AXS TV has announced they will expand the IMPACT Wrestling schedule with a new one-hour series next month. “IMPACT in 60” will debut on June 2 and it takes a look back at the promotion’s celebrated 18-year history under the IMPACT and TNA banners.
Each episode of IMPACT in 60 will feature a collection of full-length matches showcasing a different topic each week; the show will debut with the “Best of the Asylum Years” episode, highlighting rarely seen footage from TNA’s early years. The full release, including the remainder of the June schedule, can be seen below:
Los Angeles – (May 20, 2020) – AXS TV provides an extra dose of IMPACT Wrestling action on Tuesday nights as the network debuts the IMPACT Wrestling original series IMPACT in 60 beginning June 2 at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT, immediately following the weekly flagship series IMPACT! at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.
The hour-long series chronicles the promotion’s celebrated 18-year history under the IMPACT and TNA: Total Nonstop Action banners. Headlined by some of the greatest champions to enter the ring, each episode features a collection of full matches showcasing a different wrestler, championships, factions or match types.
IMPACT in 60 kicks off Tuesday, June 2 with the “Best of the Asylum Years,” highlighting rarely seen footage from the infancy of TNA with matches featuring former NWA Heavyweight Champions A.J. Styles and Raven, among others.
The June schedule also includes a look at the revolutionary high-flying X-Division Championship featuring Jay Lethal and Christopher Daniels (June 9), the greatest IMPACT World Heavyweight Title matches with Kurt Angle and Austin Aries (June 16), the legendary stable Aces & Eights including the show-stopping Bully Ray vs. Jeff Hardy match (June 23), and wrestling legend Mick Foley’s most epic battles against Sting, Samoa Joe and more (June 30).
“Thanks to the tremendous feedback from fans of IMPACT on AXS TV and the success of our first TNA television special, we are taking a great step forward to bolster the IMPACT Wrestling Tuesday night block,” said IMPACT Executive VP Scott D’Amore. “From the thousands of hours of thrilling action in our library, we created IMPACT in 60 to celebrate the legacy of the incredible performers who have competed for us and provide a fun trip down memory lane for the TNA faithful.”
Read More: Willie Mack On His Title Win Coming In An Empty Arena, How ‘Overwatch’ Inspired His Moveset
The Watch List takes a look at what matches you should be watching while you’re at home and they come recommended by your favorite professional wrestling stars.
“I don’t know. I just got the X Division title and I like having the title. Plus, you have to give it up to get a shot at the World Title, and that might end up backfiring. You could end up titleless in the end, which would suck. But hey, who knows?”
Diving back into TNA history, I noted that Mack was right about Option C not always working out. Rockstar Spud was unsuccessful in challenging Kurt Angle back in 2015, and Brian Cage walked away empty-handed after last year’s Homecoming pay-per-view.
“That’s the thing. You go in as the champion and I could give up the title with the hopes of winning [the World Championship], but you could end up with nothing and sit there with your hands out, like ‘what did I do?’”
Mack was a fan of TNA / IMPACT before he joined the promotion, and praised some of the work of the pioneers of the X Division. He noted that it’s hard to pick one match since there are so many, but noted that the classic match from TNA Unbreakable 2005 with AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels fighting for the X Division Championship stood out to him.
Another name that is linked to innovation in wrestling is Rob Van Dam, a man Mack is very familiar with. The two had previously squared off on IMPACT TV, but they’ve also worked together at PCW Ultra Fantasm in 2017. Mack says he’d want another shot at beating the ECW Original, and took a playful jab and said he had a better frog splash than RVD.
“Oh yeah, I’d want to get my rematch back since he beat me there. I can’t keep letting RVD put his hands on me and think he’s going to get away with it scot-free. Plus my frog splash is better.”
Check out our full interview with Willie Mack where we talk about his title win, adjusting to performing in front of an empty arena, his experience with cinematic wrestling, Chris Bey as a challenger in the X Division and much more.
We added some recommendations to the list and selected a good mix of bouts from Mack’s career, including highlights from his X Division title win and full-length matches Mack picked.
Willie Mack vs. Rob Van Dam
PCW Ultra Fantasm — January 20, 2017
Kurt Angle vs. Rockstar Spud
IMPACT Wrestling — May 10, 2015
AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe (Super X Cup Final)
TNA Sacrifice — August 14, 2005
Christopher Daniels vs. AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe
TNA Unbreakable — September 11, 2005
Willie Mack vs. Sam Shaw (NWA National Championship)
CWFH Milestone 2018 — December 9, 2018
Keith Lee vs. Willie Mack vs. Jeff Cobb
FSW The Mecca — September 24, 2017
Mack’s interview and Watch List (with full-length, free-to-watch matches) can be seen at this link
