Canada's Josh Alexander has made history as Impact World Champion twice, first for having the shortest title reign in the belt's history, and now as the longest reign in its lineage.
As the reigning champion for 300 days and counting, Alexander has embraced his role as an ambassador for Impact Wrestling, representing the promotion across North America. The native of Bolton, Ont., will do so again at Battle in the Valley, a New Japan Pro Wrestling event, on Saturday.
"It's made so much easier because I love the entire locker room. I think we're so talented," said Alexander, who joined the Nashville-based company in 2018. "We're kind of overlooked at times, which puts a chip on all of our shoulders.
"They make it easy for me to walk around and be an ambassador because I love this place so much."
Alexander first won the Impact World Championship from Toronto's Christian Cage at Bound For Glory on Oct. 23, 2021. But he lost the belt to Moose mere minutes later, the shortest reign in the title's history. He won it back from Moose at Rebellion on April 23, 2022
The 35-year-old Alexander surpassed the 256-day reign of Bobby Roode of Peterborough, Ont., as the longest ever on Jan. 4.
"I have not let it go and I don't plan on letting it go anytime soon," said Alexander. "So I'm going to keep setting that record higher and higher so nobody else can surpass me in the future."
Alexander has also been competing for New Japan Pro Wrestling since June 2021, carrying the Impact flag abroad. He'll team with Máscara Dorada, Adrian Quest and Rocky Romero on Saturday night against Kushida, Volador Jr., Kevin Knight and The DKC in an eight-man tag team match at Battle in the Valley at the San Jose Civic in northern California.
"Any time you get eight people in a ring at the same time there's bound to be a little bit of chaos," said Alexander, noting that all the different wrestling styles the eight competitors bring to the ring will make the match even more exciting.
"We're going to want to go out there and show the world that we're some of the best wrestlers in the world. We're all going to try to steal the show, so it's going to be a blast."
Mercedes Moné — formerly known as Sasha Banks — will make her in-ring debut for NJPW, facing IWGP Women's champion Kairi in one of the night's two biggest matches. Also, Japanese superstars Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi will grapple for Okada's IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
"I think you're going to see one of the best pro wrestling cards there is to see and I think that's New Japan's goal with this show," said Alexander. "The show sold out in next to no time."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2023.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
