The opening of Bound for Glory was Broken Matt Hardy reading a bedtime story to young Maxell. It was indeed, DELIGHTFUL.
Josh Mathews quipped, “Oh Bound for Glory, we knew you’d come.”
TNA X-Division champion DJ Zema Ion vs. Trevor Lee
They circled each other and locked up. Lee muscled Ion into the back but Ion escaped. They quickly traded holds Ion took Lee over and Lee escaped to the floor, trying to break his early momentum. When he returned to the ring, Lee took over with a series of right hands but was sent over with a hiptoss. Ion drilled him with a big dropkick and caught Lee in a hiptoss before cinching on an armbar.
Ion maneuvered Lee into a pinfall combination before grabbing a front facelock. Ion used a springboard to keep him off balance,taking him down. Lee nailed him and played to the crowd, leaving himself open for Ion to nail a dropkick through the ropes. He tossed Lee into the ring but Lee used the referee to prevent Ion from hitting a springboard into the ring. Lee cracked Ion with a big boot, sending him to the floor. Lee drilled him with a running kick to face while on the apron.
Lee ripped at Ion and bit him on the face. The crowd chanted for Ion. Lee scored with a series of forearms in the corner. Ion whipped him into the corner but was kicked as he charged. Ion caught Lee with a flapjack. Ion ascended to the top but was caught with a forearm. They battled on the top and Ion nailed a rana off the top onto Lee, who was on the ropes. Ion nailed a running back elbow and backdropped him.
Ion nailed a springboard back elbow. He set up for the ZZT but Kee saw it coming and rolled to the floor. Ion followed and nailed Lee, then nailed a great flip dive to the outside. Lee nailed a tope suicida. Ion nailed an awesome running springboard dive to the floor. Ion charged Lee, who caught him and elevated him over with the Collision Course powerslam for a two count.
Lee elevated Ion on his shoulders but Lee nailed a reverse rana. Ion went for the ZZT but was nailed by Lee. Lee nailed the rolling belly to back suplex for another two count. They went back and forth until Lee nailed a double stomp. Lee drilled him with a kick to the head for a two count. Lee argued with the referee and grabbed him by the shirt. Ion came back with a Canadian Destroyer and a ZZT for the pin.
Your winner and still X-Division champion, DJ Zemo Ion!
Good match. Lots of cool athletic moves.
They showed TNA champion Bobby Lashley and his challenger EC3 earlier today.
McKensie Mitchell was backstage interviewing Drew Galloway. He said he doesn’t feel good and it’s a hell of a thing when a doctor tells you that a little to the left or the right and you’d be having surgery and be gone for a year and everything he worked for would be gone. He said that he’s had a hell of a career as Tag champion, Intercontinental champion and TNA champion and he got hurt. He wanted to fight and TNA management told him no. He said that the company told him no because he’s a liability like he’s a piece of office equipment. He said that he asked for the match to be pushed back because he earned it and was told no. Now he doesn’t get to fight on the biggest show of the year when he’s willing to fight. He said that if Billy Corgan’s doctor told him not to play before the biggest tour of his career and Corgan knew in his heart he could play, he would ignore the doctor. Galloway then said that Corgan was buying the company because he gets Galloway. Galloway said he’s not going to recognize the champion and stormed off. It was a good promo.
Bound for Glory Gauntlet
We opened with Jesse Godderz vs. Rockstar Spud. Godderz had control early and pressed Spud, who slipped behind him and drilled Godderz into the corner. Spud choked him in the corner.
The next man out was Braxton Sutter. He went right after Spud and drilled him again and again with rights. He called Godderz to help him. They tried to toss Spud over the top but he was able to hang on. Spud tried to shoulderblock them down but they bounced off. They both stomped Spud in the corner.
The next man was Eli Drake. Yeah, Dummy. Drake got involved and was able to toss Braxton Sutter out. Drake nailed a sidewalk slam on Godderz. The fans were doing the “Dunmy, yeah” with each of Drake’s moves. That was pretty funny.
Entrant #5 is Robbie E. He nailed a double clothesline on Drake and Spud. He and Godderz teamed up and then Robbie tried to toss his own partner over the top. Even the announcers thought that was a bad idea.
Baron Dax was the next man out. Everyone battled. The seventh man out was personal pick, Grado. He did his strut to the ring and when he entered, was immediately tossed over the top to the floor by Spud. Grado was shocked, then strutted to the back. The crowd chanted, “Bullsh**” and they were right!
