At the beginning of 2022, Impact Pro held what they thought was going to be their final show at the Forte Center in Des Moines, Iowa as Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell Forte. It was a memorable night, capped off with James Jeffries winning the IPW Championship from Bryce Jordyn.
As fate would have it, the Forte is bringing back Impact Pro Wrestling for an even bigger grand finale. This Saturday, November 26 will be the very last IPW show inside the Forte Center. Bringing to an end a relationship that has lasted longer than a decade.
“I think after 20 years of running shows, and 40 years of being a fan, it’s the venues that I remember most,” said IPW promoter Troy Peterson.
“The years at the Forte have been special. It will always hold some of my biggest pro wrestling memories. Personally, I’m looking at this Saturday more as a fan wanting to say goodbye to pro wrestling at Forte. It’s sentimental for me as a promoter and a fan.”
To hear a full preview interview Troy Peterson did with Shotgun Wrestling Radio, click here.
The stars of Impact Pro Wrestling are ready to go out with a bang as this show is chalk full of tremendous match-ups.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Forte Finale
IPW Championship Match
James Jeffries © vs “The Long Diamond” Jaxon King
James Jeffries is an IPW legend. A multi-time champion, Jeffries has done it all in Impact Pro Wrestling. Since winning the IPW Title in January, he’s valiantly defended it multiple times against the likes of Gable Galileo, Bryce Jordyn and AJ Smooth.
Jeffries is more than excited to walk to the ring inside the Forte one last time as IPW Champion.
“It means everything to me to defend the IPW Heavyweight Championship at the Final Forte,” Jeffries said. “I hope to represent some of the great champions that have wrestled in that building and the wrestling fans that attend the matches.”
The man waiting for his opportunity Saturday night is Jaxon King. The Lone Diamond has had two previous opportunities scheduled against Jeffries, but injuries/illness kept it from happening.
As over as anybody with the Forte crowd the past few years, King is ready to seize the moment in the biggest opportunity of his young career.
“This is an opportunity that I can assure you is not going to waste,” King said. “Lots of big moments have happened in that building. So this opportunity means everything.
Anyone in the locker room could’ve been selected to wrestle James for the title in the last ever Forte show, and they chose me. I am beyond fired up.
The fans at Forte met Jaxon King plenty of times. But they have yet to meet The Lone Diamond.”
These two know each other well, with Jeffries serving as King’s coach during his training period. As Jeffries continues his reign as champ, the threats to that reign are becoming students of his more and more.
“I think Jaxon King is a wonderful young man and an outstanding wrestler, Jeffries said. “His wrestling skill and toughness has picked him up a lot of victories in the ring.
I don’t take his challenge lightly, and I don’t want to let anyone down. I want to leave Forte still the Impact Pro Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion.”
Taking on his mentor in the biggest singles match of his young career, King knows just how good Jeffries is and how much he has meant to Impact Pro Wrestling.
“James Jeffries is hands down the greatest IPW star of all time,” King said. “There isn’t anything this man hasn’t done. James taught me how to wrestle when I was seventeen.
Fast forward to now, it’s Jaxon King vs. James Jeffries for the IPW title in the last ever Forte show. I absolutely respect James, but I can promise everyone that I’m going to defeat him and become champion.”
The IPW Championship match headlines what should be shown that sends the Forte out, not with a whimper, but with a bang.
Here’s the rest of the card.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell Forte
IPW Tag Team Championship Match
Matty Star & The Big Picture w/ Captain Midnight Guthrie vs. © Justin Decent & The Death Dealer
If you’re looking for Forte-era staples of Impact Pro Wrestling, then this is your match. All five men involved in this contest have taken part in some of IPW’s most memorable moments and matches.
Matty Star and the Big Picture are teaming up for the first time. A championship pedigree between the two that is hard to match, they will be a formidable challenge for the champs.
And let’s not forget the Captain will be in their corner making this duo even more dangerous. The Impact Pro Wrestling Champs have held the titles since May of this year and have defended the straps twice.
