'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
After NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom this year, a trend of having pay-per-view events span two nights has started in the wrestling industry, with WWE also splitting their flagship show WrestleMania across two nights. IMPACT Wrestling joined this trend as well, upgrading their April 21 and April 28 edition of its weekly shows to a two-week event named Rebellion.
Since then, the journey has only been upwards for the company formerly known as TNA, with their recently concluded Slammiversary pay-per-view gaining much attention from pro wrestling fans. IMPACT will be continuing this trend with their next big event, Emergence, which will take place on the August 18 and August 25 editions of their weekly television show.
IMPACT has done a great job with the ex-WWE stars they have while making sure that their homegrown talent isn't overlooked. The result has been that many intriguing storylines in place as we inch closer toward the two-week special. While the event is shaping up to be a solid one, what makes an event memorable is the surprises it has in store for the fans. Here are some that IMPACT could have up their sleeves for Emergence.
#5 Brian Myers or Tenille Dashwood make their presence felt at IMPACT Emergence
Of all the surprises, this is the most likely to be booked by IMPACT Wrestling. While Tenille Dashwood's status is unknown at the moment, it has been some time since the former Emma was on TV. With IMPACT using almost every ex-WWE star to elevate their roster and reaching out to more wrestling fans, they can have Dashwood make her return to IMPACT and confront Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo.
Deonna is unlikely to lose her title in the main event of night two of Emergence, and with Kylie Rae struck in Wrestle House at the moment, Dashwood can challenge for the title. A win over a star as big as Dashwood will only benefit Purrazzo and her dominant reign as IMPACT Knockouts Champion.
As for Brian Myers (fka Curt Hawkins), with IMPACT already airing promos on his arrival in the company, Emergence will be the perfect event at which Myers can make his debut.
#4 EC3 wins the TNA Championship at IMPACT Emergence and retires it
"I came back in IMPACT to reclaim the World Championship and burn its legacy to the ground," were the words spoken by EC3 as he issued a challenge to Moose for the latter's TNA World Heavyweight Championship. EC3 has reinvented himself with this new gimmick, which is centered around him destroying his past. What better way to do this than by retiring the TNA World Heavyweight Championship?
Having EC3 win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at IMPACT Emergence, before retiring it, allows the company to kill many sparrows with a single stone, as EC3's narrative of destroying his past is already established.
The concept of two World Championships for a single show might be very confusing for new fans of the product, and retiring the TNA title at Emergence establishes the IMPACT World Championship as the only main-event prize for the company.
#3 Heath turns on Rhino at IMPACT Emergence
Ever since Slammiversary, Heath-no-longer-Slater has been trying to join IMPACT Wrestling, only to be kicked out by the management. His old friend Rhino had promised to do something about it, but the latter has been quite busy fighting Michael Hernandez.
With Hernandez hiring Reno Scum to take down Rhino in order to get his betting money back, Rhino will surely look out for his friend Heath to even the odds, and this could be the exact moment Heath snaps. Heath has a simple logic for turning, it being that Rhino, someone he considered his friend, wasn't a man of his word.
The "one man band" proved during his WWE days that he can play the role of a heel to perfection, and IMPACT will surely be considering it. The history between Heath and Rhino from their WWE days can make their rivalry even more exciting, building to a match between the two at Bound For Glory, which is possibly IMPACT's next pay-per-view event after Emergence.
Heath can even form a heel faction with Reno Scum and Hernandez, but there may be a better faction waiting for us at IMPACT Emergence.
#2 Eddie Edwards defends the title on both weeks of IMPACT Emergence
Many fans were surprised at IMPACT's decision to give Eddie Edwards another reign with their World Championship. While this is not a knock on Edwards, who has earned every bit of success he is enjoying, it seemed to be the perfect time to put the title on Ace Austin, who was touted to be the next face of the company. But, IMPACT has done a great job in building Edwards as the classic, babyface fighting champion.
While Eddie Edwards has a program going on with Eric Young, they should clash in the first night's main event, with Edwards retaining the title after Rich Swann interferes and costs Young the match.
The match, however, should be a hardcore bout that allows Young to go full maniac mode, meaning that Edwards won't be 100 percent healthy going into Week 2 of IMPACT Emergence. While there will be a high risk of him losing his title, Edwards will insist on defending it in an open challenge, ultimately losing to whoever answers.
The idea of him defending the title on both nights of IMPACT Emergence is something that has been reported by 411Mania. As for who faces him for the title, that's another matter altogether.
#1 Ace Austin challenges for the IMPACT World Title at Emergence, forms new faction
While it may be a long shot, Ace Austin could be the man to answer the open challenge at IMPACT Emergence, with his ally Madman Fulton continuously being a thorn on champion Eddie Edward's side. The Good Brothers have been at odds with Fulton and Austin, with the latter even getting Doc Gallows arrested on the August 4 edition of IMPACT.
Thus, Gallows and Anderson interfering to back up the champion won't be a big surprise. However, in a shocking turn of events, The Good Brothers could turn on Edwards, allying themselves with Austin and Fulton to build a new, dominant stable for IMPACT.
D' Lo Brown, who hinted at an Aces and Eights reunion during the build-up to Slammiversary, could act as the group's manager, with Austin being their leader. Other heels like Reno Scum and Rohit Raju could also join the group, making it bigger and better. Austin could then go on to win the title at Bound For Glory (IMPACT's biggest show of the year) to become the youngest IMPACT World Champion ever.
This stable could be to IMPACT what The Inner Circle was to AEW in their initial days.
Which surprises would you like to see at IMPACT Emergence? Voice your opinion in the comments below!
