History will be made this Sunday at Impact Wrestling’s April pay per view, Rebellion, as Impact (Unified) World Champion Rich Swann will face All Elite Wrestling Champion Kenny Omega in a title vs. title match.
Swann has been on a roll since he ousted Eric Young for Impact’s top title back at Bound for Glory. Recently, the legacy of the TNA World Heavyweight Championship was briefly resurrected as an official title, but the belt was unified with the Impact Championship at the March Sacrifice pay per view when Swann defeated Moose. Impact’s top title is now represented by both belts on Swann’s shoulders. Omega already has two titles of his own; along with being AEW Champion he is also the AAA Mega Champion.
Will we may see either Kenny Omega’s 2021 power trip continue with the master of the “One Winged Angel” taking four titles on April 25? Or will Swann make history by becoming the first wrestler outside of AEW to win their new promotion’s top championship? Or will something completely different happen?
Photo courtesy of @ImpactWrestling
While Rebellion is heavily centred on this title vs. title match between Impact and AEW, there are seven other outstanding matches on the card as well.
Let’s take a look at this stacked card at my predictions for what goes down on Sunday, April 25. My esteemed SLTD Wrestling colleague Mike Charlip (@MikeJC821) has joined me in providing his own take and predictions on Rebellion.
FinJuice vs. Good Brothers (Impact Tag Team Championships)
I’ve always felt this feud between two teams that cut their teeth over in Japan was primarily a means to an end by Impact to begin rebuilding this relationship with NJPW as the ‘Forbidden Door’ gets wider, so Juice and Finlay getting one over on the GB was a means to an end. While it’s not a good idea to have your company’s championships over on another show, let alone another country, having some exposure for Impact over in Japanese wrestling is not necessarily a total loss.
But the purpose of Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson being on Impact is to be the best tag team on the brand, and to do that they need the tag titles. Their last promo on the go home Impact on AXSTV set the story that they’ve had a fire lit under them and they’re hungry again after getting complacent for awhile. It’s going to be a good match, but I predict Machine Gun and the Big LG will be celebrating their second run as tag champs.
Winner: The Good Brothers
MC: I think we were all very surprised when FinJuice won the championships, the only problem is they haven’t defended them on an Impact show since because they had to go back to Japan. I’ve liked added wrinkle of The Good Brothers doubting themselves and almost losing their mojo since losing the belts, but it’s time for them to win the belts back.
The fact of the matter is FinJuice isn’t gonna be around as often as they should because of them being Japan more, this should be a great match as the last one was with the surprising winner. I’m sure FinJuice will be back at some point maybe to hopefully have an extended run instead of coming for one taping cycle and only appearing on TV twice for Impact.
Winner: The Good Brothers
Brian Myers vs. Matt Cardona
As a longtime WWE watcher, I know the history between these two and witnessed their historic Wrestlemania victory as tag team champions. So I actually sympathize with Myers’ desire to carve out his own niche in wrestling after suffering his own personal ‘roster cut’ last year. But coincidentally, Cardona suffered the same fate.
It just so happens that both men, looking to carve out their spot in wrestling post WWE, ended up in the same company. I wish their was a special stipulation attached to this contest because there seems to be much more to this rivarly, based on Myers and Cardona’s genuine friendship and ventures outside of Impact.
The ending may come down to who really wants, or needs, the win more, Myers or Cardona. The latter seems like he’s the more positive character out of this so him losing may not be the end of the world for him. Myers seems like the man with more the chip on his shoulder who really needs to put Cardona down for the sake of his career.
Winner: Brian Myers
MC: I was very surprised that they went right into these two doing something. Since coming to Impact, I think we all expected them to work together but for it to happen right off the bat is big for them. Impact has immediately made this match feel important by acknowledging they are friends in real life, they have a podcast together, and Myers’ character to this point has been great. He’s trying to escape the shadow of Cardona and be his own man, because everyone just wants to lump them together.
