IMPACT Wrestling’s roster of out LGBTQ grapplers got a historic addition at Saturday’s “Bound For Glory” pay-per-view event when former AEW star Sonny Kiss made her debut with the company.
Kiss was a surprise entrant in the annual Call Your Shot gauntlet match, showing her strength in eliminating Gisele Shaw and her dance background in an unexpected dance battle with bruiser Bully Ray.
The debut made Kiss the first out genderfluid wrestler to appear for IMPACT in its 21-year history. It was also Kiss’ first televised wrestling appearance since departing AEW in August after the company chose not to renew her contract. Kiss had been with the company since its inception in 2019.
According to a PWInsider report, this doesn’t appear to be a one-off appearance. Kiss is reportedly slated to be a regular on IMPACT programming going forward, though there is no word on whether Kiss has signed a contract with the company.
.@SonnyKissXO DEBUTS in the Call Your Shot Gauntlet. #BoundForGlory pic.twitter.com/YEXqhjLvcA
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 22, 2023
Regardless of contract status, it’s wonderful to see one of the most celebrated and athletic out wrestlers landing with another major promotion, especially after Kiss revealed her struggles to get TV time on AEW’s five hours of weekly programming during an interview on Busted Open Radio in September.
She said she would “beg sometimes” to appear on AEW’s various TV programs, despite the time and work she invested.
With that in the rearview, Kiss is ready to showcase why audiences have been clamoring to see more of her right when IMPACT is making some major changes of its own, including reviving the company’s original name, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, in January.
“I’ve been making an impact in pro wrestling for quite some time now,” Kiss said via X, formerly known as Twitter. “It was only a matter of time before IMPACT Wrestling called the Concrete Rose.”