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IMPACT Wrestling's biggest show of the summer, Slammiversary, is in the history books now. The show was a huge success from an in-ring and storytelling perspective.
Slammiversary has often been an occasion for major surprises, debuts and returns and this year was no different. We saw a plethora of unexpected debuts and some highly anticipated returns.
Not everything was a home run. While some moments were memorable, others fell a little flat. Nevertheless, most of the surprises hit the mark.
The main event featuring Kenny Omega and Sami Callihan was a headline in itself, but IMPACT Wrestling managed to make it an all-time great ending to any Slammiversary with the arrival of Jay White. On the other hand, the debut of No Way Jose (just No Way on IMPACT Wrestling) felt a little underwhelming.
With a total of seven surprises/returns/debuts on Slammiversary, let us try to rank all of them.
#7 No Way debuts at Slammiversary as Fallah Bahh's partner
During the Slammiversary pre-show it was announced that TJP wouldn't make it to the IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Championship match at Slammiversary due to an injury. Fallah Bahh would thus have a mystery partner.
Expectations were high as to who it could be. It turned out to be former WWE star No Way Jose, who was now known as No Way in IMPACT Wrestling.
The crowd cheered him and he brought an undeniable energy to the arena but it still felt a little flat. Mystery wrestlers, especially for title matches, should be credible athletes who provide a legitimate threat to the champions. When No Way showed up, it became all but clear that the title would not go to Fallah Bahh and his partner.
In terms of excitement and the subsequent match, it was the worst surprise at Slammiversary this year.
#6 Aiden English teased his IMPACT Wrestling debut at Slammiversary
During Slammiversary, a vignette aired wherein an unknown person scribbled the words "Long Live the King" and proceeded to write "DRAMA" before King.
The vignette marked Aiden English's first appearance for IMPACT Wrestling, even though he never appeared in front of the camera at any point. The former NXT Tag Team Champion has wrestled under the "Drama King" persona at various points in his wrestling career.
Aiden English was famously part of a tag team with Rusev and played a major role in getting "Rusev Day" over. English is an underrated star, who has exhibited strong skills inside the ring and on the mic. He should be a very solid addition to IMPACT Wrestling.
The only reason he's ranked low is because we never saw him at Slammiversary.
#5 Chelsea Green makes her triumphant return at Slammiversary
Arguably the most predictable return at Slammiversary saw Chelsea Green being revealed as Matt Cardona's mystery partner for a mixed-tag team bout against Brian Myers and Tenille Dashwood.
The former IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion had been heavily teased for Slammiversary and everyone was happy to see her back in the promotion where she became a household name.
This will be Chelsea Green's second stint at the company and she has her eyes set on the top prize already.
#4 FinJuice squashes Shera and Fulton at Slammiversary
David Finlay and Juice Robinson made a surprise return to IMPACT Wrestling at Slammiversary and were booked in an impromptu match against Mahabali Shera and Madman Fulton.
The two giant men were arguing at ringside over their expulsion from the Ultimate X match when the former IMPACT Wrestling Tag Team Champions showed up. They won the match in 75 seconds in a fun little segment to pop the crowd.
However, they made their presence felt (partially) after the Slammiversary main event when they looked to attack Jay White. But the show went off air just as they made their way to the ramp. Had we seen their entire segment properly, FinJuice's return would have been ranked higher on this list.
#3 Mickie James appears at Slammiversary
Following her victory at Slammiversary, Deonna Purrazzo looked to address the crowd to brag about retaining the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Championship.
She was cut off by a bonafide wrestling legend, Mickie James. The former WWE Divas Champion extended The Virtuosa an invitation to the upcoming NWA Empowerrr pay-per-view.
Purrazzo was displeased as she disrespectfully declined and berated James for taking her spotlight at Slammiversary. After James had heard enough, she delivered the Mick Kick to the champion and sent her retreating.
Mickie James is a veteran of the industry and played a crucial role in elevating women's wrestling. James vs Purrazzo is a dream match for the fans and hopefully we will get to see it in IMPACT Wrestling.
#2 Thunder Rosa challenges Deonna Purrazzo at Slammiversary
Deonna Purrazzo's opponent for her IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Championship match at Slammiversary was one of the most intriguing aspects of the show. There were countless names thrown in the hat.
Thunder Rosa wasn't one of the expected ones, and when her music hit the arena, the crowd was stunned. Rosa is one of the best female wrestlers across any promotion and was a legitimate threat to The Virtuosa's reign as champion.
The two put on an absolute clinic which saw Purrazzo barely secure the win against the former NWA Women's Champion. The appearance was unexpected and the match that followed was stellar, making Thunder Rosa's debut one of the biggest highlights of Slammiversary.
#1 Jay White at Slammiversary
Following a hellacious main event between Kenny Omega and Sami Callihan, one of the top stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Bullet Club leader Jay White showed up at Slammiversary.
He circled the ring staring down Omega, with whom he shares a storied rivalry. Switchblade teased a reunion with The Super Elite before FinJuice appeared to make their way to the ring. As mentioned before, the feed went off at this time, and we were not able to see what happened.
Jay White's debut was the kind of surprise Slammiversary is known for. The main event revisited a storied rivalry and set up the foundations of what could potentially be a faction vs faction war as The Super Elite and Bullet Club cross paths again.
IMPACT Wrestling saved their best for last indeed.