I’ve loved Myers work in this role. Cardona has been doing great work as well establishing himself outside of WWE for the first time and this match is expected to be a very good wrestling match. I’m gonna pick Myers, I think this one could go either way but I feel like Myers needs it more. I’m not really sure where either of these guys go from here but this should be a great match.
Winner: Brian Myers
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Tenille Dashwod (with Kaleb with a K) for Impact Knockouts Championship
Heel vs. heel title matches are a rarity in any wrestling promotion that strictly adheres to the ‘good verses evil’ storyline templates. Dashwood has been playing off the “Influencer” gimmick since she came to Impact around September last year, and surprisingly has racked up several wins against a number of other women on the roster. Meanwhile, the woman let go by WWE has become the women to beat on Impact; Purrazzo has taken the Knockouts division to another level with her two reigns as champion.
The Virtuosa’s technical savvy definitely gives Deonna the advantage in this match, even barring some interference from the incompetent ‘Kaleb with a K’. No way Purrazzo loses to Tenille; the only question is whether Tenille taps out to the Fujiwara Armbar or gets pinned after Purrazzo’s Cosa Nostra piledriver.
Winner: Deonna Purrazzo
MC: There’s been absolutely no build to this match because it was announced only two weeks ago after Tenille won at Hardcore Justice to earn this title shot. These two had one interaction and that was on the go home show where Tenille beat Susan and then Tenille did a promo and Deonna just walked out without saying a word. It’s clear she did that because she isn’t taking Tenille seriously.
Which is fine because she shouldn’t have to. Deonna is going to retain here. I don’t think it makes much sense for a title change here. This isn’t like when Su Young had the title for two weeks, Tenille is good but she’s not that good. Deonna should retain easily, I hope this is a great match as both very good wrestlers, but there’s no way Deonna doesn’t retain, if she doesn’t I’ll be very, very surprised.
Winner: Deonna Purrazzo
Sami Callihan vs. Trey Miguel (Last Man Standing Match)
If this match is anything like their last encounter, this Last Man Standing bout between Callihan and Miguel is going to be incredibly brutal. The story of Trey’s return to Impact Wrestling stems from the notion, spurred by a seemingly disinterest from WWE and egged on by Callihan, is that the former Rascal doesn’t have the drive to get him to the next level.
This is a strange relationship to say the least; Callihan and Miguel even teamed up to face XXXL at one point, as the Death Machine has actually been trying to recruit Trey under his mentorship to “help Trey” as Callihan would say, even showing up to Trey’s wrestling school. But Callihan is a volatile personality to say the least, as his past association with Ken Shamrock showed. As this is a Last Man Standing match, everything but the kitchen sink, and a sink may even come into play, will definitely be used.
Being this kind of match, while it may suit Sami’s style, Trey may have some tricks up his sleeve and he seems more motivated as of late to finally put Sami Callihan behind him.
Winner: Trey Miguel
MC: This is one of those stories where I don’t think the heel is wrong at all. Trey has done everything for the most part as part of The Rascalz and really only came back because WWE didn’t want him, and Sami believes that Trey lost his passion because of it. I kind of agree with Sami. I don’t care about Trey Miguel as a singles, because there’s no substance to him character wise. He’s just a guy who wants to prove his better then being in The Rascalz and that’s it.
I kind of wanted him to agree with Sami and show a more edgier side of him. I think that edgier side will come out here but I don’t think Trey will win. I think he’s gonna struggle with that edgier side and not be able to get the job done because of it, and realize after this match that he needs Sami Callihan to get that out of him. That’s what should happen and that’s why I’m picking Callihan to win.
Winner: Sami Callihan
Fire N Flava vs. Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering (Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship)
Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz have been, no pun intended, on ‘fire’ since winning the Knockouts Tag Team Championships at Hard to Kill in January. Both women have turned back all challengers since then, and they’ve shown that they have enough charisma each on their own to become future singles stars within Impact.
