Hello and welcome to my preview of TNA’s biggest show of the year, Bound for Glory. Bound for Glory happens live on PPV tomorrow in the USA and it will air in the UK on Challenge TV this Wednesday at 9pm.
The card for this year’s Bound For Glory is looking strong. It looks like there’s going to be some spectacular matches and feuds will come to an end. Kurt Angle gets inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame this weekend, but who will the next inductee be?
This year, there will be a pre-show to Bound for Glory featuring a Gauntlet Tag-Team match to determine who will face the TNA World Tag-Team Champions on the main PPV. Although the pre-show will air on Spike in the US, as of this writing, we haven’t heard if it’s going to air in the UK.
Here’s a rundown of the matches we’ll see on Sunday, both on the pre-show and on the PPV:
Pre-Show Tag-Team Gauntlet Match: The Bro-Mans vs Eric Young & Joseph Park vs Bad Influence vs Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez
TNA World Tag-Team Championship Match: James Storm & Gunner vs the winners of the Pre-Show Gauntlet Match
Ultimate X Match for the TNA X-Division Championship: Manik (c) vs Jeff Hardy vs Austin Aries vs Chris Sabin vs Samoa Joe
Triple-Threat Match for the TNA Knockouts Championship: ODB (c) vs Gail Kim vs Brooke
Sting vs Magnus
Bobby Roode vs Kurt Angle
No Disqualification Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Bully Ray (c) vs AJ Styles
Ethan Carter will also debut at Bound For Glory
Let’s run through the matches and we’ll talk about why they’ve been booked for TNA’s biggest PPV of the year. I’ll also give you my predictions for each match.
Pre-Show Tag Team Gauntlet Match: The Bro-Mans vs Eric Young & Joseph Park vs Bad Influence vs Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez
It was announced a few weeks back that this match would be featured on the pre-show. The line-up looks strong and includes some very experienced, accomplished wrestlers.
The Bro-Mans (Robbie E & Jesse Godderz): The Bro-Mans have the momentum going in to the gauntlet match thanks to their win on Impact last week. They’ve been performing well since coming together as a team and although they can be considered a comedy team, Robbie E & Jesse have done well in singles competition in TNA, OVW and various other companies. They challenged the tag champs to a match a few months ago, but they lost and have been in the running for a re-match ever since. If they focus, they can do reasonably well, but I don’t think they’ll last the distant in the gauntlet match.
Eric Young & Joseph Park: They’ve come to together because EY is trying to help Joseph Park overcome his rage at the site of his own blood, which would help him to stop losing matches. Those of you who read my Impact reviews and follow me on Twitter (@emmagiles98) know I’m not a fan of Joseph Park, but I have to admit that I’ve been watching the “Road Trip” that he’s on with EY. I’ll go on record and say that it’s definitely worth a watch and there’s some comedy gold there that’s made me laugh out loud. EY & Joseph Park could be written off in this match, but I think they’ll last a bit longer than Bro-Mans. Who knows? If Park gets cut open, he could clean house! In my opinion, EY is a decent wrestler who has tagged before and could have the “experience” the team needs, even though we know Park is really Abyss and has experience.
Bad Influence: In my opinion, these two could go all the way and end up on the main PPV. They have bundles of experience and have held the tag-team titles before. You know that Bad Influence will pull out some dirty tricks to get the job done. They recently had a match on Impact against Sting & Magnus, and came close to stopping them from having their match at Bound for Glory. I think Bad Influence will be in the final 2 teams, and could be the winners of the gauntlet.
Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez: They’ve been a tag-team for a while now and also have the experience of holding the tag-team titles. When Homicide returned to TNA for a brief spell in the summer, I was hoping that TNA would keep him around and use him to split this team. I don’t think Chavo is the right wrestler to pair with Hernandez. Hernandez could do better with someone just as big and decent on the microphone. I hope we get an “Air Mexico” in this match. For a guy of his size, Hernandez sure can fly! I think this team might make it down to the final 2, but if they come up against Bad Influence, they’ll miss out. If it’s any other team, we’ll see them on the main PPV.
My Prediction: Bad Influence
TNA World Tag-Team Championship Match: James Storm & Gunner vs the winners of the Pre-Show Gauntlet Match
On an episode of Impact before Slammiversary, James Storm chose Gunner to be his tag-team partner and they went on to win, and keep hold of, the TNA World Tag-Team Championships. They’ve been a good pairing for the division, which could do with more teams in my opinion. Maybe that’s something TNA can look at. I feel TNA always drop the ball with the tag-team division and it always depletes in numbers around the time that the Bound for Glory Series starts. Would James Storm and Gunner still be tag-team champions if they had put them on the line more often? That’s something we’ll never know. Unless the winners of the gauntlet match really step up, I think Storm and Gunner will retain the belts.
My Prediction: James Storm & Gunner
Ultimate X Match for the TNA X-Division Championship: Manik (c) vs Jeff Hardy vs Austin Aries vs Chris Sabin vs Samoa Joe
Manik: He’s been the X-Division Champion for a while now ever since the reveal that it’s TJ Perkins who’s under the mask. He’s a great asset to the X-Division. He’s innovative and it’s a spectacle to seem him wrestle. It’ll be Manik’s biggest test to date. He’s up against some very experienced wrestlers, so if he manages to hold on to the title, it’ll elevate his in-ring status to the next level.
