Impact Wrestling has released a promotional video for the 2020 iteration of its longstanding pay-per-view event Slammiversary, teasing the Impact return or debut of multiple WWE superstars who were released from the company as a result of its pandemic-related cost-cutting earlier in the year.
The video, shared to the official Impact Wrestling YouTube channel, opens on a hooded figure watching a news report pertaining to the recent WWE firings. While World Wrestling Entertainment isn't outright named, the reporter does recite the promotion's infamous line of wishing released performers "the best in their future endeavors."
What follows is a quick collection of clips teasing fired WWE superstars fans can likely expect to see at Slammiversary 2020 in some form or fashion. This includes multiple former Impact wrestlers, such as Eric Young, D.O.C./Doc Gallows (known in WWE as Luke Gallows), Brian Myers (known in WWE as Curt Hawkins), Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett (known in WWE as Mike Kanellis) and Dixie's kayfabe nephew himself, Ethan Carter III/EC3 (once known in WWE as Derrick Bateman).
As far as potential debuts go, the promo also features footage teasing the arrival of wrestlers who have not yet worked for the former TNA Wrestling, such as former Bullet Club member Karl Anderson -- Doc Gallows' tag team partner in both WWE and New Japan Pro Wrestling. Footage of a Bulgarian flag is also seen, which could be teasing the arrival of former WWE superstar Rusev.
Bear in mind, however, that like most wrestling cards, this is subject to change, and not every wrestler featured or alluded to in the video is necessarily guaranteed to appear. For example, one of the former Impact workers teased in the video is Rockstar Spud, known in WWE as Drake Maverick. While Maverick was initially let go as part of the cost-cutting, WWE has worked this into a storyline, with the superstar recently being offered a new contract with WWE's developmental brand, NXT, following his involvement in the NXT Cruiserweight Tournament. That being said, it is possible the two promotions worked out some sort of agreement beforehand. (After all, Slammiverary 10 in 2012 featured a guest appearance by Christian Cage, who was WWE Intercontinental Champion at the time.)
Slammiversary 2020 airs live on pay-per-view Saturday, July 18.