Disclaimer: All the views and opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect those of Impact Asylum or any of its users and staff.
Hi, everyone.
In honour of Slammiversary 2020, I thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and visit the event’s history, particularly Slammiversary 2015. This was an interesting period for Impact Wrestling, then known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, but not always in a positive way. Due to the post-Slammiversary episodes being scheduled to be taped days before the live pay-per-view (in front of the same Orlando crowd), the card was thrown into disarray. This led to it missing a lot of pay-per-view quality matches, which were taped days earlier and aired days later. Today I will attempt to fantasy book a Slammiversary 2015 card without those logistical issues and try to use as many of the same wrestlers as possible, so here goes nothing.
Tigre Uno vs. Manik vs. DJ Z vs. Robbie E vs. Jessie Godderz (King of The Mountain Qualifier 5-way Match): This would be my show opener to get the crowd hot, hence the inclusion of smaller aerial athletes. The match would be built around the recent Bromans break up, with the prize of the 5th spot in the King of The Mountain match up for grabs. Jessie Godderz would emerge victorious after withstanding an emotionally charged onslaught from his betrayed ex-teammates, Robbie E and DJ Z.
The Beatdown Clan vs. Drew Galloway, Lashley, Matt Morgan, Rockstar Spud: The Rising never had any purpose beyond ending the BDC, which they failed to do, leading them to disband within months, plus Galloway already had possible allies on the roster. So instead, Lashley and Spud would be recruited due to their pasts with The BDC over the World and X-Division Titles respectively and Matt Morgan would be the wildcard. MVP would lead a team of Low Ki, should be X-Division Champion Kenny King and should be newest member Micah (in place of Hernandez, for obvious reasons). After some good back and forth and big-little combinations from Morgan and Spud, the BDC would get a one fall victory following a miscommunication between Lashley and Drew.
The Wolves vs. The Dirty Heels (TNA World Tag Team Title Best of 5 Finale Iron Man Match): This would simply be the Bell to Bell match just taking place where it was supposed to. With the workers involved, I have no doubt they’d replicate the quality. The Dirty Heels would have taken a tactical attitude shift fitting of their name in order to tie the series so the Wolves would have to dig down deep to win the vacant tag belts, taking the deciding fall with minutes left on the clock.
James Storm vs. Magnus (Unsanctioned Match): This is a match that did take place at the show, which I see no reason to change. This was an intriguing feud (sans the train tracks incident) and even that couldn’t derail it. The stipulation was appropriate, and the finish was visually pleasing with beer bottle shards flying all over the place. Storm would still emerge the winner, giving the babyface couple of Magnus and Mickie a victory to chase via the mixed tag match involving Serena Deeb.
Eric Young vs. Matt Hardy vs. Eli Drake vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Jessie Godderz (TNA World Heavyweight Title #1 Contender King of The Mountain Match): After Jarrett returned and announced the match, instead of competing in it, he informs the audience it will be for a shot at TNA World Heavyweight Title (not the red headed step belt). On the heel side, Eric Young would be coming off an intense feud with Bobby Roode, Eli Drake would have midcard momentum (in the absence of the Rising) and Jessie would be confident off his qualifying win. On the face side, Mr. Anderson would be an ever-reliable spot filler and Matt Hardy would be trying to fight his way out of his little brother’s shadow. After some fun high spots and weapon bashing, with verbal back and forth between Eli and Anderson, Matt Hardy would get a surprise win after not being taken seriously by his opponents.
Bram vs. Jeff Jarrett (with Karen Jarrett) (Street Fight): With Morgan facing the BDC, Bram would instead face Jeff Jarret, an opponent whom I believe would give him a better match and bigger heel rub. Despite the real-life trouble that would soon follow, management was very high on Bram at the time so this would be a fitting spot for him. Jarrett’s trusty guitar would come into play, but Bram would use Karen as a decoy to gain the victory over her husband.
