It's the biggest TNA show of the year!
Or so they say. I've been fighting that moniker for years (hello: Slammiversary), but you know what, I think we're too far in. They say it's the biggest show, so I guess it must be so, right?.
That said, if this is the biggest show of the year, like Slammiversary, I definitely didn't "feel" the anticipation or aura around Bound For Glory. So many of the storylines and matches leading into this event felt rushed, or at best, incomplete. It's been a trend all year, honestly. And it's an interesting one considering the deletion (deletionnnnnnn - ahhhh!) of the TNA-plus specials.
We can push aside the Order 4 drama, as that has been the best thing going for TNA all year. That felt like the biggest match going into this event, and rightfully so.
Everything else felt like there just could have been more.
Ah well...
Some quick thoughts and ponderings below:
Random Tidbits:
- Okay, okay, okay...I always complain about people complaining about the stage. But here I go doing that...I wish we got something different. It didn't have to be elaborate. Just...different. Last year's Bound For Glory felt special with the long aisle and the minimal entrance with the fans above it. The usual Impact set felt...well, not bad, just not, you know, "biggest event of the year"
- The Referee shirt is going to take some time to get used to. I don't hate it. Mostly, I shake my head at advertising finding itself everywhere in pro wrestling. I kind of miss when this beautiful art form was niche.
- The Tampa crowd was well...okay. I was disappointed we didn't get Bound For Glory here in New York after delivering Slammiversary, but Tampa...was a choice.
- The no-commentary portion of the night was interesting. TNA always seems to have a bugaboo with live television.
- No Tag Team titles on the show felt weird.
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Hall of Fame
- I didn't hate the limited format for the inductees. I sometimes feel like the speeches can go on too long. I certainly don't need another event. But it feels like TNA is in the space where some of these classes are going to grow over the next few years. Maybe a different night is needed.
- It's fun watching this company at the point where legit TNA talent are getting inducted based on their time with TNA.
- I didn't need the f-bomb by Mike San...errr, Cruz Montana. I had my son watching. I thought that was tasteless...just my opinion.
- I very much loved ODB's speech.
Eddie Edwards vs. Rick Sosa
- Eddie Edwards reinventing himself as the "Veteran Saint" is a nice touch. I'm hoping he leans into that more.
- The entrance mask he wore was kind of cool. Alisha really has embraced the valet part of the Ride or Die package.
- Ricky Sosa gets better and better and better every time I watch him.
- The handshake offer by Edwards is interesting, more so considering The System approach.
X-Division Championship - Fabian Achner vs. Ryan Nemeth vs. Cedric Alexander vs. BDE vs. Rich Swann vs. Amazing Red
- I love a good multi-person X-Division match. I also despise a multi-person X-Division match.
- I mean, I get this show is to get as many people on it as possible. I just felt like seven was a lot.
- There are a lot of people in this match who lacked crowd reactions. That's always been a bugaboo about the X-Division. And when there is a story and development involved, that's when the magic is sparked in the division.
- Fabian Aichner desperately needs a new gimmick and something - anything! - to connect with the crowd. He's sooo good in the ring.
- I don't care what the internet says...Ryan Nemeth is insanely entertaining.
- Amazing Red as X-Division Champion in 2026 is truly wild.
Knockouts Tag Team Championship - Zoey Serrano and Shayna Baszler vs. Allie and Kiera Hogan (c)
- So yeah, this all came about because Zoey bumped into Allie and Kiera backstage. I love pro wrestling, man.
- Props to Allie and Hogan for the nod to Andy Williams. Great call by Tom Hannifan as well. "From the Bunny to the Butcher".
- How stupid is the tribalism in pro wrestling fandom...
- I'm all for this team of Zoey and Shayna - such a badass duo. I'm okay with a few weeks of them on TV destroying jobbers as tag champions.
- Where do Kiera Hogan and Allie go from here?
20-Person Call Your Shot Gauntlet
- There are times I wonder if this concept would bode well as a TNA+ special. Then I remember that would just be TNA's Royal Rumble. And then I watch a Call Your Shot gauntlet on BFG, and I don't hate it.
- I had my doubts about this one going in, and in the end...I didn't hate it.
