The main event of Rebellion saw IMPACT Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling representatives clash. Rich Swann, the IMPACT World Champion, and Kenny Omega, the AEW World Champion, faced off in a Title vs. Title Match. In other words, whoever emerged victorious would become a world champion across multiple North American promotions. Though Swann put forth a valiant effort, “The Outlandish” face of IMPACT Wrestling was unable to thwart All Elite Wrestling’s “Best Bout Machine.” The show ended with Omega standing victorious, not only with his own AEW World Championship but his newly won IMPACT World Championship as well.
Following his AEW Championship victory this past December, which saw him defeat Jon Moxley at the Winter is Coming edition of AEW Dynamite, Kenny Omega appeared frequently with Co-EVP of IMPACT Wrestling, Don Callis. Omega’s appearances included IMPACT Wrestling’s own weekly TV show, where he targeted the likes of The Motor City Machine Guns and, of course, Rich Swann. Along the way, Omega would often be flanked by The Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, before helping encourage The Young Bucks to join them.
The Rebellion main event saw both titleholders with their respective groups at their side. While Omega was supported by Callis and The Good Brothers at ringside, Swann had Eddie Edwards and Willie Mack in his corner. The match reached its conclusion as Omega avoided Swann’s Phoenix Splash attempt. From there, Omega brought down Swann with the One-Winged Angel that had put down so many other opponents in the past. One three-count later and Omega stood tall holding IMPACT Wrestling’s top prize.
How much more can @GottaGetSwann's neck take? #IMPACTRebellion @KennyOmegamanX pic.twitter.com/x2capkEShb
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2021
Despite his loss at Rebellion, Rich Swann represented IMPACT Wrestling well as its world champion. He won the IMPACT World Championship this past October at Bound for Glory, defeating Eric Young to do so. Since then, he has gone on to successfully defend the title over the next several months. Among the opponents he bested were Chris Bey, Sami Callihan, and Ken Shamrock. It’s also worth noting that, despite the ongoing partnership between IMPACT Wrestling and AEW, Swann never appeared on the latter’s programming leading up to the Rebellion pay-per-view.
Meanwhile, Kenny Omega’s victory at Rebellion is a landmark achievement for multiple reasons. Wrestling historians may be interested to know that this is the first major world title unification since 1988. In this year, in wrestling history, Jerry “The King” Lawler unified the world titles of the Continental Wrestling Association, the American Wrestling Association, and World Class Championship Wrestling. Before that, in 1956, Lou Thesz unified existing world titles, giving rise to the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship, currently held by Nick Aldis.
.@RefAubrey's integrity as an official is unquestionable. #IMPACTRebellion pic.twitter.com/6elmY7NQCi
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2021
In addition to being the world titleholder for AEW and IMPACT, Omega is also the AAA Mega Champion, having won the title by defeating Rey Fenix in December of 2019. Furthermore, tonight’s victory extends Omega’s AEW World Championship reign beyond its 144-day threshold. Consider the fact that his Rebellion match marks only his third AEW World Title defense; he previously defended the title against Fenix on the New Year’s Smash episode of AEW Dynamite in January of 2021, as well as against Moxley in their Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch at Revolution last month.
Sports Events Guide will have the latest results and predictions from IMPACT Wrestling Rebellion live during the show. Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. IMPACT Wrestling Rebellion will air live on the IMPACT Plus app and via FITE.tv.
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