The premiere episode of TNA Impact on the AMC network featured a significant nod to the company’s history with the return of former TNA President Dixie Carter. The segment, which was introduced by current TNA President Carlos Silva, involved a tense confrontation with Bully Ray that referenced one of the most physically damaging moments in the promotion’s history.
Dixie Carter Addresses the Audience
TNA President Carlos Silva appeared on stage to welcome the audience to the new era of Impact Wrestling. Silva then introduced Carter as a “special guest.” Carter’s appearance drew a polarized response from the live crowd, with reports indicating a “mixed reaction” that included a significant amount of booing.
Taking the microphone, Carter addressed the long-standing fanbase. She asked the crowd how many of them had been watching the product “all these years” and expressed her gratitude to the audience. She described the evening as a “sentimental night” given the company’s transition to a major cable network.
Bully Ray Interrupts
Carter’s address was cut short by the arrival of Bully Ray. The former TNA World Heavyweight Champion walked onto the stage and first acknowledged Carlos Silva, shaking the current President’s hand. Ray then turned his attention solely to Carter.
The two engaged in a prolonged staredown. The interaction appeared to reference their volatile on-screen history, specifically the events of 2014. Carter appeared “nervous” as Ray stared at her. However, the tension was diffused when they hugged.
Historical Context: The Table Spot
The tension in the segment was rooted in the storyline arc from 2013 and 2014, during which Carter portrayed a villainous authority figure and Bully Ray acted as the primary antagonist against her regime. The feud culminated on the August 7, 2014, episode of Impact Wrestling in New York City.
During that episode, Bully Ray fulfilled a long-running storyline promise to put Carter through a table. He powerbombed her from the second rope through a table in the center of the ring. The spot resulted in legitimate injury for Carter, who suffered small compression fractures in her lower back due to the impact. The moment remains one of the most viewed and discussed segments in the company’s history.
BULLY RAY COMES OUT AND HUGS DIXIE CARTER.
THE PAST IS IN THE PAST. 🫡#TNAiMPACT #TNAonAMC pic.twitter.com/CiaS0FIFTJ
— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) January 16, 2026
