Why Impact Wrestling’s main event scene is thriving so far in 2020

2020 has already been noteworthy for Impact Wrestling with the crowning of Tessa Blanchard as World Champion. As a result, their main event scene is thriving more than ever.

Just weeks ago, the wrestling world couldn’t stop talking about Tessa Blanchard for multiple reasons. Despite her history of bullying and a racist act being revealed to the public on the day of the PPV, Blanchard became the first female Impact Wrestling World Champion at Hard to Kill in January. After months of chasing the gold, Blanchard was tasked with being the titleholder, a feat that can be even more challenging than chasing a title.

Rather than rushing into a rematch with Sami Callihan, Impact took a refreshing (and logical) approach with their post-pay-per-view plans. As we saw on the Jan. 21st episode, Blanchard was confronted by then-Knockouts Champion Taya Valkyrie and reigning X-Division Champion Ace Austin – two people who defeated Blanchard in 2019 while she was on her meteoric rise to the top.

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As the weeks went on, Austin found himself on the winning end of several matches involving the World Champion. As a result, the two clashed in the main event of Impact Plus’ Sacrifice event on Feb. 22nd, with Tessa ultimately redeeming herself. And because of that victory, she will now challenge Ace Austin for the X-Division Title on Tuesday’s new episode of Impact.

While I was catching up on Impact episodes in preparation for Sacrifice, this Tessa/Ace storyline really jumped out at me because of how simple yet effective the story is. It’s something I long to watch in basically every wrestling show I put time in to.

Perhaps this is because I spend most of my wrestling time watching WWE where there’s too many hours of content and pay-per-views to keep track of, leading to confusion with storylines and so on. Since I started watching consistently in 2014, Impact Wrestling has spent that time constantly figuring out how to rebuild, refocus, and ultimately rebrand themselves.

Coming out of 2019, Impact Wrestling finally had an identity again with an established roster, a set schedule of TV and streaming events, and a place that they could call home in AXS TV. Now it’s time for the storylines to be taken to the next level.

Kicking off this year with Tessa Blanchard against her former adversaries was a very wise move. Pitting the World Champion against the X-Division Champion is typically something I’d be against, but I believe it’s elevated both titleholders and the X-Division Title itself.

With that said, I don’t see Blanchard picking up another piece of gold at the moment, so I have to look ahead to what is sure to be her next opponent in Taya Valkyrie. Now that Taya is no longer Knockouts Champion, there’s no reason why she shouldn’t have her sights set on Tessa and her gold. I can only imagine how that feud will play a part in the Rebellion pay-per-view main event in April.

Another key part of the main event scene right now is Michael Elgin vs. Eddie Edwards in their Best of Five series. These two workhorses have been the perfect players for a series of matches that will go down in the history books when all is said and done.

Even looking outside of the main event scene, Impact is hitting all the right marks. The North have dominated the tag team division while putting on some of the best matches week in and week out. Jordynne Grace is now ready to carry the Knockouts division on her shoulders. Established names like Rob Van Dam, Rhino, and Joey Ryan are mixing it up with rising stars in Daga, Willie Mack, and Acey Romero.

Naysayers have said Impact Wrestling was doomed every year when a TV deal came up or major stars exited. Many said it was over once again following the departures of The Lucha Bros, LAX, Johnny Impact, and now Brian Cage. Fortunately, Impact is in good hands with Tessa, Taya, Ace, Elgin, Edwards, The North, Callihan and so many others ready to be the headliners.

I hope Impact continues focusing on their growth as the year continues, and I can’t wait to see what the landscape looks like a year from now.

What you think of Impact Wrestling’s main event scene right now? Are you enjoying Tessa Blanchard as World Champion so far? Sound off below!