Eric Young Says IMPACT Has “Best Production In The Business” [Exclusive]

Written by Gary Cassidy • Published 12th January 2021
Eric Young

Former WWE Superstar and two-time IMPACT World Champion says he believes IMPACT has “probably the best production in the business, pro-wrestling wise.

Inside The Ropes‘ Lead Writer Gary Cassidy recently asked the World Class Maniac, in an exclusive interview for Inside The Ropes, about his current run with the company and the teaser videos utilised to introduce Cody Deaner alongside himself and Joe Doering.

“Eric Tompkins and Dave Sahadi, the production guys here at IMPACT are absolutely murdering it. Like just killing it, man. I mean, I think probably the best production in the business right now, pro wrestling wise, and doing that cinematic stuff is always interesting and fun, and puts it in a different light.”

Young went on to praise Doering as someone people will find out a lot about going forward – if they don’t know him already.

“People that don’t know Joe, they’re going to find out what he’s about really quick. It’s a guy that I’ve known for years and years. I’m not going to claim that me and him have been close or whatever but I ran into him during his first couple of weeks of training when he was with Scott, and I was working for Scott a lot at Border City.

Wrestling is a small world and obviously he was very close to getting a TNA contract at the time and they just felt they didn’t have space for him, and he went over to All Japan and the rest is kind of history, you know. I mean, he became a massive star over there and was a Triple Crown Champion and was a top build, top draw, American talent living over there and touring over there for years and years. They don’t hand that out to just anybody. I mean, that’s a very prestigious thing and often, if there’s one American on the roster and he’s kind of getting a thing, they often don’t have more than a few there. Joe was a guy that was able to stick and become a very big name in Japan and in the wrestling world.

“If you’re a diehard fan, you’ve definitely heard of him. You may not have seen him if you’re not a person that follows Japanese wrestling like some people do, but you’re going to find out what he’s all about. He’s a great guy, a cool guy to work with, obviously very talented and it’s a cool aspect for the group.”

Meanwhile, Young also had high praise for Cody Deaner, saying he’s a man who just needs a chance to show the world what he can do.

“Cody… Part of what makes this cool is the story is real. Me and him have known each other for over 20 years. He’s been one of my best friends for over 20 years. I was helping run a school in Niagara Falls. I would do a class a week down there and he was one of the students – and was one of the best students. In my opinion, for what it’s worth and – for me it’s worth a lot – is he is one of the hidden gems in pro wrestling. This guy can do everything. He is an unbelievably talented guy and has never really been given a fair shake.

I think our stories, that way, mirror who I was years ago doing the comedy wrestling, which I wouldn’t change for anything. I loved doing it. But Cody was in the same boat and he was looking for something different, and we approached the writers and creative team about doing something with this group – and Cody went all in. I can’t wait to really get going. It’s literally just starting the buzz from the videos.”

You can read the full interview here.

Thanks so much to Eric Young for taking the time, and to IMPACT UK & Ireland for facilitating the interview. Fans in the UK & Ireland can catch IMPACT! every Wednesday on FreeSports at 10pm. Hard To Kill is available via Premier Sports in the UK, and also via Fite TV worldwide.