There continues to be a lot of uncertainty in TNA regarding the company’s longterm outlook as it relates to the Spike TV negotiations.

Following the news that Bully Ray would be leaving TNA soon when his contract expires, it’s believed that TNA will be holding off on re-signing main event stars until they strike a TV new deal.

As a result, we could see more top TNA talent departing in the coming months.

Impact Wrestling moved to Wednesday night earlier this week and the show did one of the lowest ratings for TNA in years, with a 0.65 rating and only 852,000 viewers. The performance of Impact on Wednesdays will be a big factor in TNA’s negotiations with Spike TV.

TNA President Dixie Carter was challenged by Kurt Angle, Robbie E. and Phil Vassar to take part in the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge.” Dixie accepted and then challenged Bully Ray, Devon and Tommy Dreamer to do the same.

Above is a video of Dixie taking the “Ice Bucket Challenge.”

As we reported on Sunday night, Bully Ray held a meeting with talent backstage at the TNA live event this weekend, pretty much saying his “goodbyes” to friends and co-workers in the company.

Ray’s contract is reportedly set to expire in a few weeks and due to the fact that he is so heavily figured into everything from key storylines to behind-the-scenes work, the news of his departure from the company surprised almost everyone.

Bully Ray reportedly held a meeting with wrestlers at the TNA live event in Hagerstown, Maryland earlier today, thanking them and saying goodbye to them, noting that he doesn’t expect to re-sign with the company.

Ray’s TNA contract is expiring in the near future. In fact, it is believed that his deal with TNA expired after tonight’s live event.

Bully Ray is scheduled to be inducted into the TNA Hall Of Fame in October during Bound For Glory week in Tokyo, Japan. As noted previously, TNA hasn’t talked a lot about Bound For Glory in recent weeks and there’s been no real promotion for the show in Japan, where the pay-per-view is scheduled to take place.

The following are highlights of a new v2 Wrestling Podcast interview with Bully Ray:

On TNA spoiling their own storyline with the trailer at the end of last week’s Impact for Bully putting Dixie Carter through a table this week: “When you watch other TV shows whether they are soap operas or reality TV, many TV shows show you what’s coming the following week, and you always want to encourage the highest amount of people to watch your product, so I have no problem with it.”

On comparisons between the ECW and TNA locker rooms: “I do appreciate where he was coming from, to see the guys all amped up and ready to go, and more passionate than ever before, but nothing will ever replicate or duplicate the feeling and the rush that it was like to be in a company like ECW.”

Check out the complete interview at Podomatic.com.

– The following matches have been announced for next week’s edition of TNA Impact Wrestling:

-Team Dixie vs. Team Bully Ray [Eight-Man Hardcore War Match]
-Sanada vs. Low Ki vs. Samoa Joe [X-Division Title]
-An announcement from Angelina Love

– TNA is teasing the debut of a new star. You can check out the first teaser video below.

http://youtu.be/aIf3Rvr2uL8

– It’s worth noting that as soon as WWE became aware that Daniel Bryan was going to have to be stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship due to his neck issues, they immediately decided to put the belt on John Cena again. While Bray Wyatt may have been a popular candidate to win the Money In The Bank ladder match, he was never legitimately considered, as they already knew that they were going with Cena.

– Bully Ray noted during a recent Opie & Anthony radio appearance designed to promote TNA’s television tapings in New York City that he would jump-ship to WWE if given the opportunity. Bully mentioned that he would return to WWE in a “heartbeat” if Vince McMahon called him.

There are some in TNA who claim Dixie Carter suffered a back injury as a result of the power bomb she took from Bully Ray through a table on Impact Wrestling.

Regardless of her physical condition following the table spot, the point of Dixie going through a table was reportedly done by design as a way to write her character off of television for the time being.

At Thursday night’s Impact Wrestling tapings from the Manhattan Center in New York City, Bully Ray put Dixie Carter through a table.

– The latest news regarding Kevin Steen and Prince Devitt is that Steen’s final Ring Of Honor date will be on July 19th, while Devitt is no longer accepting bookings in Europe after the end of July.

– WWE’s “Total Divas” program on E! was recently nominated for “Best Reality Series” in the Teen Choice Awards.

