'%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)
When All Elite Wrestling presents All Out this weekend, there are some unique elements at play. This comes a year after the explosive success of All In, a great wrestling show that also drew fans in a way few would have predicted months earlier.
All In, in many ways, served as an unofficial launch for AEW, and while the company has had officially branded shows in between, it’s noteworthy that this will be the big PPV offering from the company leading into its cable TV debut on TNT.
AEW has established a reputation for pulling off major surprises, not least of all including Chris Jericho’s appearance at All In, unveiling Kenny Omega at their first press conference, and debuting Jon Moxley at Double or Nothing. So what might the company have in store for All Out?
While another big name isn’t out of the question, CM Punk signing as a wrestler increasingly feels like a pipedream. There are a number of stars out there, however, who could appeal to hardcore fans out of nostalgia, not having seen them for a while, or wanting to see them get a big opportunity after peaking in Impact Wrestling. This article takes a look at five Impact alumni who show up at All Out.
#6 Ken Anderson
Ken Anderson’s WWE tenure as Mr. Kennedy was something of a tragedy, as the guy was clearly marked for big things with his Money in the Bank victory and purportedly being the original pick to play Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son.
Injuries and politics got in the way, and never realized his considerable potential there. His run with Impact Wrestling was better—not a consistent success, but it did include highlights like him finally capturing world title gold and better rounding out his legacy as a performer.
The ship has probably sailed on Anderson working at the main event level for a national promotion. However, he it’s his big personality and mic skills that largely got him attention in the first place.
In a mid-card role, Anderson could still have value, and particularly so as a face wrestling fans will recognize from both WWE and Impact, with championship credentials behind him.
#5 James Storm
James Storm was one of Impact Wrestling’s best homegrown talents as a guy who was there from the early days of the promotion, rose up through the mid-card ranks and tag team scene, and wound up a main event player for a time.
It’s telling that, although he did get an opportunity with NXT, Storm reportedly chose not to sign there, heading back to Impact for a spell to keep contributing at that level.
The Cowboy is a well established veteran now, whose ethos as a talent and a guy who never sold out would play well with the AEW audience.
Storm could be a fun addition to AEW’s mid-card scene, or potentially even a guy who could transition in and out of the upper mid-card scene, working talents ranging from Hangman Page to Jon Moxley in the future as the heat up for world title runs, or cool off after them.
#4 ODB
For many female wrestlers, particularly from past generations, there’s a shelf life on them because wrestling promoters tended to value good looks over in-ring talent.
Thus, as a societally normed opinions about what makes a woman attractive aged performers out of that category, they didn’t necessarily have the wrestling talent to compensate and remain relevant in the business.
ODB quite arguably did not get the opportunities her talent warranted when she was younger, because she never succumbed to the model role, but rather got over using her big personality and wild antics in and around the ring.
As such, ODB is positioned as someone who easily could still have value in the AEW ranks. Particularly with the Women’s Casino Battle Royale match lined up for All Out, ODB could be an entertaining surprise entrant to mix up the style of the match and offer a familiar face for Impact fans.
#3 Alberto El Patron
Alberto El Patron’s journey through wrestling over the past decade has been nothing if not tumultuous. He got a huge push on his way into WWE, and achieved reasonable success their as a multi-time world champion, Royal Rumble winner, and recipient of the Money in the Bank briefcase.
He had his successes with a number of smaller promotions in between WWE stints, as well as after he left the company for the second time on negative terms.
In particular, Del Rio garnered big opportunities with Impact Wrestling as their champion, before that business relationship fell apart, too, with El Patron no showing the high profile Lucha Underground vs. Impact Wrestling event (for which he later claimed legitimate reasons).
El Patron is now working with Chavo Guerrero Jr. on the new Nacion Lucha Libre promotion. Between that new venture and his past record, it’s questionable whether he’d want to sign with AEW, or if AEW would want him in the long term.
He’s a very recognizable star, though, with particular appeal to Latino fans. As such, it could be mutually beneficial for him to have a short term role with AEW, perhaps limited to a surprise appearance at All Out.
#2 Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin was a veteran of Impact Wrestling. He was a signature star for the X Division before coming of age in the popular Motor City Machine Guns tag team with Alex Shelley.
Ultimately, Sabin did get a short run at the tip-top of the company with the Impact Wrestling Championship, which was fun for what it was, though Sabin never quite clicked as the face of the company.
Sabin falls in the category of Impact alumni who are past their prime and unlikely to headline for a national wrestling promotion again. Nonetheless, he’s skilled, still physically capable of going in the ring, and offers another recognizable and well respected name for the hardcore fan base.
As such, he could be an interesting star from Impact Wrestling’s past to work into the mix for the high profile All Out show. He’d be just fine as a solo act, and could offer even more value as a veteran presence in the already deep tag team ranks, perhaps reuniting with Shelley if he isn’t under a long term deal with ROH.
#1 Johnny Impact
Johnny Impact has had quite the journey through the wrestling world. His WWE run as John Morrison, during which he played the heel ECW champion, and an upper mid-card face may be what he’s best known for by mainstream fans.
He has since had starring roles for a variety of smaller promotions, though, as a centerpiece of Lucha Underground and more recently a main eventer for impact Wrestling.
Could we see him at All Out? Impact has made appearances on Being the Elite in the recent past which seem to hint at a place in the AEW fold.
Time will tell, but Impact is an athletic, recognizable veteran who can still go and justify a spot toward the top of any wrestling roster.
He would be a major score for AEW, and AEW may well offer him the highest profile platform he can get without being subjected to the WWE schedule which he has commented on Steve Austin’s podcast and elsewhere he found stifling.
Follow Sportskeeda Wrestling and Sportskeeda MMA on Twitter for all the latest news. Do not miss out!
