On Thursday night, the 2013 Bound for Glory Series begins on Impact Wrestling. For the third year, 12 of TNA’s premiere athletes will compete in a series of matches that ultimately will see one man earn a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match at the biggest pay-per-view of the year: October’s Bound for Glory.
While I was initially skeptical of the Bound for Glory Series, I do not believe anyone can deny the success rate of the Bound for Glory Series. Stars have emerged and grown from the annual summer series. In 2011, Bobby Roode won the BFG Series. While unsuccessful at Bound for Glory against then-champion Kurt Angle, Roode’s stock with the fans reached an all-time high. A month later, Roode turned on long-time Beer Money partner James Storm and started the longest reign in TNA World Heavyweight Championship history. Without his success and character growth in the BFG Series, I doubt Roode would have succeeded at the level he did in late 2011. Jeff Hardy won the 2012 BFG Series and later defeated Austin Aries for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory. Hardy’s BFG Series was not about character development; it was a story about career redemption. Hardy’s victory showed fans Jeff Hardy was now trusted again to carry the weight of the company on his shoulders after damaging the company and his career so badly 18 months earlier with a drug-fueled performance at the 2011 Victory Road pay-per-view.
In addition to the series winners, the Bound for Glory Series has served as a catalyst to career heights for multiple wrestlers. Bully Ray reached new levels of success in the aftermath of both the 2011 and 2012 BFG Series as he went from a solid mid-card heel to the premiere heel in the business and a World Championship caliber performer thanks to the BFG Series. James Storm left the 2012 BFG Series – a series he appeared destined to win – arguably hotter even in defeat. Only nagging injuries and a cluttered main event picture have stalled Storm’s momentum.
The 2013 Bound for Glory Series boasts a unique lineup of established main event stars, mid-card talent on the verge of greatness, and one young rookie to TNA Wrestling ready to breakout.
As I look at the 2013 Bound for Glory Series, my initial impression is that this is the coming out party for AJ Styles: Lone Wolf. With his new edge as an in-ring competitor and loner attitude, AJ Styles is currently in the midst of reinventing himself. Many are justifiably making comparisons between Styles and Sting’s persona in 1996-98. Styles is neither a TNA savior nor an Aces and Eights member. AJ Styles is wrestling for AJ Styles. Doing and saying so little adds so much to one of the best pound-for-pound performers in the industry today. I believe Styles has a date with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in the near future. A victory in the Bound for Glory Series would make that date October 20th, 2013 in San Diego, California.
Jeff Hardy, Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, Samoa Joe, and Ken Anderson are additional former TNA World Heavyweight Champions in the 2013 Bound for Glory Series. While all are former world champions, all are also at different places within their careers. Jeff Hardy has a rivalry with current champion Bully Ray that may never end. I think it would be a great mistake for Hardy to win the BFG Series again but I would not be surprised. Bobby Roode and Austin Aries both are outstanding heels. However, with Bully Ray also as a heel champion, that severely diminishes their chances of winning. A good series for either man though would set him up for another main event run after spending most of 2013 in the tag team ranks. Many years removed from his time in the TNA main event picture, Samoa Joe is still among the top submission wrestlers and big match players. While I doubt his chances of being a major player in the BFG Series rankings, Joe will play spoiler to many and provide some excellent matches in the process. Ken Anderson, the lone Aces and Eights representative, is also a completely different man from the former three-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion. I do not believe Anderson will win the series. However, the series is important for Anderson’s career because he must show himself once again to be a consistent big match player. Anderson has been stagnant for the better part of 18 months now. I believe Ken Anderson is a lot better than the third banana of a wrestling faction. The 2013 Bound for Glory Series is his time to show his worth.
The members of Bad Influence – Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian – are both a part of the 2013 BFG Series. There is a part of me believing this series could ultimately lead to the split of this great tag team as anything putting egotistic tag team partners against one another is sure to lead to a break-up. Earlier in 2013, many fans were talking of Daniels as the next TNA World Champion when he unsuccessfully faced then-champion Jeff Hardy. I believe Daniels will leave the 2013 BFG Series with the “Bully Ray Rub.” Despite losing, Christopher Daniels’ star will rise to a point where he will be a main event performer in the aftermath of the series. As for Kazarian, I think his career will benefit from a solid showing in the BFG Series. Kazarian is never going to be a World Champion – although after marrying Traci Brooks, I question that since he is already a champion in the “landing hot wives” department. I think Kaz can leave the BFG Series will enough momentum to either go after the X-Division title or the TV title.
Magnus is an interesting case. He has tons of fan momentum right now – including great international appeal as the Brit is indeed popular all over Europe. He has management solidly behind him as agents and bookers see Magnus as one of the bright young stars in the industry today while management sees him as a company man great for promotional purposes. Magnus has a ton of potential. Of course, I felt like I said that last year and the year before too. For the record, I believe Magnus has all of the qualities making him worthy of main event status. I just question whether TNA will finally give the Brit the ball so he can run. Magnus will not win the BFG series. However, I think he may finally get a chance to run with the ball and show what he can do on bigger stages. Magnus could leave this Bound for Glory Series similar to how Bobby Roode left in 2011 – on the verge of greatness.
Considering how he is bouncing between the multiple faces of Chris Park, I am interested in seeing how Joseph Park performs in the BFG Series. Currently the TNA TV Champion under the guise of Abyss, he qualified for the BFG Series as Abyss’ brother – the Chicago-based lawyer Joseph Park. I think Park will play spoiler for a couple of performers and offer a few moments of comic relief during the series.
Hernandez is worthless. Sorry but it is true. I have no idea why Hernandez and not Chavo Guerrero received this spot in the Bound for Glory Series. Guerrero would provide a higher quality of matches for his opponents and would work a lot safer too. The only benefit Hernandez brings to the BFG Series is a victory for opponents over a physically larger opponent.
As for the TNA rookie participant, I do not believe Jay Bradley has a chance. However, Jay Bradley can come out of the series with a win in the long-term if he impresses the fans and management with his performances. Bradley, a veteran all over the world, is a TNA Gut Check winner and essentially a rookie to the company. Having a spot in this competition at all shows that the company sees something special in Bradley to put him in the same storyline as men like Styles, Roode, Hardy, Aries, and Anderson. Top stars like James Storm and Kurt Angle are not even involved. I like Bradley a lot and believe he will impress many despite a losing effort in the Bound for Glory Series.
I think the 2013 Bound for Glory Series could be the best BFG series yet. The unpredictable finish of last year’s series – going to Jeff Hardy after seemingly being custom-made for James Storm – makes me leery of thinking this year’s series is all about building AJ Styles. With that said, I believe this year’s series is all about building AJ Styles for a Bound for Glory showdown with Aces and Eights leader Bully Ray for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
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