Jeff Hardy: Hardy’s no stranger to high-flying matches and taking it to the next level. Over his career, he’s had some exceptional matches that have involved ladders, tables, chairs and cages, so Hardy will be right at home in an Ultimate X match. My only concern with Hardy he’s been holding the lower part of his back in recent matches. It could be that the high risks he takes are having an effect on him. There’s no doubt though that he’ll push the boundaries here and he’s definitely one to watch.
Austin Aries: Aries is no stranger to the X division. He’s the longest-reigning X-Division Champion in TNA history. He’s also the man who introduced “Option C” to the X-Division, giving the champion a potential World Championship shot after the Slammiversary PPV. Over the past few weeks, he’s shown that he’s willing, and able, to deliver spectacular finishes to a match. For me, he’s a strong contender to take the title.
Chris Sabin: Sabin has held the X-Division Championship on numerous occasions, but most recently this summer when he cashed in the title and went on to become World Champion. I’m glad that Sabin’s not the World Champion. He didn’t have any charisma or mic skills and lacked the star power that a World Champion should have. He’s shown a different side to his character lately, which could mean that he’ll do anything to win.
Samoa Joe: I was a bit surprised to see Joe include himself in the match after Kenny King stepped up to challenge Aries. With that being said, Joe is a big threat in this match because of how many big title matches he’s won in TNA. Joe brings intensity to his matches and has an array of moves in his arsenal, but will Joe have enough to keep all of his opponents down and take the X-Division Championship for a 5th time?
My Predictions: Austin Aries becomes the NEW TNA X-Division Champion
Triple-Threat Match for the TNA Knockouts Championship: ODB (c) vs Gail Kim vs Brooke
This could be a good match because they’ve all been the Knockouts Champion before. With Lei’D Tapa interfering in matches over the last few weeks, will we see her at Bound for Glory?
ODB: ODB’s gone from being the Knockouts referee to being the Knockouts Champion for the 4th time after successfully defeating Mickie James a few weeks ago. ODB was attacked by Lei’D Tapa during her match against Jesse Godderz last week and she was left laying in the middle of the ring. Has she recovered enough to defend her title and walk out as Knockouts Champion?
Gail Kim: Gail has won the Knockouts Championship before and she’s had great feuds with Taryn Terrell and ODB recently. Gail has shown her ruthless side over the last few months and she’s willing to do anything to win. In my opinion, Gail has the capability to win this match and take the title from ODB.
Brooke: Brooke recently returned to TNA after taking a break and she aligned herself with Bully Ray. She won the number 1 contender’s match after defeating Velvet Sky on Impact. As a result of that, she was added to this match, but has she got enough to defeat Gail Kim and ODB to become Knockouts Champion again?
My Prediction: Gail Kim becomes the NEW TNA Knockouts Champion
Sting vs Magnus
These guys are part of the Main Event Mafia, but after Magnus just missed out on winning the BFG Series, he’s been distracted by EGO interfering in his matches, which has caused him to lose. After losing yet another match a few weeks ago, Magnus asked Sting who was going to put him on the map. Sting volunteered and said he’s do it at Bound for Glory. With the tension slowly building between them, who will come out victorious? Will the winner continue to be part of M.E.M or will they walk their own path in TNA?
My Prediction: Magnus
Bobby Roode vs Kurt Angle
When Bobby Roode was inducted in the E.G.O Hall of Fame a couple of weeks ago, he asked the crowd what Kurt Angle had done for TNA lately. Roode got his answer when Angle came out, cleared the ring and challenged Roode to a match at Bound for Glory.
Roode’s the longest-reigning World Heavyweight Champion in TNA history and he’s got what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the cyborg, Kurt Angle, but after running Angle down over the past few weeks, does Roode have enough to defeat Angle at Bound for Glory?
Kurt Angle is being inducted in to the TNA Hall of Fame over the BFG weekend and after making his return to Impact a couple of weeks ago, he wasted no time challenging Roode to this match. Angle looks as if he’s in great shape and he’ll cause Roode some problems.
My Prediction: Kurt Angle
No Disqualification Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship: Bully Ray (c) vs AJ Styles
Bully Ray: The president of the ever-decreasing Aces & 8’s and current World Heavyweight Champion. Since winning the belt back from Chris Sabin, Bully has lost members of his club, but he’s given his support to Dixie Carter who recently turned heel. With Dixie in AJ’s head and Bully having the upper-hand over recent weeks, has the champion given himself the advantage heading in to the World Championship match?
AJ Styles: After being unable to wrestle for the World Championship for a year and a change in attitude, AJ has won the fans back. He went on to defeat Magnus in the final to win the BFG Series, setting up this match with Bully Ray. He’s certainly got Dixie Carter’s attention after issuing his “wake-up call” and since then, she’s tried to put obstacles in his path to stop him from getting to Bound for Glory, but AJ’s overcome them. Will AJ Styles be in fighting form, or has Bully done enough to wear down the challenger before the match?
My Prediction: AJ Styles becomes the NEW TNA World Heavyweight Champion
Ethan Carter debuts at Bound for Glory
Ethan Carter will debut at Bound for Glory. Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen video footage of Ethan Carter, who was recently revealed as Dixie Carter’s nephew. Will Ethan come in and do Dixie’s dirty work that the likes of Hogan weren’t willing to do, and who else will join him on Team Dixie?
These are my predictions for this year’s Bound for Glory. Only time will tell if any of them turn out to be right! Do you agree with my predictions? Feel free to leave your predictions below, or you can send them to me on Twitter @emmagiles98.
Thanks for reading!
@emmagiles98
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