IMPACT Wrestling coming back to Chicago
JORDYNNE GRACE, MOOSE AMONG STARS TO COMPETE AT CICERO STADIUM
By Mike Pankow
August 8, 2022
It’s been nearly three years since IMPACT Wrestling has run in the Chicago area and they’re planning on making – for the lack of a better word – an impact.
Bound For Glory in October 2019 at the now-shuttered Odeum in Villa Park was the last time the stars of IMPACT performed in the area. This Friday and Saturday, Aug. 12-13, the promotion returns for two nights of action at Cicero Stadium just outside Chicago and only a few miles West of downtown.
Jordynne Grace, with Kiera Hogan on her shoulders, competed in the “Call Your Shot” gauntlet battle royal during IMPACT Wrestling’s Bound For Glory 2019 at the Odeum in Villa Park (Photo courtesy IMPACT Wrestling)
IMPACT Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace and former IMPACT World Champion Moose embarked on a media tour around Chicago late last week and sat down with Windy City Slam to promote the shows, including Friday night’s Emergence special and the next night’s Saturday Night Slamm.
Emergence is one of IMPACT’s monthly specials, which is available to view with a subscription to either the IMPACT Plus digital streaming service or YouTube for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders, while Saturday Night Slamm will consist of television tapings for IMPACT’s weekly show on AXS TV.
Tickets for both shows are available at Eventbrite.com.
Friday, August 12 (Emergence): https://bit.ly/3cYQjB5.
Saturday, August 13 (Saturday Night Slamm): https://bit.ly/3zuNsHN.
In one of the featured bouts on Emergence, Grace defends the Knockouts Championship against Mia Yim, who is back for her second run with the company.
Grace, who has spent the last few years with IMPACT, is a two-time Knockouts Champion and is the first-ever “Knockouts Triple Crown winner.” Grace has also held the Knockouts Tag Team Championship and was the inaugural IMPACT Digital Media Champion.
Affectionately known as “Thick Momma Pump,” Grace, who has also wrestled in the Chicago area for independent promotions such as Zelo Pro, Warrior Wrestling and Black Label Pro, is looking forward to the challenge of the versatile Yim. The two haven’t faced off in about seven years before both even got to IMPACT.
“I’m excited to see how much me and Mia have changed since then,” Grace said. “I feel like we’ve both changed and transformed as wrestlers a lot. This is really the first challenge since I got the title. I feel like I’m up for it, I’m ready for it.”
While he doesn’t yet have an announced match for the weekend, former NFL offensive lineman Moose said that performing in front of the Chicago fans is quite the experience.
Moose, a former IMPACT Wrestling World Champion, swings a chair at Ken Shamrock during a match at Bound For Glory in Oct. 2019 in Villa Park. Moose always expects a rowdy crowd for Chicago-area events. (Photo courtesy IMPACT Wrestling)
Moose had one of his most memorable matches against the legendary Ken Shamrock, whose combat career included stops in UFC, WWE and IMPACT, at Bound For Glory 2019. Moose remembers some of the fans being particularly crazy on that evening.
“Chicago is special,” Moose said. “Sometimes the fans are really annoying with some of their tactics like the cowbell thing. A few people got kicked out (of BFG 2019) because of the cowbells. Other than that, Chicago’s fans are rowdy. The rowdier the fans, the better it is. That just means that they’re into what you’re doing and really invested. I hope we get the real rowdy fans [this weekend].”
Emergence will be main evented by an IMPACT World Championship match as reigning titleholder “Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander defends against Alex Shelley. Alexander, a two-time IMPACT Champion, regained the title from Moose at Rebellion back in April after Moose had a six-month stranglehold on it.
Rosemary & Taya Valkyrie will defend the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championship against VXT (Chelsea Green & Deonna Purrazzo) in what should be a thrilling contest among four respected in-ring veterans.
A high-stakes 10-man tag team match is also booked with Bullet Club (Ace Austin, Chris Bey, Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson & Hikuleo) taking on Honor No More (Eddie Edwards, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, PCO and Vincent). If Honor No More wins, they will receive a shot at the IMPACT World Tag Team Championship currently held by Gallows and Anderson (aka The Good Brothers). If Bullet Club wins, Honor No More must permanently disband.
In other matches, former Ring of Honor Champion Bandido faces Rey Horus. The always unpredictable Sami Callihan squares off against Steve Maclin. The team of Chris Sabin and Kushida will go up against Violent By Design (two among Eric Young, Deaner & Joe Doering).
The IMPACT X Division Championship will also be on the line as either Rocky Romero or “Speedball” Mike Bailey defend against veteran high-flyer Jack Evans.
AAW Pro, one of Chicago’s premier independent promotions will have a part in Saturday Night Slamm. The AAW Championship will be defended on the show as “Gunslinger” Mat Fitchett faces the challenge of the “Cornbelt Cowboy” 1 Called Manders. Several IMPACT Wrestling talents have been featured on AAW shows in the past, including Moose, Callihan, Young, Trey Miguel, Jake Something, Rich Swann, Ace Austin and Madman Fulton.
Cicero Stadium should provide an electric atmosphere for IMPACT Wrestling fans. The building has also hosted PROGRESS Wrestling, EVOLVE, MLW, Warrior Wrestling and Lucha Libre Total just to name a few.
Young, a two-time IMPACT World Champion, has wrestled in front of Chicago crowds several times over the years and knows there’s something special happening in the Windy City.
“If you’re a wrestler and you perform in Chicago, you know there’s something different going on here,” Young told Windy City Slam recently. “It’s a different kind of vibe, a different kind of energy. There’s something different about the fans in Chicago. They’re a little more intense, a little more vibrant. As a performer, what else can you ask for. That kind of energy is a drug that can’t be bought.”
For in-depth interviews with Jordynne Grace and Moose, check them out from our YouTube channel below:
IMPACT Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace talks to Windy City Slam in advance of IMPACT Wrestling's two-night stop in the Chicago area on Aug. 12-13.
Grace discusses her "Triple Crown" achievement, her upcoming match with Mia Yim at Emergence, the IMPACT Knockouts division, intergender wrestling, tagging with her husband Jonathan Gresham, wrestling for Chicagoland independent promotions and what term she uses for Chicago deep dish pizza.
Former IMPACT World Championship and former NFL offensive lineman Moose speaks with Windy City Slam in advance of IMPACT Wrestling's two-night stop in the Chicago area on Aug. 12-13.
Moose discusses his 2019 "Bound for Glory" match with the legendary Ken Shamrock, his run as IMPACT World Champion, what he learned in the NFL that helped in his transition to pro wrestling, what stands out about Chicago wrestling crowds, favorite opponents, his thoughts on former Colts teammate Pat McAfee and more.
Catch Eric Young’s full interview as part of Ep. 129 of Windy City Slam Podcast: https://bit.ly/3OAwkWE.
Catch Windy City Slam editor Mike Pankow talking local and national pro wrestling every week with Chicago-area wrestling guests on Windy City Slam Podcast, part of the Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network. Episodes drop early Tuesday morning wherever you download podcasts or at https://windycityslam.podbean.com/.
We are looking for guests to appear on future episodes of the Windy City Slam Podcast! Please contact Mike at mikepankow@windycityslam.com, message him on Facebook or DM him on Twitter.
