(Spoilers ahead)
Impact Wrestling was “extremely close” to signing Bubba Ray Dudley AKA Bully Ray to return at last night’s tapings, according to PWInsider. Bubba Ray would have been brought back to win the World Championship from Lashley and was made a “big-money offer.” However, the deal fell through at the last minute and that’s when Impact contacted Alberto El Patron…
Alberto was apparently only contacted on Wednesday night to take over the role that would have been given to Bubba Ray, and both sides agreed for Alberto to make his last minute debut the next night. Impact apparently went to “great lengths” to hide Alberto’s debut, having him sneak in, but Anthem’s Ed Nordholm then just tweeted out a pic of him and Jarrett together anyway.
The role of winning the title from Lashley last night was apparently originally intended for Drew Galloway, but he decided to not re-sign. Impact then contacted Bubba Ray Dudley, and when that fell through, they also contacted another mystery wrestler (currently uknown who it is), and when that didn’t work out, Alberto El Patron was contacted to come in.