Steve Maclin highlights the importance of his match with Josh Alexander at IMPACT Victory Road.
Maclin was forced to miss IMPACT Slammiversary due to a groin injury, but he has returned to IMPACT, and he will face Josh Alexander at IMPACT Victory Road.
In an interview with Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp, Maclin expressed his excitement about his match with Josh Alexander. He stated that they are the top two guys in IMPACT Wrestling. Maclin stated that, even without a title, it's the biggest match on the card. He also shared his belief that it's one of the biggest matches of the year.
"It’s one of those things where I think, even when it was supposed to happen at Rebellion, we knew what we were getting into and it’s a program I’m looking forward to, for however long it does last. But for me, the way I feel, and I’m pretty sure Josh feels the same way if I was to ask him or if you were to ask him, we are the two guys at IMPACT Wrestling. If you look at the male side of things, it’s me and Josh. We’re the top two guys. That’s also my opinion just because I feel like I’ve worked to that. Title or not in this match, I think this is the biggest match on the card and I think this is one of the biggest matches of the year for IMPACT Wrestling. That also puts a lot of pressure on me to deliver. Same with Josh," Maclin said.
Maclin also noted that his wife, Deonna Purrazzo, will be in a high-profile match at the show. He stated that the bout, like his own, showed that some of the biggest matches at IMPACT Victory Road don't involve titles.
"Then you can look at the women’s side. You have my wife and Jordynne, no title involved with those two and that’s another one of those matches where it’s just like you’re getting this card where there’s titles on the line and old matches, but the matches that, to me, your key on this card at Victory Road are the ones that don’t even involve titles and it’s showing the landscape of what’s going to happen with a Bound for Glory and what’s going to go on for the rest of the year into Hard to Kill," he said.
Maclin also shared his thoughts on Eric Young's return and called it an opportunity to elevate his game. He stated that Young is on another level, and he's very underrated. The former champion noted that he goes to Young for advice, and it's good to have him back. He made it clear that he would like to work with Young at some point.
"It’s another opportunity to work with somebody so good and to elevate my game as well because EY’s just on another level of talent. I think he’s very underrated in that category, too. People don’t really put his name up there as one of the best. If you watch his matches, him and Jay White, when they wrestled about a year ago, had just a killer match together. The chemistry is good. He’s got that grittiness that I like and where it suspends disbelief at times. He’s good at what he does in his craft. He’s someone that I latch to for advice behind the scenes as well. So it’s good to have him back and I look forward to an opportunity to hopefully work with him at some point," Maclin said.
During the interview, Maclin reflected on his groin injury and missing IMPACT Slammiversary. Check out his comments here.
Alex Shelley shared his thoughts on Steve Maclin facing Josh Alexander. Click here to see what he had to say.
Check out the card for IMPACT Victory Road here. Fightful will have live coverage of the show as it airs.
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