Basile from The Tribulal was next in. He and Dax worked on everyone. Spud wrapped his arms and legs around the bottom rope to protect himself from being tossed. E and Basile battled on the apron and they both knocked each other to the floor. Godderz used his legs to pull Dax over the top to the floor.
The ninth man was last year’s winner, Tyrus. Tyrus splashed Drake in the corner. He faced off with Spud, who hugged him like a longlost friend. Spud gave him a thumbs up. Tyrus gave him a thumbs down and that was all for Spud.
The final competitor, Mahalabali Shera. Dave Scherer is cheering him on. He went right up to Tyrus and shoved him. Tyrus nailed him and nailed a back splash in the corner. Shera fought right back. He was going to slam Tyrus but Eli Drake nailed him. Shera went after him and Drake dropped down and Shera went over the top to the floor. Dave Scherer is not happy, folks.
Drake was tossed over the top by Godderz but his feet hooked the bottom rope, saving himself. Godderz and Tyrus weren’t away. Tyrus caught Godderz and naioled a fall away slam. Tyrus tossed him over the top but Godderz landed on the apron. Godderz nailed a springboard smash and worked at getting Tyrus over the top. Drake slid back in and muscled Godderz over. He and Tyrus crashed to the floor.
Your winner, Eli Drake!
They said he has a guaranteed TNA title match but must declare a week in advance that he wants his title shot.
The match itself was fine for what it was. Nothing over the top special but nothing wrong with it.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Robert Irvine backstage. Irvine said it was a family affair as his kids were here and they were happy to see Gail being inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame. He said tonight he’s Mr. Gail Kim. Irvine said shes given her life to pro wrestling. Maria and Mike Bennett showed up. Maria said it was her night, not for Gail. Irvine called Bennett a gorilla and predicted it would be a very bad night for each of them and walked off. Borash whipped out the Mr. Furley eyes. Maria cut a promo saying tonight was a night for miracles. Bennett then cut a promo on Moose, saying he was hired for one job but he was too stupid to do it. He said that Moose can do his chant all his wants, but at the end of the night, all people will remember is what the Miracle accomplished.
Moose vs. Mike Bennett
They gave Moose a big entrance with The West Orange High School Football team, who Josh Mathews identified as regional champions. Bennett was playing coward early, trying to run away. Moose gave chase but was caught with a series of stomps. Bennett’s offense didn’t last long as he nailed high dropkick. Moose teased a dive but Bennett got out of the way. Bennett hit a flip dive over the top to the floor.
Bennett worked over Moose on the floor and sent him into some ringside chairs and the barricade. Bennett went for a bodypress on the floor but was caught and tossed into the ringpost. Ouch. The crowd was really into chanting for Moose. Bennett backdropped Moose onto the ringside stairs. Moose was so big he almost crashed headfirst into the stairs before he could even do the full rotation.
Bennett worked over Moose back in the ring. He nailed several low dropkicks and chopped him in the corner. Bennett began working over his leg, focusing his attack on Moose’s leg. Moose fought to his feet and went for a suplex but was hurt. Bennett drilled him in the leg and Moose went back down. Moose fought back.
Moose came back with a headbutt to the chest and nailed a big elbow in the corner. He elevated and powerbombed Bennett for a two count. Moose nailed a clothesline for a two count. Moose was smashing at his own knee to get feeling back into it. Bennett went to the top but Moose grabbed him by the throat. Bennett raked his eyes and nailed a tornado DDT. Bennett spiked him with a piledriver but Moose kicked out.
Bennett drilled Moose. Moose fired back with right hands. Moose came back with a move off the ropes but was nailed with a cutter off the ropes for another two count. Moose came back with a discus clothesline for the pin.
Your winner, Moose!
Decent back and forth match.
Jeremy Borash interviewed Aron Rex. Rex said his entire gameplan was out but the Grand championship would change the sport.
Eddie Edwards vs. Aron Rex to determine the first TNA Grand champion
They noted that each of them were trained by Killer Kowalski. They showed the unidentified Judges at ringside.
Round One: They locked up and Rex swept Edwards’ legs and locked on a side headlock. Edwards nailed several dropkicks and locked on an armwringer. Rex revolved but was caught with a dropkick. Rex was chopped hard in the corner several times. Edwards kicks Rex in the gut as he was rebounded off the ropes. Rex caught him with a Side Russian Legsweep and drilled him with an elbow for a two count. Edwards nailed an enziguiri. Rex went to the floor but nailed Edwards with a forearm as he went for a dive. Edwards clotheslined Rex over the top to the floor, where he landed near a judge. Edwards tossed him back into the ring and clotheslined him over the top to the floor on the other side. Edwards nailed a dive but hit the railing harder than he hit Rex. Edwards ended the round drilling Rex again and again with forearms.
Edwards wins Round One.
Round Two: Rex got very aggressive attacking Edwards and nailed a suplex fo a two count. He cinched in a side chinlock to wear Edwards down. He worked over Edwards, who fought back with some hard chops in the corner. Rex caught his leg in the ropes and drilled down with his knee, trying to hurt Edwards’ wheel. Rex locked in an Indian Deathlock. The lights went out in the building. They used spotlights on the ring. Josh Mathews noted there have been power issues at Universal Studios over the weekend, which is true as the entire park lost power the other day. Edwards clipped him with a great clothesline and several two counts. Edwards, on the apron, kicked Rex as he charged. The lights came back on and the crowd popped. That was funny. Rex locked in a Cloverleaf variation, trying to force a submission. Rex stomped him in the back as they were running out of time. Rex tied up Edwards and drilled him with punches as the second round ended.
The Judges decreed that Rex won the second round.
Round Three: Edwards was caught with a clothesline as the round started. He stomped away at Edwards in the corner but was kicked down Edwads came off the top with a Codebreaker for a two count. They battled on the top with Edwards knocking Rex into the ring. He went for a double stomp but Rex moved out of the way. Edwards hurt his knee. Rex began beating down Edwards. He got caught on the top with a forearm as they had two minutes left. Edwards fought his off but missed a moonsault off the top. Rex went for the discus clothesline but was caught with a Edwards clothesline instead. Rex fired back with a forearm but Edwards rebounded with a shining wizard. They fought each other with punches as the clock ran out.
They kept fighting after the bell. Referee Brian Hebner tried to get between them. The crowd chanted, “Let them fight.”
They went to the Judges as they went to the time limit. It was a split decision, 2-1 for the first Grand champion, Aron Rex!
The crowd had a mixed reaction to that. They hugged after.
The match was fine. They were in a hard situation as they lost all their momentum for the division and the tournament with Galloway being out injured after that great build towards the final.
Borash interviewed Rex after the bout. He said Edwards was a star and could get a rematch anytime. He said that tonight they made history but it’s only the first part and to stay tuned.
TNA HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Christy Hemme came out to be the special announcer for the ceremony.
Hemme said that Gail Kim was a legend in the business and what really cemented her legacy was that she built “this team”, meaning the Knockouts division. She said Gail fights for all of the women who enter the ring and thanked her for her passion and relentless work at building the Knockouts division. She interviewed former Knockouts champion Taryn Terrell, who was expecting. Congrats to her and her family.
Terrell said Kim was a career maker. She said Gail took her as a beginner and made her a star. She said that Kim was in her mind the greatest female wrestler to have ever lived. She said she was proud to call Gail her friend and her mentor.
Hemme introduced Awesome Kong. Well, that one is a surprise. Kong said that there are not enough adjectives to describe how awesome Kim is. She said that Kim was the yin to her yang. She said Kim is loved by many and respected by all.
Hemme introduced TNA Chairman Dixie Carter. Carter said it is the biggest night of the year for TNA. She said she is happy to honor a woman who established and defined the Knockouts division. Carter put over Kim for being selfless in building up the Knockouts division. She introduced Kim. Kim came out with a prettu red gown on and kissed her husband Robert Irvine, who was in the front row, looking thrilled.
Carter continued to extoll the virtues of Kim as the crowd chanted, “You deserve it.” They went to a video presentation on Kim. It was really nice.
Kim said she’s not known for speaking in this business, so she brought a list to make sure she doesn’t forget anyone because the induction means everything to her. She said that for the past 16 years, she has experienced a lot of highs and lows but would never take back one moment or one thing. She said that without the lows, she could not have the highs and without the fight, she could not have success. She said that every person she ever stepped in the ring with helped her to get to where she is. She said the business exposed every insecurity she has ever had but it also brought her creativity, fearlessness, and self confidence and true passion.
She said she had a lot of people to thank – the people who trained her and helped her, naming Ron Hutchinson, Scott D’Amore, Fit Finlay, Pat Kenney and everyone who worked behind the scenes in TNA. She thanked the people who were here in the beginning who grew tired of her saying she wanted to wrestle, naming Dixie, Dutch Mantel and Jeff Jarrett. She said that her family make her want to be a better woman. She thanked her husband Robert Irvine. Irvine got a big pop. She said that she’s never met anyone who has inspired her more than him.
Kim thanked all the women that came before her – Victoria, Molly Holly, Jazz and Trish Stratus. She said the women in the TNA locker room are her sisters and she is so happy to share a locker room with her. Holly got her props for making her a great wrestler and for setting the stage for being a good person. Holly told her that if you are a good person, success will follow.
Kim thanked the fans and the company. She said she would not be standing here as a Hall of Famer without tham and thanked them.
A nice speech and a really classy segment.
TNA Tag Team champions Decay with Rosemary vs. The Hardy Boyz with Reby Hardy.
Reby played Matt Hardy out on a grand piano. Jeff Hardy came out and sang the “Obsolete” song. The crowd was loving the hell out of this. Decay’s got a great entrance.
All three members of Decay spewed mist at Reby before the bell. Matt and Jeff brawled with Steve and Abyss. A referee walked Reby out. Jeff dove over the top to the floor on Abyss. Matt went for the Twsist of Fate but Rosemary grabbed his legs to distract him. There are tables and weapons all around ringside. Rosemary set up a table on the floor.
Abyss choked Jeff and chopped him on the floor. Rosemary and Steve both attempted to suplex Matt out of the ring but he escaped. Steve held a trash can on Matt and Rosemary nailed a Van Terminator. Steve bit Hardy’s face. Abyss pulled out a staple gun and attempted to use it. Hardy fought him off and nailed a sunset flip but Abyss was able to fight being pulled down and stapled him in the forehead.
Matt Hardy attacked Abyss and slammed him into a barricade. He and Abyss brawled up the aisle towards the back. They ended up in the interview set. Hardy was sent into a ton of chairs, He sent Hardy into a table. It was a little too dark to really see what was happening. Jeff Hardy and Crazzy Steve battled to the area as well. The referee was knocked out.
Jeff Hardy sent Steve into some ladders and wood somewhere backstage. Steve flung a ladder hard at Jeff.
They went to an obviously pre-taped brawl, not that I am complaining given how good the previous videos have been. Hardy was crawling towards a bucket that was labeled Lake of Reincarnation. They went to a shot of Matt and Abyss brawling in front of the Unuversal Studios sign and parking lot. Jeff Hardy disappeared after having the water doused on him. Someone, likely Jeff, tossed pumpkins at Steve. He demanded Jeff show himself. Hardy, dressed completely different, acted as if he was someone else and brawled with Steve. Matt and Abyss brawled in front of a car that honked at it.
Rosemary tried to help Steve but Jeff put a jackolantern on her head She still spewed mist at him. Steve told her to go help Abyss. Matt and Abyss tossed each other into a truck. Abyss had Matt beaten. Rosemary brought Abyss Janice to use. Someone drove up in a truck and it was the worst representation of a redneck wrestling fan ever. He said he heard about this on a scanner and came to fight Abyss because he was on Team Delete. Rosemary laid him out.
Jeff Hardy turned into Willow and continued to brawl with Steve. Matt Hardy reappeared with fire on his hands and tossed it at Janice, which turned on fire. Rosemary drove off with Matt and Abyss brawling in the back of the truck. Rosemary pulled up at the Impact Zone and Vanguard 1 flew down and initiated it’s anti-mist poison protocol and sprewed something on Rosemary.
Willow and Steve brawled live back into the Impact Zone as the video ended. The crowd loudly chanted “TNA.” Hardy and Abyss brawled from the truck back into the Arena. He suplexed Matt on the ramp. Willow disappeared under the ring nand Jeff Hardy emerged. He and Matt nailed their double team moves on Abyss. Matt nailed a Twist of Fate. Jeff nailed a swanton off the top for a two count.
Everyone battled back and forth. Abyss brought barbed wire boards into the ring. Matt was almost chokeslammed but fought his way out. He poured thumbtacks over one of the boards and nailed a Side Effect on Abyss on the tacks and barbed wire He sandwiched Abyss in between the boards and covered him but Rosemary (a little late) broke it up.
Matt grabbed Rosemary on the apron. Reby returned and slipped under and powerbombed Rosemary through a table at ringside. Steve’s face is wrapped in a chair and rammed into the ringpost by Jeff. Matt nailed a twist of fate on Steve, who still had the chair around his neck. Hardy set up two tables. Hardy set up a table. Matt told him he invites him for one night to indulge in his addiction. Jeff hit a crazy swanton bomb off the top of the ladder. Jeff scored the pin.
Your winners and new TNA Tag Team champions, Matt and Jeff Hardy!
