IMPACT Wrestling to launch exclusive NFT collection featuring wrestling legends
IMPACT Wrestling announced plans to launch a series of NFTs with exclusive offerings on Thursday.
The collection will feature exclusive digital collectables of some of the company’s biggest stars, including Mickie James and the company’s director of authority, Santino Marella. The Marella NFT will be released in June, with limited 100 copies. A second NFT featuring Mickie James will be released later this summer.
The NFTs will offer fans exclusive benefits, such as access to an exclusive IMPACT Discord channel, a chance to win a personal phone call with the featured wrestler and a community chat. The NFTs will be available for purchase on the IMPACT website.
IMPACT is the latest wrestling promotion to enter the NFT space after WWE. The popularity of NFTs has exploded in recent years, and they have become a valuable way for brands to connect with fans and generate new revenue streams.
“We are very excited to move into the NFT industry – something we have been studying for quite some time,” said IMPACT president Scott D’Amore.
Rumble Gaming leads this NFT drop with the help of SHOPX, aiming to create a community and allow fans to interact directly with their favorite wrestlers.
Rumble is a one-stop shop for esports and media services. It offers talent management, legal and marketing services and access to a fully integrated media platform and distribution network.
“We felt this was an ideal time to help elevate IMPACT into the metaverse and unlock new ways for fans to connect with the brand,” said Rumble CEO Adam Ivers.
IMPACT plans to hold a Twitter Spaces event to discuss the debut of the NFTs. However, there has yet to be an exact date for the event. It also intends to release more NFTs regularly until the end of 2023.
Wrestling NFTs released so far
In recent years, several sports brands have launched NFT collections, allowing fans to own unique digital collectables featuring their favourite athletes. WWE was the first wrestling promotion to join the trend.
In 2021, WWE announced its entry into the world of NFTs with the release of The Undertaker NFTs, which feature memorable moments from the wrestler’s legendary career, exclusive memorabilia and experiences that have never been sold before. The collection was launched in four tiers, from platinum, gold, silver to bronze, with varying opening bids.
“This will also allow WWE to deepen our connection with the WWE Universe during our biggest event, WrestleMania,” said WWE President & Chief Revenue Officer Nick Khan regarding the collection launch.
Then in 2022, WWE signed a deal with Candy Digital, a digital collectables firm owned by sports platform Fanatics, to become their “primary partner,”, especially as the creative and distribution team behind their NFT project.
The company also established its own NFT market by collaborating with Fox Entertainment’s Blockchain Creative Labs. Its first collection went live before the annual WWE premium live event HELL IN A CELL in 2022. To celebrate the launch of its platform, Moonsault gave away 10,000 free NFTs to the first fans to create wallets.
Not long after, Paul Wight, who is signed to All Elite Wrestling or AEW, also jumped on the NFT bandwagon, although it is not solely aimed at wrestling fans. He participated in an NFT drop for a science fiction NFT drama series called GenZeroes.
This is another collection that can make a huge impact on the NFT market after Jeremy Booth Western NFTs.
