Various: Impact Signs Alan Angels, Kenny Omega on NJPW Return, Ricky Steamboat on Original Return Match Plans

Nov 26, 2022

Alan Angels Signs Contract with Impact Wrestling & Given New Ring Name

Impact Wrestling announced that former AEW talent Alan Angels recently signed an official contract with the company.

It was also announced that Angels will now be going under the new ring name of Angels going forward in the company.

Angels Signs With IMPACT Wrestling
News / November 23, 2022 / by IMPACT Wrestling Staff
As first reported by Darren Paltrowitz on the Paltrocast, Angels has signed with IMPACT Wrestling. To read more and watch his exclusive interview with Angels, click here.

A pleasure speaking with @IMPACTWRESTLING (@IMPACTUK) star @Alan_V_Angels yesterday — congrats to Alan on signing with #ImpactWrestling

Now live via the @paltrocast website, interview to also air via #Paltrocast TV outletshttps://t.co/Nbg1GiVcN8
— Darren Paltrowitz (@paltrowitz) November 23, 2022

Kenny Omega Comments on NJPW Return & Wrestle Kingdom 17 Appearance

As noted before, Kenny Omega is currently scheduled to make his in-ring return for New Japan Pro Wresting at their Wrestle Kingdom 17 event next year. Omega will be facing off against champion Will Ospreay for the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship at the event.

Sports Illustrated held a recent interview with Omega. One of the topics discussed included Omega’s thoughts on his upcoming in-ring return to NJPW.

“I’m returning to New Japan as an ambassador of AEW. I’m returning to New Japan as an ambassador of pro wrestling. I’m also returning home. I left to start this new, exciting opportunity, but it’s still home. Now the things Will can do are things I cannot. He’s an athletic phenom. But as finely tuned as he is physically, he still hasn’t doesn’t have the knowledge or experience. I pushed my own physical boundaries in All Japan and DDT, but that’s not what I’m known for. My mind is my greatest asset, not my athleticism. That’s what’s allowed [Hiroshi] Tanahashi to have such a long and flavorful career. I needed someone to take my place in New Japan, I wanted someone to take my place–and it was Will, Jay [White], and [Kota] Ibushi. Will is the only one to have a problem with that. I had to speak in Japanese to remind him that he doesn’t have home court advantage. This is still my home.”

Ricky Steamboat Comments on Original Plans for His Return Match

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat is currently scheduled to make his in-ring return for Big Time Wrestling at their Return of the Dragon event on this Sunday in Raleigh, North Carolina. This will be Steamboat’s first match since June of 2010 and subsequent retirement.

WrestlingInc.com held a recent interview with Steamboat. One of the topics discussed included Steamboat revealing that the original plans for his return match involved him facing off against FTR due to FTR being heels at the time in AEW. Steamboat stated that those plans were later changed to him teaming up with FTR instead following their face turn in AEW.

“This [match], for me to make a final, final decision was three or four months in the making. I just didn’t jump on it the first time I was approached from Big Time Wrestling and I have an agent guy, Tony Hunter, who also works with Big Time Wrestling, and when I was first approached, but FTR, when I was first approached were heels. They were going to be two guys on the other side of the ring that I was going to be wrestling. AEW turned them babyfaces, turned them good guy. So they said, ‘We can’t have heels working against you, Ricky, you’re a baby face. So what would you think if we had them as your partners.
I thought it was great too because they were at the school [for] WWE, back in the day when I was a trainer and I’d work with them in the ring and I know they’re good hands and I’m glad how they’ve grown in the business with AEW. So the adversaries, the Jay Lethal and then Old Arn Anderson’s boy, Brock and they still got a mystery partner and I haven’t been privy to the mystery partner. Can you believe this? It’s coming up this week.”