DREW GALLOWAY (C) VS. BOBBY LASHLEY

DREW GALLOWAY © VS. BOBBY LASHLEY (TNA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)

TNA: Slammiversary (12^th June 2016)

Josh Matthews and “The Pope” D'Angelo Dinero are on commentary for this match.

This match can only be won by knockout or submission. Drew Galloway has been TNA World Heavyweight champion since he cashed in his “Feast of Fired” Briefcase beating Matt Hardy 15^th March. Bobby Lashley won #1 contendership beating Jeff Hardy and Mike Bennet in a triple threat match 3^rd May. His opportunity for the gold on Impact 2 weeks later in a lumberjack match ended in a disqualification, so TNA President Dixie Carter made the special stipulation for tonight's main event. Matt Hardy had a chance to ruin this match with a championship shot on the go-home Impact 5 days before this event, but Lashley caused a disqualification to end the match.

Drew Galloway gets a backstage interview with Jeremy Borash immediately before the match. Borash reminds him that it's knockout or submission only in his championship defence tonight, and Galloway knows people are wondering how he'll defeat the Mixed Martial Arts machine Bobby Lashley. At this point, Bobby Lashley had a 14-2 MMA record including going undefeated in all of his 4 Bellator MMA fights. Galloway says he's been working for tonight for 16 years, and he won't let it slip away easily. He's defended his championship in different countries and different companies all over the world.

Bobby Lashley enters the ring area first, and his music and gear make him seem less like his “Destroyer” moniker. However, I've heard amazing things about Bobby Lashley during his dual Bellator MMA/TNA run. As well as his MMA record Lashley is a two-time TNA world heavyweight champion. Galloway enters and his music's much better. He's wearing a kilt to the ring. Matthews says traditional Scottish Warriors wore kilts going into battle, and that's exactly what Galloway's defence against Lashley tonight will be. We have special in ring rules and introductions from Jeremy Borash. Bobby Lashley has a 16lb weight advantage over Galloway, but to be honest it looks more. As the match starts Matthews asks Pope about the mindset of Lashley.

Both men charge at the bell and Lashley's knocked straight down with a running Claymore kick. Lashley rolls Galloway up but remembers there are no pinfalls so he takes Galloway down and locks in a kneebar. Galloway makes it to the ropes forcing the break. Lashley shoves Galloway out of the ring and Galloway's to his feet at 4. Lashley follows Galloway around ringside, but Galloway turns the tide outside and hits a chop to Lashley's chest. Galloway tries to send Lashley into the ring steps but Lashley uses them as a stepping stone, avoiding any impact. (No pun intended) both men get back in the ring and Galloway ducks a clothesline and Lashley leapfrogs the champion before knocking him down with a hard clothesline. The referee starts to count Galloway down but he gets up at 4. Lashley keeps control over the champion, beating him into the corner. Lashley chokes Galloway in the corner then sends him across the ring as Matthews reminds us of Lashley's power advantage, The Pope pipes up that Galloway has heart, and it's infectious as Lashley hits another running shoulder block in the corner.

Lashley brings Galloway out of the corner and has him in a Torture Rack position. Galloway fights his way out with knees to the head and locks in the Iron Maiden crossface! Lashley rolls through and begins to ground and pound on Galloway! Galloway is sent across the ring again, but this time Lashley posts his left shoulder. Drew Galloway locks in the Iron Maiden again, focusing on the left shoulder this time. Pope says that even if this move doesn't get the victory for Galloway, it'll wear Lashley down. Something I wish they wouldn't mention during submission focused matches. Lashley makes it to the ropes and Galloway breaks at 3. Lashley catches a running Galloway and drops his chest and neck across the top rope, but it didn't look great. Lashley spears Drew Galloway in half! Bobby Lashley stalks Galloway. Galloway stirs at 8 and shoves Lashley back but Lashley chokes him with his boot. The referee forces Lashley to break and Galloway gets some air in his lungs. Lashley follows and applies a chinlock in the ropes.

Lashley brings Galloway to his feet and hits him with a headbutt, sending him across the ring. The crowd is torn between champion and challenger as Lashley stomps at Galloway, sending him into the corner and brings him to his feet. Lashley hits some right hands in the corner, then goes back to Galloway's ribs with shoulder barges. Galloway is sent across the ring but gets the boot up as Lashley charges. Galloway runs into a double-underhook belly to belly suplex! Galloway starts stirring at 6 and Lashley goes right back to him, not letting him get to his feet, or get too much recovery time. Lashley rolls into an armbar but Galloway's hands are clasped! Galloway rolls back through and stomps on Lashley, releasing the hold. That hit Lashley right in the eye, busting him open and swelling it shut. Lashley misses with a wild right and Galloway hits him with chops. Lashley able to reverse the irish whip but ducks too early, eating a boot. Galloway clotheslines Lashley down.