First fending off Chillileo (Gable Galileo & Max Chill) in Knoxville, Iowa, before fending off three teams at the IPW Hall of Fame show. A third title defense would solidify their reign as champions.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Forte Finale
IPW Extreme Championship Match
Gable Galileo vs © Cole Cannon
When Cole Cannon won the IPW Extreme Championship at the IPW George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame show, it was the biggest singles win of his career. A moment captured in time made even more significant when former champion and IPW legend, Malice shook his hand after the match.
Former Extreme Champion Gable Galileo, a man who had an intense feud with Malice over the Extreme Championship in 2019, had to have taken offense to Malice giving Cannon the nod of respect.
Something that never came his way when they were feuding. Two talented in-ring performers with plans of stealing the show make this a must-watch match.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell Forte
Grudge Match
Malice vs. Ugly
Two guys that have made the Forte Center their playground of violence when they previously crossed paths. They’ve fought all around the Forte Center and have even taken their battles out to the parking lot on occasion.
It’s only fitting that during the final show at the Forte, these two lock horns one last time. Let’s just hope they don’t bring the building down with him during this scrum.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Forte Finale
“The Golden God” Bryce Jordyn vs Ethan Everheart
Talk about potential show stealers. This match featuring two of IPW’s top young talents has all the makings for an instant classic. Bryce Jordyn has had one hell of a run the past two years, reaching the top of IPW as Champion.
He wants nothing more than to get in line for another shot at the gold, and a win here pushes him in that direction. Ethan Everheart has been on the cusp of the main event scene in IPW, a win over former champion Jordyn pushes him up another level.
He’s been tag champion so far in his young career, but the big gold belt of IPW seems to be getting closer.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell to Forte
Zay K-47 vs. Max Chill
Zay K-47 and Max Chill have made names for themselves when it comes to competing for IPW inside the Forte Center. Both had their very first matches inside the Forte, and both continue to become key players for the promotion.
Zay, with an engine that won’t quit, has gained much confidence inside the ring, having gained experience not only in IPW but multiple promotions across Iowa. Max Chill is a former IPW Tag Team Champion as a member of the dangerously charismatic trio, the Max Chill Mafia with Adam Love and The Shank.
Not sure there is a young athlete on the IPW roster that has gained more confidence inside the ring since his debut than Max Chill. Both men would love nothing more than to pick up a big singles victory in their final match at the Forte.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell Forte
Sage Hale vs Briar Hale
Two sisters that have grown up in front of the Forte crowd. Sage and Briar Hale have been feuding over the IPW Women’s Championship since making their debuts during the IPW Vault era.
Neither currently holds the belt; that honor belongs to Miss Frankie Jay. This is basically a de facto number-one contender’s match, with the winning Hale sister most likely getting a shot at the title in 2023.
Impact Pro Wrestling Presents Farewell Forte
Forte Final Fight
“Timeless” Tyler Jones vs. Adam Love vs. Viktro Payn vs. “The Charm,” Quayvon Orlando vs. Jay Wesley vs. Ricky Bronson
Six men all looking to leave that iconic last impression inside the Forte Center in a match that’s destined to live on the wild side. Tyler Jones, the most experienced wrestler in the match, gets the chance to prove once again just how good he is.
Impact Pro Wrestling’s resident rockstar, Adam Love, has held tag team gold and is now looking to pave a legacy as a singles wrestler. As the biggest man in the match, Viktor Payn will definitely use his size to try to pick up the win.
QuayVon Orlando is determined to pick up a win that would be huge for his momentum in IPW. That is also the case of rookie Jay Wesley who is in this match just a few months removed from finishing his training at the Vault.
Big opportunity for the young upstart. The final competitor in this contest, Ricky Bronson, has gained a lot of steam in the past year. With a new no-nonsense attitude, Bronson’s new determination makes him one of the favorites in this contest.
It will be an exciting night of wrestling as the stars of Impact Pro Wrestling bid the Forte Center a fond farewell. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7.
As always, if you like previews in podcast form, give a listen to the Two Count – Comedy Meets Wrestling and their latest issue previewing the show.
Link here.
