Date: 02/01/19 | Written By: Jack Williams
(The views are that of the writer and not on the behalf of Through The Ropes or other writers in the TTR team)
I rank the top ten Impact / TNA World Champions from the inception of the title in 2007, to the last day of 2018. These are based on their number of reigns, length as champion, quality of matches as champion, and how memorable the title reign was.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
12. Mick Foley. While his reign wasn't as memorable as others in this list, He certainly put on some amazing matches with the likes of Sting and Kurt Angle.
11. AJ Styles. Styles is a multi-time World Champion, and for many, would be in the top 3, but at the very least in the top 10, But I felt there were better title reigns based on the list of qualifications as mentioned at the beginning.
#10 - ELI DRAKE
First in at #10 is Eli Drake. Eli, after a short while since joining Impact, then TNA, made sure he was going to be noticed, with his classic wrestler look, in-ring work and his unmatchable charisma. Drake, following the controversial business regarding Alberto El Patron, became Impact World Champion after winning a 20 man gauntlet for the gold match, and would take this title reign and show exactly why he should be a main eventer, and a future holder of the belt. Eli would hold the belt for an impressive 146 days, before falling victim to a returning Austin Aries, But his reign ontop was memorable, and was a definitive moment in Eli's career, which saw him transcend the barrier of being a main event star, into actually being a world champion!
#9 - JAMES STORM
Number 9 is the Cowboy. James Storm had an incredible TNA/Impact career, attaining singles gold and tag team gold, aswell as holding the label of an original with pride and honour. Storm's first and only Impact World title win came at the mercy of Kurt Angle, when Storm pinned Angle after connecting with the Last Call Superkick on the money. The reign wasn't long, infact it was incredibly short, but it's memorable for the way it marked a stepping stone in Storm's career, and the way it kick-started a fellow debut World title reign that would shake Impact's World Title resume forever. The man who would upset Storm for the title in the infamous "beer bottle" screwjob, Bobby Roode, who was Storm's tag team partner in Beer Money and the Fortune faction, would battle "The Cowboy" in a series of iconic matches that would include the notorious Hardcore match at Bound for Glory.
#8 - EDDIE EDWARDS
Anything is possible... The story of Eddie Edwards, aka the underdog, overcoming the big challenger, aka Bobby Lashley, has been told millions of times before in a wrestling ring, But this was one of the best ones. Eddie is known for his incredible in-ring work, and his lovable personality, but when he was pitted up against "Walking Armageddon" Bobby Lashley, He looked smaller, weaker, and incapable of beating him, much like Lashley does to most of his opponents, But Eddie, overcame the adversity and defeated the cocky champion Lashley and claimed the big prize, The World Championship infront of a stunned but overjoyed audience. It's only a matter of time before Eddie rejoins the World Title picture, and wins back the title.
#7 - AUSTIN ARIES
A Double is a three time Impact World Champion, after winning the first in a classic battle of the ages with Bobby Roode, seeing the former X-Division Champion change Impact history by "cashing in" the X-Division Title in-exchange for a World Title match, which he would dub Option C. Roode's Reign as World Champion ended via Aries' brainbuster, leading to one of the greatest feel-good moments in TNA/Impact history. Aries, after a run outside of the company, returned in 2018 to defeat Eli Drake, and become World Champion for a second time, becoming the face of the Callis/D'Amore/Nordholm era of Impact Wrestling.
#6 - JEFF HARDY
"The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy, had a brilliant Impact/TNA career long before his Brother Matt came in and started the Broken Universe, and was a two time World Champion. Jeff brought several different versions of himself during his long career in the company, such as the Charismatic Enigma, The Anti-Christ of Pro Wrestling, Willow The Wisp and Brother Nero, and Jeff's first World Title victory in the company was his darkest hour in his career. Jeff was the Anti-Christ of Pro Wrestling, a brilliant-selfish-heartless-greedy heel, who turned his back on the fans and his allies by aligning himself with the Immortal faction fronted by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. Jeff would come out to the ring smoking and flipping off the crowds, showing the great heel he never got to display in WWE. Jeff's other World Title reign would be a redemption title victory, putting the nightmare that was the Victory Road PPV disaster behind him. It was an emotional victory for both the fans and Jeff, who had been earning the respect back from the crowd and the lockeroom.
Part Two Coming Soon
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