Taryn Terrell (with The Dollhouse) (c) vs. Awesome Kong vs. Brooke Tessmacher (TNA Knockout Title Match): This is another match being moved from Bell to Bell with little need to change it. Tarryn and the Dollhouse had a good thing going, channeling their shallow and vapid valley girl like personas. Kong was (and is) a legendary powerhouse of women’s wrestling and Brooke personifies the beautiful but athletic double meaning of “knockout”. With her caught between Kong’s size and Tarryn’s number’s advantage, she would need to fight an up-hill battle to regain the belt for the first time in over two years.
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Ethan Carter III (with Tyrus) (TNA World Heavyweight Title Match): The final Bell to Bell match to be replicated and what would have been the closing match of the night and EC3’s crowning achievement, on arguably the biggest show of the year, exactly as it should have been. He’d been on a path of legends and former World Champions like Sting, Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson, shaved Spud’s head in his home country, and ran a #EC34Champ campaign, with mugs! He did it all to reach his birth right, the culmination of his dominance, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against arguably the greatest competitor in the promotion’s history.
Aftermath: Following a rematch with Kurt Angle then a win over #1 contender Matt Hardy (which would lead down a Broken path), EC3 would have the babyface options of a newly partner-less Roode or the feuding Lashley and Galloway. MVP would lead the BDC towards the Wolves tag belts (with no Hernandez to get it edited out) while Spud chased them for Kenny’s X-Division Championship. Mandrews would be by his side also chasing the same goal. With no Storm, the Revolution would disband, and Abyss would rekindle his 2013 to 2014 frenemy partnership with Eric Young. Bram would be suspended for personal reasons but Eli and Godderz would take up his upper midcard spot and Brooke would defend her Knockout’s Championship against Tarryn and the Dollhouse, Kong, Gail Kim and Madison Rayne. Jeff Jarrett’s tenure as an authority figure would be that of a babyface authority figure with no invasion angle and GFW wrestlers only used to help fill the roster.
Hi, everyone.
In honour of Slammiversary 2020, I thought it would be fun to go down memory lane and visit the event’s history, particularly Slammiversary 2015. This was an interesting period for Impact Wrestling, then known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, but not always in a positive way. Due to the post-Slammiversary episodes being scheduled to be taped days before the live pay-per-view (in front of the same Orlando crowd), the card was thrown into disarray. This led to it missing a lot of pay-per-view quality matches, which were taped days earlier and aired days later. Today I will attempt to fantasy book a Slammiversary 2015 card without those logistical issues and try to use as many of the same wrestlers as possible, so here goes nothing.
Tigre Uno vs. Manik vs. DJ Z vs. Robbie E vs. Jessie Godderz (King of The Mountain Qualifier 5-way Match): This would be my show opener to get the crowd hot, hence the inclusion of smaller aerial athletes. The match would be built around the recent Bromans break up, with the prize of the 5th spot in the King of The Mountain match up for grabs. Jessie Godderz would emerge victorious after withstanding an emotionally charged onslaught from his betrayed ex-teammates, Robbie E and DJ Z.
The Beatdown Clan vs. Drew Galloway, Lashley, Matt Morgan, Rockstar Spud: The Rising never had any purpose beyond ending the BDC, which they failed to do, leading them to disband within months, plus Galloway already had possible allies on the roster. So instead, Lashley and Spud would be recruited due to their pasts with The BDC over the World and X-Division Titles respectively and Matt Morgan would be the wildcard. MVP would lead a team of Low Ki, should be X-Division Champion Kenny King and should be newest member Micah (in place of Hernandez, for obvious reasons). After some good back and forth and big-little combinations from Morgan and Spud, the BDC would get a one fall victory following a miscommunication between Lashley and Drew.
