Impact Wrestling: Redemption Lived Up To Its Name

Impact Wrestling was under a lot of pressure on Sunday night, as Redemption 2018 was the first Pay Per View under the new regime of Scott D’Amore and Don Callis. For the first time in ages, Impact delivered a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining show that left people talking.

Aside from maybe NXT TakeOver New Orleans, there’s no such thing as a perfect wrestling show. But even when Impact Wrestling made decisions like putting one half of their tag titles around Scott Steiner’s waist, they did it in a way that wasn’t distasteful. More importantly, it got a more mainstream audience buzzing without overshadowing the bigger moments on the show.

It’s all about finding the right balance, and Impact did just that. “Redemption” lived up to its name, and almost everyone who tuned in to watch got something out of it. Each of the matches delivered, with Pentagon Jr.’s triumph in the main event sending ripples across the wrestling landscape as a profound statement of cooperation from Impact management.

You see, it’s not every day that a promotion puts its world title on a legend from another promotion, but Impact made the right call here, even if it was absolutely shocking to see Austin Aries pinned by Pentagon Jr. Not only did it (and here it comes again) get people talking, but it also put all of the other wrestling promotions on notice in a positive way. It showed them that Impact is willing to take the ultimate step in order to help others, knowing full well that it can only boost their own product.

Speaking of their own product, amidst all the turnover and uncertainty regarding ownership of the company, fans of Impact Wrestling can now be proud of the product presented to them. The commentary was fluid, the focus was on the wrestlers, the angles were tidy and easy-to-digest, and the actual in-ring talent was, minor botches aside, exceptional.

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Impact can’t – and won’t – rest on their laurels after this promising performance. They needed to rebuild their image after months (years, really) of consistently disappointing their fans and embarrassing themselves on a grand scale.

Again, we know this company’s past, and most of us have grown tired of rehashing it. But many fans still see Impact as a punching bag and, for that reason, won’t bother to tune in.

Although they may never win over that stubborn minority of wrestling fans who will continue to see Impact as third-rate material, they can at least try.

The best way to do that? Keep the buzz going, keep the fans engaged, and get more people to sing their praises by consistently delivering week after week, month after month. It’s about getting their money’s worth and giving something to the fans so that they can get something in return.

That something? Respect. They already redeemed themselves at Redemption, exorcising past demons, including last year’s subpar and oft-ridiculed Bound for Glory show.

A statement of redemption is important. But what’s harder to gain is respect, because that takes time. It will be exciting to see how Impact follows up on all the storylines they developed on Sunday night. Who attacked Konnan? What’s next for Brian Cage? What will Tessa Blanchard do in the Knockouts Division? And how will Pentagon Jr.’s world title reign unfold?

Impact showed that it was fun in an entertaining and not ridiculous way. They did almost everything right last night, and I couldn’t be happier for the future. Their solid weeks of television culminated in an event that was worth the price of admission.

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Now it’s time for them to keep it up and earn the trust of those who are still wary of falling into the same trap. This will, again, be a more arduous task, but it appears Impact Wrestling is up for the challenge.