The Final IV - Impact Wrestling's Bound for Glory

Welcome to the first edition of “The Final IV”. This will be a weekly series where we break down the Top 4 events, matches, wrestlers, promotions, and anything else in between, in relation to the crazy world of professional wrestling. This is intended to be a series written to be short, sweet and to the point on each topic. So, without any further ado, let’s get started!

This week we will cover the Top IV “Bound for Glory” pay-per-view events over the history of Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA). This past Sunday night, on October 14th, 2018 marked the 14th annual Bound for Glory pay-per-view extravaganza featuring the main event pitting Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion, Austin Aries defended his title against Johnny IMPACT. The match ended with Johnny IMPACT becoming the new Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion, as the even closed in controversial fashion with the events surrounding Austin Aries, Don Callis, and Impact Wrestling. Be that as it may, in honor of Impact Wrestling’s premiere wrestling event, it is now time to list the Top IV Bound for Glory pay-per-view events.

#4 Bound for Glory (2010)

Bound for Glory (2010) was the sixth annual Bound for Glory to take place in TNA/Impact Wrestling’s history. Bound for Glory (2010) took place at the Ocean Center in Dayton Beach, Florida on October 10th, 2010. The show drew in 3,500 fans. The big storyline for the show culminated around the date of the event: “10-10-10”. The date we would hear repeated at nauseum by “The Monster” Abyss for weeks and weeks leading into Bound for Glory. Abyss claimed on this night, “They” would reveal themselves to the wrestling world and that everything would change in TNA forever.

Outside of the big storyline, the matches at Bound for Glory (2010) weren’t too memorable, outside of the main three that were heavily promoted. We saw Jeff Jarrett “walk out” on his tag team partner, Samoa Joe, during their 3-on-2 Handicap Match against Sting, Kevin Nash and D’Angelo Dinero. This would tie in for what was to come later on in the evening. We also saw a brutal “Lethal Lockdown” match featuring EV 2.0 (Raven, Rhino, Sabu, Stevie Richards and Tommy Dreamer) versus Fortune (AJ Styles, “Cowboy” James Storm, Kazarian, Matt Morgan and Bobby Roode), as we saw the former “ECW Originals” get the big victory over Fortune, who were arguably the best young wrestling stars TNA/Impact Wrestling had to offer, collectively.

Then we get to our main event featuring Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson and Kurt Angle for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. As per stipulation, if Kurt Angle loses the match he would be forced to retire from professional wrestling. The big reveal for “10-10-10” came to fruition, as Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan made their respective heel turns. While the Hogan and Bischoff heel turn could be seen as predictable, the heel turn of fan favorite Jeff Hardy was the talk of the evening. Bischoff and Hogan gave one of Hogan’s crutches to “The Enigma” Jeff Hardy to use as a weapon to assist him in his title victory.

Jeff Hardy would smash the crutch over the back of Kurt Angle, then drop Mr. Anderson with the Twist of Fate to get the pin fall and the victory. Hardy celebrated his win with Bischoff and Hogan, laughing in the face of the audience, as TNA President Dixie Carter looked on in total disbelief at ringside. Then, we saw the rest of “They” come out to celebrate the big reveal and victory, as Abyss and Jeff Jarrett came down to embrace the trio. Rob Van Dam came out to get some answers from his “friend”, Jeff Hardy, only to be taken down with a shot to the head with the TNA World Heavyweight Title by Jeff Hardy. This would lead into the group forming “Immortal” the following week on TNA Impact. A storyline that would dominate TNA programming until the following year.

#3 Bound for Glory (2011)

Bound for Glory (2011) took place at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA on October 16th, 2011. The event drew in 3,585 wrestling fans. This was the seventh Bound for Glory event in the company’s history. This was a very big show that featured a lot of memorable moments and matchups that took place. This was a fun crowd, as one could expect from a wild and rowdy Philadelphia wrestling audience.

We saw another chapter written in the historic rivalry dating back to the days of ECW, between Rob Van Dam and Jerry Lynn. RVD and Jerry Lynn wrestled in a “Full Metal Mayhem” match, with “The Whole F’N’ Show!” getting the victory over Jerry Lynn. The storyline was surrounded by their history of Jerry Lynn being “sick and tired” of living in RVD’s shadow, in spite of supporting RVD throughout the past several months in TNA. They had a score to settle and it had to be settled in Philly.

Velvet Sky captured her first TNA Knockouts Championship in a victory over Madison Rayne, Mickie James and Winter in a Fatal Four Way Match. This wasn’t the best match on the card but was a pivotal moment in the career of Velvet Sky. This title victory would be her first Knockouts Championship title reign and be one of the biggest moments of her TNA career.

AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels rekindled their feud heading into Bound for Glory, as they would wrestle in an “I Quit” match. Definitely not the best match these two men ever had but was a respectfully decent match. Fortune was broken up, with Daniels turning heel on AJ Styles to reignite the feud and setup the match.

Next, we would have one of the biggest moments in the entire pay-per-view. We had a No Holds Barred showdown between Hulk Hogan and Sting. By no means, this was going to be a wrestling classic, much less considered a “great match”, by any stretch of the imagination given that both men were past their prime. However, they were able to tell a good story leading into this event. Sting is fighting to back control of TNA Wrestling from Hulk Hogan and Immortal, surrounding the events that took place over a year ago at Bound for Glory (2010).

