According to a report from PWInsider.com, Impact Wrestling officials reached out to former TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bully Ray about possibly returning to the company in light of all of their recent departures. The deal was reportedly for a good amount of money and would have seen Bully Ray go back to a top spot on the roster. The two sides reportedly came pretty close to reaching a deal, but it fell through for unknown reasons.

Bully Ray was apparently contacted before Alberto El Patron, and it's being reported that Bully's refusal to return was a big reason, or possibly even the main reason, why Impact officials contacted Alberto about joining the company.