wrestling / Columns

ZeeWI: TNA Risks It All Before Bound For Glory

October 2, 2016 | Posted by Dino Zee

It’s the biggest day of their year, where everyone lets it all hang out. It’s Bound For Glory, where legends are born, champions are crowned, and dynasties are formed. With so much on the line, the wrestlers on the TNA roster have always done their best to give their absolute all under those bright lights.

This year was shaping up to be no different. The main event would pit one Ethan Carter, the Third (EC3 to his friends), the man TNA Ace Commentator Josh Matthews calls an “Asskicking Machine,” taking on the dominant champion, Lashley. The Fighter. The Unstoppable Monster. Without question, the two most powerful forces on either side of TNA’s struggle for morality.

They have had their meetings before, but at Bound For Glory, it would finally settle the issue between the two. There was no clearer #1 contender than Carter, and since defeating Drew Galloway for the title at Slammiversary, no one had truly threatened Lashley’s stance as the World Heavyweight Champion.

Hardly wanting to create a one-match show, TNA added a Great War for the TNA Tag Team Championship, with Broken Matt Hardy and his obsolete mule, Brother Nero challenging Abyss and Crazzy Steve, known of course as Decay.

From the moment Matt’s broken brilliance brought him a grave premonition regarding his family and Rosemary’s creepy gang, his focus switched instantly from tormenting his selfish brother to combining their forces to protect King Maxell, Reby, and of course, the cherished Señor Benjamin.

Aided by Matt’s own incredible arrogance, and a dash of TNA Management not really caring about anyone’s safety as long as people are talking, Decay nearly succeeded in abducting the King. It took the single greatest moment in the entire history of professional wrestling to save Maxell from the clutches of Rosemary, a literal miracle in front of our eyes.

It was in this same confrontation – addressed so adorably by TNA as Delete or Decay – where Brother Nero would be badly injured by Abyss and Janice, Vanguard 1 would take a lethal dose of the mist of poison, and Señor Benjamin would be kidnapped. Once the latter two were revived and rescued, The Broken Hardys were ready to go to battle on the most hallowed ground of them all.

The Tag Team Titles would seem to some to be completely meaningless in this entire thing, but that’s what makes Matt Hardy the crumbled man that he is today. For him, it’s all about the belts. The second he realized that the man once known as Jeff Hardy didn’t care about him anymore, he was determined to make him repay his gravest sin – costing them their TNA Tag Team Titles with a silly ride on a dirtbike. No, of course it doesn’t make sense, but are we really going to quibble about that with Matt Hardy?

Those belts have always been his ultimate goal. Decay unleashing their own attacks on Hardy’s family was the act of a threatened group. They knew that once Jeff had broken, that Matt could now control this man who had faded away, and that together, they could challenge for their precious titles.

With these two epic clashes lined up, this past Impact saw some horrific decisions made yet again by those in charge.

TNA allowed its cameramen to once again simply sit back and watch as Crazzy Steve mangled Brother Nero, gouging at his eye. Elsewhere, another goon squad did the same thing as Abyss literally electrocuted Matt Hardy. We’ve since heard that he’s “okay” and will compete, but in what world would TNA think that risking one of their two marquee matchups for their biggest show of the year is a good idea?

I mean, they literally dispatched the cameras to follow, but couldn’t think about sending Pat Kenney and Friends to break this up? Will we ever see the day that their thirst for attention doesn’t outweigh their need to protect the overall wellbeing of their wrestlers?!

Well, I mean, I guess it’s not always horrible.

Unfortunately, those involved in the upcoming Great War weren’t the only ones placed in a totally unneeded situation three days before the biggest show of the year. The main event saw TNA risk multiple Bound For Glory matches at once, as they held a Lethal Lockdown contest that featured Lashley, Galloway, Mike Bennett, and Maria taking on EC3, Aron Rex, Moose!, and Gail Kim.

Look at that lineup. That’s the TNA Knockouts Championship match for Bound For Glory, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship match, and two other big non-title affairs (Bennett/Moose!, Rex/Galloway) all being risked, and for what? To grab a quick rating for the free cage match with weapons?

Maria’s already injured, with her cast being the proof. She should be avoiding any actual ring time until it’s time to defend her championship. Galloway was also nursing an injury going into this matchup, making TNA’s decision to allow him to compete – 3 days before their biggest show – all the more baffling!

While most came out okay, Drew Galloway did not. His participation in the match only made his condition worse, and he’s been removed from the match, with Eddie Edwards now taking his place against Rex. A disappointing turn to be sure, as I had Galloway/Rex pegged as a match that would be hard hitting and very competitive. Eddie Edwards, as talented as he is, just doesn’t wrestle the same way that Galloway does, and that’s by no means an insult. That’s just a fact of life.

What’s most baffling in this is TNA’s decision to now pull him out of the match, but not to use that kind of caution during Impact. Now they lose one of their big matches for the show, and Galloway misses out on both a substantial payday, as well as a big confrontation he wanted quite badly.

Maria was able to avoid injury, as she ran out of the cage and backstage as fast as she could, and aside from the usual bumps and bruises, everyone else seems to be okay for Bound For Glory. Regardless, too much was risked on Thursday, and there seems to be no actual benefit from any of it, unless you really love a No Holds Barred match that much.

Not wanting to end this in such dreary fashion, let me at least state for the record that, despite TNA Management’s deplorable decisions on Thursday, this columnist is still looking forward to Bound For Glory. I always am. It’s the biggest show of the year. With the entire world watching and once again speculating on where TNA will be headed in the future, there have been no lights brighter, and no moment bigger, than what this roster will deal with Sunday evening. It’s all on the line, and that’s just the way they like it.