Various: Impact Reportedly Making “Massive Upgrades” to Production, Jordynne Grace Impact Return Update, Indies

Aug 29, 2023

Impact Reportedly Making Massive Upgrades to Production & Other Upcoming Major Changes

Impact Wrestling reportedly is currently in the process of making major upgrades to the production facility for their television shows and events, according to PWInsider.

Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Impact officials held a “all-hands on deck” meeting with talent and staff prior to the start of Monday’s television tapings in Toronto, Canada. Those spoken to reportedly stated that the major topic discussed during this meeting involved the company will be making “massive upgrades” to its production facility at the Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. These upgrades reportedly were stated to feature “state-of-the-art production technology and advances” for their weekly television series and future events.

Johnson reported that the current belief based on those spoken to is that this process will take around a month to put together plus an additional few more weeks for the staff to get used to and master the new system. Some of Impact’s sister companies within Anthem reportedly will be helping out with the production of shows following their Bound for Glory 2023 event.

Impact officials reportedly informed those in attendance that there will be some adjustments made to the company’s television taping schedule for the remainder of the year with regular TV tapings no longer being held as separate tapings and instead alongside their live event for the near future.

Impact officials also reportedly stated that due to the major changes being made, less talent will be used for shows for the remainder of this year following this October’s Bound For Glory 2023 event. Johnson reported that Anthem will be paying the day rate talent for extra days for the remainder of the year to help offset their missing work dates. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Impact will not be making any talent releases as a result of these new major changes being made. Impact officials reportedly are currently hopeful that they will be back to using their full roster by early 2024.

More on Jordynne Grace’s Return to Impact

This past Sunday’s Emergence 2023 event for Impact Wrestling in Toronto, Ontario, Canada featured the official announcement of Jordynne Grace making her official return to the company at their Victory Road 2023 event on September 8th in White Plains, New York.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that his sources stated that Grace had signed a new contract with Impact several months ago but made the decision to take some time off before setting a date for her return to the company. This date was later revealed to be Impact’s upcoming Victory Road 2023 event next month.

Fightful Select reported that their sources confirmed PWInsider’s report and stated that Grace’s new deal with Impact is for two years in length. Grace reportedly also received a significant pay raise and will be allowed time off to compete in bodybuilding contests as part of the terms of her new deal.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

As noted before, Major League Wrestling’s original antitrust lawsuit against WWE was dismissed this past February and had filed a new amended lawsuit this past March. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the United States District Court, Northern Division of California, San Jose has scheduled a motion hearing to take place on October 26th in California based on recent court records.

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced that they will be holding this year’s NJPW Strong Lonestar Shootout event on November 10th in Garland, Texas.

NJPW also recently announced that they will be holding two new TAMASHII brand events on September 2nd in Auckland and September 15th in Sydney, Australia.

This past Sunday’s NWA 75 event for the National Wrestling Alliance in St. Louis, Missouri featured Kenzie Paige defeated Kamille to become the new NWA World Women’s Champion and putting an end to Kamille’s 800+ day reign as champion. Kamille recently reflected on Twitter about her title loss and future of her career in the NWA. Kamille stated “Held the title 813 days. -Passed the torch to the next big thing. Kenzie you will be a wonderful champion, you’ve earned this. Now go out and show the world. My work here has been done ✅ What’s next? #OneTime 😉🙏🏼“

This past Sunday’s NWA’s NWA 75 event in St. Louis, Missouri also featured EC3 defeating Tyrus in a Bull Rope match to become the new NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion. Following the event, EC3 reflected about his NWA Worlds title win in a digital exclusive backstage promo. EC3 stated “These are the moments you can’t plan for. These are true, real, raw, emotional moments derived from the greatest art form, the greatest physical spectacle that we have come to love and that is professional wrestling. There is no white piece of paper, there’s no verbatim script written, these are raw, true, real emotions and in this moment, in this emotion, I’ve become who I’ve supposed to be. I’ve been given a great gift, the great gift is this roster, the great gift is this company. The great gift was my opponent, Tyrus, who so generously sacrificed himself on my behalf to become the world’s heavyweight champion. This is my third world’s heavyweight championship, the road to number three, it was a road of suffering. If you have any idea of my history, maybe you know, but maybe you don’t. The last year of my life has not been easy, it has been difficult. I have been broken and broke, physically, mentally, heart and emotion. Friendships severed, relationships scattered and it’s all because that suffering is why I can become great. Because you suffer not to play victim, to not wallow, you suffer so you can conquer, so you can achieve. Suffering is the greatest gift you can be given, because it gives you something to fight back, fight against. It gives you something to fight for. As the NWA World’s Heavyweight Champion, I have a lot to fight for. I have an entire locker room that is looking to me as their leader. I will fight for that. I have a company who put their faith and their stock in my skills, ability, and passion. I will fight for that. I have a fanbase that can be turned on in a dime because we are going to be the best wrestling product in this world and I swear that’s true. I can fight for that. But through all that fight, the most important fight is the fight for yourself. In this moment, I have become who I’m supposed to be. I have self-actualized. In this moment, I am over, man. In this moment, I am EC3-time world champion.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

Impact Wrestling recently announced that Will Ospreay will be making an appearance for the company at their Bound For Glory 2023 event on October 21st in Chicago, Illinois. This will be Ospreay’s first match for Impact since 2016.

Impact reportedly is currently working on plans for a joint event with Lucha Libre AAA to take place at some point this November in Mexico, according to PWInsider.

Impact also recently announced three new matches for the card of their Impact 1000 event on September 9th in White Plains, New York: