On Sunday night, the biggest pay-per-view of the wrestling year takes place when Bound for Glory emanates from the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. Bound for Glory is the biggest stage in TNA Wrestling. This is the event where history takes place.
It was Bound for Glory where the “Icon” Sting won three TNA World Heavyweight Championships consecutively from 2006-2008. Jeff Hardy shocked the world by winning the TNA World title and joining forces with Immortal in 2010. AJ Styles retained the X-Division title in a classic Ironman match over Christopher Daniels in 2005 and retained the TNA World title over Sting in 2009. Gail Kim won the first Knockouts Championship in 2007 while the TNA debuts of Samoa Joe (2005) and Mickie James (2010) also occurred at Bound for Glory. I have no doubt in my mind that the 2012 installment of Bound for Glory will be anything less than historic.
Heading into this year’s Bound for Glory, TNA is offering the best professional wrestling in the country today. The in-ring product is outstanding. Storylines are running smoothly with the twists and turns that professional wrestling fans appreciate in a high-quality product. In a world where sports entertainment continues to stand in the forefront as the “preferred choice” by the majority, TNA Wrestling offers the real professional wrestling alternative yearned for by wrestling fans.
In this edition of The Highlight Reel, I am going to preview the eight matches signed for this Sunday’s huge event. Who will win? Who should win? All of that and more in the Bound for Glory 2012 preview.
“Cowboy” James Storm vs. Bobby Roode in a Street Fight with “King” Mo Lawal as the Special Guest Enforcer - The best feud in professional wrestling today comes to a head at Bound for Glory when James Storm and Bobby Roode clash in a Street Fight. This fight reminds me of WrestleMania 13 and the epic Submission match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin. Their rivalry was so intense that WWE brought in UFC fighter Ken Shamrock to officiate the match in what started Shamrock’s WWE career. Mixed Martial Arts fighter “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal, making his TNA debut, is the special enforcer for this street fight. If TNA does not use this match as a way to get King Mo over and limit his involvement to that of an official, Storm and Roode could provide the match of the year in this one. I think James Storm will win this street fight and close this chapter in TNA history victorious. In addition, it will not surprise me if King Mo and Bobby Roode have an altercation to kick-start a rivalry between those two in the aftermath of the street fight.
Sting and Bully Ray vs. Aces and Eights - For months, the group known as Aces and Eights have tormented the Impact Zone. The group of masked bikers has attacked practically the entire roster while preaching an agenda of yearning to bring about change to TNA Wrestling. At Bound for Glory, two members of the group will take out the unlikely team of TNA Hall of Famer Sting and Bully Ray. If Aces and Eights win, they gain access to the Impact Zone while they will disband if Sting and Bully Ray win. I believe the most lasting impact from Bound for Glory 2012 will come in this match. Aces and Eights will finally get a face for the group when Bully Ray reveals himself a member of the faction. Over their four months of existence, Bully Ray is the only member of the TNA roster to be a part of this angle and yet not suffer an attack from the group. I have said for months that Bully Ray is a member and this assumption comes to fruition at Bound for Glory when he assaults Sting. Aces and Eights win and Bully ray’s status as the premiere heel in the business today only rises to another level.
Brooke Tessmacher (champion) vs. Tara for the TNA Knockouts Championship - The rivalry between student and teacher reaches another level as Miss Tessmacher faces Tara at Bound for Glory. Tara’s new attitude, one of jealousy for Tessmacher, coincides with her new Hollywood boyfriend who will debut at Bound for Glory. Despite being the student, Tessmacher has owned Tara and the rest of the Knockouts division since winning the title for the first time at Slammiversary in June. As much as I like Brooke Tessmacher, I think that Tara should win the Knockouts title at Bound for Glory. She is currently on a role with her newfound heel persona. Tessmacher could benefit from chasing for the title again while improving her in-ring game more within a lengthy feud with Tara. TNA will not surprise me if they keep the strap on Tessmacher, as she is quickly becoming a face of the company with her growing legions of fans. However, Tara is more deserving of the gold at this moment. I think Tara wins her fifth Knockouts Championship at Bound for Glory.
Zema Ion (champion) vs. Rob Van Dam for the TNA X-Division Championship - Just announced on Thursday’s edition of Impact, Rob Van Dam answered X-Division Champion Zema Ion’s calls of not having an opponent for the PPV with a kick to the face. Ion has dominated the X-Division since winning the title at Destination X. However, that has been a result more of the X-Division struggling along with a depleted roster than Ion’s dominance. Rob Van Dam could breathe fresh air into a stale division with a championship victory at Bound for Glory. I believe that is exactly what will occur when RVD wins his first X-Division Championship.