- No, I have a problem with Frankie Kazarian winning again. I like the idea of Kazarian being TNA's Mr. Call Your Shot, especially as history moves along. But also, the follow-up later that night of the trophy playing into his storyline with Avery Styles was a nice touch.
- Can we trust Kazarian?
- Gabby Forza is freakin' awesome!
- Avery Styles is raw, yet intriguing. I want the Kazarian/Styles storyline to burn slowly.
- I absolutely love AJ Francis. Talk about a dude that reinvented himself. I can't wait for the day that he is TNA Champion - hopefully. And Expressions needs to be there for that run.
- I knew nothing about Joe Alonzo when TNA signed him. In a matter of a few weeks, he instantly connected with me. I enjoy the loudmouth gimmick tons.
- Who is Ben Bishop? Dude is massive.
- Trey Miguel is slamming against the ceiling. Heel Miguel during his X-Division title run was my favorite version of him. Hear me out - the problem with Miguel right now is that he's too cool! I like the stuff he does with Spider-Man. He's easy to root for. I'm not sure I'm going beyond that in my connection with Miguel right now. A heel turn gets him into the main event scene. Leon Slater is going to need great heels.
- I like LJ Cleary, but him as an entrant felt underwhelming.
- The Righteous need something...
- Once again, Kazarian as a three-time champ is cool.
TNA International Championship - Order 4-Way - John Skyler vs. Agent 0 vs. Jason Hotch vs. Mustafa Ali
- As the bell rang, it dawned on me that this was it for this group. That made me sad.
- Also, even before this ends, I'm wondering where they all go after tonight?
- This match was amazing!
- Mustafa Ali is the 2026 TNA MVP. Book it. It's solidified and confirmed.
- The Steel Steps corner super-plex was genuinely something I don't think I've ever seen in pro wrestling.
- Hotch winning was the right pick.
- Does Ali regroup?
TNA Knockouts Championship - Indi Hartwell vs. Xia Brookside (c)
- I'm all for Mickie James on the card, but I think there were better ways to get her involved prior to this.
- Xia Brookside is very good. I loved the darkside entrance
- Indi Hartwell gets a lot of criticism online, but I'm interested in her as champion
- TNA has A LOT of babyface singles champions
- Mickie James' appearance felt pointless?
Moose vs. Max Caster
- I have to admit, I wasn't moved for Caster when it was announced.
- Moose's "open challenge" also felt random.
- I'm all for blurred lines in my hip hop, but Caster's lines about Riyadh felt, well, too soon?!
- (Edit Oct 12 - Max was let go by TNA for his lines. Yikes!)
- I don't know if Shaemus was realistic, but I think that would've been the best option.
- The match was good, but I think Caster is going to have to do more than entrance insults to get me to rally around him and his character.
The Hardys vs. Syx
- This was wayyyyyyy better than I expected
- Small tidbit, but the Syx shirts are awful.
- Jeff is gonna Jeff - them Hardy Boys just love diving over arena entrance tunnels, huh?
- The Eric Redbeard appearance was awesome. For me, I was more excited about it because I'm not quite sure I understand the Syx gimmick/characters/purpose right now.
- Even with that said, I like the idea of Syx winning, and this thing - whatever it is - is going to continue.
TNA World Championship - Leon Slater vs. Nic Nemeth (c)
- I had all sorts of doubts about Slater carrying a major event, more so, carrying attendance as the top guy in TNA
- Then the bell rings, and holy shit, this was amazing!
- Nemeth is 46 years old - he has no business being this good at this point in his career. Nonetheless, I enjoyed everything about this match.
- No interference. No shenanigans. No ref bumps. Just a victor and a loser.
- Slater as champion is a fresh start and is TNA at its core.
- I hope Nemeth doesn't bounce.
- Mike Santan...Cruz Montana's run as TNA champion felt underwhelming in comparison to his chase. I think a large part of that was the poor heels lined up to oppose him. I think there is an opportunity to get AJ Francis, Mustafa Ali, and a heel Trey Miguel as starters. Of course, they are bangers, but Slater is going to need a rival to really drive home his defense.
Destination X is next on the calendar for TNA. I'm looking forward to the first run of Leon Slater, and of course, since it is in Canada, why Jeff Hardy can't make it.
**Cue up the Injury Report**
All in all, a solid edition of Bound For Glory. An okay show that still felt notable.
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Photos courtesy of TNAWrestling.com