The story of Steve Maclin's journey to the IMPACT World Championship was still on route for IMPACT Rebellion, but it was on a different course at one time.
The IMPACT World Heavyweight Champion was initially scheduled to face Josh Alexander; however, an audible had to be called because of an injury to Alexander. Maclin would face a new opponent for the world title at Rebellion, Kushida.
Maclin joined Fightful's Wrestling Perspective Podcast with Lars Frederiksen and Dennis Farrell for an exclusive interview. The topic of when did he find out that he would be winning the IMPACT World Championship came up.
Maclin would say, "I kind of knew about a month before that I was going over, and then I always just go into things with wrestling. Things always change, and I try to keep a clear head of not getting my hopes up. So I'm not disappointed. So I always keep my standards pretty low and everything. That's one thing I learned in the Marine Corps, is keep your standards pretty low because you're going to be disappointed at some point."
Two years ago today I signed with @IMPACTWRESTLING and haven’t looked back. No matter the challenge or obstacle, I have adapted and overcome with one goal in mind: The Impact World Championship.
— Steve Maclin (@SteveMaclin) May 5, 2023
Here’s to the future --
TAG’EM, BAG’EM & MAYHEM FOR ALL #MACLIN pic.twitter.com/cxVHDFlvf1
Bully Ray returned to the rebranded company at Bound for Glory in October, marking the first time he's wrestled under TNA/IMPACT umbrella since 2014.
"I'll worry about it when I get out there, is it cool to know ahead of time? Where we're going for the story? Because originally, I was supposed to go towards the title at Bound for Glory win in the Call Your Own Shot, but then Bully came in, changed it, and it actually helped me in the long run with the storyline as well. Because then it went to Bully [Ray] and Josh [Alexander] built Josh up even more, and then it was building even more for me and Josh where we knew it was going to be Josh and I at rebellion." Steve said.
Steve Maclin also spoke about how happy he was that his wife, Deonna Purrazzo, the Impact Knockouts Championship title that evening.
"How are we going to get there? Plans changed. But, being told that I was going to win was awesome, and even for my wife to win the title on the same night made it even cooler because we never imagined that to happen. We did expect to be champions at some point together, but never on the same night, winning and especially her main eventing with Jordynne [Grace]. They killed it. I was so happy for her, so proud of her." Maclin said.
.@RealNickAldis wasn't going to stand by after @SteveMaclin attacked @ScottDAmore from behind! #Rebellion pic.twitter.com/ZvlQILAnnE
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 17, 2023
Steve Maclin is scheduled to face PCO at IMPACT Under Siege 2023. Fightful will provide live results coverage of the event. The current event card can be seen by clicking here.