– Kurt Angle will be the next guest on Jim Ross’ “Ross Report” podcast next Tuesday night. The following week, TNA star Bully Ray will join JR on the weekly PodcastOne.com show.

The following is from ImpactWrestling.com:

#TNANYC: TNA Superstars Invade Fox & Friends!

Today, TNA superstars Bully Ray, Eric Young, Velvet Sky, Gunner and new World Champ Bobby Lashley appeared on Fox & Friends and even brought a TNA ring with them!

Check out the clips from the show below – including the Fox & Friends team getting in the ring for some action! Which member do you think has the best shot at becoming a pro wrestler?

TNA taped part of next week’s edition of Impact Wrestling on Thursday evening. The rest of next week’s show, as well as the show that will air on July 3rd, will be taped tonight at the Sands Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Below is what has been taped thus far for the June 26th episode.

– Gail Kim & Taryn Terrell def. The Beautiful People in Knockouts tag-team action.

– Sanada retained the X-Division Championship in a four-way match that also featured Crazzy Steve, Manik and Zema Ion.

– An in-ring segment took place featuring MVP, Bobby Lashley and Kenny King, as well as Eric Young and Bobby Roode. Ultimately, MVP tried to fire Young and Roode, however the TNA Board of Directors came out and rescinded the firings, telling MVP that he is no longer the Director of Wrestling Operations for TNA.

– James Storm def. Mr. Anderson in a one-on-one bout.

– An in-ring segment took place with Dixie Carter bragging about MVP no longer being the Director of Wrestling Operations, assuming that she is again in control until the same member of the Board of Directors from earlier in the evening came out and informed her that she wasn’t in charge either. Dixie threw a fit and demanded to know who was in charge, but the man refused to tell her. Eventually, Bully Ray came out and threatened again to put Dixie through a table until Ethan Carter III and Rockstar Spud came out to make the save. Tommy Dreamer and Ethan Carter III ended up getting into a big brawl as well.

– Magnus & Bram def. Willow & Abyss in a Monster’s Ball match.

– The announcement is made as to who the new TNA Director of Wrestling Operations is, which turned out to be Kurt Angle. This led to MVP, Lashley and King coming out to threaten Angle until Young and Roode came down to the make the save.

Busted Open Satellite Radio Show with Bully Ray
Host: Dave Lagreca, Doug Mortman, and Mike Riker

Being inducted into the TNA Hall Of Fame: “First and foremost it’s cool to be inducted into any Hall Of Fame, whether it’s TNA or any other wrestling federation. The response we got in Dallas was really cool. Those people were really happy to see me and Devon back together again and it was the longest and loudest ‘We want tables’ chants I ever heard. When you have a cool moment like that, you need to stop and smell the roses for a minute, then move on.”

His friendship and partnership with D-Von: “Me and D-Von have had a great partnership and friendship for close to 15 years. In 15 years, how many fights or arguments do you think D-Von have I have been in? One. That’s what makes D-Von and I so special. We balance each other out whether it’s in the ring or out of the ring. Team 3D/Dudleys would never have worked with 2 Buh Buhs or 2 D-vons. Booker T gave us a great compliment and said he wished he could get along with his brother as well as me and D-Von get along. That’s what kept us together. I was very happy to see D-Von back in the ring both personally and professionally. I think D-Von is worth a lot to the TNA roster whether he wants to wrestle again or not. I really don’t know if he wants to wrestle again or not. I think he’s really content on running our school in Florida, the Team 3D Academy. It was a great moment and I was really happy for him.”

How He & Devon Lasted So Long As A Team: “If you ask most people, they would say that I’m the hot head and D-Von is the easy going guy. That’s personally. In business, it’s more like I’m Gene Simmons and he’s Paul Stanley. Both playing equal parts, but Gene a little more vocal. In real life though, D-Von would kick your ass faster than I would. We’ve always been friends. That’s what made us successful. We know the history of tag team wrestlers. A lot of them didn’t like each other personally and always had a problem sharing the spotlight. We were never like that. We always knew that we were worth more together than by ourselves.”

