Josh Alexander defeated Ace Austin and TJP at IMPACT’s Rebellion PPV to become the new IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion.
During the shows opening bout, reigning X-Division Champion Ace Austin put his title on the line against the experienced veteran of TJP and the motivated newcomer in Alexander.
Despite various attempts from Madman Fulton on the outside, ultimately Alexander was victorious pinning Ace Austin following a second ‘Divine Intervention’.
This ends ‘The Invetiable’ Ace Austin’s second X-Division reign at just 43 days, his prior reign as X-Division Champion lasted over 150 days before losing the belt to Willie Mack at last years Rebellion show.
Recently Ace Austin spoke with Inside The Ropes’ own Liam Alexander-Stewart ahead of the Rebellion title defence.
Whilst discussing the X-Division title match, Austin discussed Josh Alexander and why he is arguably one of his toughest opponents ever:
“I’m glad you used the word toughest because that really is what I think of when I think of Josh Alexander even looking past his, I mean, you can’t look past his technical prowess like he is, he and TJP both are like strategically, mechanically, some of the absolute best ever do it. And the thing about Josh Alexander is what sets him apart from everybody else besides that technical ability even is that toughness that he has. Him and Ethan Page were so successful together. And it’s really easy to just think that he’ll flounder in a singles setting because Ethan Page was the the mouthpiece, Ethan Page was the voice of the North, but. Josh is you can’t look past how damn tough he is, he was the marathon man of that team. He was the one that could go, go, go and just not be stopped. So so I think that is that is going to be I think my biggest threat in this match is what will it take to keep Josh Alexander down? Because I’ve seen him go through I mean, his just his his career, the things that he’s been through, the broken neck being so close to retirement and having to just give it up and then fighting back from that, you know, I can’t compare anything I’ve been through to that yet.
You know, he is he has a longer career than I do. And he’s been through those kinds of injuries more so than I have. But. I think I have the superstar edge. I think that Josh Alexander doesn’t know, doesn’t know what it’s like to be underneath the lights and under the pressure that I’ve been under. And I know how to I know how to operate in those spaces. He relies on his toughness and his technical prowess. I rely on my ability to adapt around those things. I don’t put myself in any sort of box I leave myself totally open to. Whatever it’s going to take to win, you know, there’s no such thing, A, there’s no such thing as a fair fight, if you ask me, there’s no such thing as a fair fight. It’s the win or the lose however you get there, it’s how you get there. So, yeah, I mean, that’s that’s what I got to do, definitely.”
Additionally, Austin would discuss what a loss at Rebellion would mean for his chances at becoming the youngest IMPACT World Champion in the companies history:
“I haven’t forgotten and I certainly hope you haven’t either, and I certainly hope that anyone watching has not forgotten. I vowed to become the youngest world champion in this company’s history and I have until August to do that. The way I see it, the stars are lining up OK. The X-Division title is The Ace Up My Sleeve, Option C Is going to give me that last chance to make that youngest world champion thing happen. So that’s so whether I retain the X Division title, if I retain the X Division title, then I’ve got my ticket. If I don’t, I’m going to have to work a little harder, but inevitably I’m going to vie for that world championship at least one more time before my time is up to become the youngest.”
Elsewhere on IMPACT Wrestling’s Rebellion PPV, former WWE Superstar Big Cass made his IMPACT Wrestling debut aligning with former NXT Tag Team Champion and IMPACT legend – Eric Young.