This week, Impact Wrestling fans were treated with an out-of-the-blue announcement that the company would be adding a new championship to its ranks. Viewers of Impact Wrestling on AXS TV received answers about what that new championship would be when the company unveiled a video of the new Digital Media Championship.
The Digital Media Championship is described as the next step beyond the traditional Television Championship. To be contested in matches online, on the TV show, on Impact Plus and on PPV, this intergender championship will crown its first champion at "Countdown to Bound for Glory" on October 23rd.
There will be a series of qualifier matches on Impact Plus and Impact's Ultimate Insiders page starting next Tuesday and Wednesday. The winners of the six qualifying matches will advance to a six-way match at the BFG Pre-Show.
As determined on ImpactWrestling.com, the first two qualifying matches are John Skyler vs Zicky Dice and Crazzy Steve vs Hernandez. Judging by the preview video released, we should expect to see some sort of combination of Jordynne Grace, Tenille Dashwood, Fallah Bahh, Johnny Swinger, Sam Beale and VSK to also be competing in the Digital Media Championship Tournament.
If the preview matches and preview video are any indicator, it appears this title will serve the undercard much like the WWF European Championship years ago. In 2020, it was a roll of cash that the lower card wrestlers competed for. It seems to be a little different now.
In a history lesson of sorts, longtime TNA fans will remember Impact's history with secondary championships. In 2008, Booker T created the TNA Legends Championship. This title would become the Global Championship, which would become the Television Championship, which would become the King of the Mountain Championship. Champions during this time would include names like AJ Styles, Kevin Nash, Eric Young, Bobby Roode, Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe, Devon and more. The title had a number of highs but also felt like a background figure as well. Most notably, Abyss held the title for nearly a year without defending it or even acknowledging its presence before it was deactivated and brought back a year later.
In 2016, Impact created the Impact Grand Championship, which was known to be fought for in a very distinct round-style format. Initially the concept started very strongly but eventually, the ruleset hindered the title. It was eventually unified with the World Title in 2018 by Austin Aries.
Now its the next chapter in a secondary singles championship. This one is called "The Digital Media Championship Age." While not being on the level of a Television Championship, it currently has potential to give a good chunk of the roster something to fight for. It can always grow as a title from it current iteration.
The name of the title leaves a lot to be desired. Naming it the "Digital Media Championship" sounds like a group of 40-50 year old men sitting in a room figuring out a way to be hip with the youths. Outside of the name though, I look forward to what the title will bring to the Impact product.
There will be a series of qualifier matches on Impact Plus and Impact's Ultimate Insiders page starting next Tuesday and Wednesday. The winners of the six qualifying matches will advance to a six-way match at the BFG Pre-Show.
As determined on ImpactWrestling.com, the first two qualifying matches are John Skyler vs Zicky Dice and Crazzy Steve vs Hernandez. Judging by the preview video released, we should expect to see some sort of combination of Jordynne Grace, Tenille Dashwood, Fallah Bahh, Johnny Swinger, Sam Beale and VSK to also be competing in the Digital Media Championship Tournament.
If the preview matches and preview video are any indicator, it appears this title will serve the undercard much like the WWF European Championship years ago. In 2020, it was a roll of cash that the lower card wrestlers competed for. It seems to be a little different now.
In a history lesson of sorts, longtime TNA fans will remember Impact's history with secondary championships. In 2008, Booker T created the TNA Legends Championship. This title would become the Global Championship, which would become the Television Championship, which would become the King of the Mountain Championship. Champions during this time would include names like AJ Styles, Kevin Nash, Eric Young, Bobby Roode, Abyss, Jeff Jarrett, Samoa Joe, Devon and more. The title had a number of highs but also felt like a background figure as well. Most notably, Abyss held the title for nearly a year without defending it or even acknowledging its presence before it was deactivated and brought back a year later.
In 2016, Impact created the Impact Grand Championship, which was known to be fought for in a very distinct round-style format. Initially the concept started very strongly but eventually, the ruleset hindered the title. It was eventually unified with the World Title in 2018 by Austin Aries.
Now its the next chapter in a secondary singles championship. This one is called "The Digital Media Championship Age." While not being on the level of a Television Championship, it currently has potential to give a good chunk of the roster something to fight for. It can always grow as a title from it current iteration.
The name of the title leaves a lot to be desired. Naming it the "Digital Media Championship" sounds like a group of 40-50 year old men sitting in a room figuring out a way to be hip with the youths. Outside of the name though, I look forward to what the title will bring to the Impact product.
