Could Josh Alexander Become Impact’s Next Great Villain?

As champion, Josh Alexander helped rebuild the foundation of Impact Wrestling.

His string of outstanding matches as a babyface champ established stability in Impact’s world title picture, and he held the title for a record 335 days.

Yet perhaps, all that time, Alexander was miscast in his role.

A triceps tear forced Alexander to relinquish the belt in March. In his absence, Steve Maclin defeated Kushida to become champ. Then, in a pleasant surprise, longtime Impact staple Alex Shelley beat Maclin to finally start his first-ever reign with the belt.

As Alexander recovered from a difficult surgery, he felt mixed emotions watching Shelley emerge as the face of Impact.

“Before I was in Impact, I would watch Alex Shelley,” says Alexander, who is 36-year-old Josh Lemay. “To see him finally become world champion, to see him get his run, it’s great. I have so much respect for him, and I know how good he is. Part of me feels like that belongs to me, but he deserves it.”

Some of pro wrestling’s most compelling storylines emerge from reality. Although it would have been unrealistic to imagine this a year ago, it would be fascinating to see Alexander turn heel, especially considering he could air real-life grievances.

“I became ‘The Guy’ in Impact Wrestling, and it took four years to get there,” says Alexander. “I was representing the company and holding that belt, and it was ripped away from me because of the injury. We were never able to finish that story, and I was never able to pass it forward.”

Alexander’s injury added a new, unexpected element to the story. While he was recovering, Shelley began a long overdue run as champion. Alexander’s return now adds a fresh layer to what should be a seminal feud between Alexander and Shelley.

“I’ve wrestled for 18 years, and I’d missed a total of nine months in that time,” says Alexander. “So to have to sit back and miss time and lose the belt, that ate away at me. I wanted to be the one lifting up the company.”

A feud between Shelley and a heel Alexander could be the perfect recipe for Impact. Alexander was heavily influenced by Impact legend Kurt Angle, who was believable as a babyface and a heel. Full of charisma, this is Alexander’s opportunity to show a new depth of range. There could even be shades of Bret Hart’s famed heel turn in 1997, where he was despised in the United States but beloved in Canada.

Alexander is from Bolton, Ontario, which is roughly a 40-minute drive to Toronto, which is where Impact’s Emergence show takes place later tonight. The show will air after AEW’s All In pay-per-view, and features an appearance from New Japan Pro-Wrestling IWGP world heavyweight champion Sanada, as well as the next chapter in the feud between Trinity and Deonna Purrazzo.

Could it also be the beginning of Alexander’s heel turn?

Alexander will team with Shelley at Emergence, which airs at 8pm ET on Impact Plus and YouTube. Along with Kushida and Chris Sabin, they will wrestle against Bully Ray, Brian Myers, Moose, and Lio Rush in an eight-man tag. And while a heel turn may be unexpected, it could be exactly what Alexander needs to elevate himself to new heights in Impact.

“This is my return to Canada,” says Alexander. “I’m chomping at the bit to wrestle in front of my hometown fans. These are some of the best wrestling fans in all of the world, so it’s time to show up and show out.”