This was awesome. If you enjoy the Final Deletion videos, you got everything you wanted but Senor Benjamin. I could have done with the fan who stepped out of the WCW “Ready to Rumble” movie but beyond this, it was creative and different and fun and a hell of a brawl. I truly sincerely enjoyed this.
Jeremy Borash interviewed TNA champion Bobby Lashley.
TNA Knockouts champion Maria Kanellis-Bennett (with Allie) vs. Gail Kim
Maria came out and said she had her really bad news. She met with her doctor and she is not cleared. Allie tried to help by saying she had good news and that was Maria misunderstood and her doctor had actually cleared her. Maria was furious at her and said she was not going to get in the ring. Kim chased her around the ring and was racing for her life like she was Charlie Brown. She shoved Allie into Kim in order to nail Kim.
In the ring, Maria worked over Gail and tossed her into the buckles. Maria took off her wrist brace. Maria slammed Gail to the mat by her hair and scored a two count. Maria drilled her with a clothesline. Maria continued to work her over. Mike Bennett came out and tossed the brace to Maria who clobbered Gail with it fr a two count.
Allie ended up with the braced and didn’t want to give it to Maria. She finally tossed it but it landed with Kim, who offered to Maria and then tossed it out of the ring. Kim unloaded on Maria and beat her down. Kim locked on the ringpost figure four. Kim gave Maria the finger, slapped her and nailed Eat Defeat for the pin.
Your winner and new TNA Knockouts championl Gail Kim!
Match was exactly what it should have been to further the Maria-Allie storyline but if you were looking for a good technical match, well, that wasn’t going to happen. Kim and Maria had as good as a match as their characters should allow. I was actually surprised they didn’t have a spot where Robert Irvine punched Mike Bennett.
Bennett cut a promo saying this is not how tonight is supposed to go and said he was going to do what should have been done a long time ago. He said he was going to shut down Bound for Glory and no one could stop him. Out came Cody and Brandi Rhodes. The announcers never said “Rhodes” in conjunction with Cody, only Brandi.
They got in the ring and faced off with Bennett and Maria. Maria slapped Brandi but was nailed with a big knee. Bennett and Cody brawled. Cody nailed the Beautiful Disaster and ran off Bennett. Cody and Brandi celebrated like Randy Savage and Elizabeth and kissed. They looked really happy.
TNA champion Bobby Lashley vs. EC3: No Holds Barred
Lashley speared EC3 during the ring introductions, then made Jeremy Borash introduce him. EC3 climbed back into the ring and was beaten down by Lashley. Lashley sent him over the top back to the floor. Lashley worked over EC3 who fired back with chops. Lashley cut him off with a suplex for a two count. Lashey went for a powerbomb but EC3 slipped out and nailed a clothesline.
Lashley was clotheslined over the top to the floor. EC3 went for a dive but Lashley was sort of bent over. EC3 came down on him. He worked over Lashley on the floor with some stiff chops and sent him into the ring steps. Lashley made a comeback and worked over EC3 on the ramp. He snapped EC3 over and tossed him up the ramp.
They returned to the ring, where Lashley worked over EC3 and really took it to him with some physical shots. EC3 finally nailed a dropkick and a leaping clothesline. He tossed Lashley and nailed a kneelift. Lashley nailed a spear for a two count. They went back and forth. Lashley nailed an over the shoulder powerslam for another two count.
Lashley grabbed his title belt but missed when he swung it. EC3 nailed him with the TK3. They went back and forth. Lashley took a hard shot that the announcers claimed might have swelled his eye. EC3 surprised Lashley with a spear. Lashley rolled outside. EC3 gave him the TK3 on the stairs and Lashley took it awkwardly.
EC3 nailed a frog splash off the top but Lashley kicked up. EC3 missed a Stinger Splash in the corner. Lashley speared him but EC3 kicked up. Lashley drilled him with a chair across the back several times. He kept beating EC3 across the back with it. Lashley nailed a big Uranage and cinched him in a choke. EC3 fought his way out and nailed a series of elbows and forearms to break it. He nailed a series of clotheslines and a German suplex. He rolled through and nailed another. EC3 nailed a third.
EC3 nailed the One Percenter but Lashley kicked up. EC3 tried for a One Percenter off the top but was shoved off. Lashley nailed a spear off the ropes and scored the pin.
Your winner and still TNA champion, Bobby Lashley!
Good physical match. I thought they both looked pretty damn good and Lashley is really underrated as a talent right now. Crowd was really into EC3 as the babyface was got behind his comebacks. There were a few moments where they didn’t hit everything perfectly but in a real life competition, that wouldn’t happen 100% of the time either.
All things considered, a pretty good PPV.
