This past weekend Impact Wrestling did something only WWE has done — their weekly programming hit 1,000 episodes. For 21 years we have seen Impact go through many highs and lows, but to see them hit 1,000 episodes is an accomplishment the whole company should be proud of. In celebration of them reaching such an accomplishment let’s look at some of the greatest things Impact has brought to the game of professional wrestling.
Building Main Event Talent: Over the last 21 years, Impact has seen many wrestlers enter the Impact Zone and go on to accomplish many things in other companies.
They were the company that put a major spotlight on AJ Styles, who went on to become one of the top faces in WWE. They broke the young brother team Generation Me who became the greatest tag team in professional wrestling and were a crucial part of the creation of AEW. In addition, they were the first to put a national spotlight on LA Knight, Samoa Joe, Okada, and countless others.
Impact also serves as the revamping of so many wrestlers’ careers including: Drew McIntyre, Kurt Angle, Jeff Jarrett Sting, The Hardy Boyz, and Team 3D, amongst many others. These talents have helped carry Impact through some of their toughest times and then go on to create legacies of their own. Through all that and more, Impact is known for creating some of the top talent we know today.
The X Division: The stereotypical wrestlers are anywhere from 6 feet tall to 250 pounds. However, the smaller wrestlers in Impact would go on to defy that stereotype and create what would be known as the X Division. This division would house smaller wrestlers who would do crazy dives and have the most insane matches on the card. The X-Division style would go on to influence almost every major promotion out there.
More importantly, they are known for putting on the Ultimate X match. In order to win this match you must climb a metal structure and climb across a cable and then grab either the X or the X Division Championship. At the 1,000th episode, the 50th Ultimate X match will take place.
The Knockouts Division: If you were to ask any wrestling fan which wrestling company has the best women’s division nine out of ten will say Impact Wrestling. The Knockouts Division is what helped put women’s wrestling on the map.
From pioneers like Gail Kim and Awesome Kong, steel cage matches, history-making matches such as the all-women’s Ultimate X or Queen of the Mountain Match, to just the simple fact of showcasing their women’s division the right way every single week. The latest Impact pay-per-view showcased three different women’s matches on the card which goes to show you how much Impact loves featuring their Knockouts Division.
No matter if you have watched all 1,000 episodes or even just one, Impact has definitely brought a lot to wrestling as a whole. They have laid the foundation for how women’s wrestling should be presented on all wrestling platforms, while also building top stars no matter their size. Cheers to hopefully 1,000 more episodes! Congratulations Impact!