Tommy Dreamer’s Feud With Dixie Carter: “It’s no secret that Dreamer and I are best friends in the wrestling business. He will always be my best friend. He booked HOH 4 and 5 in Poughkeepsie and Philly. He wanted D-Von and I to be in the main event of both shows. He was already advertising us, it was a big deal that D-Von and I were gonna be back together. It was all over Twitter and social media and the very night before I get a phone call from a representative of TNA telling me that I have been pulled from both shows and I am now being sent to California to go to the Spike TV Guys Choice Awards. Now a couple of people are gonna say that I’m a bitch and should have just gone to the event. Contractually I can’t because they would have sued me for every dollar I’m worth because my first obligation is TNA contractually, so I have to do what they tell me to do in that way. It wasn’t like they were pulling me off those shows and I was just gonna sit home, which they could not do. They pulled me off to do an obligation for them, and she knew exactly what she was doing. She was gonna screw me over, screw Dreamer over and screw every fan over. Tommy Dreamer would never deliberately screw his fans over. House Of Hardcore has something special and unique going on and he isn’t going to advertise me on his show for two months knowing I was gonna get pulled. That’s really F’ing the people over, and she is responsible for screwing everyone over.”

If The Dreamer-Dixie Carter Social Media Feud Is A Work: “Just because it plays out on TV doesn’t mean it’s a ‘work’. Dreamer stood the most to lose from this, and he did, and he and I are doing everything we can to make it right for the fans. We’ve told people to hang on to their HOH tickets and if they come to the shows in Bethlehem or New York, I’m gonna stay after these shows and I’m gonna meet every fan that comes. I don’t care how long I have to stay. They will get any photos, autographs, meet and greets. I’m gonna do the right thing because she screwed them over. I know you guys look at things where everything is part of the show. This goes a lot farther. There are a couple things I can’t even talk about because I know the ramifications. The bottom line is this was a scumbag move on her part, and she knew what she was doing.”

Losing to EC3: “Listen, say what you want about the kid. He is doing a pretty damn good job. Plenty of room for improvement, but he is lightyears ahead of where I was when I was his age. He’s got the look. He’s getting better on the mic, his physicality, he was able to hang at Slammiversary. You love him, you hate him, from a business standpoint he is an upcoming rising star.”

His Love Life: “My love life is flourishing. Velvety smooth. It’s all good. I’m currently working on a post-show Bully Ray fan appreciation party that I am throwing myself. It’s not sponsored by TNA, it’s all me. I don’t know whether it’s going to be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but I’m working on a party I want to throw for the wrestling fans just to show them that I appreciate their support over the years. I don’t know any other wrestler who threw a party for fans, and everything is going to be on me.”

TNA Possibly Bringing Back The 6-Sided Ring: “I sent out a tweet an hour ago asking the fans what they want to see. 33 Retweets for the 4 side, 262 favorites for the 6 sided, so it looks like the fans that follow me want to see that 6 sided ring back. I think that’s one of the cool things about TNA how they will listen to fans opinions. I don’t know if it’s going to be set in stone, but I do know that TNA looks for fans opinions. I’m more of a traditionalist with the 4 sided ring, it’s just my opinion. If they brought back the 6 sided ring, I would fully embrace it and continue to do what I do. I know some guys that said it was a little more challenging to perform in the 6 sided ring and that it was more difficult to come off the top rope and how the ropes are tighter, so they bruise your body a lot more.”

Fans Bashing TNA & The Future Of The Wrestling Business: “It’s ok if people are opinionated, but at the end of the day we only have two major companies, we have Ring Of Honor and House of Hardcore on the horizon. We need to band together. There’s very little wrestling left. We need to come together and be very positive about the wrestling business because there might not be a business in the future for all of us. TNA is still a relatively young company. The WWE wasn’t a huge company in the first 12 years of business when Vince Sr started it. TNA still has some growing pains and trying to get over the hurdles that many other companies had and we need to find the right mix of people on the team. From a locker room point of view I think we’re there. I think we have the best performers out there. We just need to fire on all cylinders and if Slammiversary is any indication on where this company can go, I think there’s a bright future for us.”

Tommy Dreamer wrote the following blog on his official Facebook page regarding Dixie Carter, TNA and House Of Hardcore:

“I want to follow up from my official statement of last week (my last post) . I don’t understand the confusion. I read things on the internet or people send me messages here or on Twitter. When I post something that’s it. When I respond to people that’s it. I have no agenda.

