Johnny Swinger is going back to the future with IMPACT Wrestling.
Swinger had a brief run in WWE during the mid-2000s and in the precursor to IMPACT, TNA. However, Swinger is probably best known for his ECW run alongside Simon Diamond. Speaking to Fightful’s Denise Salcedo, Johnny opens up about the interaction with Scott D'Amore that led to his return to the promotion.
"Actually, I got the call from Scott D'Amore, who is a great friend of mine. Oh, my gosh. Since my beginning days in wrestling. He was responsible for my first break ever with WCW and was behind bringing me into the original TNA. So he was always a great friend that knew how to use Johnny Swinger better than anybody as a talent," said the former NWA Tag Team Champion. "From what he told me, that they were just kind of in a creative meeting and there was an idea thrown up him and he thought of me. And everybody was just kind like, you know what, that's going to work. We're gonna do it. And they did it, and it's rolling, it's going unbelievable for me."
As wrestling has changed over the years, technology has allowed easier access to promotions around the world which has led to performers and fans are like to develop a more diverse palate and appreciation for the different styles and philosophies that wrestling can offer. Swinger, who has been wrestling since blank reveals that he’s actually never taking a break since leaving WWE and has continued to hone his craft by traveling the globe and learning new styles with the goal of developing a hybrid style for himself.
"Just my years of longevity and the things that I've picked up working in front of the different crowds in the south, and the north, and starting in Canada and being in Europe, there's a different style everywhere," he said when asked what he hopes to show new fans in his return to IMPACT "So I kind of picked up a little things here and there over the years and [to be able to] just kind of co-mingle in there with some of the younger guys coming into wrestling in with some experience, [who haven't] been everywhere. I think you could maybe help them with a couple of things. And I think they can help me."
Today, IMPACT Wrestling features a wide variety of major stars such as Brian Cage, Tessa Blanchard, Sami Callihan, oVe, Willie Mack, and more. Johnny Swinger revealed to Denise Salcedo just who he would like to step in the ring with from the modern IMPACT roster and why.
"Obviously, Brian Cage, the World Champ. And my gosh, what an impressive looking guy. There's somebody I'd love to step in the ring with and see how people react to that," said Swinger. "But at the same time, I'm impressed with oVe. I mean, I love the gang mentality. and they've got a big heater there in the Madman [Fulton.] I would like being involved in something with these guys and see how that would go. I am not very narrow-minded to go, "well, I'm a bad guy or I'm a good guy." I think where they got me now, I could kind of interact with [and] really make a great segment with anybody that's on the roster. So it's been a real positive comeback with a lot of the talent. You know, given me a lot of, you know, real good inspiration and even ideas to use. So I look forward to working with everybody."
Johnny, just like everybody associated with IMPACT Wrestling, is excited about the new chapter that comes with being aired on AXS TV. A veteran from the Attitude Era, Johnny understands just how important the momentum of a good television deal is and Johnny feels confident that the current IMPACT product will be able to leave a positive mark and add some strong storytelling to the current landscape of wrestling.
"Well, we're all set to make this huge explosion nationally. And like I said, everybody's working together. And I think we actually have the stage and the network to do it on," Swinger began. "There is a lot of wrestling on TV right now, but I think that's gonna be good. I think our show is going to be different in the sense that we're not just going out there wrestling and doing the moves for the sake of a wow factor, there's going to be a lot of story behind it and there's going to be two guys wrestling. They're going have issues with each other and people are gonna want to see what's going to happen, be it on the pay per view or the following [episode.] Each TV show you're gonna see, you're going to want to see the next one. So I think there's going to be a lot of good drama added to unbelievable athleticism and execution of the wrestling in the ring."
IMPACT Wrestling will begin airing new episodes on AXS starting this Tuesday night. You can see full results for everything IMPACT in Fightful's results section