But they may be facing their toughest challenge yet: Jordynne is a former Knockouts Champion and lately has racked up her own impressive tag record alongside the recently retired legend Jazz. But while Jazz is no longer competing in the ring, she didn’t leave Grace to fend for herself. Rachael Ellering was revealed as Jordynne’s tag team partner for Rebellion.
Considering the absolutely disrespectful interruption of Jazz’s retirement speech by Fire N Flava, Grace is motivated to seek redemption for her friend against Steelz and Hogan; the former Knockouts Champion is a powerhouse and, when pushed, can do some incredibly scary things in the ring. Pairing her with another impressive athlete like Ellering only enhances those qualities; Grace and Ellering even look more like a natural tag team.
Winner: Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering
MC: I’m very excited about this match. All four of these ladies are great in ring talents. Kiera Hogan is a future singles star as far and has loads of potential, and has been working really hard recently and it shows. Tasha Steelz is good too but I don’t see her as big of a star as Kiera. Them as a team has been great. Their chemistry as a team is off the charts and they were the best choice to be the first champs of the revived championship.
With that said, Jordynne Grace has been chasing them for a while, first teaming with Jazz and all of that going into the end of Jazz’s run and eventual retirement. With Rachael Ellering coming in, they look like a tag team. They have similar styles, they are amazing in the ring. It’s a shame that Rachael got injured most of her WWE run then got let go, this is her time to shine and I think her and Jordynne are gonna get it done here and win the belts. I thought about maybe Grace getting mad about losing and turning on Ellering but I think you can save that after they have a run with the belts especially since Ellering just got here.
Winner: Jordynne Grace & Rachael Ellering
TJP vs. Ace Austin vs. Josh Alexander (Impact X Division Championship)
What can I say? My guy, fellow Canadian Josh Alexander, is getting a prestigious opportunity for his first singles championship at Impact. But it’s not going to be a cakewalk; he’s facing up against two of the best in the X Division in Ace Austin, the current champion, and former champion TJP.
TJP and Ace may both held the title more than once, but Alexander has momentum on his side. He won a Triple Threat tag team match with returning former X Division Champion (another Canadian) Petey Williams, at Hardcore Justice against Ace and Fulton and TJP and Fallah Bahh. On BTI, Williams defeated Madman Fulton and Fallah Bahh in another Triple Threat.
All three men bring their respective wrestling styles to this match and it may end up being the show stealer of the night, but my money is on the ‘Walking Weapon’ Josh Alexander starting his first reign as the new Impact X Division Champion on April 25.
Winner: Josh Alexander
MC: This is going to be a hell of a match, you have the two hybrids of technical and high flying in the champion and TJP, and you have the pure wrestling technical style of Josh Alexander. I feel like TJP has already reached his ceiling and I don’t really need to see him win here again. Ace Austin has so much potential he hasn’t even tapped into yet being as young as he is and his future is super bright.
Josh Alexander is in the prime of his career and the time is now to pull the trigger on him as a singles. Ace Austin doesn’t need this belt right now, he will surely win it numerous times, but Josh Alexander needs this to truly establish him as a singles and that’s why I’m picking him. This could be a show stealing match, so I’m picking Alexander.
Winner: Josh Alexander
8 Man Tag Team Match (Violent By Design vs. Eddie Edwards, Willie Mack, James Storm and Chris Sabin)
If the end of the go home Impact pre-Rebellion gives us any indication, this match could break down into absolute chaos. Since returning to Impact, Eric Young has been on a rampage, and now that he’s got this group of monsters and psychos under his wing, his domination as a stable leader is not far off from once upon a time when Young was on a certain ‘black and gold’ brand. The only difference is that while Sanity reveled in chaos over on NXT, VBD comes off with more purpose in the violence they unleash.