The Wolves vs. The Dirty Heels (TNA World Tag Team Title Best of 5 Finale Iron Man Match): This would simply be the Bell to Bell match just taking place where it was supposed to. With the workers involved, I have no doubt they’d replicate the quality. The Dirty Heels would have taken a tactical attitude shift fitting of their name in order to tie the series so the Wolves would have to dig down deep to win the vacant tag belts, taking the deciding fall with minutes left on the clock.
James Storm vs. Magnus (Unsanctioned Match): This is a match that did take place at the show, which I see no reason to change. This was an intriguing feud (sans the train tracks incident) and even that couldn’t derail it. The stipulation was appropriate, and the finish was visually pleasing with beer bottle shards flying all over the place. Storm would still emerge the winner, giving the babyface couple of Magnus and Mickie a victory to chase via the mixed tag match involving Serena Deeb.
Eric Young vs. Matt Hardy vs. Eli Drake vs. Mr. Anderson vs. Jessie Godderz (TNA World Heavyweight Title #1 Contender King of The Mountain Match): After Jarrett returned and announced the match, instead of competing in it, he informs the audience it will be for a shot at TNA World Heavyweight Title (not the red headed step belt). On the heel side, Eric Young would be coming off an intense feud with Bobby Roode, Eli Drake would have midcard momentum (in the absence of the Rising) and Jessie would be confident off his qualifying win. On the face side, Mr. Anderson would be an ever-reliable spot filler and Matt Hardy would be trying to fight his way out of his little brother’s shadow. After some fun high spots and weapon bashing, with verbal back and forth between Eli and Anderson, Matt Hardy would get a surprise win after not being taken seriously by his opponents.
Bram vs. Jeff Jarrett (with Karen Jarrett) (Street Fight): With Morgan facing the BDC, Bram would instead face Jeff Jarret, an opponent whom I believe would give him a better match and bigger heel rub. Despite the real-life trouble that would soon follow, management was very high on Bram at the time so this would be a fitting spot for him. Jarrett’s trusty guitar would come into play, but Bram would use Karen as a decoy to gain the victory over her husband.
Taryn Terrell (with The Dollhouse) (c) vs. Awesome Kong vs. Brooke Tessmacher (TNA Knockout Title Match): This is another match being moved from Bell to Bell with little need to change it. Tarryn and the Dollhouse had a good thing going, channeling their shallow and vapid valley girl like personas. Kong was (and is) a legendary powerhouse of women’s wrestling and Brooke personifies the beautiful but athletic double meaning of “knockout”. With her caught between Kong’s size and Tarryn’s number’s advantage, she would need to fight an up-hill battle to regain the belt for the first time in over two years.
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Ethan Carter III (with Tyrus) (TNA World Heavyweight Title Match): The final Bell to Bell match to be replicated and what would have been the closing match of the night and EC3’s crowning achievement, on arguably the biggest show of the year, exactly as it should have been. He’d been on a path of legends and former World Champions like Sting, Bully Ray and Mr. Anderson, shaved Spud’s head in his home country, and ran a #EC34Champ campaign, with mugs! He did it all to reach his birth right, the culmination of his dominance, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against arguably the greatest competitor in the promotion’s history.
Aftermath: Following a rematch with Kurt Angle then a win over #1 contender Matt Hardy (which would lead down a Broken path), EC3 would have the babyface options of a newly partner-less Roode or the feuding Lashley and Galloway. MVP would lead the BDC towards the Wolves tag belts (with no Hernandez to get it edited out) while Spud chased them for Kenny’s X-Division Championship. Mandrews would be by his side also chasing the same goal. With no Storm, the Revolution would disband, and Abyss would rekindle his 2013 to 2014 frenemy partnership with Eric Young. Bram would be suspended for personal reasons but Eli and Godderz would take up his upper midcard spot and Brooke would defend her Knockout’s Championship against Tarryn and the Dollhouse, Kong, Gail Kim and Madison Rayne. Jeff Jarrett’s tenure as an authority figure would be that of a babyface authority figure with no invasion angle and GFW wrestlers only used to help fill the roster.
