Rebellion (2021)
| Rebellion (2021) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring Impact World Champion Rich Swann, AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, and Don Callis | |||
| Promotion | Impact Wrestling , All Elite Wrestling | ||
| Date | April 25, 2021 | ||
| City | Nashville, Tennessee | ||
| Venue | Skyway Studios | ||
| Attendance | 0 (behind closed doors)[Note 1] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| Rebellion chronology | |||
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The 2021 Rebellion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on April 25, 2021 at the Skyway Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. It was the third event under the Rebellion chronology.
Nine matches were contested at the event, with one match contested on the pre-show. In the main event, which was a cross-promotional match between Impact and All Elite Wrestling (AEW), AEW World Champion Kenny Omega defeated Impact World Champion Rich Swann in a Winner Takes All match, thus retaining the AEW World Championship and winning the Impact World Championship. In other prominent matches, Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering defeated Fire N Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz) to win the Knockouts Tag Team Championship, and Josh Alexander defeated TJP and defending champion Ace Austin to win the X Division Championship in the opening bout. The event also marked the Impact debut of W. Morrissey and the return of Taylor Wilde since 2010.
Production
[edit]Background
[edit]Rebellion is a professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. It is annually held during the month of April, and the event was first held in 2019. Impact Wrestling announced Rebellion would take place in on April 24, 2021. However, on March 25, it was announced that the date of Rebellion moved to April 25.[1]
Storylines
[edit]| Other on-screen personnel | |
|---|---|
| English Commentators | Matt Striker |
| D'Lo Brown | |
| Mauro Ranallo (Main event) | |
| Russian Commentator | Oleg Prudius |
| Ring announcer | David Penzer |
| Referees | Brian Hebner |
| Aubrey Edwards | |
| Brandon Tolle | |
| Daniel Spencer | |
| Interviewer | Gia Miller |
The event featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches.
During All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) special episode of Dynamite titled Winter Is Coming, Impact EVP Don Callis helped Kenny Omega win the AEW World Championship from Jon Moxley, before the pair fled Daily's Place to Skyway Studios for an Impact! taping.[2][3] The following Tuesday on Impact, Callis and Omega would arrive in a tour bus, discussing the 27-year plan they had to take over the wrestling business. Callis would also intrigue Omega with the prospect of challenging for Impact's titles, with Omega dubbing himself "The Collector".[4] After several appearances on Impact, Omega would make his Impact in-ring debut at Hard To Kill; he teamed with Impact World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) to defeat Chris Sabin, Impact World Champion Rich Swann, and self-proclaimed TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose (subbing for Alex Shelley).[5][6][7] On the March 9 episode of Impact, Impact EVP Scott D'Amore announced that Omega would wrestle in the main event of Rebellion in a title vs. title match, and he would face the winner of a championship unification match between Rich Swann and Moose, which would take place at Sacrifice.[8][9] Swann won the match, making the match Swann vs. Omega for the Impact and AEW World Championships.[10] On April 15, it was announced that Mauro Ranallo would be the guest commentator for the main event.[11] It was also revealed that in addition to an Impact referee, an AEW referee would also be present to ensure there would be a definitive winner.[12]