Sting wanted to see the old Hulk Hogan back, and not this façade that he had been portraying since he and Bischoff took control of TNA. The stipulations were that If Hogan won, Sting would be forced to leave TNA forever. If Sting got the win, Dixie Carter would regain control over the company. Sting would get the victory over “The Hulkster” by submission with the Scorpion Deathlock in a bloody brawl. Afterwards, members of Immortal, including Eric Bischoff, would get involved to attack Sting. Sting pleaded and begged for help from Hogan. At that moment, Hogan had an epiphany of sorts, as he snapped, tore his bloody “Impact Wrestling” t-shirt off and turned on his Immortal brethren, including a disgusted Eric Bischoff. Sting and Hogan would embrace, signifying Hogan’s face turn as Dixie Carter wept and cheered on with joy from ringside.

The main event featured TNA World Heavyweight Champion, Kurt Angle defending his title against Bobby Roode. This was a good main event, that showcased the skills and talent Bobby Roode had to offer in TNA. Angle would be victorious on this night, as he would defeat Bobby Roode to retain the title.

This was a disappointing finish to many wrestling fans who were ready to see Bobby Roode become the next TNA World Heavyweight Champion and become the new face of the company. In spite of this, the fans would not have to wait much longer, as Roode would, later on, capture the title from “Cowboy” James Storm, who would defeat Kurt Angle for the title just a couple weeks after this event. Roode would turn heel and smash a beer bottle over the head of Storm to become the next champion and set up his reign as the “It Factor” of professional wrestling, becoming the longest reigning TNA World Heavyweight Champion in company history.

#2 Bound for Glory (2007)

Bound for Glory (2007) took place on October 14th, 2007 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia. The event drew in 4,000 wrestling fans. This would be the third Bound for Glory event in TNA’s history. This event would be a pivotal turning point for the company and featured a stellar card from top to bottom.

Some of the big match highlights included a “Tag Team Ultimate X Match” between L.A.X. (Homicide and Hernandez) versus Triple X (Senshi and “Primetime” Elix Skipper). This was a great match to kick the show off, as both teams took advantage of the Ultimate X elements and did a lot of very good high spots. The Latin American Xchange would defeat Triple X and go on to become the #1 Contenders for the TNA Tag Team Titles.

AJ Styles and Tyson Tomko became the new TNA Tag Team Champions by defeating Ron “The Truth” Killings and Consequences Creed (Xavier Woods), with NFL star Adam “Pacman” Jones in their corner. We also saw a battle for the ages, as the Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) defeated Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) in a “Two-out-of-Three Falls Tables Match”. We also saw the traditional “Monster’s Ball” match, featuring “The Monster” Abyss defeating Raven, Rhino and Black Reign (Goldust).

Our highlighted matches were Samoa Joe defeating Christian Cage in a grudge match via submission, with Matt Morgan as the special ringside enforcer in what arguably could be considered “Match of the Night”, alongside the main event that was to come later.

The biggest moment in terms of the history of Bound for Glory and TNA came to fruition, as Gail Kim became the first ever TNA Knockouts Champion, winning a special “Gauntlet for the Gold” match by last eliminating Roxxi Laveaux. Other participants included were: Traci Brooks, Jackie Moore (Jacqueline), Shelly Martinez, Awesome Kong, O.D.B. Angel Williams (Angelina Love), Christy Hemme, and Talia Madison (Velvet Sky). This would be the pinnacle and defining moment in Gail Kim’s illustrious career, as she would later retire and become a TNA Hall of Famer in 2017.

Our main event featured a wrestling classic between two legends and TNA Hall of Famers. Sting and Kurt Angle, for the World Heavyweight Championship. This match had everything. Excitement. Drama. Wrestling. Brawling. Color (Blood). You name it. This would be one of Sting’s best matches of his TNA career, as the same could be said for Kurt Angle as well. Sting would defeat Kurt Angle to capture the TNA World Heavyweight Championship to cap off a special night in the history of TNA. TNA Bound for Glory (2007) would be one top events of 2007 and remains as one of TNA’s top pay-per-views of all time.

So, what could be better than Bound for Glory (2007) you may ask? Well let’s get to #1 and find out!

#1 Bound for Glory (2005)

The very first annual Bound for Glory (2005) took place on October 23rd, 2005 from the “Impact Zone” in Orlando, Fla. This show was the pinnacle of TNA Wrestling for its time. This was a stellar card from top to bottom. You had Samoa Joe (coming off his run in Ring of Honor) facing the legendary Jushin “Thunder” Liger. An “Ultimate X Match” with Petey Williams, Chris Sabin and Matt Bentley. America’s Most Wanted (AMW) vs The Naturals for the NWA Tag Team Titles. Not to mention an incredible 30-Minute Iron Man Match between AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels. Let’s not forget about Rhino, who wrestled not one, not two but three matches and became the new NWA World Heavyweight Champion all in one night following a change in the main event between Kevin Nash and Jeff Jarrett, when Nash was hospitalized and unable to compete.

Rhino competed against Abyss in a “Monster’s Ball Match”. Then won a special 10-man “Gauntlet for the Gold” to determine a replacement for Kevin Nash, then immediately wrestled Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and won the title. The show received mixed reviews from wrestling critics, but I felt this show at the end of the day delivered and made the best of a bad situation when word got out that Kevin Nash was unable to compete at their biggest show of the year. This was the highlight of Rhino’s TNA career and showed the world that he was still a credible star in the wrestling industry, beyond his tenure in the original ECW.

This was a very tough decision to decide between this and Bound for Glory (2007) as the #1 choice. I know fans will have their opinions and think differently, which is perfectly okay and acceptable, as we all have our fair share of opinions. To sum it my choice for #1, I believe the inaugural Bound for Glory (2005) set the tone for the many great shows we would see over the years, including Bound for Glory (2007) and so on, so forth.

Having said that, wrestling fans, what would be your choice for the greatest Bound for Glory pay-per-view in TNA/Impact Wrestling company history? Until then, I will see you next time!