However when I am wrong I gladly admit it. The social media contoversy between myself & Dixie Carter got a lot of attention. Which as I found out on Sunday was unintentionally cause by me. Friday evening after my House of Hardcore 4 show I was thanking all the fans that were hitting me up on Twitter. I was favouring & RTing everything positive about the show(putting myself & the show over isn’t that what we do on there) a fan said what a great time he had and attached a picture of my crowd. It had her name attached w/a curse towards her. Thats ok she & I have thick skin however this came to my phone. I was informed Sunday the picture also included a photo of their show the same night. I checked my laptop & they were right. I have no clue how that happened but I would never do that intentionally. I wouldn’t gloat over my show over theirs.I would never throw it in somebodys face To be honest if she would have Tweeted Sundays PPV over 4000 attendence compared to my Sat West Coast House of Hardcore show I would have been pissed as well.

So here are the facts

1.Bully Ray was pulled from my show I was pissed. I feel petty politics played a part

2.I called her a b*tch at my show I was mad & feel the past business relationship we had it was bad for my & her buisness

3.I APOLOGIZE for the tweet. & when you hit me up on Twitter that Monday I didn’t know you were mad but when someone fires a shot at me I go back at them. That’s who I am.

4.I would have loved to telll her this to her face I asked to speak w/her on Sunday it didnt happen. Whether she was busy or didn’t want to it is what it is.

5.saw her later after the show in the restraunt. Wasn’t the place to talk. Hopefully everything is fine.

Bottom line I want WWE TNA ROH HOUSE OF HARDCORE NEW JAPAN & EVERY INDEPENDENT COMPANY TO DO WELL. I was as proud of Sundays PPV like it was my own show & my own money on the line. I love helping out there The people mean everything to me. The wrestling buisness is a better place without politics being a factor. If everyone strives the industry & most importantly the wrestlers & wrestling fans benefit. (And yes I’m doing this on a Monday because of the high level of wrestler traffic derr remember the Monday Night wars i had 2 VCRs rolling at once)

Social Media has definitely changed how we watch tv (hell it changed the Main Event of WrestleMania) Everyone can post their opinion. You need to be accountable for your actions & statements. So there is my accountabilty & statement.”

– The latest edition of Steve Austin’s “Steve Austin Show” podcast, which features an interview with Tommy Rogers, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:

SASc – EP125 – The Fantastics Tommy Rogers

“Tommy Rogers, one half of The Fantastics tag team with Bobby Fulton, gets real with Steve. Hear what Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer did for Tommy’s career, how Tommy got involved in steroids, why he loves Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy, and when he knew it was time to call it quits in the squared-circle.”

You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– The latest edition of Roddy Piper’s “Piper’s Pit” podcast, which features an interview with Bully Ray, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:

PP-Ep11 – TNA Impact’s Bully Ray

“TNA’s Bully Ray aka Bubba Ray Dudley of The Dudley Boyz tag team fame steps into Piper’s Pit! He’s got ECW stories, Paul Heyman stories, WWE stories, Hulk Hogan stories, and a preview of what’s coming up at TNA!”

You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

Testify! Team 3D To Be Inducted Into The TNA Hall of Fame

ARLINGTON, Texas (June 15, 2014) — During Slammiversary XII live from Arlington, Texas, Olympic Gold Medalist and TNA Hall of Famer Kurt Angle announced the next inductees into the TNA Hall of Fame will be Team 3D, Bully Ray and Devon.

Team 3D is one of the most decorated tag teams in professional wrestling history having won more than 20 tag team championships across various promotions, including twice winning the TNA World Tag Team Championship. In 2005 Team 3D was named TNA Tag Team of the Year and in 2013 were named TNA Tag Team of Tag Teams.

Having made their TNA debut in 2005, Bully Ray and Devon are known for their no-nonsense hardcore, taking care of business inside and outside of the ring, which often ends in putting their opponents through a table.

Team 3D becomes the third inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame, following the inaugural induction of “The Icon” Sting in 2012 and Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle earlier this year.

A special induction ceremony for Team 3D will take place later this year.

The following are highlights of a new Ring Rust Radio interview with TNA star Bully Ray:

Donald Wood: TNA is having one of its biggest shows of the year with Slammiversary on Sunday, June 15, from Dallas, Texas. You are scheduled to take on Ethan Carter III in a Grudge Match. As one of the kings of hardcore, how are you approaching this matchup physically and mentally?