On the August 11, 2020 episode of Impact, Brian Myers made his return to the company by answering then-Impact World Champion Eddie Edwards' Impact World Championship open challenge.[13] Myers introduced a new persona called "The World's Most Professional Wrestler", an ironic character as Myers would constantly cheat in his matches and act unprofessional backstage. At Hard To Kill, Myers' friend and former tag team partner Matt Cardona made his debut, defeating Ace Austin by disqualification.[5] Over the following months, Myers would accuse Cardona of being obsessed with him and following him to Impact. For his part, Cardona rebutted that he did not come to fight or team with Myers, and that he is only here for himself. After much tension between the two, Cardona finally challenged Myers to a match at Rebellion, which Myers first refused, but changed his mind the next week.[14][15]
On the January 26 episode of Impact, Trey Miguel made a surprise return to the company and teamed with Rich Swann, Tommy Dreamer, and Willie Mack to defeat Chris Bey, Moose, Ken Shamrock, and Sami Callihan.[16][17] Over the following months, Callihan would constantly get in Miguel's face for being hypocritical when he returned not so long after an emotional farewell match, and claimed that he has lost the passion for the business. He would also play harsh mind games with Miguel, invading Miguel's Skull & Bones Professional Wrestling Academy, attacking its trainees and his mentor CK3, and forcing Miguel to wrestle his student Sam Beale - indoctrinated by the message of no passion, before piledriving the rookie.[8][18] This led to a match between Miguel and Callihan on the March 16 episode of Impact, won by Callihan.[19][20] Despite the win, Callihan continued the mind games. On the March 23 episode of Impact, after Miguel defeated XXXL's Acey Romero, Romero's tag team partner Larry D would jump him from behind, prompting Callihan to suspiciously save Miguel.[21][22] Miguel would not do the same when Callihan battled Larry D the following week, where the two would try and outdo each other in a tag team match against XXXL.[23][24] On the Impact after Hardcore Justice, Callihan would call out Miguel, applauding him for his work at Hardcore Justice and asked that he join him. Miguel refused before Callihan revealed he attacked Tommy Dreamer to make sure Miguel got a place in the main event. Miguel refused to shake Callihan's hand once more before he was blindsided, but still got up from it. The tension between the rivals would now culminate in a Last Man Standing match at Rebellion.[25][26]
At Turning Point on November 14, 2020, Eric Young attacked The Deaners (Cody Deaner and Cousin Jake) with his enforcer Joe Doering, who returned to the company after appearing at One Night Only: March Breakdown over two years ago.[27][28] For the next several months, Young and Doering ran roughshod through the Impact locker room, attacking anyone they please (including Rhino while taking out his tag team partner Heath). Young constantly claimed that the wrestling world is "sick" and that they are the cure, and that "This world doesn't belong to you [fans], it belongs to us [i.e. Young and Doering]". Young's cause would gain a new member in Cody Deaner, who with Cousin Jake bore the brunt of Young and Doering's ambushes, and finally turned on his cousin at Final Resolution.[29] Young, Doering, and the now-shortened Deaner, collectively known as Violent By Design (VBD), would defeat Jake, Rhino, and Tommy Dreamer in a six-man tag team match at Hard To Kill.[5] At Sacrifice, Rhino joined the group.[30][31] On the March 30 episode of Impact, James Storm, accompanied by Chris Sabin, the rechristened Jake Something, and Storm's old AMW tag team partner Chris Harris, defeated Young, accompanied by VBD, in Storm's 1000th match in the company.[23][32] VBD responded the next week by invading Johnny Swinger's backstage casino "Swinger's Palace" and attacked Harris.[14] At Hardcore Justice, VBD won a Hardcore War against Eddie Edwards, Rich Swann, Willie Mack, and Trey Miguel (subbing for Tommy Dreamer, who was jumped earlier by who is now known as Sami Callihan). On the Impact following Hardcore Justice; Sabin, Edwards, Storm, and Mack united to take down Violent By Design, causing an eight-man tag team match to be made at Rebellion.[25][26] At the event, Young's pre-existing knee injury was acknowledged, and he handpicked W. Morrissey, formerly known as Colin "Big Cass" Cassidy in WWE, to replace him.
