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Johnny Impact On Having Don Callis In His Corner, IMPACT Wrestling Potentially Going For More ‘Supernatural’ Elements

Johnny Impact On Having Don Callis In His Corner, IMPACT Wrestling Potentially Going For More ‘Supernatural’ Elements

Posted: May 9th 2019 By: Bill Pritchard

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Johnny Impact ahead of last weekend’s IMPACT Wrestling TV tapings at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. I asked Johnny about his working relationship with Don Callis, who in a recent broadcast of Figure 4 Daily talked about their working relationship back in WWE, and how he considered Impact a world championship caliber athlete back then. Johnny says Callis’ remarks are meaningful, and he thinks not winning the WWE World Championship during his tenure may have actually benefitted him in hindsight, as it allowed him to stay hungry and not grow complacent:

“Don has got a great mind for the business, and hearing him say that about me—I’ve heard similar things that he said about me—it means a lot. He really has a very specific view of the business, a very comprehensive view of the business. He’s got an old school mentality, but because he’s part of the active creative team at IMPACT, his old school psychology is not outdated. It’s constantly being updated because he’s dealing with current talent and a lot of what he said was true. I thought I should have won the title a long time ago, and I’ve won plenty of titles, just never the WWE World Championship, but ultimately, maybe it was for the best. Sometimes when you get what you want your motivation is lessened, and I guess that never happened to me because I hadn’t had that [opportunity] yet. I stayed hungry for so long that when I got to IMPACT I was still hungry before I got here, I was still working on leveling up my physical abilities, my psychology. It felt really good to win the IMPACT World Championship and it also feels good to have Don in my corner and to have a good working relationship with him. It’s meant a lot.”

In addition, Johnny also spoke about Lucha Underground’s uncertain future, and the potential for another promotion like IMPACT Wrestling to adopt more supernatural or theatrical storylines if the promotion does not return. Johnny said he’s not sure if pushing things too much in that different direction would work for IMPACT, but praised some of the more unique approaches that we’ve seen in the past few weeks and months with LAX and oVe:

“That’s a tricky question because I do love Lucha Underground, and I don’t know if it’s going to come back for a season five. I do know that the door is not completely closed, but as time goes on, it’s starting to seem less and less likely. As far as if I’d like to see IMPACT become a little more supernatural with elements of fantasy and darkness? I don’t know, because IMPACT is its own unique brand and Lucha Underground is its own unique brand. The stuff that LAX has been doing is fantastic. The stuff with oVe also, in its own way is not exactly what Lucha Underground was because it’s different thematically, but in a sense creatively it’s new and fantastic and fun to watch. I feel like as opposed to becoming similar to Lucha Underground, I would like to see IMPACT push the boundaries further in the way that oVe, LAX are creatively treated. That’s not a bad thing, but pushing it too far for IMPACT might be a mistake. [That might work] in Lucha Underground world, but IMPACT seems a little more grounded in reality.”

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

  • 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
  • 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
  • 09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
  • 09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
09-18
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