Sami Callihan is up for anything, even a match that might be better off left in the past.
The Last Rites match is one of TNA / IMPACT Wrestling’s more infamous match types, as the winner was determined by placing his opponent in a casket that was raised to the ceiling after the match. This version of the Last Rites match was only held once in the promotion’s 20-year history, with Sting facing off with Abyss at TNA Destination X in 2007.
Sami Callihan recently competed in Monster’s Ball and Barbed Wire Massacre matches and he mentioned how Abyss was one of his favorite wrestlers of all time. During a recent interview with WrestleZone, Callihan was asked if he’d ever consider competing in the Last Rites match since Abyss was in one. Callihan said he’s open to a challenge if it came up… but the match is probably better off left in the past.
“I think that’s one better left alone. There might be a reason that there was only one of those [laugh]. When you really think about it, there might be a reason there’s only one. But hell, if the opportunity presented itself, I’d take a challenge. That’s where I want, I don’t want things to be easy. I don’t want things to be cookie-cutter. If you put me in any match, I’ll keep saying it until I’m blue in the face, I’m the most versatile wrestler on this planet today, and any match you put me in, I’m going to find a way to make it work.
“When you brought it up, I had that picture in my head. That casket being lowered down in the middle of the ring. And I’m like, ‘Oh, I hope he doesn’t bring it up…’ But you brought it up. But good or bad, that is the point of Impact Wrestling history, right? Things like that is what makes IMPACT Wrestling great. They’re not afraid to experiment. They’re not afraid to go out of the norm and think outside of the box and that’s why I love this company in the way I do.”
IMPACT Wrestling hosted one other contest that was called a Last Rites match, but it was more in line with a traditional casket match and did not see the loser hoisted into the rafters. That match saw Su Yung defeat Allie for the Knockouts Championship on the May 31, 2018 episode of IMPACT Wrestling.
Check out the Last Rites match and the full TNA Destination X 2007 event below:
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