Jeremy Borash is sitting in Jeff Jarrett’s office and asks him for his thoughts on his upcoming match. Jarrett said that he hasn’t been in the ring for two years but he will leave everything in the ring in Chicago. Borash then notices that Kurt Angle’s gold medal on his desk and Jarrett tells him that he has big plans for it tonight as he walks out of his office.
A video package highlighting the current feuds running into Bound for Glory IV is aired as we head into the Impact intro. Mike Tenay and Don West recap the big two matches that will take place at Bound for Glory as Christian Cage’s music hits and he comes out to the ring with a microphone.
Cage talks about always hearing about having to choose a side between the young stars and veteran players and tells us that he will pick a side when he is ready, if he does pick a side at all. Booker T and Sharmell come out to the ring and says that he is there to reason with Cage. Booker tries to persuade him to join the veteran team as AJ Styles makes his way to the ring.
Styles call Booker a manipulator and a washed up has-been. Jim Cornette then interrupts the three of them and gives Booker T and AJ Styles a chance to back up their words by putting them in a match tonight. Cornette then appoints Cage as the special guest referee and says that we will see what side of the fence Cage is on tonight.
Jeremy Borash met up with Sting earlier in the day who says that his match against Samoa Joe at Bound for Glory will be his biggest match of his career as his reputation is on the line. Borash then asks what will happen if he loses and Sting says that losing is not an option for him.
Match 1: Cute Kip vs. Rhino (No Disqualification Match)
The Beautiful People accompany Cute Kip out to the ring. The three-on-one advantage doesn’t matter to Rhino, though, as he immediately goes on the attack on the outside. Rhino gets the best of Kip by throwing him in the railing a few times before rolling him into the ring. Kip is finally able to get some offense in and slows the match down with a headlock before calling for the paper bag.
Kip tries to give Rhino the brown bag treatment, but Rhino catches him with a clothesline before landing a shoulder block in the corner. Rhino heads out to the floor and slides a table into the ring and sets it up in the corner. Rhino goes for a Gore, but Kip is able to get out of the way. Rhino stops in his tracks as Velvet Sky sprays something in Rhino eyes and Kip levels Rhino with a Gore of his own and picks up the pin fall. Kip and the Beautiful People continue on the attack after the match as ODB and Rhaka Khan chase them out of the ring with some steel chairs.
Jeremy Borash catches up with Kurt Angle and tells him that Jarrett has his gold medal and has some plans for it tonight. Angle says that Jarrett won’t sucker him in tonight and let Jarrett make the first match.
Match 2: Petey Williams vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Jay Lethal vs. Consequences Creed (Four-Way #1 Contender Match for the X Division Title)
Lethal and Dutt battle on the outside as Creed nails Williams with a somersault clothesline to pick up a two count. Lethal flies into the ring and nails Creed with a dropkick as Dutt follows in and levels Lethal.
Williams and Dutt begin working together on Creed, but their teamwork is short lived as Dutt turns on Williams and kicks him in the gut. The match continues with quick X Division action until Lethal lands the Lethal Combination on Williams. Creed follows and slams Lethal onto Williams before pinning Dutt with a back slide.
Lauren is standing backstage with Sheik Abdul Bashir, who says that there is no better opponent for him that Creed, who proudly wears the colors of the red, white and blue. Bashir says that the pain that America has caused him and his family, Creed’s will pay the price in his own blood.
This week’s installment of Karen’s Angle is up next and her guest this week is Mick Foley, who says he is thrilled to be in TNA. He said that he feels he can make a difference and is flattered to be taking part in Bound for Glory. Foley then runs down his thoughts on the match he will be the special enforcer in and says that he may be able to be a mentor of sorts for Jeff Jarrett.
Jeremy Borash is backstage with Rhino who is looking for Cute Kip. He says that at Bound for Glory he is going to set up two tables in opposite corners of the ring and play “Gore the Whore.”
Steve “Mongo” McMichael appears on our televisions and announces that he is going to be the guest referee at the Monster’s Ball match at Bound for Glory. Mongo says that the match is hardcore, just like he is, and that it is going to be a smash mouth hit.
Match 3: Beer Money, Inc. vs. Matt Morgan & Abyss (Non-title Match)
Abyss is kind enough to give a fan some handfuls of his hair as he makes his way to the ring. Team 3D also joins the announce team on commentary for the match up. Morgan takes control in the early going and works over both members of Beer Money until he is taken out with a chop block. Beer Money then focus on Morgan’s leg and use quick tags to control the match.
Morgan, though, is able to take out both Roode and Storm with a double clothesline and finally makes it to his corner to tag Abyss into the match. Abyss comes in and cleans house as Team 3D hints that they plan on bringing lighter fluid and some matches to Monsters Ball this Sunday. Abyss then delivers the Black Hole Slam to Storm and picks up the win for his team.
Footage of Lauren standing by with the LAX is aired were Homicide says that they want to get their revenge on Beer Money at Bound for Glory. Homicide promises to make them bleed at Monsters Ball.
A video package highlighting the history between Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle airs. Mick Foley then makes his way to the ring as Mike Tenay mentions that this match the Karen’s Angle segment from earlier in the night lasted 45 minutes in which Foley stated that Bound for Glory is his only contractual commitment to TNA. Tenay also mentions that due to the rocky relationship between Kurt and Karen Angle, Karen has chosen to step aside as the host to spend more time with her family.
Foley again thanks the fans for making his debut special last week. Foley then hypes the match between Angle and Jarrett and guarantees that any of their friends or allies that try to interfere will be dealt with immediately by him. Foley then introduces the two competitors and brings them out to the ring.