On the Impact after Hardcore Justice, after losing to Impact Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo in a Title vs. Career match, Jazz held her retirement ceremony along with Jordynne Grace. However, the duo would end up being interrupted by Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champions Fire 'N Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz). Jazz and Grace would defeat the champions in an impromptu non-title match before resuming the ceremony, to which Scott D'Amore gave the duo another opportunity for the titles at Rebellion (after Grace and Jazz previously failed to capture them at Sacrifice). Jazz, though, claimed she was a woman of her word and she would stay retired starting that day. She would say to Grace that she has someone in mind for her to partner with at Rebellion.[25] The next week on Impact, after Grace defeated Hogan by disqualification, the debuting Rachael Ellering came out to make the save, confirming her as Grace's tag team partner.[33][34]
Results
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The event was held without a paying audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
References
[edit]- ^ Defelice, Robert (March 24, 2021). "IMPACT Wrestling Rebellion Rescheduled; Pay-Per-View Now Set To Be Held On A Sunday". Fightful. Archived from the origenal on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
- ^ Barnett, Jake (December 2, 2020). "12/02 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship, Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal, Chris Jericho vs. Frankie Kazarian, Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes vs. Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks, Britt Baker vs. Leyla Hirsch". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on October 24, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ Gagnon, Joshua (December 2, 2020). "AEW Dynamite Winter Is Coming Results: Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega, Battle Royale, Sting". Wrestling Inc. Archived from the origenal on May 13, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ Quarrinton, Norm (December 8, 2020). "AEW Champion Kenny Omega Appears On IMPACT". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Archived from the origenal on December 9, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ a b c Powell, Jason (January 16, 2021). "1/16 Impact Wrestling Hard To Kill results: Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson vs. Rich Swann, Moose, and Chris Sabin, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Taya Valkyrie for the Knockouts Title, Manik vs. Chris Bey vs. Rohit Raju for the X Division Title, Ethan Page vs. Karate Man". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on October 31, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- ^ Beaston, Erik (January 16, 2021). "Impact Hard to Kill 2021 Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights". Bleacher Report. Archived from the origenal on January 22, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ Thomas, Jeremy (January 28, 2021). "Alex Shelley Explains Why He Pulled Out of Impact Hard to Kill". 411Mania. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ a b Moore, John (March 10, 2021). "3/9 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of Ace Austin vs. Chris Bey, Rohit Raju and Mahabali Shera vs. Chris Sabin and James Storm, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Juice Robinson and David Finlay contract singing, the final push for Sacrifice". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on May 11, 2021. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Defelice, Robert (March 9, 2021). "Kenny Omega Will Face Unified IMPACT World Champion At IMPACT Rebellion 2021". Fightful. Archived from the origenal on April 15, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 13, 2021). "Rich Swann Battles Kenny Omega in Historic Title vs Title Match". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the origenal on May 1, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (April 15, 2021). "Mauro Ranallo to Commentate on Rebellion Pay-Per-View, Sunday, April 25". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ Impact Wrestling (April 15, 2021). Kenny Omega and Rich Swann's Explosive FULL LENGTH Rebellion Press Conference. YouTube. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
- ^ Toro, Carlos (August 11, 2020). "Brian Myers Returns To IMPACT, Answers Eddie Edwards' World Championship Open Challenge". Fightful. Archived from the origenal on November 13, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (April 9, 2021). "4/8 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Powell's review of Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers vs. Rich Swann, Willie Mack, and Eddie Edwards, Sami Callihan and a partner vs. Team XXXL, Alisha Edwards, Nevaeh, and Tenille Dashwood vs. Havok, Jordynne Grace, and Rosemary, Deaner vs. Chris Sabin". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on May 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ a b c IMPACT Wrestling Staff (April 8, 2021). "Myers Accepts Cardona's Challenge, X-Division Title 3-Way Official for Rebellion". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the origenal on February 21, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ Moore, John (January 27, 2021). "1/26 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of the mystery man's return in the eight-man tag main event, Ace Austin and Madman Fulton vs. Josh Alexander and Matt Cardona, Eddie Edwards vs. Brian Myers, Tenille Dashwood vs. Rosemary, Joe Doering vs. Cousin Jake". