We spoke to EC3 via telephone this week about his aspirations for Slammiversary, the EVOLVE connection, his previous life as WWE’s Derrick Bateman and more . . .

And on Sunday, he will collide with Mike Bennett at TNA’s Slammiversary pay-per-view, also from Orlando.

On Saturday, EC3 has an “open contract” to wrestle anyone on the EVOLVE roster at the EVOLVE 63 iPPV from Orlando, Florida.

On Friday, in his first appearance for EVOLVE since his shocking debut last month, he will team with Drew Galloway to battle Johnny Gargano and TJP in a non-sanctioned street fight at the EVOLVE 62 iPPV from Ybor City, Florida.

You will lock horns with Mike Bennett at TNA’s Slammiversary pay-per-view on June 12 from Orlando. What can fans expect from this match?

“They can expect the best match on the card, that’s for damn sure. They can expect one of the best matches of the year. We’re two equally matched competitors, two guys with something to prove — probably two guys that will always have something to prove.

“We’re two guys with chips on our shoulders, two guys who came to Impact Wrestling for a reason: to change the face of it, to make this place great, to make it the wrestling promotion it deserves to be. We’re two guys who have different ideals on how to do that, but congregate to make that happen.

“I think Mike Bennett and I have built up a very solid story, a very solid feud. And, at the end of the day, it’s about what this business should be about: who wins and who loses. He was the first person to defeat me. On Sunday, I will be the first person to defeat him.

“Wins and losses should be valued. To us, they’re very important. The winner of this match at Slammiversary is probably whom will be the franchise of Impact Wrestling in the future.”