Impact Wrestling has generated perhaps their most positive buzz since the "Broken" days in the light of Redemption, their new management regime, and by maintaining partnerships around the globe.
Fightful.com recently spoke to Eli Drake about the shift in business model for Impact, which has seemingly embraced the "independent promotion with TV" spot and brings talent in for short spurts, and works with other independent promotions throughout the world.
"I think it's a great move to bring the business as a whole together. You have all these little promotions that are kind of floundering, and we get strength in unity. The only knock I could have is some of these promotions don't have the greatest production. Sometimes it doesn't look as crisp as it could -- lighting or cameras or whatever. Other than that, I think it's helping everyone to work together and gives a lot of guys and girls opportunities they wouldn't have had otherwise. They get to work with Impact talent, and who knows, they might end up on the radar," Drake told me.
Just a few years back, Impact and Lucha Underground were at odds over the use of Hernandez on Impact TV while he was under contract to Lucha Underground. With the profile of both companies changing since then, a partnership has been forged, which Drake sees as a positive.
"I think it's a credit to Impact and Lucha Underground. It's a credit to business," Drake said. "With so many soft egos in this business, people don't want to work together, put the pride aside. If you look at it now, you have a lot of guys crossing over. There's flexibility on both sides. It's great for the talent and great for both promotions."
You can see the full, brief discussion with Eli Drake above. One of the talent who have seen increased exposure as part of the Lucha Underground/Impact deal is Pentagon, who Fightful has a series of exclusives with as well.
