Impact Wrestling: 5 Reasons You Should Pay Attention To Slammiversary 2018

3. LAX’s Faction War

Santana and Ortiz have remained loyal to Konnan, choosing not to side with King, who has brought back Homicide and Hernandez to prove to Konnan that he should be the one running with LAX. Under King’s leadership, Santana and Ortiz found their confidence again, winning back the Impact World Tag Team Championships. But Konnan is their leader and their mentor, and they just couldn’t turn against him to join King, no matter how charismatic he is.

The OGz will do whatever they can to rip the World Tag Team Championships away from Santana and Ortiz. This is a huge test of Santana and Ortiz’s loyalty. Will they turn on Konnan and join King to save their titles if things start to go south on Sunday night? This is a possibility that Chelsea Marcus explored in her bold predictions piece for Slammiversary.

On the surface, Santana and Ortiz are the underdogs. King has all the momentum, plus Homicide and Hernandez are the OGz. They are tougher, more experienced, bigger, and stronger. But Santana and Ortiz have more heart, they are more exciting, they are faster, and they have a real bond with Konnan. Homicide and Hernandez are just as good as mercenaries, and we all know that you are more powerful if you are fighting for a cause.

I’m a sucker for a good faction war, and this just might be wrestling’s best faction war right now. The Bullet Club split is a bigger deal and has been going on for longer, but it’s just become too confusing at this point. It’s harder to invest in a confusing storyline, especially if you are late to the party or don’t have as much time to focus on just one storyline.

LAX’s story is one of greed and power-seeking from King, but loyalty from Santana and Ortiz. That loyalty will be challenged on Sunday, so be prepared…