Bully Ray: “Here’s the deal, these types of matches I can do with my eyes closed. I’ve been having hardcore matches, table matches, any type of violent matches for a long, long time. I think this is Ethan Carter’s first match like this if I’m correct. Ethan Carter is stepping into a style of match which he is unfamiliar with and he is stepping in the ring with a guy who’s basically the top two or three of this style of match, period. Ethan Carter has very smooth, pretty skin, and when you chop it a certain way, it splits right open, and that’s what I’m going to do to him. I’m going to split his skin open, I’m going to chop him until he bleeds and hopefully bleeds to death. I’m definitely excited about the match. Slammiversary is a huge event for TNA. The Texas crowds have always been great for us and to be able to get my hands on a Carter and spill their blood in Dallas, Texas is going to be great for this kid from Hell’s Kitchen.”

Mike Chiari: During your time in TNA you’ve feuded with a lot of authority figures including Hulk Hogan and Dixie Carter. As a performer, what do you like about feuding with someone in a non-wrestling capacity and what are some of the challenges it presents?

Bully Ray: “A story is a story and she is a performer, she is someone on our television show and I don’t care who I’m standing across the ring from, if they’re in the ring with me, I’m going to make sure that it’s the best possible performance. I’m going to make sure they up their game and I’m going to make sure, first and foremost, that the people get what they paid to see and when it comes to Dixie Carter, the one thing that every TNA fan, every WWE fan, every ROH fan, every House of Hardcore fan, every wrestling fan around the world wants to see that lady get Powerbombed through a table.”

Brandon Galvin: TNA is heading to the road for stops in both Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and New York City at The Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center. As a wrestler who spent plenty of time in both cities with ECW, WWE and TNA, what does it mean performing in these venues at this point in your career?

Bully Ray: “For me, it’s always great, I love performing in the Northeast, not because I’m from the Northeast, because I know what kind of atmosphere and what kind of fans there are in the Northeast. They’re so passionate and they’re so into the product. This is going to be the first time, I believe, that we will be taping in Pennsylvania and the first time we’ll be taping in New York City, and I think this is a great opportunity for TNA to take the wrestling world by the balls and show everybody what we’re really about. Entirely too many people sit back and knock TNA and don’t give it enough credit and those are the people, I believe, who look at the product with jaded glasses or whatever the term is and just bash, bash, bash. TNA is a really good company, is every single storyline good? No. Is every single wrestler good? No. Is every single baseball player good? No. Is every single football player? No. You get a mix, and I think the wrestlers are going to feed off of the Pennsylvania crowd, I think they’re going to feed off of the New York City crowds, and I think they’re going to be some of the most top notch performances you’ve ever seen.”

Donald Wood: There was a lot of controversy surrounding your removal from the House of Hardcore card. You and Tommy Dreamer have been very outspoken on the way this situation was handled. Do you think fans should be expecting to see Dreamer involved in the TNA product as the company heads to the Northeast?

Bully Ray: “If Tommy wanted to get involved, I would be more than happy to step to the side for just a moment so he could get his two cents in because you guys all sit back and say ‘oh, this is part of a wrestling story’. Guys, let me make you understand something. She pulled a scumbag move, more of a scumbag move than you people really know. I was booked in the main event two nights for my best friend’s up and coming promotion and then at the very last second got me pulled off. She pulled me off in a way where she could justify it and contractually, I could not sue her because she pulled me off for another TNA Spike event. She fucked me over, she fucked Tommy over, most of all she fucked the fans over. It’s a big deal. You hear the term ‘this person crossed the line’, Dixie Carter really crossed the line with this move and made it a lot more personal than a lot of people realize.”

Mike Chiari: You recently did an interview for Roddy Piper’s podcast Piper’s Pit and you mentioned on Chris Jericho’s podcast that you’ve been a wrestling fan since you were a kid. As a young wrestling fan was Piper one of the guys you found yourself looking up to? And what was it like for you to get to sit down and talk with him?

