Impact announces Taiji Ishimori for Slammiversary XVI

Despite making NJPW his full-time home, Taiji Ishimori will be working Impact Wrestling’s next pay-per-view.

Impact announced Ishimori for Slammiversary XVI at a press conference for the event today. The PPV will be taking place at the Rebel Entertainment Complex in Toronto on July 22nd.

After departing Pro Wrestling NOAH, Ishimori last wrestled for Impact at Redemption and their subsequent TV tapings in April. He was revealed as the new “Bone Soldier” and joined the Bullet Club at NJPW’s Wrestling Dontaku night two in May. He then participated in the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, making it to this morning’s finals against Hiromu Takahashi.

Impact also officially announced today that Austin Aries has merged their World and Grand Championships. Aries will defend the World title against Moose in the main event of Slammiversary, and Madison Rayne will challenge for Su Yung’s Knockouts Championship.

Impact will hold post-Slammiversary TV tapings at the Rebel Entertainment Complex on July 23rd and 24th before returning to the venue on August 12th and 13th for more tapings.