Rich Swann is set for the biggest match of his career on Sunday, April 25 at IMPACT Rebellion when he faces Kenny Omega. Swann will put his IMPACT World Title on the line while Omega defends his AEW World Title.
The winner of the bout will walk away with both titles.
Speaking to Riju Dasgupta of Sportskeeda, Swann discussed his historical bout and Omega's deadly One-Winged Angel.
"I think it's one of the most devastating moves in all of professional wrestling, just because of the fact that nobody has kicked out of it, including myself. I felt the wrath of it Hard to Kill, and it was something I would definitely not want to feel again. It's one of the scariest looking moves you'll see, as you're sitting on the top of a guy's shoulder, and he's driving you straight down to the mat, head first. Just the jolt as soon as you hit the mat is something serious, nothing to play with. I think it is a move that definitely will be looked down at as one of the strongest moves that could have ever put in professional wrestling," he says.
Last Thursday, April 15, it was announced Mauro Ranallo would provide commentary for the match between Swann and Omega. Ranallo walked away from his role as NXT lead announcer in 2020, but remained tied to combat sports through boxing and MMA.
Speaking about Mauro's return, Swann said, "You know just the history that I have with Mauro Ranallo is just gonna be awesome. Just to hear him, to go out here and call a match of this magnitude, it definitely is calling for somebody who's definitely looked at as one of the greatest commentators of our generation. Not only for professional wrestling, but he's also a great commentator in boxing, he can get all the points in MMA. He's not somebody who'll miss a beat when it comes to in-ring action. What I mean by the history is he's one of the people who called the historic moment when I won the Cruiserweight Championship. Can lightning strike three times in a bottle for me and have Mauro calling this. If I had the opportunity to win the AEW Championship, it will be the third world championship that I'd had, and it's gonna be nuts."
Also on April 15, WWE announced a handful of talent cuts including former TNA/IMPACT Champion Samoa Joe.
When asked about possibly facing Joe, Swann said, "The opportunity has never been greater to possibly happen than now here in 2021. The forbidden door is opened. I want Samoa Joe. I want Kalisto. I want them all."
Scott D'Amore gave his thoughts on the WWE talent releases, teasing that he could see some of them ending up in an IMPACT ring. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
Fightful will have live coverage of IMPACT Rebellion beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. You can view the current lineup for the show by clicking here.
