TNA Entertainment

Many fans were saddened to read about Drew Galloway’s release from WWE on June 12, 2014. Rather than give up and fade into obscurity, the 30-year-old’s passion for pro wrestling and drive to succeed grew stronger.

Two years to the day, the TNA Impact Wrestling heavyweight champion will defend the gold against Bobby Lashley Sunday at 8/7CT on pay-per-view from Universal Orlando.

Needless to say Galloway is living the dream.

“It was a lifelong goal of mine to be world champion,” he said. “It’s something that meant the world to me. It felt significant and important. I don’t get the chance to enjoy that for a second thought, because it is my responsibility to think about how I can be different than any other champion who came before me. I see it as a bit of task of mine to take the title around the world and be an ambassador for TNA and put eyes on the company. Anyone who has negative opinions, I see it as my job to change their opinions.”

Galloway believes the product is as good as it has been in a very long time. Ever since the promotion’s move to Pop TV in 2016, he could feel a shift.

“Everyone has really found their character and there are some exciting feuds going on,” he said. “It’s not just one thing going on. There are a lot of unique characters and stuff going on creatively right now. I think this has been the strongest we have been in a while. I think for anyone who hasn’t given TNA a chance recently, I say for you to give it one shot. I guarantee it will change your mind because I genuinely believe in the product. I wouldn’t just say that.”

Galloway feels the company has turned a corner, especially given the feedback he gets from travels around the world. His goal, standing atop the TNA mountain, is to use every appearance as a way to garner the promotion renewed interest. The hard worker takes pride in being a success story.

“I have the opportunity to be myself,” he said. “It’s the same with EC3 and a few other guys … It’s all timing, whether it’s WWE or TNA. For myself, I was told I would get a shot at being myself here. They stuck to it 100 percent with every promo and every match. They have literally just let Drew Galloway be Drew Galloway. That’s all I ever wanted. If I succeed, it’s on me. If I don’t, it’s on me. That is the way I like it. I know at the end of the day I know I gave it my all.”

The landscape of pro wrestling continues to change and evolve. The marketplace is filled with new talent coming off a string of WWE releases. Many of them are close friends of Galloway.

“For selfish reasons, I just want to be around all my friends,” he said. “The reality is there are such talented guys out there right now. You have Cody [Rhodes], who is starting his plan. He is a smart guy and starting to plant the seeds. He is going to be just fine like I was. Damien Sandow is already getting himself out there. Whatever he decides to do, he will do well.

“Wade [Barrett] and I are very close friends. He is taking time out and enjoying the first bit of time off he has had in a while. You never know where he will turn up. So, selfishly, I would like to be around all my buddies. They would be massive assets to any company.”

Galloway has enjoyed his traveled around the world. He appreciates the fact Evolve and ICW (Insane Championship Wrestling) in Scotland believed in him post-WWE they made him their world champion

“I genuinely believe you can reinvent yourself, especially with social media,” Galloway said. “It’s almost like you don’t need TV or the ‘machine’ behind you. I show that on the independent scene. I get opportunities, and it’s my job to make something happen with them, which I think I’ve done.

“When everyone was leaving WWE, it became almost as if they were pulling a ‘Drew.’ Only now they aren’t going to do a ‘Drew.’ They will be doing a ‘Cody’ and a ‘Wade.’ They are all going to see these places, especially Cody and Damien who it clear they will explore the world.

“The wrestling scene right now is absolutely on fire. The UK scene is probably number one in my book in terms of crowd reaction and crowd size. It’s absolutely booming everywhere I go. Fans are so educated. It’s such a cool time to be a fan and a wrestler. You just see so many things going on right now in Evolve and the TV shows like TNA, which is different than ROH, which is different than Lucha Underground and NXT. There is such a selection of wrestling right now. It’s such a wild time. I’m very lucky to be where I am at the age I am and have the opportunities I have.”

Competition is fierce in pro wrestling today with everyone trying to get a piece of the pie. TNA’s flagship Impact Wrestling show on Pop TV faces the challenge of SmackDown moving to Tuesday nights opposite them during the 9 p.m. hour starting July 19.

“Pop TV has been fantastic the entire time,” Galloway said. “I’ve met with some of their executives. We have filmed some exclusive content that we will use it in conjunction with the company. It’s a great relationship. [Pop president] Brad Schwartz came out with this statement when people were talking negatively and wondering about TNA’s TV future…He did it just so everyone knows, even though he shouldn’t have to say. Sometimes you have to point it at them. You just don’t cancel your second biggest show. It’s simple as that. So they have been fantastic.

“…As for SmackDown going live on Tuesdays, I think we are just going to stay the course and provide the quality shows we have been providing. I think people are going to have a choice what they want. They will have a lot of choices to watch with pro wrestling. They can watch one and DVR the other. There is wrestling pretty much every day of the week because you have that convenience nowadays.”

The champ has high hopes for TNA as it enters another year in operation. He is looking forward to a fight with Bobby Lashley at Slammiversary.

“I think we will be turning heads with this PPV,” he said.

“I love the chance to work with Bobby. I work a physical style myself. A lot of times, it’s me being the aggressor. Now I’m going against a guy who is bigger, faster, stronger this time. It’s really something to sink my teeth into and a chance to get everyone’s attention. I’m trying to create that believability in all my matches. But here you have the most believable guy.

“I never treated a match with him like a pro wrestler. I treat them like the beast he is. When you are against a guy like a Bobby Lashley, you have to be smart because he can snap a leg in one second. I treat him with that respect. I think it will increase the believability of it all because he is a legit as it gets.”

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Photos Courtesy: TNA Entertainment