Rebellion (2023)

Rebellion is a professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. It is annually held during the month of April, and the event was first held in 2019. At Hard To Kill, Impact Wrestling announced Rebellion would take place in on April 16, 2023, at the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1][2]

The event will feature professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray villains, heroes, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on Impact's weekly television program.[3]

At No Surrender, Steve Maclin defeated Brian Myers, Heath, and PCO in a four-way match to become number one contender to the Impact World Championship. Later that night, Josh Alexander retained the title over Rich Swann.[4][5] Impact would later announce that Maclin would challenge Alexander for the title at Rebellion.[6] However, on March 24, it was announced that Alexander has relinquished the title due to suffering a triceps tear. Maclin will now face Kushida – who was supposed to challenge Alexander for the title at Multiverse United – to crown a new champion at Rebellion.[7]

At Sacrifice, Mickie James was originally scheduled to defend the Impact Knockouts World Championship against Jordynne Grace.[8] However, prior to Sacrifice, it was announced that James had suffered an injury and would not be able to compete.[9] At the event, James and Impact Director of Authority Santino Marella would have a sit-down interview, with James explaining that she suffered a broken rib and Marella revealing that Grace will get her title match at Rebellion. Additionally, James would not be able to defend her title at Multiverse United against Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw, and Miyu Yamashita. As such, Masha Slamovich will take James' place in the match, with the winner being added to the title match at Rebellion.[10] There, James should be able to defend the title if she is medically cleared, but if not, the title will be held up as vacant and a new champion will be determined in the match.[11][12] At Multiverse United, Purrazzo pinned Shaw to move onto Rebellion.[13]

At Sacrifice, Bully Ray faced off with former friend-turned-enemy Tommy Dreamer in a Busted Open match. At one point during the match, Dreamer was able to make Ray bleed, but the referee was knocked out beforehand, so he wasn't able to see it. Ray's allies The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch) would soon emerge, attacking Dreamer – making him bleed – while also cleaning up Ray's wound. When the referee came to, he saw Dreamer's face covered in blood and declared Ray the winner. After the match Ray and the Good Hands would continue to assault Dreamer, while putting down rescue attempts from Yuya Uemura and National Hockey League (NHL) legend Darren McCarty, who Ray antagonized in the front row. However, Impact President Scott D'Amore, who had been away from Impact after being put through a table by Ray, would return and lead a cavalcade of wrestlers – including Heath, Rhino, Mike Bailey, Jonathan Gresham, and Impact Digital Media Champion Joe Hendry – to take out the Good Hands and send Ray running.[14][15] Needing to settle their feud once and for all, Impact announced that Ray and Dreamer will both lead teams of five in Hardcore War at Rebellion.[16]