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Impact Wrestling X-Division Champion Rich Swann, 28 years old, has signed a new, two-year deal with Impact, PWInsider.com can confirm.
“If you look at the landscape of professional wrestling today right now, it’s booming,” Swann said during an interview for the Elite section of PWInsider.com this morning. “Somebody would that say with AEW going on and WWE right now, they would say that Impact might be under the radar. But, from being inside the company, and seeing the roster and seeing everything, seeing how it’s grown over the last year, I feel that this is the company that is the best fit for me. I want to be a part of something that is growing right now. I feel like we’re going to make some moves.”
Swann’s new deal will keep him with Impact through May 2021.
“It’s a multi-year deal and that’s something we can build off of, “ Swann said. “Seeing how the company is growing, there’s no reason to think that it can’t become a relationship that lasts even longer. I’m treated very well and I’m very happy there. It’s one of the most packed rosters right now.”
One of the reasons Swann opted to sign was that the company opened their doors to him during the tumultuous time in his life after WWE released him following an arrest, despite all charges being dropped.
“Everyone saw how I was after everything happened. I have no ill will towards anybody, but Impact Wrestling they helped me up, they brought me up, when I decided I was going to retire, quotations, quotations. There were a lot of guys – Sonjay [Dutt], Sami [Callihan], Scott D’Amore, Don Callis – they were reaching out and saying, hey, there’s always a place for you right here. You are talented. Don’t stop. They uplifted me. To see that, like that’s something I want to be a part of. That helped me change my mind. Then, being able to be on the road and being with people. It changed my way of thinking. Man…It’s made me grow. I’ve been more mature. Like, focused. More attentive. More happy. I’m saying, I’m a part of something that, other than the wrestling side, people actually care about you, you know what I’m saying? I’m not saying that people in other wrestling companies don’t care [when you work there] but it really comes across and like, something like that is really big for me. That’s what made me to decide to re-sign with these guys and to continue working with them. It keeps me in a good head place. It keeps my head in a good space.“
Swann, who says that when he believe he was retiring, he was "all but out the door" is instead now looking upon the horizon for new opponents after the completion of his feud with Sami Callihan at Rebellion over the weekend in Toronto. One of the newer names on the Impact roster is former WWE,Impact and ECW Champion Rob Van Dam, who returned to the company full-time, officially this week. RVD stands out as a dream match opponent for Swann.
“Of course [he’s a dream match.] RVD vs. Jerry Lynn is one of my favorite matches. Anything RVD did, you know what I’m saying? That’s definitely a dream match opponent for me.”
With Swann now locked in for two more years, it’s likely just a matter of time before he and RVD cross paths inside an Impact Wrestling ring, but Swann is looking forward to creating more moments and stories that cut to the bone such as his Callihan storyline did.
"You can't get too personal in wrestling. You have to take fans on that ride."
Rich Swann will be appearing at this weekend’s Impact Wrestling tapings this Friday and Saturday in Philadelphia and the live, streaming Code Red event in New York City this Sunday night to take fans on the latest ride with his in-ring talents For details, visit www.ImpactWrestling.com,
Elite subscribers can listen to the entire Swann interview now by clicking here.
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