Bully Ray: “When I got the offer to sit down and talk to Roddy I was genuinely excited because I don’t know Roddy and that’s why I wanted to talk to him so much. Me and Jericho can sit down and it’s so easy because we’re such good friends and we can trade stories but me and Roddy don’t know each other so it’s kind of a feeling out period, you know. I had never gotten the opportunity to go back and forth on the microphone with Roddy Piper, so I jumped at the opportunity and it was awesome and we had so much in common. I think he respected the fact that I knew so much of the old school history of the business, something that guys that come from his day don’t expect guys like me to know, but I pride myself on being the last of the old school mentality. So, sitting down with Roddy was great, and we could’ve talked for hours.”

Brandon Galvin: You’ve been in the business for more than 20 years and continue to find ways to re-invent your in-ring work and character. Where do you draw your inspiration from and is there something you’ve wanted to add to your character that you haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet?

Bully Ray: “The inspiration for me of always trying something new comes from the rock n’ roll world, watching bands like Kiss and Motley Crue. They go out there every year and they’re playing the same songs but they always find a different way to present it to you, a different stage set, a different feel, and that’s what I try to go out there and do. I try to take the rock n’ roll approach to things, whether I’m out there and people love me or people hate me, I try to go above and beyond. If people love me, I want them to name their first born child after me. If people hate me, I want them to slash my tires and despise me to a whole new level. I’m always thinking of new ways to do things and I’ll always be passionate about the business and I’ll always be passionate about taking the fans on a roller coaster ride, so that’s what keeps me going.”

Donald Wood: One of the coolest additions to the Slammiversary card is the involvement of the Von Erich family. With the pay-per-view taking place in the heart of Von Erich country, are you excited for this monumental occasion?

Bully Ray: “I’m just excited to meet Kevin Von Erich because he is somebody that I’ve never met before and with the Von Erich name in the history of professional wrestling it’s going to be a cool moment for me to shake his hand and tell him I appreciate what he and his family have done for the industry. I’m definitely looking forward to meeting him.”

Mike Chiari: I know that you’re a big soccer fan, so with the World Cup getting started in Brazil, I was wondering who you see winning it all and lifting that World Cup trophy.

Bully Ray: “I will always be pulling for my home country of Italy. I’m really hoping they can repeat what they did two World Cups ago. There’s so many strong teams, with the World Cup being in Brazil and them being probably the number 1 or number 2 powerhouse in the world right now, but Argentina is also going to be very tough because Argentina is in South America, so it’s always great when all these teams get together and put the absolute best on the field. I love the World Cup, I’m a huge soccer fan. Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain, all these powerhouses coming together is going to be awesome.”

Brandon Galvin: You and Devon are the masters of the table. Who have you enjoyed putting through a table most during your career?

Bully Ray: “The one person that we almost put through a table that would’ve been absolutely great was Vince McMahon. We had him jacked up, and ready to go, but I believe Road Dogg and X Pac stopped us from doing that. As far as enjoying one person over another, a lot of people enjoyed the Mae Young table bump the most. I put Joe C from Kid Rock through a table. I’ve enjoyed everything, so everything sticks out in my mind but I think putting Vince McMahon through a table would’ve been special. I am really looking forward to jacking Dixie Carter up and putting her hard, hard, hard through the middle of that table.”

Check out the complete interview above.

TNA has announced a ladder match for the X-Division Championship, as well as some celebrity appearances for this Sunday’s Slammiversary pay-per-view event.

– Eric Young vs. MVP (TNA World Title)

– Bully Ray vs. Ethan Carter III

– Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley

– Willow vs. Magnus

– Manik vs. Tigre Uno vs. Crazzy Steve vs. Sanada vs. Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards (Ladder Match For X-Title)

– Mr. Anderson vs. James Storm

– Austin Aries vs. Kenny King

– The Von Erich Family to appear

– JUST ANNOUNCED: George Selvie and the Dallas Cowboys to on Sunday

– Kurt Angle to announce next TNA Hall Of Fame inductee

– Make sure to visit SEScoops.com this Sunday night for live TNA Slammiversary PPV play-by-play results coverage.

