Written by: Craig Ferriman (@MrImpact_Blog)
Over the years many big names have stepped into an IMPACT ring & have certainly made an Impact. Names like Christian Cage, Austin Aries, Bobby Roode & for many TNA/ IMPACT have given a well needed resurgence too their careers like Rhino or Raven. But the company simply known as IMPACT have also had their fair share of wrestlers from this side of the pond some of who had a very on & off run & some who were very successful, here’s just a few & where they are now.
Will Ospreay- Essex. Will was one of those brits who didn’t make much of an IMPACT although he featured on one of the last set of TV tapings for then TNA impact in March 2016 over in the UK & even received a King of the Mountain championship opportunity as well as teaming with “Iconic” Matt Hardy as part of the Jokers Wild tag team tournament. As I’m sure we’re now aware Ospreay is a big part of the IWGP Junior heavyweight division where he is the current Junior Heavyweight champion, Will has made his feelings known as too how his short lived time with TNA went so another run with IMPACT now seems to be out of the question.
Douglas Williams- Reading Doug had a pretty successful run with TNA picking up 2 runs with the X Division Championship along the way also a one time reign as Television Champion as well as part of the British Invasion having some success in the tag division when they had a single run as TNA tag team champions not to mention winning the IWGP heavyweight tag team Championships in a ladder match on an Episode of IMPACT. Something that was made possible because of the TNA & NJPW working relationship that was in place at the time. As of right now Doug has officially retired from professional wrestling after being defeated by Trent Severn at Progress Wrestlings biggest show to date “Hello Wembley”.
BRAM- Chesterfield Bram had a rather lacklustre run with the company from 2014-2015 despite picking up the King of the Mountain championship towards the end of his run with the company after defeating Eric Young to send EY off too NXT. The “Chesterfield Plaque” is someone many of the IMPACT fans would enjoy seeing return, he did make a brief appearance on an Episode of Xplosion in January. During his time Bram enjoyed several note able feuds with guys like Magnus, James Storm & Decay. Bram even had a match with the Mastodon Vader on an Episode of IMPACT whilst Bram had run in which he would call out anyone from TNA’S past. As of right now Bram is currently signed too a few independent promotions such as Tried N True wrestling, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question to see a return of Bram full time too an IMPACT ring.
Jimmy Havoc- Camden Town. Jimmy has featured on IMPACT a few times including being part of a group of British wrestlers invited too participate in the 2016 Maximum IMPACT tour along with Will Ospreay & Big Damo. Jimmy was also part of the KOTM title ladder match along with Ospreay, he also had a great Monsters Ball match with the Monster Abyss himself in a Hardcore dream match. That wouldn’t be the last time Jimmy worked for IMPACT as he was also a part of the IMPACT vs The UK at Mediacon last September where he faced Sami Callihan in a barbed wire baseball bat death match, a brutal match that I’m proud to say I was in attendance for. He & Callihan had another match under the IMPACT banner when the two faced off at United We Stand on Fite TV over mania weekend. Jimmy is currently signed too All Elite Wrestling and is having yet another dream match at the PPV where he’ll be facing off against Joey Janela & Darby Allin.
Wynter (Katie Lea Burchill)- London. Wynter is a former knockouts Champion in her own right as well as a former Knockouts Tag Team Champion along with Angelina Love, she’s certainly memorable as a former champion & she returned too the company in late 2018 under the name Katarina when she returned as girlfriend too Grado. She later embarked in a small feud with Grado & Joe Hendry however soon after Grado & Joe left the company she stuck around but mainly too put the newest editions too the roster over she soon left earlier this year. Katarina is now working several independents & I feel it’s safe too say we won’t see her back in a ring anytime soon.
Nick Aldis (Magnus)- Kings Lynn. Aldis had a run with TNA that at first failed to gain any ground as a former UK Gladiator (Oblivion) he made his debut under the name Brutus Magnus he had some okay matches but was treated as a future star. That didn’t really come through until he along with Doug Williams & Rob Terry formed the British Invasion. A group that to many British fans was deemed a little too stereotypical but they did have some success as I mentioned earlier they were former TNA & IWGP heavyweight tag team Champions.
He also reigned as Tag Team Champions in a team I feel doesn’t get nearly enough credit alongside Samoa Joe, that tag formation lead too a team break up & an underrated feud between the two which was arguably Magnus’ break out feud. Magnus turned heel in 2014 when he sided with Dixie Carter too win the vacated world championship. That made Magnus the first British world champion of a major promotion in 108 years, Aldis is now the current NWA world championship & currently on his second reign after regaining the title from Cody (Rhodes), the relationship with Aldis & Impact Is pretty strained even after he returned as the GFW world champion in 2017.
Marty Scurll- Cambridge Scurll was one of the few who featured on the very first season of British boot camp along with Rockstar Spud (Drake Maverick) & The Blossom Twins. “Party Marty” failed too make much of an IMPACT although he & Spud had a great match on the last episode of Boot Camp there’s one match that sticks out when people talk about Martys’ time in TNA & that’s a 6 person tag match he & the Blossoms had against Jessie Godderz, Tara & Gail Kim in which Marty dove over the ropes too the outside onto Jessie but he unfortunately didn’t land right. Marty now however is a big part of ROH as the leader of Villain enterprises who are the current 6 man tag team champions.
Kay Lee Ray- Glasgow. Kay lee was part of the second series of British Boot camp & came very close to being the second winner but narrowly lost too Mark Andrews, Kay Lee Ray did however have a few great matches throughout the tournament including a bout facing off against Gail Kim which was thoroughly enjoyable. KLR is currently signed too NXT UK and will be facing current NXT UK women’s champion Toni Storm at Takeover Cardiff this Saturday, she’s also a two time WoS women’s champion as well as a multi time ICW World Women’s Champion.
That was just a few of the very talented guys/ girls who made their way over too TNA/ IMPACT Wrestling from this side of the pond whether it be for a few weeks or a few years. Since these amazing people left impact there haven’t been too many featured on the product from these Isles, although very recently Chuck Mambo worked an X Division Championship number 1 contenders match I hope soon that we’ll see a few more guys & girls from these shores working under the IMPACT banner. A UK return for IMPACT has recently been teased since a relationship with Wrestling Travel have been announced it’s certainly more than a possibility.
Thanks for reading, I’m sure you’ll be able to watch the TNA runs of all the talented athletes featured on this list via the IMPACT Plus app.
