I had the pleasure of speaking with the incomparable John E. Bravo last night and, among other topics, we discussed AEW collaborating with IMPACT Wrestling and the big main event taking place at the Rebellion PPV on April 25: AEW World Champion Kenny Omega vs. IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann.
Back in January was Hard To Kill, marking the first time ever that a world champion from another top promotion was part of the main event on an IMPACT Wrestling PPV. That match exceeded expectations, and since then fans have been wondering where this storyline is headed.
On March 9 it was announced that IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann would battle AEW World Champion Kenny Omega in a Title vs. Title match at Rebellion, taking place on PPV on April 25. This news rocked the wrestling world because it conjures up an implausible question: what happens when one guy walks away with the rival promotion’s world title? As far as I can tell, this has never happened in the history of pro wrestling. Therefore, all eyes will be glued to the screen on April 25 to see what goes down.
I got John E. Bravo’s thoughts on this, as someone who is on the inside. As far as the IMPACT and AEW collaboration itself he said, “I think it’s great! I love when companies like IMPACT and AEW are working together. It keeps things fresh and benefits everyone involved.”
I agree with John; wrestling promotions like IMPACT and AEW working together, as well as New Japan Pro-Wrestling, can only create more interest in the product and generate more unpredictability. When that happens, fans tune in. Things are so unpredictable right now that John admitted that even he doesn’t know where this is headed. “Fans should just sit back and enjoy the story as it plays out,” he said.
As it pertains to the outcome of the match, John offered the following: “Some fans think that this is going to be the end of the story, but it might just be the beginning. Who knows?! I’m sure there will be fans that feel strongly, one way or the other, about how things turn out at Rebellion. But we won’t know exactly which way things go until then.”
When he’s not taking bets at Swinger’s Palace, John E. Bravo is laying down some logic. No one knows what is going to happen at Rebellion on April 25 until it does, which is precisely why it’s a can’t-miss PPV on FITE. I’ve already got Rebellion preordered and you should too because Kenny Omega and Rich Swann are about to make history!