The following are highlights of a new Busted Open Radio interview with Ethan Carter III:

On his upcoming match with Bully Ray & how important Slammiversary is to TNA: “This is pretty important. This is 12 years the company’s been around. Granted I’ve only been here 9 months, but I intend to be here for the next 400 years. They’re gonna have to freeze me like Walt Disney. This is a huge moment. I’ve had a lot of opportunity to go into the ring with TNA legends. This match with Bully Ray: He’s 100%, I’m 100%. This is a grudge match, and it’s in Texas. I wouldn’t be surprised to have this match have a Texas stipulation added to it. It’s gonna be a match, and it’s gonna be in Texas, and Bully wants to put me to death. This is gonna be a fight. This is gonna be a match I leave it all out there. This is my opportunity to show the world what I got.”

On how big this match is versus how big his match with Sting was: “I think with Sting that was, well, it’s Sting! No matter what stage of his career he’s at, it’s still Sting, and that’s epic. I think what’s gonna separate this match with Bully vs. Sting is it’s gonna be on PPV. It’s gonna be one on one. We’re gonna go the distance and we’re gonna have a lot of time to tell a story in the ring. A lot of times with TV tapings you don’t have enough time to get to where you want. On PPV you have 3 hours dedicated to just wrestling.”

On upcoming TNA shows in New York’s Manhattan Center & New York fans: “Oh man. I can’t wait. I’ve been a wrestling fan since I first saw it. I love New York fans. They always say what’s on their minds. They’re gonna have some creative things they want to say to the Carter family and it’s gonna be exciting. I don’t know what chants I’m gonna get, but I’d love to get a ‘E-C-Fn-3’ chants, I’d be happy. I’m a fan, so how bout this? ‘Ethan Carter the turd’. If you wanna bring it back to the old ECW, ‘you suck *&^%’ or whatever, have it it. Whatever it is good or bad I’ll take it.”

Check out the complete interview at BustedOpenNation.com.

– Davey Richards noted in a recent interview that he and Eddie Edwards will be defending the TNA Tag-Team Championships at the Slammiversary pay-per-view this Sunday. While he wouldn’t announce who their opponents will be, he did say that fans would “dig it.” You can check out the interview at FightNetwork.com.

– TNA stars Velvet Sky, Taryn Terrell, Jessie Godderz and Bully Ray were in attendance on behalf of the company at the Spike TV “Guys Choice Awards,” which airs tonight at 9pm EST.

– The following is the ninth installment of Kurt Angle’s “#MyComeback” video series:

Tommy Dreamer posted the following blog on his official Facebook page regarding the situation surrounding Bully Ray, Dixie Carter and the latest House of Hardcore show:

“I never wanted a publicist I don’t feel the need. So here is my OFFICIAL STATEMENT In todays society with social media being the way it is I laugh every time a celebrity says something that is not poltically correct and they apologize for it. The only reason why they apologize is because they got caught or it could hurt their image. The wrestling community is all a buzz over my recent House of Hardcore events. It was so much work, but so happy it worked out for me, the wrestlers & importantly the fans. The biggest controversy is Bully Ray being pulled from my show. Here is how it all went down. I have 1 of my best friends calling me & saying I can’t believe I have to even make this call. Bubba tells me TNA is pulling me from your show. I have to do an apperance for them in LA. I say ok. I had no apperance contracts like Ive had in the past. I put my thinking cap on & I remembered so many times in the original ECW stuff like this happened before. In doing my best Paul Heyman I didn’t lie to my audience. I gave the fans 2 matches told them they can leave now get those 2 matches for free & get a refund but if they stayed I had surprises & promised a solid show. I advertised a Main Event & didnt have 1 player I felt it was the right thing to do.It worked out in the end maybe better than I had hoped for. Not 1 person left. I also told the audience this part of show won’t be on DVD it was just for them. It was. I did call Dixie Carter a b*tch & im not apologizing for it.(the crowd said way worse things about her) It was a bad buisness move. Which I see being made all the time. I am all buisness. I have helped TNA wrestling before & did very good buisness for them drawing 3 times the amount of people from the last show they did at Mid Hudson Civic Center from something I put together at HOH 3

>To TNA’s credit John Gubrick Head of Talent Relations who has always been straight with me offered to help anyway possible. I at first wanted Bobby Roode & Eric Young both agreed to help even tho they had personal stuff then I just went with my gut(no fat jokes)

Bully Ray & I came up w/if any fan that bought an HOH ticket & brings it to the TNA upcoming tvs in PA or NY he will have a free meet n greet. Because he feels like sh*t & wants to make good. TNA Agreed which is just good buisness for both. I turned a negative into a positive. (Thats what I do) It benefits HOH TNA & importantly the wrestling fans. I help out behind the scenes in TNA. I’m not under contract, I don’t know if I will be brought back & if not that’s ok.

