While there isn’t a company the size of WCW out there competing with WWE, there are plenty of other promotions for wrestlers to take part in. That doesn’t mean former superstars do not still have options.
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One of the bigger promotion is Impact Wrestling, formerly known as TNA. While Impact has had its own share of problems, they seem to be on an upswing at the moment, and the new management seems very open to poaching former WWE superstars.
Former WWE superstars like Alberto Del Rio, Cody Rhodes, Matt Sydal (formerly Evan Bourne), and Aron Rex (formerly Damian Sandow) have all migrated to Impact Wrestling over the last few months, and odds are they won’t be the last to do so. In fact, for some, it might be the best thing for them, as the main roster at the moment is brimming with talent and not enough storylines and television time to cover it. While the reach of Impact is smaller than WWE, it would give certain superstars a way to reenergize their career and get on television.
Several stars could also use a chance to completely re-engineer their gimmicks, as they’ve just hit a wall in WWE. It worked for Rhodes, who completely shed his Stardust gimmick, and Aron Rex took his gimmick and dialed it up to 11. Both are possible depending on what the superstar needs and a change of scenery might be just what the doctor ordered. There are others of course who could qualify, but this is a list of those who need to jump ship first.
Hit the next slide to see who should make a jump to Impact Wrestling!
As for WWE, next up is Payback, and you can view the entire match card below. Payback airs on the WWE Network on Sunday, April, 30 at 8 pm ET.
Enzo and Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows And Karl Anderson (Kickoff Match)
“Miz TV” with special guest Finn Balor (Payback Kickoff)
WWE Cruiserweight Champion Neville vs. Austin Aries
RAW Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss
RAW Tag Team Champions The Hardy Boyz vs. Sheamus and Cesaro
United States Champion Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho
Seth Rollins vs. Samoa Joe
WWE Champion Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt – House of Horrors Match
Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
MORE WWE: Alberto Del Rio Calls Out Total Divas For Low Ratings And Not Enough Paige / Alexa Bliss Comments On Fake Nude Photos / Fans Lose Their Minds Over Pay Per View Name Change
Dolph Ziggler
Dolphย Zigglerย has been with WWEย for some time now and is a favorite among the fans. That said, he’s stalled creatively, and the adjustments they have made haven’t delivered a big enough change to get him going again. His performance in the ring is as good as it ever was though, and he’s by far the best seller on the roster.
Those talents would do him well in Impact, where he can make just about anyone lookย good. The thing is, he needs to look good for a change, and Impact should put a rocket on him and let him taste some Championship gold sooner rather than later. He’s a top tier talent and deserves to be in the championship picture. It’s just not going to happen in WWE.
Paige
This one seems like an inevitability nowadays, as things seem to either go silent or get worse with every passing day between Paige and WWE.
Between the suspensions, the disagreements about her injuries (requiring surgery to her neck), and the tense relationship between the company and Alberto Del Rio, it just seems that she is destined to be released.
If that is the case, she will instantly bring credibility and star power to Impact’s Women’s division. She’d be in the promotion with her fianceย Del Rio as well, which they could work into a faction or storyline if they wanted, but she doesn’t need it. Having her wrestling again on the roster would be more than enough.
Curtis Axel
The fact that this hasn’tย happened already is mind boggling, but there might not be someone who needs it more than Curtis Axel.
After his initialย push with Paul Heyman, the star has fallen off the map aside from a comedic gimmick here and there. When you’re known as the fake Hulk Hogan more than your own identity, there’s an issue.
Axel needs to be built up as a technically savvy wrestler or a physical beast. He’ll need a clear identity, as this go round there won’t be room for something in the middle. That’s what he’s been in WWE, and it doesn’t work. It’s time for something different and loud, and Impact would be a great place to start.
Darren Young
Darren Young has all the traits you want in a superstar. He’s likable, he’s a solid worker, and he’s got a good look, but since his partnering, with Titus O’Nealย it just hasn’t all come together in WWE. The last attempt to get him over was the Bob Backlundย pairing, which the less said about the better.
It’s time for Young to head to Impact, with a gimmick that focuses on his personality and physicality over any contrived manager or duo gimmick. He has star potential, and Impact will give him a great stage to start building towards it.
Tyler Breeze
Tyler Breeze had all the ingredients for a successful heel.
He was great in the ring and had a gimmick that if grown and cultivated could have been fantastic. It never evolved though, and eventually grew stagnant. He also suffered from rather generic feuds upon being called up as well, and now he’s stuck in the never ending “let’s find a comedic thing for them” pairing with Fandango.
Breeze can still be a great heel, but he needs a new place to get a foothold. He also needs to find another angle to take as a heel, as just repeating what he did before is not the answer. Hopefully, Impact can provide the perfect stage for a new start.