But VBD may be facing their toughest challenge yet; the veteran James Storm celebrated his 1000th match by beating Young in singles competition, he and Sabin have an axe to grind after being jumped by the group backstage and Edward and Mack are looking for some revenge after they lost to Young’s stable at Hardcore Justice. I’m going to say the ‘good guys’ get the W over on Violent By Design.
Winner: Eddie Edwards, Willie Mack, James Storm, and Chris Sabin
MC: I’m not gonna lie, I don’t care about this match, at all. I don’t really care for Violent By Design as a group, to me they are just there. I don’t care about any of the members, if I did I’d probably only care about Deaner as he’s finally got an opportunity to be taken seriously but he’s the one taking the pins all the time. Eddie Edwards is a great worker who I can’t take seriously, Storm and Sabin are lost in the shuffle so they are working together and it doesn’t work for me, and Willie Mack recenly is just Rich Swann’s friend and he’s better then that.
Violent By Design has been getting the upper hand a lot recently so I think the other team will probably get the win, but as I mentioned it doesn’t really matter to me.
Winner: Eddie Edwards, Willie Mack, James Storm, and Chris Sabin
Rich Swann (Impact Champion) vs. Kenny Omega (AEW Champion) – Title vs. Title
Despite Don Callis’ consistently annoying hype over his man, how can you bet against Omega? He’s had a storied career in Japan and everywhere he’s been in the wrestling business. However, the last few weeks have seemingly lit something underneath Swann’s ass that he may need in this psychological battle he’s facing against not only against Omega, but against the man who heads up Impact Wrestling.
Swann’s background is indeed something to behold. Losing both his parents by the time he was 15, Swann would likely have ended up on the wrong side of the tracks in Baltimore. Instead, he found professional wrestling and went from the depths of his personal hell to the top of the wrestling game.
As such, this may be more of a psychological story that unfolds on Sunday as these two champions clash in a title vs. title match, winner takes all. Swann has shown that he can at least get out of Omega’s setup for his One Winged Angel finisher, if not kicking out of it. In their last confrontation at Hard to Kill, Swann also showed he can go toe to toe with Omega.
While Tony Khan and Scott D’Amore assured everyone that there will be a definitive winner, in wrestling nothing is ever sure and unpredictable finishers have happened before. Rich will put up a valiant effort and this may be the best match in his career, but barring some wacky finish that ends up in a no contest, my safe money bet is on the current AEW Champion.
Winner: Kenny…BY GAWD, OMEGA (happy, Don?)
MC: This is the match everyone is talking about, this is the match everyone has been waiting for since it was announced, champion versus champion, title for title, winner takes all, Rich Swann versus Kenny Omega. I can’t wait to watch this match it’s going to be so good. Both guys are on the top of their game, both guys are really good at what they do, both guys are the face of their respective companies.
With that said I think there’s only one winner, and that’s Kenny Omega. If you look at it from a logical standpoint, Kenny is the bigger name, he’s the bigger draw, he’s going to bring the eyes to Impact while holding their belt, he’s going to keep the people that are already watching him on AEW. Rich Swann is great as I mentioned but he’s not Kenny Omega, simple as that. Kenny Omega has been doing the belt collector thing and you know that both companies wouldn’t mind the visual of Kenny Omega holding four world titles for three different companies. It will get people talking more then Rich Swann beating Omega. Omega has a clear path he’s on, a path we all can kind of see coming from a mile away and that’s a really long title reign as AEW champion until he loses it to “Hangman” Adam Page, and that will cause the chain reaction where he loses every one of his championships and that is an amazing story that is already in place and will happen.
I’ve already gone on record saying that Moose will be the one to take the Impact title back for Impact Wrestling when the time is right and he will hold that over Rich Swann’s head when that inevitably happens because Rich couldn’t get the job done. I can’t wait to see this match, but it’s obvious here, Omega wins.
Winner: Kenny Omega
An average professional doing the 9-5 grind who really loves wrestling across all platforms. Here's hoping wrestlers finally get some basic workers rights in 2021.
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