Foley hands the microphone over to Jarrett, who says it was a mistake to hire Angle to the TNA roster. Jarrett then says that he would have like to deal with things differently, but Angle wanted to fight. Jarrett then hands his gold medal back. Foley asks if Angle would like to say anything, but Angle remains quiet. Foley tells them to shake hands and the do and continue to stare each other down.
As Jarrett begins to leave the ring, Angle thanks Jarrett for returning the medal. He then tells Jarrett to tell his three little girls that he apologizes since daddy won’t be coming home after Bound for Glory. Don West is disgusted with that remark and calls Angle a son of a bitch.
Mike Tenay and Don West hype the Bound for Glory pay-per-view and tell us that a Bimbo Brawl has been signed between the Beautiful People & Cute Kip against ODB, Rhaka Khan & Rhino.
Jeremy Borash is in Booker T’s locker room and asks which side he thinks Christian Cage will be on. Booker says that Cage is a champion and that he will be on his side. Booker then calls AJ Styles a farmhand and says that he is stepping into the ring with a living legend. Borash asks about the contents of the mysterious briefcase and Booker says he will reveal it when the time is right and that time is approaching.
This week’s Rough Cut segment is aired as Roxxi gives her thoughts on the upcoming three-way match for the Knockout Championship at Bound for Glory. Roxxi is thankful for the opportunity to be able to show that she is championship material as Taylor is worried about wrestling Roxxi and her hardcore-like style.
Match 4: Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed vs. Roxxi & Taylor Wilde
Kong and Saeed work over Taylor in the opening minute of this match. Taylor begins to fight back and some miscommunication between Kong and Saeed allows her to make the tag to Roxxi, who lands a move off the top rope to pick up a two count. The match begins to break down as Kong is dumped out to the floor, however, Taylor and Roxxi have some communication problems of their own as Taylor drops Roxxi with an ensuguri. Kong then pulls Taylor out to the floor as Saeed misses with a top rope moonsault. Roxxi sets up for the Voodoo Drop, but Kong catches her from behind and drives her down to the mat with an Implant Buster to pick up the win.
Match 5: Booker T vs. AJ Styles w/ Christian Cage as the Special Referee
The match goes back and forth is the opening moments as it looks like Christian Cage is calling this match right down the middle. Booker finally hangs Styles on the rope and ends up gaining control of the match. Booker methodically picks apart Styles until he misses with an axe kick and Styles immediately comes back with the Pele kick.
Styles follows with a couple of clotheslines and locks Booker in an arm bar, but Booker is too close to the ropes. Styles begins to argue with Cage about having to break the hold and Booker catches Styles off guard with a German suplex with a bridge and it appears that Styles kicked out as Cage makes the three count.
Booker begins to celebrate the victory as Cage declares Styles as the winner. Booker becomes irate as Cage clotheslines him over the top rope and onto the floor. Cage then delivers a clothesline to Styles as well as Jim Cornette comes down to the ring and wants answers from Cage. Cornette then books the three of them in a three-way match to figure out their problems.
A video hyping upcoming match between Sting and Samoa Joe is aired. We then see Jim Cornette standing at a podium in the middle of the ring. Cornette calls out the Sting and Joe for their contract signing. Cornette brings to light a special clause that both of them have agreed to, which is there will be no rematch between these two once the match is all said and done. Both Sting and Joe sign the contract to make the match official.
Sting tells Joe that it didn’t have to be this way, but it is what it is and they will meet at Bound for Glory. Joe says that Kevin Nash taught him to be professional, which is why he isn’t choking Sting out right now. Joe goes on to say that he does respect Sting and offers to shake his hand before delivering a hard head butt to Sting.
The two begin to fight in the ring as security and referees enter the ring to separate the two. Mike Tenay then says that Bound for Glory will change the face of TNA forever as we are treated to an extra long Bound for Glory video package featuring the music of the Smashing Pumpkins.
Quick Results
- Cute Kip defeated Rhino by pin fall in a No Disqualification match.
- Consequences Creed defeated Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal and Petey Williams in a four-way match to become the #1 Contender to the X Division title.
- Matt Morgan & Abyss defeated Beer Money, Inc. by pin fall.
- Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed defeated Roxxi & Taylor Wilde by pin fall.
- AJ Styles defeated Booker T by pin fall.
Starman’s Thoughts
This was a decent way to head into the biggest pay-per-view of the year, Bound for Glory IV. While the matches weren’t all that great, they did have implications and set up the rest of the pay-per-view card nicely. I will say, however, that I feel that TNA dropped the ball on a lot of these matches and the lack of hype and attention that they received.
Bound for Glory is really about the two huge main events, but there is no excuse for having three matches added to the card on the go-home show prior to a pay-per-view. Sure, one of those matches is filler, but the X Division Title match and the triple threat between AJ Styles, Christian Cage and Booker T deserved attention than the little bit that they got tonight.
As for those two huge matches, the Jarrett/Angle saga once again delivered and I was glad to see that they didn’t physically go after each other. Even though Jarrett hasn’t wrestled in a TNA ring in over two years, this match is definitely the biggest one on the card.
That’s not to say that the title match between Samoa Joe and Sting isn’t huge either. I really dislike contract signings as they tend to all be the same, but I will say that I liked the bit about the no rematch clause. This gives the match much more meaning as it is now for all of the marbles and there are no second chances.
I’m sure we wouldn’t have been treated to a series of matches between Joe and Sting like we were with the ones between Joe and Angle, but the clause gives the match a sense of finality. Go in the ring, give it your best and walk out as the winner. Nothing more, nothing less. A nice extra touch as we head into the pay-per-view.
Overall, I am excited for the pay-per-view, which may be a bit biased as I have fourth row tickets to the event. As always, I will give my in-depth thoughts and predictions on this weekend.
