During the last twenty years, impact wrestling has remained a constant within the ever-changing world of professional wrestling. Closer than any company since WCW to becoming true competition for WWE, TNA/Impact Wrestling once stood at the top of the mountain, and while the company is on a much smaller scale than it once was, the talent within the Impact roster cannot be denied.
Once home to names like AJ Styles, Robert Roode, and the Main Event Mafia, Impact has seen a lot of change in recent years, while keeping its true identity with the Motor City Machine Guns and Eric Young. Roster In this new era of Impact, several real superstars have been born, with one of the best overall in-ring rosters the company has had in years.
10 black taurus
Debuting as the newest member of the Decay faction alongside Rosemary and Crazzy Steve in early 2021, AAA’s Black Taurus is one of the hottest wrestlers on the planet. Sporting an incredibly detailed and unique bull-like mask, the 200-pound catchweight has become a staple of the Impact X Division over the past year, and while he hasn’t won the big one yet, fans have taken it. on most of his outings
Recently putting on one of the best pre-show matches Impact has seen against the Laredo Kid, Black Taurus feels like a superstar hoping to go to the next level. If the company gives the X Division Championship to the wrestling star, her star could rise even higher than it is now.
9 eric young
Returning to Impact Wrestling in 2020 and shocking the fanbase by capturing the World Championship upon arrival, Eric Young has been a name that has managed to exceed expectations after a less than satisfying main roster run in WWE. Forming the Violent By Design faction alongside Deaner and Joe Doering, Young’s last run for Impact has been a blast.
Delivering big matches against Josh Alexander and Jay White last year, while also appearing in the tag team division alongside VBD, Eric Young has helped elevate the younger side of the roster, seemingly having no qualms about putting talent above. younger.
8 I raised
Crushing the hopes and dreams of Josh Alexander last October, Moose climbed the mountain and became Impact World Champion, while also taking his place as the company’s best heel when he stole Alexander’s coronation at Bound For Glory. In the year since, Moose has continued to thrive in the company’s main event and midcard as one of the most well-rounded acts.
Currently fighting Steve Maclin and Sami Callihan, Moose’s post-championship run has seen him slip a bit on the undercard, although in the process, he has put together some spectacular matches against Callihan, including an incredible Monster’s Ball Match.
7 eddie edwards
After turning heel and becoming the leader of the Honor No More faction during the first half of 2022, Impact’s Eddie Edwards went from being a boring babyface who had lost most of his momentum, to a great leader of the heel faction. that feels like a world champion. Probably defeating Josh Alexander this fall for the Impact World Championship, Edwards’ current streak appears to be on the upswing.
However, even before this, Eddie had been doing a great job in the ring before his much-needed heel change, though as a heel, he has only gotten better, with his Honor No More multi-man matches and big marquee singles. . fight against Tomohiro Ishii being the highlight of his 2022.
6 ace austin
Ace Austin, one of Impact Wrestling’s best and brightest young stars, had been on the verge of a big year for some time. Finally, however, now was the time for him last spring, as he would enter the NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Tournament while holding the X Division Championship. In said tournament, Ace Austin would take Japan by storm, falling as one of the tournament’s MVPs before shocking fans by joining the Bullet Club.
In addition to making a splash overseas and joining one of the most popular factions, on Impact Ace appeared in a high-profile X Division feud with Mike Bailey and Trey Miguel, while forming a new team for Bullet Club with one of his other talented teammates, Chris Bey.
5 Sami Callihan
Sami Callihan, one of the most controversial male wrestlers working today, seems to be the kind of wrestler fans either love or hate, and there’s often no middle ground for the former Impact World Champion. Callihan sat out the first half of 2022 with injury, returned to Under Siege 2022, and has since seen a fire ignite beneath him during a protracted feud between him, Moose, and Steve Maclin.
While his wrestling style and personality may leave some alienated, it’s hard to deny that in recent years, Callihan has become one of Impact Wrestling’s top stars. With extremely exciting fights against Kenny Omega, Moose and Steve Maclin, Sami has connected with Impact Faithful in a big way and feels like one of the best.
4 chris sabine
Another former Impact World Champion, Chris Sabin is one of the most decorated stars currently working in Impact Wrestling as he is also a former Impact Wrestling Tag Team Champion and 8-time X Division Champion. Still teaming with Alex Shelley as the Motor City Machine Guns, the two men remain key factors within Impact Wrestling’s current roster.
Whether it’s teaming with Shelley in a series against Chris Bey and Jay White, or bringing down the house against AEW’s Frankie Kazarian in an Instant Classic TV Match, Chris Sabin remains one of the best wrestlers on Impact and remains one of the top wrestlers on Impact. stars. in the company in 2022.
3 Mike Bailey
In the midst of his first reign with the Impact X Division Championship, Mike Bailey burst onto the scene in early 2022 as one of the company’s newest signings. From his debut, Bailey immediately wowed fans with his high-octane style in the ring, perfect for the X Division! After an on-and-off friendship with Ace Austin ended, Bailey would go on to capture the X Division Championship at Ultimate! X at Slammiversary 2022!
Since winning the belt, Bailey has regularly defended the belt against everyone from Kenny King to Rocky Romero to Jack Evans, always stealing the show in the process. Without a doubt, 2022 has been a true resurgence year for Mike Bailey and in 2023 he could become an even bigger star for Impact.
two alex shelley
A true TNA/Impact Wrestling original, Alex Shelley’s ties to the company date back to the very beginning of the company. Now, 20 years later, Shelley is still one of the standout players on Impact alongside teammate Chris Sabin. While the two often appear at the top of the tag team division in Impact Wrestling, they also regularly engage in singles action.
2022 has seen Alex Shelley rise up when called upon, putting on some of the best matches of his career against Josh Alexander, Mike Bailey and Jay White, all within Impact, while also delivering excellent tag team matches as part of Motor. Machine guns in the city. At 39 years old, Shelley remains one of the most underrated female fighters working today.
1 joseph alexander
The current face of Impact Wrestling, Josh Alexander, is in the midst of his second reign as Impact World Champion, although his first time with the belt only lasted a few minutes. Ever since he defeated his archenemy Moose at Rebellion, Alexander has put the main event scene on his back, delivering some of the best world championship matches in all of wrestling this year.
Noted for his bouts against Eric Young, Alex Shelley, and Tomohiro Ishii, Josh Alexander is the type of world champion every company should strive for, as he is able to deliver incredibly compelling storylines and incredible action in the ring.