Two Former TNA World Heavyweight Champions Have Officially Parted Ways With Impact Wrestling

Two accomplished veterans of TNA have parted ways with the company: 12 years ago, both Eric Young and Bobby Roode signed on to join TNA together, and are now going out at the same time. Impact Wrestling is losing two wrestlers who have been deeply ingrained in the fabric of the show for a dozen years, but, on the upside, this Canadian exodus will no longer leave me wondering each week how one man’s nipples can be so small and also the same color as the rest of his body.

Here’s Impact Wrestling’s official statement on the matter:

Impact Wrestling has come to terms on the release of veteran wrestlers Bobby Roode and Eric Young (Jeremy Fritz). Bobby and Eric have been valuable members of The Impact Roster since 2004 and we wish them nothing but the best in their careers going forward.

Bobby had this to say earlier today, “To the guys and girls I got to work with for the past 12 years, Impact Wrestling, the office and everyone associated with me getting to live this dream, I say thank you. It is time for me to move on to the next chapter in my life. This has been amazing.”

Eric Young had this to say. “Thank you. Thank you to everyone who watched me for the past 12 years. Thank you to Impact Wrestling. I wish everyone here nothing but the best going forward.”

Executive Vice President of Creative and Television, John Gaburick added, “Bobby and Eric are true professionals. We salute them for the 12 years they gave TNA.

Roode recently spoke with his hometown newspaper, the Peterborough Examiner, about his decision to leave:

I have nothing negative to say about TNA Wrestling. They treated me very, very well. It was just a matter of me being in a part of my life where I’m not sure TNA was the right fit for me anymore. The brand has been stale for the last little while and the growth wasn’t there as it was in the early years.”

Depending on the terms of their release, this could free up a good chunk of TNA’s budget to work on signing some fresh faces, though they’ve got *checks watch* their entire proven track record that says otherwise. Fingers crossed this will actually spur them into a solid rebuilding of the brand, and not just “a bunch of guys who got released from WWE developmental.”

So, where do they go from here? WWE? Maybe. Indie promotions with money to burn on big name booking fees? Probably. The two are already being advertised against each other in an “All Ontario Main Event” at Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore 14. Either way, we’re sure this won’t be the last we’ll be hearing from these two anytime soon.

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