Impact Coverage by Bobby James
July 15, 2015 | The New Law
Dixie Carter Introduces “The Law”
The Impact Wrestling roster surrounds the ring as Dixie Carter recalls the last time she was surrounded. She says she’d just gone through a table and the roster was cheering for that; she wonders how things got to that point.
Dixie Carter takes the blame, citing her ego as the cause of her actions.
She says going through the table gave her an incredible perspective and respect for the wrestlers. Dixie segues into talking about the future, which she says is easy to doubt. She says it’s easy to not have faith in her promises, but that she needs everyone’s trust.
Dixie says she’s hired someone that understands the roster – someone to stands as the law. Ethan Carter III interrupts, demanding to know the mystery person’s identity. Dixie Carter introduces Bully Ray as “The Law,” the new charge of the TNA roster.
Bully Ray recounts his phone conversation with Dixie Carter. He says Dixie apologized for her actions, for letting down the roster and fans. Bully says he would only return to TNA Wrestling for the fans and roster.
He instructs everyone at ringside to stand on the apron, because they’re equal and don’t deserve to be standing on the floor, symbolically beneath himself and Dixie Carter. Bully accepts the position to lead TNA “back to the promised land.”
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No. 1 Contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Title | 20-Man Battle Royal
It’s announced that the winner of the battle royal will receive a championship opportunity in the main event of Impact Wrestling – tonight!
Chaos ensues with the opening bell as bodies begin flying toward one another. Slowly, wrestlers start being tossed over the top rope. Early eliminations include Manik, Abyss and Chris Melendez.
A second round of eliminations includes James Storm and Magnus. Jessie Godderz eliminates Robbie E. Jessie and Austin Aries are eliminated next.
Drew Galloway, MVP and Eric Young are the final three participants. Young and MVP form an alliance against the former leader of The Rising. The alliance endures through an elimination attempt.
MVP tries dumping Galloway over the top rope, but Eric Young rushes up from behind with an elimination of his own. Galloway fends off Young, eliminating him in the process.
Winner: Drew Galloway
Video: “The Icon” Sting’s TNA Hall of Fame induction is revisited. The 2015 inductee will be announced next week!
Backstage: Mike Tenay interviews Mr. Anderson regarding Bram’s post-match assault last week. Anderson reflects on his career and talks about the possibility of facing an injury at the hands of a competitor like Bram. He contemplates engaging in such a hardcore war.
Backstage: Rockstar Spud approaches Bully Ray. Bully tells Spud to be proud of himself. Then, he announces Spud will be in an X-Division Championship match.
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Video: Kurt Angle’s TNA Hall of Fame induction is revisited. The 2015 inductee will be announced next week!
Backstage: Drew Galloway vows to become the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Eli Drake approaches him with words of encouragement.
Video: Donald Trump’s controversial immigration comments are recapped; Tigre Uno will address Trump next week!
X-Division Championship | Grado vs. DJ Z vs. Rockstar Spud vs. Tigre Uno
DJ Z immediately goes after Rockstar Spud. Grado uses his robust size to his advantage against all three challengers. He ultimately comes face-to-face with Spud. Spud attempts to slam Grado, but he’s unable, finding himself in a pin attempt instead.
DJ Z and Tigre Uno strip away Grado’s advantage before squaring off with one another. Grado fends off his attackers – and then he and Spud form an allegiance against DJ Z. Tigre Uno delivers a double dropkick from the top rope. Grado lands in the center of the ring and Spud’s sent to the outside. Tigre Uno flies over the top rope with a crossbody to take out Spud. Then, the X-Division champion delivers a 450 splash to Grado for the win.
Winner: Tigre Uno
Backstage: Taryn Terrell says Brooke will suffer the same fate as Gail Kim and Awesome Kong. Gail Kim’s “Playtime is over” vignette is intercut.
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Knockout’s Championship | Brooke vs. Taryn Terrell (c) w/ Jade and Marti Bell
The bell sounds, and early on, the Dollhouse distraction pays dividends for the longest-reigning Knockouts Champion. Brooke tries valiantly to retaliate, but Taryn drops her with a big swinging neckbreaker.
Brooke’s finally able to connect with some offense, for which she pays dearly. Jade and Marti Bell rip Brooke from the ring while Taryn distracts the official. The Dollhouse unleashes a furious assault before rolling Brooke back into the ring.
Taryn makes a pin attempt, but Brooke’s out at two. The complexion of the match shifts as Brooke connects with a dropkick. As she appears to be headed up the turnbuckle, Jade and Marti Bell intervene again, allowing Taryn to connect with a cheap shot.
Outside, Taryn smashes Brooke’s face against the apron and stairs before choking her. The official demands the action return to the ring. Taryn rolls her in and connects with a diving crossbody. Brooke kicks out of two pin attempts before scoring an inside cradle and near-fall of her own!
