IMPACT Wrestling announces big return to Chicago area
(thumbnail photo above courtesy IMPACT Wrestling)
DIRTY DANGO LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOWS AT CICERO STADIUM
By Mike Pankow
January 26, 2023
Coming off a successful run of shows last summer in the Chicago area at Cicero Stadium, IMPACT Wrestling announced that the promotion is returning for six shows over three weekends in 2023, including the company’s blockbuster Bound For Glory event in October.
Events for IMPACT Wrestling’s Chicago “Season” Pass, beginning with Spring Slugfest in late April and concluding with Bound For Glory weekend in October. (Courtesy IMPACT Wrestling)
IMPACT announced Wednesday that the shows will take place on April 28-29 (Spring Slugfest), July 28-29 (Chicago Heat) and Oct. 21-22 (Bound For Glory and Bound For Glory Fallout).
For a limited time, fans can purchase a “Season Pass,” which is an opportunity to get tickets to all three weekends of Chicago shows at once – and the first crack at BFG tickets. The “Season Pass” includes exclusive perks only available to “Season Pass” buyers – and the perks will be available during the BFG weekend.
The “Season Pass” will be available, starting at 9 a.m. Chicago time this Friday (Jan. 27), and it will include all ticket levels. To purchase the “Season Pass” for Chicago, go to http://impactwrestling.com.
IMPACT Wrestling star Dirty Dango spoke to Windy City Slam on Thursday about wrestling in Chicago and working for IMPACT.
“Some of the best crowds I’ve worked in front of are in Chicago,” said Dango, who has over 20 years of experience in the wrestling business. “Their audience is fun, they’re alive, they’re lit. When they bring the energy, the boys and girls in the locker room definitely step their game up. When that crowd is really into it like they always are in Chicago, it just makes for a whole better show in general.
“I’m always excited to fly into Chicago and perform. I have a lot of good memories there and I’m blessed to be able to go back there and wrestle for IMPACT Wrestling.”
Dango made his debut with the company at last year’s Bound For Glory pre-show when he was a surprise opponent for then-IMPACT Wrestling Digital Media Champion Brian Myers. Dango has familiarity from past working relationships with several names on the IMPACT roster, including Myers, Kon, Heath, Rhino, Steve Maclin and color commentator and Chicago native Matt Rehwoldt.
Dirty Dango recently signed with IMPACT Wrestling and is looking forward to working the company’s upcoming shows in front of the vocal Chicago fans. (Photo courtesy IMPACT Wrestling)
As for working his way up the card and getting more prominent spot on this year’s Bound For Glory on Saturday, Oct. 21, Dango said he’s being more serious in the ring than he was in past incarnations of his character.
“A lot can happen between now and then,” Dango said. “I think over the last few shows with IMPACT, management has gotten a feel for who I am and what I can do in the ring. I’ve got a hell of a lot of respect for that locker room from the Women’s (Knockouts) Division, all the guys, the X Division. The IMPACT Wrestling roster is very underrated in my opinion. I’m very proud to be on the roster.”
Last August at Cicero Stadium, there was a special IMPACT Plus event called Emergence where “Walking Weapon” Josh Alexander retained the IMPACT World Championship by defeating Alex Shelley in a classic main event that went nearly 30 minutes on Aug. 12. The next night, IMPACT held TV tapings on a show entitled Second City Slamm.
Bound For Glory returns to the Chicago area for the first time since 2019 when IMPACT ran at the now-shuttered Odeum in Villa Park with a main event of Brian Cage retaining the IMPACT World Championship against Sami Callihan.
BFG also took place in the Chicago area in 2008 at the NOW Arena (then the Sears Centre Arena) where Sting won the TNA World Heavyweight Championship from Samoa Joe in the main event.
The current IMPACT Wrestling roster is diverse and strong, led by reigning World Champion Alexander and reigning Knockouts World Champion Mickie James, along with X Division Champion Trey Miguel, World Tag Team Champions, the Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley), as well as Director of Authority Santino Marella, the recently-returned Frankie Kazarian, Bully Ray, Moose, Jordynne Grace, Taya Valkyrie and Deonna Purrazzo.
With that talent, IMPACT will add even more flavor to the popular Chicago wrestling scene with those three weekends of action that surely will be “can’t miss.”
You can catch the full interview with Dirty Dango on Ep. 157 of Windy City Slam Podcast, which will drop on Tuesday, Feb. 7, wherever you get your podcasts or listen at windycityslam.com.
Catch Windy City Slam editor Mike Pankow talking local and national pro wrestling every week with Chicago-area wrestling guests on Windy City Slam Podcast, part of the Broadcast Basement On-Demand Radio Network. Episodes drop early Tuesday morning wherever you download podcasts or at https://windycityslam.podbean.com/.
We are looking for guests to appear on future episodes of the Windy City Slam Podcast! Please contact Mike at mikepankow@windycityslam.com, message him on Facebook or DM him on Twitter.
