In Against All Odds, Alex Shelley wins the Impact Wrestling World Championship
In addition to his dominance in defending the Impact World Championship against Rhino and PCO, Steve Maclin appeared primed for a long reign as Impact World Champion after his victory over Kushida at Rebellion. On Friday night’s Against All Odds show, Impact Wrestling crowned a new champion: veteran tag team wrestler Alex Shelley, who has been with the company since 2004, but has never won its top prize. Maclin’s reign ended after 54 days.
Shelley used his technical skill and agility to dominate the match, beginning with focusing on Maclin’s left arm before softening him up with a flurry of kicks. He then shifted into high gear, executing some of his renowned high-flying moves. Unknowingly, Maclin handed Shelley the win when he tore off a turnbuckle pad, leaving him exposed to a devastating Shell Shock and the resulting pinfall victory.
Shelley and his long-time tag team partner, Chris Sabin, were roared up by the Impact Wrestling fanbase after the match. In a hard-fought match earlier in the night, Sabin won the X-Division Championship for a record-breaking ninth time Thus, Against All Odds was a memorable night in the celebrated career of the Motor City Machine Guns.
As the #1 contender for the Impact World Championship, Nick Aldis defeated Bully Ray, Jonathan Gresham, and Heath in an 8-4-1 match on the same show, so Shelly won’t have to wait too long to face his first title challenger. The Shelley vs. Aldis title match has not yet been announced by Impact.
