The Elite Eight: The Best TNA Bound For Glory Matches

Welcome one and all to a special look back at the TNA Bound For Glory PPV. With TNA’s big show coming up this weekend, I felt that I should take the time to look back at the event and pick out what I felt were the best matches from the big show over the years. I will start with the first event in 2005, and go chronologically, discussing what I feel are the best matches. Not every Bound For Glory will be represented, because some years did not have what I consider to be great matches. I’m looking for the best of the best here. Remember, this is my personal list. I have watched TNA since day one and have an appreciation for the product. But that does not make this list the end all be all. If you liked a match I didn’t mention, feel free to share that match in the comments section. This column is meant to celebrate the great matches that have taken place at the TNA Bound For Glory PPV over the years. With that being said, I hope you enjoy today’s column…

BOUND FOR GLORY 2005 – 30-Minute Iron Man Match: X-Division Champion AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels: While some will say that this was not as good as the first iron match that they had, I felt that it was at least as good if not better. I loved that they slowed down a bit and did the less is more approach as it pertained to pins and submissions. This time around, everything seemed to have a purpose, leading to a tighter and more refined wrestling match. The chemistry of Styles and Daniels was undeniable, and it carried TNA through various portions of the company’s history. They were great friends, better enemies, and always brought quality to the ring. Some may hate the singular fall in this type of match, but I felt that it was built beautifully and climaxed at the right time.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2006 – Six Sides of Steel Match: LAX (Homicide y Hernandez) vs. Champions AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels : One year after AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels went to war for 30-minutes for the right to be the X-Division champion, the friends were reunited and reigning as TNA Tag Team Champions. They were facing LAX (Homicide y Hernandez w/Konnan), who were such a hot act early on. With AJ and Daniels being two of the faces of TNA battling the almost militant faction, the crowd was into it big time. Homicide could still go here; as he hadn’t been beaten down by injuries, and this was also the time that people bought that Hernandez could be the next big star. This was 15-minutes of intense action, and shit got real when Homicide choked out Daniels with a coat hanger, allowing AJ to get destroyed by the cop killer for the title change. This is the definition of a show stealing match. Styles and Daniels could deliver as opponents or as a team, and were always a favorite part of TNA for me.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2007 – Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage: Cage and Joe had tremendous chemistry together and Cage ups his game in there with Joe. Christian’s TNA run was so much fun, and he busted his ass. They worked hard, the match was smooth and told a good story and Joe came away with the big win, a CLEAN win. The best part was that Morgan (special enforcer) had no actual part in the match. Tomko and AJ got involved and Morgan chased them away and kept them from getting involved. He did his job and they didn’t pull a swerve for the sake of swerving us, especially since we all would have seen that coming. Sometimes the real swerve is not swerving at all. In the end Joe got the clean win over Cage; thus ending his streak of not getting pinned or submitted in two years. Christian’s TNA run is vastly underrated.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2008 – Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett: Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett have a very odd relationship, due to Karen divorcing Kurt and marrying Jeff. While there may have been some personal discourse, these two were always professionals in the ring and seemed to always deliver the goods. This was no different, two guys busting their ass for 20-minutes. This was, as expected going in and even on the rewatch, a very good match. I will admit that I feel that it was hurt a bit due to the expected ref bump and predictable special enforcer Mick Foley involvement, but not enough to take away from the great in ring work the men provided.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2009 – Ultimate X Match: Amazing Red vs. Suicide vs. D’Angelo Dinero vs. Daniels vs. Homicide vs. Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin : Bound for Glory 2009 peaked with the first match, as the X-Division was on display. With X-Division standards like Red, Homicide, Suicide (Kazarian), Daniels, Shelly and Sabin, a lot would have to go wrong for this to be a bad match. This match was fast paced, filled with highflying (and yes dangerous) spots that electrified the crowd and set a standard that the rest of the card couldn’t live up too. If you’re a fan of Ultimate X and the TNA X-Division, this match is for you.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2012 – Bobby Roode vs. James Storm: Overall, James Storm vs. Robert Roode was just about everything I hoped it would be. While I would have loved to see them in the old school street clothes for the match (one of those little personal preference things), they delivered a bloody brawl fitting of their feud. Mo’s interaction was limited, and since TNA hasn’t busted out the thumbtacks in so long, I didn’t mind that either because I felt as if it meant something. Storm tapped an artery as well to give those that miss blood in wrestling what they had been wanting as well. To the surprise of no one, these men delivered again.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2012 – Austin Aries vs. Jeff Hardy: At the time, the main event really caused a mixed reaction among fans. The match itself was very good, and worthy of the main event spot for sure. The argument at the time was that the title change seemed like TNA just trying to please and keep Hardy and I understand that. The heel turn by Aries right before the show didn’t click with me, at all, and I really thought he had more to offer as the champion. But with that being said, Aries delivered on the big stage, and Hardy showed that he had a lot left in the tank for the promotion. This was a great main event and way to end the show.

BOUND FOR GLORY 2013 – Bobby Roode vs. Kurt Angle: You put Bobby Roode and Kurt Angle in a wrestling ring, and you’re going to get a good match. You put them on the biggest show of the year, and give them 20-minutes to work and you’re going to get a great match. Roode and Angle had been feuding hard, and Roode’s goal was to prove that he was hall of fame worthy and that Angle wasn’t. This was just a match with two pros, going out there and delivering the best match on the card. While the finish is a bit anti-climatic, with Angle essentially defeating himself, I can’t knock the work to get there, because it was great.

Thanks for reading!