Lashley is straight back up to his feet and he reverses another irish whip, this time connecting with a spinebuster! Lashley panders to the crowd before picking Galloway up for a delayed vertical suplex, Galloway kicked at Lashley but it had no effect. Galloway still able to get to the corner and get to his feet. Lashley charges at him, hitting him with a flurry of strikes. Lashley perches Galloway on the top rope and climbs to the middle. Lashley hits a hard strike but loses his balance, having to climb back up. Galloway reverses a superplex and hits an axhandle off the top rope! Lashley up at 4 but Drew Galloway hit another Claymore! Lashley rolled back to his feet! Brian Hebner can't count Lashley out on his feet. Lashley hits Galloway with a back elbow but runs into a belly to belly! SPEAR by Lashley! Neither of these guys can get up, forcing Brian Hebner to count them both down. Lashley stirs at 6, getting to one knee. Lashley grabs Galloway by the hair and brings them both to their feet. Lashley clubbers away on Galloway, and seems to have Galloway in some sort of clutch but Galloway fights him off. Galloway boots Lashley over the top rope to the floor!

Galloway follows Lashley out and Hebner reminds them it's no DQ. Galloway hits a right hand but Lashley blocks a second and shoves Galloway to buy himself some time. Galloway runs at Lashley but Lashley just presses him overhead and drops him on the outside of the apron! Lashley takes an annoying amount of time adjusting his headband, and that costs him as Galloway sends him into the ring steps. Galloway sets Lashley up on top of the steps and climbs up to meet him. CELTIC CROSS ON THE STEPS! Holy fuck.

The referee counts them both down and Galloway's up at 4, whereas Lashley looks out of it completely. He halts the referee's count on Lashley and applies a sharpshooter, so Pope gives a shout out to Bret Hart. Galloway's holding on to the ropes for balance and leverage. Galloway breaks at the count of 4 (it's supposed to be KO or submission only right?) Galloway hits another Claymore on the outside. Galloway collects a table and lays Lashley on it, climbing up to the apron, he looks around deciding to attack from back in the ring. No-hands somersault senton! Lashley moves sending Galloway through the table on the outside! Bobby Lashley is having to use the apron to keep himself on his feet, and he tells the referee to count Galloway down. Drew stirs at 5 so Lashley decides to attack, which Pope calls smart because if your opponent can move then you need to attack but Matthews isn't sure Drew would have beaten the count. Lashley tells Brian Hebner to get back in the ring and count Galloway down again. Galloway is able to get to his feet at 8 and you can see the ground and pound Lashley used last busted Galloway open. Galloway looks pissed as he makes his way back up to the apron, Lashley is there to greet him but succumbs to a headbutt. Galloway comes flying off the top rope but gets caught in a crossface! Galloway looks like he might have to tap, but he powers his way to his feet! Tombstone by Galloway keeps both men down, Galloway stirs first, trying to get his way to the ropes, and back to his feet. Galloway gets to his feet at 5 and stalks Lashley from the corner. Lashley gets to his feet at 8 and avoids a claymore. Big right hand from Lashley sends Galloway to the mat and a CM Punk Anaconda Vice gets Lashley the championship.

WINNER: BOBBY LASHLEY (NEW TNA WORLD CHAMPION)

This match was the main event of TNA's anniversary show. Galloway showed a real aggression in this match and knew he was at a disadvantage with Bobby Lashley being the Bellator star that he is. Galloway had to use his brawling style and hard hitting to knock Lashley out, and use the no disqualification to his advantage. I like that they didn't make this a plunder match for Galloway, making the weapons they did use (steps, the hard part of the apron and the table) mean something and each man had their own strategy. With Galloway just going for high impact moves whereas Lashley was trying to wear Galloway down throughout the match. I also liked the finish with Lashley locking in a submission as soon as Galloway was knocked down, not waiting for a knockout and therefore possibly giving Galloway a chance to recover. Galloway has been one name I've seen constantly come up with his post-WWE run (although he is back now) and this match helped show why. – Rating: 4.8/10