I will continue to support Impact Wrestling. I love the men & women there & want there buisness to grow.

If WWE, ROH or any indy asks me to help I would do the same. I love wrestling & just want to see it continue to strive & get better. I am a 43yr old man & don’t need to take peoples petty issues, especially If something effects my shows & hard work. I have an issue with that & I will voice my opinion. I feel there are way too many hypocrites that only voice their grievences after the company stops paying them. To me that is just BS

My House of Hardcore slogan is No Politics No BS JUST WRESTLING I strive to continue to have that in my locker room & w/the paying customers. Hardcore is a strong work ethic.

So when people talk about what’s going on go or start rumors direct them here or my Twitter. Thanks look fwd to continued progress this Sat HOH 6 West Coast Invasion www.houseofhardcore.net”

You can follow Dreamer at Facebook.com/TheTommyDreamer.

Bully Ray commented via Twitter about TNA president Dixie Carter pulling him from Tommy Dreamer’s “House of Hardcore” event on Saturday night. The former TNA Champion tweeted the following:

LONG STORY! Bottom line- @TNADixie completely screwed and hurt ALL @HouseofHardcore fans. I SWEAR TO MAKE IT UP TO ALL OF YOU.

— Bully Ray (@REALBully5150) June 7, 2014

ALL @HouseofHardcore fans. Hold onto ticket stubs. Will personally meet all at PA or NYC TNA TV shows. Let @TNADixie know how ya feel.

— Bully Ray (@REALBully5150) June 7, 2014

– The following is the official description for the latest edition of “Who’s Next w/ Goldberg.”

Who’s Next w/ Goldberg – Ep02 – Terry Crews

“NFL Stud-Turned Wrestling Legend Bill Goldberg welcomes NFL buddy turned actor Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Old Spice stud) to talk about his journey and what makes a real man.”

You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– The following is the official description for the latest edition of the “Steve Austin Show.”

SASu – EP120 – TNA’s Cowboy James Storm Pt 2

“Cowboy James Storm and Steve Austin are sharing their tag team pet peeves, and the worst matches of their respective careers (at least according to Dave Meltzer). They’re also talking Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart, the Superkick, the Stone Cold Stunner, cars, vegetarians, and 80s heavy metal.”

You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– The following is the official description for the latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho.”

TIJ – EP43 – TNA’s Bully Ray Pt2 & WWE Payback Predictions

“TNA’s Bully Ray (formerly known as Bubba Ray of the Dudley Boyz tag team at WWF/E) is back talking about ECW, Paul Heyman, shaving his head, working for WWE, and his favorite matches! Plus, Egypt returns to predict this weekend’s WWE Payback PPV matches with Chris! Who will come out ahead?”

You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– TNA began running promotional ads on the New York City radio station WFAN this week. WFAN is among the most expensive sports radio stations in the country to advertise on. TNA is running ads for their upcoming television tapings in August, with the following talent listed in the advertisement: Eric Young, MVP, Bobby Lashley, Kenny King, Velvet Sky and “New York’s own Bully Ray.”

– Samoa Joe made his return to TNA on last night’s edition of Impact Wrestling. Prior to Joe returning at the TNA tapings in early May, he had been away since the company’s TV tapings in March.

– The latest edition of Chris Jericho’s “Talk Is Jericho” podcast, which features an interview with TNA star Bully Ray, is now available. The official description for the show reads as follows:

TIJ – EP42 – TNA’s Bully Ray & Tour of Fozzy’s bus

“TNA’s Bully Ray… formerly known as Bubba Ray of the Dudley Boyz tag team at WWF/E has lots to say about TNA today, the WWE style, TLC IV against Chris Jericho, wrestling school, Mick Foley, and meeting Ronnie James Dio. Plus, his three childhood dreams and which two have come true!”

You can download the show right now at PodcastOne.com.

– The following is a new WWE Countdown Extra, which features Dolph Ziggler: