It was reported on Wednesday afternoon that IMPACT! Wrestling star Eddie Edwards had signed a new deal with the company. However, the terms of the deal were not made public.
Edwards has been a member of the promotion since the year 2014, and it should be noted that the run was primarily as a babyface. Edwards spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated about the deal and his recent, and albeit VERY shocking, heel turn.
Recently, Edwards had been part of group of IMPACT! stars fighting off an “invasion” of angry former Ring of Honor employees, named Honor No More. The group consists of PCO, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Vincent. Last month during IMPACT!’s “No Surrender” PPV event, he made the heel turn, attacking his partners on Team IMPACT!, which consisted of Chris Sabin, Rhino, Rich Swann, and Steve Maclin. Thus aligning himself with Honor No More, to become the leader. He spoke about the incident:
“The company turned its back on me. That’s what makes this different. It’s a completely different chance for me to express myself. “I’ve been here for almost eight years, and I’ve done a lot. And there is still a lot more for me to prove.”
Edwards stated that HE did not turn his back on IMPACT! but they turned their back on HIM. The 38-year-old Edwards received VERY HIGH praise for his recent Impact promo explaining the heel turn. That made some waves considering for most of his career, he has never been viewed as a “top guy” in IMPACT! or the business in general with his promo work.
“I’ve had some chances with promos over the years, but this was different. I knew the bullet points I wanted to hit, but it wasn’t something I wrote out or memorized. I spoke the truth, and that’s why you can feel what I’m saying. The truth carried that promo. It’s what makes this real. Wrestling means the world to me. I’ve missed birthdays and funerals because I had shows to wrestle. I’ve suffered injuries, I’ve wrestled hurt, I almost lost my eye. But none of that ever made me love it less or want to leave. I’m proud to be a pro wrestler. That’s why that promo means something. It was real emotion.”
He went on to talk about his new stablemates in Honor No More.
“They bled for Ring of Honor, but they were taken for granted. This is very real to all of us. I was texting with Taven, Vinny, and Kenny as soon as I heard ROH was making changes. I’ve known these guys forever. I’ve known Vinny since he was a clean-shaven babyface. When ROH changed [its structure, announcing that all talent would be released from their contracts], I wanted every one of them to come to Impact. This group is really, talented. They’re going to show why it was a mistake to let them slip away.”
This new Heel turn undoubtedly sets him for a multitude of feuds. And without question, feuds with his former Team IMPACT! partners. He then spoke about how the company had planned for Edwards to team more with Sami Callihan but that changed when Callihan suffered a broken ankle back in September, putting him on the shelf until this spring.
“Originally, I had planned to do more tagging with Sami Callihan, but he got hurt so that changed what I was doing. It was time for a change, and this is my opportunity to step outside my comfort zone. So, let’s see what we can do.”
Eddie Edwards worked in ROH for seven years, winning the company’s World Title in 2011. He is a former two-time IMPACT! World Champion, who sounds like he is thinking about a third run as World Champion by commenting on the recently resigned “Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander as well. It is worth nothing at Alexander is challenging IMPACT! World Champion Moose next month at the “Rebellion” PPV event.
“Josh is the chosen one, the anointed one. I know all about that. I’ve been there; I was that guy. But it doesn’t last forever, and I’ll help show him. People are really going to see a whole new side of Impact with this, and I can’t wait to be the guy to show them.”
One thing is for sure, the eyes of IMPACT! Wrestling is firmly focused on the new side of Eddie Edwards.
