Michael Elgin discusses IMPACT Rebellion, says he wants to face Rusev & Drew McIntyre [Exclusive]

The one thing that's slightly unfortunate right now is one of the best things about IMPACT recently has been the crowds have been really, really hot. Obviously everyone is in the same situation but what are your views on competing in an empty arena?

You know, obviously we're in a business that live crowds help the feeling of a match. They help reactions by wrestlers but I said a little bit ago, on social media, that, when I wrestle, it's real to me - meaning this is a prize fight. The prize is many things but the two things that I focus on is, one, being the best wrestler I can be and, two, the World Championship.

So, if I'm out there thinking of those things then it's the same for me. Obviously the crowd gives us a little edge for when people watch because you kind of get the reactions and it helps make things exciting but I feel like, as a wrestler, we can make it exciting without that crowd as long as we believe it and we don't forget why we became a wrestler in the first place. In front of no crowd, I think that's when I can really show my true colours and really show that I was meant to do this, and I'm at the top of my game.

There are a few reasons I asked that. I mentioned that you're pretty close to the title picture, I would say in the title picture. Obviously Rebellion is just around the corner and I actually saw a nice little quote online a few days back that said, "Years from now when people are looking back on champions in Impact Wrestling, Michael Elgin is going to be number one." Given that, I need to ask you, what are your thoughts on the title picture in Impact right now and Tessa Blanchard as champion?

You know, I think a champion should be presented as a world-class athlete and a great wrestler, and Tessa Blanchard covers both of those. But the fact is, I came to Impact to be World Champion and I came to Impact to be the best, and now that I've seen people mention, like how PWA doesn't recognise the Impact World Championship, and a lot of top reporters don't watch the show weekly to report on it.

Well, with me as champion, they're going to have to recognise that championship and they're going to have to watch the weekly show because I'm going to put out must-see matches time and time again and make that World Championship the most important championship in the world. So, as far as I'm concerned, I'm not just in the title picture, I am the title picture and the result will be me being World Champion.

Next Up: Michael Elgin says he's ready to fight Drew McIntyre!