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Follow Or Get Out Of The Way! Impact, Inc. Cuts Membership, Maintains Loyalty

Posted: Sep 7th 2015 By: Michael Hunt

When dealing with children or baby animals, one usually expects to have to repeat instructions as part of the disciplinary system.

When dealing with full-grown professional adults, it is generally appropriate to expect more cooperation and less repetition.

Some people handle change well. Others just do not have it in them to adjust to new scenarios. And that is the conflict that seems to be tearing apart Impact, Inc. at the moment. Once a squad that represented the elite in IZW, there as recently been a civil war of sorts amongst the membership. And it appears that the war is over and casualties have been suffered.

When IZW Tag Team Champion Johnny Z defeated fellow Impact, Inc. member Brad Michaels for the IZW Title, the rift began. Not only because both men (and, truly, all of Impact, Inc.) have huge egos to be stroked, but mostly because John did it fair and square. And thanks to the influence of IZW Tag Team Champion Damon Windsor, that became the motto for the new Impact, Inc: Fair and Square. Windsor, Z and even Mark Wilson were willing to accept and live up to that motto. But Michaels and Lisa Generro had more than their share of troubles with it.

Generro, who had been busy primarily making the life of Erica a living hell, was the first casualty. Aligning herself with IZW Queen Paige Turner, Generro was certainly more comfortable in that scenario. But she still accompanied Windsor to his matches. And, despite his repeated demands that she accept the new motto of Impact, Inc., Generro still found herself interfering in matches. Two weeks ago, during a discussion with Brad Michaels backstage, Windsor unleashed a bombshell announcement. He fired Generro (who had been absent the previous two events) from Impact, Inc. He also presumed that the mysterious phone calls Michaels had been making were to Generro and told him to inform her of the current status regarding her employment. Michaels looked completely caught off guard and quickly dialed a number, but the conversation was never broadcast.

Michaels also had plenty on is plate that night as he had a 1-on-1 match with Jermaine Johnson. No title on the line, but a chance to feel each other out in preparation for the Triple Treat Match for the IZW Title at Redemption on September 12th. Not at either man really needed that scouting opportunity. Michaels was instrumental in training Johnson and both men had plenty of experience across the ring from each other. When the match began to seriously turn in the direction of Johnson, Michaels quickly turned to his usual underhanded tactics, specifically the use of a chain hidden in his trunks. And that prompted the appearance of Damon Windsor at ringside. Arguments ensued, distractions commenced and Michaels found himself on the losing end of things.

But that was really when the story started as Windsor entered the ring, almost like an disappointed parent. Michaels, much like the embarrassed child who had been caught doing something wrong, protested the involvement of Windsor, but Windsor did not let him get under his skin. Windsor yanked the chain that Michaels intended to use on Johnson out of the back of his trunk and held it up for the IZW fans to see. Michaels grabbed a microphone and told Windsor that there had been a lot of talk about unity. He then asked Windsor if he understood that a loss for any member was a loss for Impact, Inc. As far as Michaels was concerned, a win was a win and he could not understand why neither Windsor nor Z were smart enough to understand that. Windsor attempted to make it clear to Michaels again by saying that a win for Michaels that is not accomplished in the right way is still a loss for Impact, Inc. Michaels tried to pull the vet card, saying that he had been doing this for almost 17 years and the attitude of Windsor showed him that Windsor was still a rookie. This pushed some serious buttons on Windsor and he immediately got in the face of Michaels, saying that Johnny Z was the leader of the group and if Michaels wanted to be in the group, he had to accept that and follow the rules that Z put down. Michaels told Windsor that was fine, then out of nowhere connected with a superkick. And to cap it all off, he told the fallen Windsor that he quit Impact, Inc!

Backstage, Michaels gathered his belongings and quickly made is way to the exit. C. M. Burnham tried to get some words on film regarding the actions and decision by Michaels, but Michaels refused to talk and proceeded to leave the Impact arena. So when Johnny Z returned from a vacation in Las Vegas, he must certainly have been surprised to find that the membership had decreased quit a bit from before he left. But as far as John was concerned, it was a matter of trimming the fat. He had the people who had the titles and, in the form of Mark Wilson, the power. John will lead and those who wish to will either follow or get out of the way. Either way, Impact, Inc. retains control and head to a bright future in IZW.