When you're a Republican in Montana running for office and you body slam a "liberal" reporter, you can probably get away with it if it becomes a he said/he said situation. Your voters will probably believe you when you deny it, or claim that the other guy started it or is creating "fake news".
But you can't do that when there's an audio recording.
And you can't do that when a Fox News crew witnesses it, and sides with the "liberal" reporter.