IMPACT Slammiversary 2020 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights

The Radicalz’ Trey, 23-year-old Ace Austin and former world champion Eddie Edwards knew they would be competing against a mystery opponent in the main event of Slammiversary. What they did not expect was that it would be Rich Swann, completely healed from the ankle injury that sidelined him earlier this year.

The former cruiserweight champion showed no signs of adverse effects from the injury as he danced in the ring. Before the match could get underway, “World Class Maniac” Eric Young returned to IMPACT, ready to take his place in the fray, thus making it a Five-Way Elimination Match for the vacated IMPACT World Championship.

Trey and Austin rekindled their intensely personal rivalry at ringside while Young downed Edwards with a belly-to-belly suplex. Swann sent EY to the floor and paired off with Trey for a display of unmatched athleticism. Interference from Madman Fulton on behalf of Austin led to his dismissal from ringside.

The quick, sudden offense of the competitors involved continued, each hitting their signature stuff. The focus eventually turned nack to Trey and Austin before Young broke it up. A nasty tope into a destroyer off the ring apron by Trey on Swann left both man in agony.

Moments later, Young delivered a spike piledriver to send Trey packing. Trey is eliminated.

Later, Austin and Edwards rekindled their rivalry on the top rope, only for Young to powerbomb Swann into them, sending them crashing through a table.

Swann, his neck wracked with pain, countered a piledrive into a victory roll and eliminated Young. Young is eliminated.

A furious Young attacked and pummeled the ankle of Swann, then wrapped it in a chair and stomped it mercilessly, leaving the inspirational babyface screaming in pain. “See you around, Rich. You brought this on yourself!” Young exclaimed as he exited.

Austin, like a snake, slithered into the ring and took advantage of the injured Swann. He delivered The Fold for the pinfall. Swann is eliminated.

With the fight down to Edwards and Austin, the heel tried for The Fold but Eddie tossed him into the corner with an overhead suplex. Austin survived The Boston Knee Party to the surprise of the commentary team. Austin finally delivered The Fold but Edwards kicked out.

Eddie recovered, delivered another Boston Knee Party and followed with the Die Hard for the win and title.

Fulton reappeared and attacked Edwards.The Good Brothers interrupted the beatdown. They teased attacking Edwards but ultimately laid the heels out and stood tall with the new world champion to close out the show.

That is until three tally marks appeared on the screen and EC3 appeared in a video package. A more intense EC3 stared into the camera as the show faded to black.

Result

Edwards defeated Austin, Trey, Young, and Swann to win the title

Grade

A

Analysis

On the surface, Edwards was the least exciting of the options to win the IMPACT world title. It makes sense, though, if you believe the company wanted to usher in this chapter with a familiar face at the top of the card, surrounded by all of these fresh new faces.

Pairing Edwards with The Good Brothers makes sense given the tone of the characters while positioning Austin and Fulton as heel foils early in the title reign is apropos given the wealth of history between them and Eddie.

Beyond that, we have a rivalry between Swann and Young that could very well produce some damn fine pro wrestling and storytelling, not to mention the brilliant cliffhanger that was EC3’s return to the company.

There will be some who are disappointed by the revelation of Young and/or Swann as the entrants in the match but their contributions more-than helped elevate the overall quality of the match and they, themselves, now have a feud we can look forward to.

Looking forward was the theme of the show, really, as IMPACT wrapped up a number of its ongoing storylines and looked to a future that is suddenly brighter than it has been for that company in some time. New stars impressed, old stars will help bolster the roster and the fact that #Slammiversary trended at No. 1 worldwide throughout the show suggests fans were genuinely interested by what the promotion had to offer.

Now, it will be up to them to maintain that intrigue, starting with Tuesday’s AXS TV broadcast.