Bobby Roode Comments on TNA Bound for Glory, Impact Wrestling and More

TNA superstar Bobby Roode is one of the greatest wrestlers in the history of the company, but his run as one of the faces of Impact Wrestling is far from over.

At 37 years old, Roode has the perfect mix of experience and desire to carry TNA as the company enters an important period. Impact Wrestling has made the transition from Thursday nights to Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on SpikeTV, and it has been Roode at the forefront of the programming as the changes have taken place.

Despite not being on the Bound for Glory pay-per-view Sunday, Roode understands the reasoning and accepts his role as one of the main cogs in the TNA system. The disappointment due to missing the biggest show of the year for the company was clear in his conversation with Ring Rust Radio, courtesy of The Delco Elbow Drop's Joe Arcidiacono.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc), Impact Wrestling has been in the midst of new television contract negotiations, and it is clear from the recent episodes of the company’s flagship show that Roode will be one of the keys to TNA’s success moving forward.

TNA’s Bound for Glory

Bound for Glory, TNA’s biggest show of the year, is set for Sunday night, but arguably the greatest homegrown star in the company’s history is missing from the card. Hardcore Impact Wrestling fans were utterly disappointed by the decision.

Not only is Roode one of the most gifted in-ring technicians in the company, but he is also one of the best speakers in the industry, and his ability to tell a story through his actions and words makes him the top wrestler in TNA.

Knowing Roode isn't on the card makes Bound for Glory feel incomplete.

When asked about his perception regarding the PPV taking place in Japan, Roode spoke about the positives and negatives and what missing the show means to him, via Arcidiacono:

"

There’s negatives and positives to this year’s Bound for Glory. Obviously it’s disappointing that I'm not going to be there and be a part of it. I've been a part of every single Bound for Glory that's there has been with this company. I think the very first Bound for Glory, Eric Young and I were defeated for the tag team titles by 3 Live Crew.  

It’s a lot disappointing not being on the card. I love Japan and performing in Japan and just being a part of Bound for Glory. The positive part of it is we are taking Bound for Glory to Japan and taking it internationally and giving the fans in Japan a chance to take in and be a part of Bound for Glory. To work alongside Wrestle-1 which is a great partnership for our company. I think at this point, Bound for Glory is going to be a showcase of TNA talent and Wrestle-1 talent and it’s going to be a hell of a show.

"

There is no doubt about the in-ring quality that will be displayed during the show on Sunday night, but the lack of a TNA World Heavyweight Championship being defended on the card and the absence of Roode will hurt the final product.

The relationship with Japan's Wrestle-1 is great for the in-ring product, but the PPV won't feel like a TNA special event without Roode.

The hope is that the current storyline on Impact Wrestling featuring Roode chasing the world title will eventually culminate in another championship match. After booking Lashley to look like one of the most dominant world champions in TNA’s history, now would be the perfect opportunity to put the belt on Roode and let him lead the company into the future.

Impact Wrestling’s Move to Wednesday Nights

One of the biggest stories for TNA over the last several months has been the move of Impact Wrestling from Thursday nights to Wednesdays. Roode has been the face of the company during the transition, and he has been outspoken about the positives of the move.

When asked about the move to a new night and the reasoning behind it, Roode defended the decision and talked about how quickly the ratings have climbed, via Arcidiacono:

"

I think the Wednesday night move is a great idea especially this time of year trying to compete with NFL football games on Thursday nights now. Without going to a different network, I think going to Wednesday nights now there isn't any real serious competition on those nights. I think the adjustment has gone quite well. We didn't expect the ratings to be as good so fast. I think overall it was a great move and I hope in the future we will continue to go Wednesday nights.

"

The talk about a new television deal has been a major storyline surrounding the company over the last several months, but the move to a new night proves TNA has a hardcore fanbase that will follow the company anywhere. While there is a negative perception about wrestling, many channels would be happy to boast the numbers Impact Wrestling draws each week.

One of the main keys moving forward will be putting the top guys in the company in a position to succeed. Roode is one of the best all-around workers in the business, and TNA should be booking him as a top star.

With the continued tease of eventually wearing the world title once again, Roode should be the star TNA selects as the face of the franchise moving into a critical time in the company’s history.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player below (some language NSFW).

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