IMPACT Wrestling has announced its first-ever Australian Tour, following NJPW’s withdrawal. The tour will include two televised shows at Wagga Wagga’s Equex Centre. Photo: Impact Wrestling.
One of the United States’ biggest wrestling promotions, IMPACT Wrestling, have announced a four-day tour, including two televised shows, at Wagga Wagga’s Equex Centre from 29 June to 2 July.
The original slate of shows was planned for Japanese promotion NJPW – New Japan Pro Wrestling – to host their inaugural Oceania Cup tournament but after several setbacks and injuries to several of their stars, management company Glo Sports has worked a compromise, with IMPACT to tour instead.
The newly announced tour will mark the company’s first-ever major shows in Australia.
GLO Sports Managing Director Cam Vale said the sports management brand were determined to bring a high-quality wrestling show to Wagga Wagga despite NJPW’s withdrawal.
“We had a few smaller promotions reach out and try to fill the slot (left by NJPW’s cancellation), but we felt like it had to be either IMPACT or New Japan in order to fill out the show that we had signed up for,” Mr Vale said.
IMPACT Wrestling, formally known as TNA (Total Non-stop Action) has brought fame to some of the top wrestlers in the world, such as Aj Styles, Samoa Joe and Eric Young, while also being the destination for several powerhouses of the sport including Hulk Hogan, Sting, Kurt Angle, Mickie James and the Hardy brothers.
The tour will feature championship matches for the IMPACT World Championship and X-Division Championship while also showcasing some of Australia’s best up-and-coming talent.
Wagga Wagga will see two televised shows featuring some of IMPACT’s biggest talent including Steve Maclin, Deonna Purrazzo and Trey Miguel. Photo Supplied.
“Whoever the world champions are for the men’s and women’s divisions will be here and defend their championships twice across the two shows that weekend,” Mr Vale said.
“IMPACT will be putting forward a really quality list of talent and now the opportunity has emerged, some of the Australian talent will also get their chance to compete on the card against some of IMPACT’s biggest superstars.”
Wrestling has seen a resurgence in Australia in the past couple of years, with superstars such as WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley (Adelaide) and AEW superstar and former-WWE Cruiserweight Champion Buddy Mathews (Melbourne) each making huge impressions in their respective companies.
Mr Vale said he was more than excited at the prospect of bringing the sport to an untapped market such as Australia.
“One of the drivers for IMPACT Wrestling is their ability to come into this market and really identify the talent that is here and build something that is permanent from the events side and talent side,” he said.
“IMPACT’s enthusiasm and how quickly they have moved (to secure the tour) has been what they see as a potential market. They are an international company looking to grow their fanbase, looking to secure broadcast partners and they believe they can do that by visiting local areas in Australia.”
Tickets for the IMPACT Down Under Tour will go on sale on Saturday, 13 May at 7 pm at www.oceaniaprowrestling.com and will be televised worldwide on FITE TV.com.
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