Al Snow vs. Joey Ryan - On the May 31st edition of TNA Gut Check, Joey Ryan did not win a TNA contract despite having 87% of the fans’ vote as Gut Check judges Taz, Bruce Pritchard, and Al Snow rejected him. Ryan refused to accept his rejection and instead appeared in the crowd repeatedly over the following weeks and months until he got in a physical altercation with TNA Gut Check judge Al Snow in September. Ultimately, TNA granted Ryan his contract as he has a one-night deal at Bound for Glory against Al Snow. If Snow wins, Ryan is gone. If Ryan wins, he finally receives his TNA contract. Personally, this angle is the only thing about TNA Gut Check to make the segment worthy of its existence as no one rewarded with a contract has yet established himself or herself in TNA. I believe Ryan will pick up the victory and earn his TNA contract. I am one of the 87% who believed Ryan was ready to be in TNA from Day One. The guy has a lot of in-ring ability and an undeniable charisma worthy of being on TV weekly. I just hope nobody in TNA is dumb enough to drag this out further with a Snow victory. Ryan wins at Bound for Glory.
Samoa Joe (champion) vs. Magnus for the TNA Television Championship - Earlier in 2012, Samoa Joe and Magnus were the most dominant tag team in the business. After losing the titles, Joe and Magnus focused on the Bound for Glory Series and allowed their team to dissolve. Since the end of their team, Magnus has shown a desire to rise from the shadow of his former partner. Joe trumped Magnus in the BFG Series. Joe won the Television Championship. Magnus has nothing. At Bound for Glory, Magnus has a great chance to establish himself as a singles competitor by winning the TV title. Considering how dominant Joe has been since winning the title, it would be a mistake for Joe to lose the title now. Plus, a great effort from Magnus will be just as important as a victory as Magnus needs to show his ability to shine on a PPV stage. I think that Samoa Joe should win and retain his title. However, I would not be surprised if TNA put the title on Magnus to help establish his rising star.
Christopher Daniels and Kazarian (champions) vs. AJ Styles and Kurt Angle vs. Chavo Guerrero and Hernandez for the TNA World Tag Team Championships - These three teams bring five of the best in-ring workers in the business today into battle (plus Hernandez). This match has the potential to be the match of the night. I would love to see Daniels and Kazarian retain the gold as I truly enjoy the antics of the World Tag Team Champions of the World. However, I feel that a title change may occur. Guerrero and Hernandez could benefit from a run with the titles to establish themselves in TNA as Guerrero is still new to the company and Hernandez is recently back after missing most of 2012. The third team in the equation, Kurt Angle and AJ Styles, has feuded with Daniels and Kazarian since May. Angle and Styles really have nothing left to prove as a tag team so I do not believe they should win the titles again. In fact, considering the animosity between them recently, I believe AJ Styles may turn on Kurt Angle in the aftermath of an unsuccessful title match to kick-start a feud between two of the premiere wrestlers in the world. I think Guerrero and Hernandez will win the titles at Bound for Glory. However, if I were booking the show, Daniels and Kazarian would retain.
Austin Aries (champion) vs. Jeff Hardy for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship - In the main event of Bound for Glory, Austin Aries defends the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Jeff Hardy. Hardy is seeking the biggest victory he could achieve on his road to redemption. Eighteen months ago, Hardy hit rock bottom at Victory Road 2011 with a drug-fueled performance that almost ended his career. Now sober, Hardy is riding a wave of success nothing short of miraculous. Meanwhile, Aries is looking to establish himself as the face of the company - a spot Aries really has not earned despite holding the World Championship since July’s Destination X pay-per-view. Aries’ jealousy of Hardy’s fame, fortune, and fans have added a much-needed fire to this feud and created an atmosphere for a main event match that I believe will be electric. If I booked the show, Austin Aries would get that major victory needed to continue establishing Aries as one of the best in the world. However, with Hardy as a face of the company and needing motivation to resign with the company, I believe Jeff Hardy winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a third time is a forgone conclusion. More importantly, I believe Hardy’s victory could come in a match of the year candidate. The potential is there for Austin Aries and Jeff Hardy to deliver a classic that the wrestling world will not soon forget. Jeff Hardy wins the gold at Bound for Glory but the fans ultimately win by witnessing an epic wrestling match.
Bound for Glory 2012 is this Sunday night on pay-per-view. If you call yourself a professional wrestling fan, you will find a way to watch this epic show. Bound for Glory is the kind of night wrestling fans live for. Epic rivalries come to a head. Outstanding matches will take place. Memories will form and history will be made. Don’t miss Bound for Glory.
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