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| (Image Source: WrestlingNews.co) |
Prior to its recently-concluded highly successful Hard To Kill PPV, IMPACT Wrestling has officially announced a new broadcast team for its flagship weekly television program IMPACT!, PPVs and IMPACT Plus Specials. Matt Striker will be IMPACT's new play-by-play announcer while D'Lo Brown is set to handle color commentary duties.
Meanwhile, Josh Mathews has signed a new multi-year contract with the company and is promoted to Senior Producer for the weekly TV show and pay-per-views. Madison Rayne, on the other hand, officially announced her retirement from professional wrestling after more than a decade in IMPACT Wrestling where she is a five-time IMPACT Knockouts Champion, two-time IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Champion and 2014 Queen Of The Knockouts. Her announcement was made during the Hard To Kill countdown show which is available on IMPACT's official YouTube channel. "My play-by-play career has spanned nearly 20 years from Wrestlemania to Bound For Glory to incredible moments from IMPACT Wrestling on AXS TV," Mathews said. "Producing will allow me to have a bigger role in the overall production of our weekly show, PPVs and IMPACT+ Specials. This transition has been a great process, Matt and D'Lo are bringing fresh energy and ready to go. It was a special year in 2020, and both Madison Rayne and I will be grateful for the opportunity and look forward to these exciting changes."
A former high school teacher, Striker transitioned from professional wrestling to professional wrestling broadcasting for the WWE and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide. He was a past winner of the Best Television Announcer Award, presented annually by The Wrestling Observer. "I've always loved professional wrestling. It is a love that unites so many people. Pro wrestling is a sport and I want to be mindful to call it as such. I've learned and grown so much, and I thank the fans - and the critics - for that," Striker said. "It is not lost on me the opportunity that is before me - I can once again lend my voice to the sport that I love. In doing so, I'm poised to describe, analyze and witness the most advanced athletes the sport has ever seen. I am excited, nervous, thankful and humbled. I cannot wait to get out there. You will always be able to hear the fan in me."
Brown had an illustrious career with multiple singles and tag team championships in numerous promotions worldwide including the WWF European Championship (4 times), the WWF Intercontinental Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship (with Gran Apolo). "I'm very excited to join the IMPACT Wrestling broadcast booth and I know working alongside Matt Striker will be a lot of fun. I believe in IMPACT Wrestling with its amazing roster of skilled Superstars and Knockouts - and can't wait to have the best seat in the house to call all the action," Brown said. "I'm humbled to follow the IMPACT broadcasting team of Don West and Mike Tenay and most recently Don Callis, Madison Rayne, and certainly Josh Mathews. I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity. I know there are big shoes to fill, but Striker and I will do our best."
IMPACT Wrestling kicked off 2021 with its first PPV event Hard To Kill headlined by the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) World Champion Kenny Omega and IMPACT World Tag Team Champions The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows) defeating reigning IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann, Chris Sabin and self-proclaimed TNA World Heavyweight Champion and "Mr. IMPACT Wrestling" Moose in a six-man tag team extravaganza and Barbed Wire Massacre IV where Eddie Edwards ended his long and storied rivalry with "The Draw" Sami Callihan. The event which was held last January 16, 2011 (Saturday, US time) also saw Deonna Purazzo and Manik retaining the Knockouts and X Division Championships respectively, Fire N'Flava (Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz) being crowned as IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Champions, and the IMPACT Wrestling debut of Matt Cardona.