Taryn misses a dropkick from the turnbuckle, allowing Brooke to nail a series of clotheslines and back elbows. Brooke drops Taryn with a second jumping forearm and spear!
With Taryn laid out, Brooke appears poised for a moonsault. Jade shoves her from the ropes when, suddenly, the arena goes dark. When the lights come up, Gail Kim is standing over a fallen Marti Bell! Gail sends Jade face first into the turnbuckle. The lights go down again – Gail’s disappeared and Taryn turns into a “Butter Face Maker” (facebreaker).
Brooke makes the cover. The official counts three – and Taryn’s historic 238-day title reign has come to an end!
Winner: Brooke
Backstage: Kurt Angle is seen with Bully Ray. As the meeting ends, Angle says he presented Bully with a great idea and that he’s on his way to the ring to reveal it.
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Angle’s Announcement
Kurt Angle says that TNA is undergoing a lot of changes and that he isn’t ashamed of losing the title to Ethan Carter III. Angle takes issue with the shady finish of his rematch with EC3 for the title.
He says Bully Ray has granted him a rematch on his own time. Angle says he’s been diagnosed with a tumor on his neck and that he’ll undergo surgery to have it removed. Angle continues by saying that when he returns, he’ll challenge EC3 for the title.
Eric Young interrupts Angle’s farewell. Young says Angle needs to start telling the truth. He says EC3 didn’t defeat him, but that he did. He asks Angle how many piledrivers he’s received. Then, he asks Angle how many piledrivers his neck has left.
Young tells Angle he’d like to take credit for the tumor, but that’s nature. He says nature is telling him it’s time to pack up and go home. Eric Young tells Angle he wants him gone longer and he takes a cheap shot!
Angle attempts to fight back, but Young sets him up for a piledriver. Chris Melendez makes the save, but pays. Melendez receives a piledriver and is laid out next to Kurt Angle as Eric Young stands tall and moves up the ramp.
TNA Slammiversary Replay | James Storm vs. Magnus
A brawl ensues, forcing an impromptu encounter. Magnus drives Storm into the guard wall. He bounces Storm’s head off multiple ring posts and the apron. Storm counters, driving Magnus face-first onto the apron.
Magnus counters an Irish whip, sending Storm crashing into the guardrail again. He moves a table into position, but Storm counters a powerbomb and sends Magnus overhead through the table!
In the ring, Storm connects with back-to-back Last Calls! With Magnus down, Storm introduces a section of guardrail and two steel chairs to the ring. He mounts the guardrail between the chairs. With Magnus draped over the railing, Storm heads up the turnbuckle. Magnus counters by suplexing Storm onto the pile of steel!
Storm and Magnus reach their feet, but Storm resorts to old (and effective) tactics. He smashes a glass bottle across Magnus’ face to steal the victory.
Winner: James Storm
Video: A recap is shown of Mickie James to find “one woman” to stand beside him, to face Magnus and herself.
Backstage: James Storm and Khoya address Mickie James. Storm teases having found a tag team partner to face Magnus and Mickie in two weeks. He says his tag team partner is someone very close to Mickie.
Backstage: Ethan Carter III says he wants to work with Bully Ray. He tries to have the match postponed a week. Bully Ray declines, telling EC3 to act like the World Heavyweight Champion – and to find a way to get the job done.
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TNA World Heavyweight Championship | Drew Galloway vs. Ethan Carter III
Galloway takes the fight to EC3 immediately. EC3 forces a break using the ropes, but the two lock up again and Galloway regains control. Galloway sends EC3 into retreat. He pursues the champion outside where he connects with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker onto the apron!
EC3 rolls back into the ring. While the official tends to him, Tyrus squashes EC3 against the ring post. Eli Drake rushes to ringside wielding his crutch to fend off Tyrus. EC3 uses the distraction to his advantage. He begins overpowering and dominating Galloway.
Galloway fights out of a headlock only to find himself caught with a neckbreaker. EC3 smashes Galloway face-first against his knee before landing a few insulting slaps. Galloway becomes enraged and takes the champion to task, ultimately scoring a near-fall.
Galloway sets up for a big boot; EC3 counters. Galloway drops the champ for a near-fall, but Tyrus places EC3’s foot on the ropes. Tyrus trips Galloway, but the interference proves ineffective as the Scot unloads a series of chops to EC3 in the corner. Galloway inadvertently takes out the referee and EC3 drops him with a low-blow.
Tyrus climbs into the ring, but Eli Drake is there to counteract him, crutch in hand. Tyrus backs down, but as Galloway crosses in front of Drake, Drake turns on Galloway! Drake climbs out of the ring and retreats up the ramp as EC3 scores the victory with the One Percenter!
Winner: Ethan Carter III
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