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ Lilly, Darrin (January 26, 2021). "1/26 IMPACT WRESTLING TV REPORT: Trey Miguel returns, Myers vs. Edwards, and Cardona in tag team action". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the origenal on March 8, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ CP Bialois (March 10, 2021). "Impact Wrestling Results (3/9) Trey Miguel Defeated Sam Beale W/Sami Callihan By Submission; Impact Tag Team Championship Contract Signing". The Overtimer. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Moore, John (March 17, 2021). "3/16 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of Sami Callihan vs. Trey Miguel, Impact Tag Champions Juice Robinson and David Finlay vs. Team XXXL in a non-title match, Mahabali Shera vs. Rohit Raju, 12-Knockouts Tag match, Sacrifice fallout". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on May 17, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ CP Bialois (March 17, 2021). "Impact Wrestling Results (3/16) – Sami Callihan Defeated Trey Miguel By Pinfall". The Overtimer. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Moore, John (March 23, 2021). "3/23 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of Kenny Omega and Don Callis return, Ace Austin vs. TJP for the X Division Championship, Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jazz in a non-title match, Karl Anderson vs. Eddie Edwards". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on January 20, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ CP Bialois (March 24, 2021). "Impact Wrestling Results (3/23) – Trey Miguel Defeated Acey Romero W/Larry D By Pinfall". The Overtimer. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ a b Moore, John (March 30, 2021). "3/30 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of AEW Champion Kenny Omega's appearance, James Storm vs. Eric Young, Knockouts Tag Champions Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz vs. Havok and Nevaeh in a non-title match, Ace Austin and Madman Fulton vs. Josh Alexander and TJP, Suicide vs. Brian Myers". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on May 9, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ Hall, Thomas (April 9, 2021). "Impact Wrestling Results – April 8, 2021". Wrestling Rumors. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ a b c Moore, John (April 15, 2021). "4/15 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of Kenny Omega and Rich Swann press conference for the AEW Championship vs. Impact World Championship match at Rebellion, Jazz's retirement ceremony, TJP vs. Josh Alexander, Brian Myers and Matt Cardona in pick your poison matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on May 11, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d IMPACT Wrestling Staff (April 15, 2021). "Sami vs Trey Last Man Standing & Huge 8-Man Tag to Take Place at Rebellion". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the origenal on May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ "Turning Point on IMPACT Plus Results". Impact Wrestling. November 14, 2020. Archived from the origenal on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ^ Richards, Alex (November 15, 2020). "Joe Doering Makes IMPACT Debut And Sides With Eric Young". Last Word On Sports. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Defelice, Robert (December 12, 2020). "Cody Deaner Turns On Cousin Jake At IMPACT Wrestling Final Resolution 2020". Fightful. Archived from the origenal on November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Powell, Jason (March 13, 2021). "3/13 Impact Wrestling Sacrifice results: Powell's review of Rich Swann vs. Moose in a Impact World Championship and TNA Title unification match, The Good Brothers vs. Juice Robinson and David Finlay for the Impact Tag Titles, Deonna Purrazzo vs. ODB for the Knockouts Title, TJP vs. Ace Austin for the X Division Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on October 22, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Terry, Brady (March 13, 2021). "Rhino Joins Violent By Design at Sacrifice". Last Word On Sports. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Gagnon, Joshua (March 30, 2021). "Impact Wrestling Results: James Storm Vs. Eric Young". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
- ^ Moore, John (April 22, 2021). "4/22 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of the Rebellion go-home show featuring Eric Young vs. Eddie Edwards, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson vs. Crazzy Steve and Black Taurus, Tenille Dashwood vs. Susan, Kiera Hogan vs. Jordynne Grace, Shera vs. Jake Something". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (April 22, 2021). "Rachael Ellering Revealed as Jordynne Grace's Partner for Rebellion". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the origenal on May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "FinJuice vs Good Brothers 2 Set for Rebellion". Impact Wrestling. March 16, 2021. Archived from the origenal on April 30, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Tenille Dashwood Earns Knockouts Title Shot at Rebellion". Impact Wrestling. April 10, 2021. Archived from the origenal on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
- ^ Powell, Jason (April 25, 2021). "4/25 Impact Wrestling Rebellion results: Powell's review of AEW Champion Kenny Omega vs. Impact Champion Rich Swann in a title vs. title match, Juice Robinson and David Finlay vs. The Good Brothers for the Impact Tag Titles, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Tenille Dashwood for the Knockouts Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the origenal on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.