobby Lashley)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: Although he is clearly being phased down, Angle is under contract to WWE until at least April, with the possibility of a third year option that WWE will probably take up to prevent him going elsewhere. There is a chance he could get out early but it is remote.
Likelihood Rating: 2/10
Sting
Title Reigns: 4
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 16, 2014 (vs. Magnus)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: The former WCW icon is retired from the ring following a short spell with WWE in 2015. Sting is believed to be under a legends contract with WWE that would prevent him from wrestling elsewhere, even if he wanted to. Unless it is on a Saudi Arabia show for WWE, Sting is not getting back in the ring. Those days are behind him.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Samoa Joe
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 31, 2015 (vs. Austin Aries)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: Joe is one of the top stars on SmackDown and a regular main event fixture. He is going nowhere.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Mick Foley
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: October 7, 2010 (vs. Ric Flair)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: Like Sting, Mick Foley’s days as an in-ring competitor are done. The former WWE Champion has not wrestled since a Royal Rumble cameo appearance in 2012, nor is he likely to ever again. Unless he is planning one last ill-advised comeback – and there is no evidence to suggest that he is – then this is not happening.
Likelihood Rating: 2/10
AJ Styles
Title Reigns: 2
Last Wrestled For Impact: December 5, 2013 (vs. Magnus)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: The biggest babyface on SmackDown for the past two years and one of the most popular performers in all of WWE, Styles has far outgrown Impact since his last spell there in 2013. Although speculation persists about the status of his contract, his next move is not going to be Impact regardless of whether he re-signs.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Rob Van Dam
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: February 28, 2013 (vs. Kenny King)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: RVD is long past his prime but his free agent status does make him a realistic contender for the United We Stand spot. Van Dam has not wrestled for Impact in six years but he is still semi-active on the independent circuit and he has the name value to fit the role. At 48, his age means he is not the most likely candidate but there is certainly a chance.
Likelihood Rating: 6/10
Jeff Hardy
Title Reigns: 3
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 10, 2017 (vs. Bobby Lashley)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: Although his contract is up in April, WWE have the option to extend the deal for a third year and they will almost certainly take it. Not just to prevent others using Hardy but because he is still a featured and popular act on SmackDown. He is not going anywhere.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Mr. Anderson
Title Reigns: 2
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 7, 2016 (vs. Eric Young)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: The former Ken Kennedy still keeps himself busy on the US and European independent circuit but he has not featured for any mainstream wrestling promotion since leaving Impact in 2015. He made a one-off return for the promotion in early 2016 so he does have a history of filling spots like this. Nevertheless, we do feel that Anderson being the one to answer the call would be somewhat underwhelming.
Likelihood Rating: 5/10
James Storm
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: November 9, 2017 (vs. Dan Lambert)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: Storm left Impact in 2017 after a 14 year run with the promotion and surprisingly did not turn up in NXT, despite having impressed there during a one-off in 2015. He has spent his time since wrestling on the indies and is definitely available. Given his tenure with the promotion he would be a very popular choice with Impact fans.
Likelihood Rating: 8/10
Bobby Roode
Title Reigns: 2
Last Wrestled For Impact: March 19, 2016 (w/ James Storm vs. Abyss & Crazzy Steve)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: Roode is one half of the Raw Tag Team Champions alongside Chad Gable and is under a long-term contract. It won’t be him.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Austin Aries
Title Reigns: 3
Last Wrestled For Impact: October 14, 2018 (vs. Johnny Impact)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: Aries spent the majority of 2018 as Impact World Champion until dropping it to current incumbent Johnny Impact at Bound For Glory. An angle was shot prior to and immediately after that match that suggested Aries had legitimate heat with Johnny and Impact Wrestling. It was a work, designed to lead to a future match between the two. There is every chance the April date will be that future match.
Likelihood Rating: 9/10
Bully Ray
Title Reigns: 2
Last Wrestled For Impact: September 16, 2014 (vs. w/ Devon vs. The Wolves vs. The Hardys)
Current Promotion: ROH
Summary: Although a regular for Ring Of Honor, the former Bubba Ray Dudley is not under a full-time exclusive contract with the promotion and is still able to handle his own dates elsewhere. Ray enjoyed a career resurgence as a singles act in Impact, transforming him from a dated tag wrestler to one of the hottest heels in the business. Even at 47 he still has something to offer the promotion and he would receive a massive response from the Impact crowd, especially for a show in New York.
Likelihood Rating: 8/10
Chris Sabin
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 31, 2014 (vs. Velvet Sky)
Current Promotion: ROH
Summary: Sabin has been an ROH regular since 2015 (following a previous spell with the promotion from 2003-2010) and recently returned to NJPW as well. This makes an Impact return, even for a one off, somewhat unlikely. Not impossible though, as Sabin did wrestle on an Impact/BCW co-promotd show in October, sharing the ring with regular Impact talent.
Likelihood Rating: 5/10
Magnus
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: April 23, 2017 (vs. EC3 vs. James Storm)
Current Promotion: NWA
Summary: The man entrusted with carrying the torch for Billy Corgan’s NWA first made a name for himself in Impact. Magnus was given a megapush during his spell with the promotion and his return would certainly get people talking. However, the relationship between Impact and the NWA is not exactly amicable, so this is a long shot.
Likelihood Rating: 4/10
Eric Young
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: March 19, 2016 (vs. Bram)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: The Sanity man has not had the best of times on the WWE main roster following a successful spell in NXT. Based on the group’s social media posts they are unhappy in WWE. However, that does not mean they will be granted a release any time soon and certainly not in time for a show less than two months away. No go on this one.
Likelihood Rating: 2/10
Lashley
Title Reigns: 4
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 14, 2018 (vs. Brian Cage)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: The current WWE Intercontinental Champion only returned to the promotion in April last year and he is under a long-term contract. It won’t be him.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
EC3
Title Reigns: 2
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 13, 2018 (vs. Brian Cage)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: The WWE main roster newcomer has only been back with the promotion for under a year since departing Impact. There is no chance he will be leaving WWE any time soon.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Matt Hardy
Title Reigns: 2
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 8, 2017 (w/ Jeff Hardy vs. The Death Crew Council vs. Decay)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: Although he has been out since September and appeared to have retired – which he has since gone back on – reports suggest that Hardy will have his contract rolled over for another year in April. It is possible that he will be allowed to leave and head back to the promotion that revitalised his career but it is probably not happening.
Likelihood Rating: 2/10
Drew Galloway
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: January 12, 2017 (vs. Moose)
Current Promotion: WWE
Summary: Drew McIntyre is the future of WWE. He is almost certainly going to end 2019 with a Universal Title or WWE Championship run under his belt, and few in the industry deserve it more. Drew is going nowhere.
Likelihood Rating: 1/10
Alberto El Patron
Title Reigns: 1
Last Wrestled For Impact: March 23, 2018 (vs. Moose)
Current Promotion: N/A
Summary: The controversial former Alberto Del Rio undoubtedly has a degree of star power that Impact may covet but the promotion may be loathe to work with him again following his previous tumultuous spell with the group. El Patron was constantly in the news for a range of negative reasons and he no-showed the group’s WrestleMania weekend show last year. His return would be a sign of desperation.
Likelihood Rating: 4/10
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