TNA Bound for Glory 2011: The Grim Review

Hello and welcome to my review for Bound for Glory 2011.

TNA's been building up Bound for Glory for months with the BFG Series, the Hogan/Sting/Flair feud, and several other big things so this should be a great show.

I'm going to go through this quickly because there is a lot to cover.

1) I didn't see the online tag team match before the show. I heard from a friend that it was ok, but I don't like the idea of burying the tag belts on a free pre-show, maybe a TV title match would have done better there.

2) As always feel free to comment bellow because universal agreement doesn't exist, and I always find it interesting to hear others opinions on things, especially wrestling.

3) I will grade each match from one to five stars, with one being Sting vs. Jeff Hardy at Victory Road and five stars being Eddie Edwards vs. Davey Richards at Best in the World or Cena vs Punk at MITB. Two and a half stars is the average for a PPV match.

Before we begin let me do a quick run down of the card tonight:

1. Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode *TNA World Championship Match
2. Hulk Hogan vs. Sting
3. Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn *Full Metal Mayhem Match
4. AJ Styles vs. Chris Daniels *I Quit Match
5. Mr. Anderson vs. Bully Ray *Falls Count Anywhere Match
6. Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick *TNA X-Division Championship Match
7. Winter vs. Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky *TNA Knockouts Championship Match
8. Crimson vs. Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan

I am reviewing this as I'm watching it, the card looks nice (Sans Hogan/Sting) so without further ado, lets begin the review.

1) (c)Austin Aries vs. Brian Kendrick *TNA X-Division Championship Match*

I'll never understand why Russo and TNA/WCW always feel/felt that they have/had to put the X-Division/Cruiserweight title as the opening match for every PPV, despite the fact that it sometimes put/puts on better match then some main event feuds.

The idea that they always have to use this match as an opener, and the fact that there's a weight limit holds some of their best talent back. You remember back when the IC title use to be important, when the Cruiserweight belt was not necessarily weaker then the Heavyweight title, I miss those days.

Austin Aries and Brian Kendrick could main event a PPV and I wouldn't bat an eye, but instead we're stuck with this as the opener.

Oh well, onto the match.

Kendrick dominates the opening of the match with quick strikes and fast paced style.

Eventually Austin Aries shuts him down and stars wearing him out, the crowd is very pro-Aries.

There was a huge spot halfway through where Kendrick, off a Superkick, started Sliced Bread #2 only to get stuck on the top rope. Aries goes up there and starts a Superplex, but Kendrick counters into finishing the move, it was an awesome spot.

The tide turns when Kendrick tries to hit Sliced Bread on the outside, but AA grabs the ropes and Kendrick crashes and burns on the ground below.

After Aries rolls him back into the ring he quickly hits The Brainbuster and that's all she wrote.

Winner and Still TNA X-Division Champion Austin Aries by pinfall via Brainbuster

My Predictions: 1-0

My Thoughts: A solid opening match, but I've seen better from both of these guys. Maybe if they had been given more time this match would have been better then it was, but as far as matches go it could have been a lot worse. The Sliced Bread spot was great and the Phily fans are already paying off, this shows why TNA needs to move around instead of using the Impact Zone every week, it didn't work when they used the Asylum and it doesn't work now.

Match Rating: *** (3 Stars)

2) Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn *Full Metal Mayhem Match*

I grew up an ECW fan, I am an ECW fan, I will always be an ECW fan, but people ECW needs to die. This match is a perfect example of why what was great in 1997 is not always great now.

I wanted to like this match, I did.

I really wanted to chant E-C-W one last time with my Phily brothers, but I couldn't.

This match just really wasn't that interesting to me, and that's sad.

Why RVD at this point in his career is not putting over young talent is beyond me. It's just sad that his time in TNA is more about him playing the same stale character he has for the past 14 years and not him helping out future wrestlers.

This match was ok, they opened up with the same stuff they always do, except this time with weapons.

The crowd seemed into it, but I just couldn't help but feel that I was watching the same thing I've seen ever since ECW went under.

The were a few nasty botches and the match was in all honesty just slow.

The finish saw RVD set a ladder on Lynn in the corner, and hit the Van Terminator to get the win.

One question though, Jerry Lynn cost RVD a title shot right, why are they hugging after the match? Ever since the Breakfast Club decided to break character after a match back in the day everyone does it. Look, I know Jerry Lynn and RVD are friends but at least for the sake of the audience pretend to still dislike each other, staying in character needs to be a bigger focus of wrestlers these days.

Winner RVD via pinfall by Van Terminator

Predictions: 2-0

My Thoughts: I think I said it all above, a disappointing match in my opinion. It was by no means bad, but this shouldn't be on the card, it should be Lynn and RVD helping younger guys get over with the crowd.

Match Rating: ** (2 Stars)

3) Crimson vs. Samoa Joe vs. Matt Morgan

Well it's official, TNA yet again doesn't know how to book Samoa Joe. After coming back so strong TNA once again has Joe on the jobbing end of a feud, the twist this time is that he's doing it in two feuds at once.

It's kind of sad really that Joe continues to get buried. Add to that how much I dislike undefeated streaks and the fact that I am not a huge fan of multi-man match, especially when it's not for a belt, and I already come into this match with low expectations.

Lucky this match was better then I thought it would be.

Sure it was slow, but at least everyone had their spots, the booking made sense and the finish was tolerable. I'm not high on Crimson, but if they're going to give him the push he's getting at least their doing a tolerable job of it, just wish it wasn't at the expense of Samoa Joe, but I guess I'll take what I get.

The finish saw Matt Morgan miss the Carbon Footprint on Joe, who was then hit by a spear from Crimson for the pinfall.

Winner: Crimson via pinfall by Spear

Predictions: 3-0

My Thoughts: Well we certainly have had a cool down in these past 2 matched. While this mach was slow everyone looked strong and I guess I have put aside how I feel about Crimson and his streak and realize that this was the smartest decision for TNA.

Match Rating: **1/2 (Two and a Half Stars)

4) Mr. Anderson vs. Bully Ray *(Hardcore?) Falls Count Anywhere Match*

So the fight starts in typical brawl fashion, Anderson starts getting some steam, but Bully Ray weathers the storm and hits a big counter to gain control. I really have come full circle with Bully Ray, he is one of the companies, if not THE companies, top heels, and he's a veteran that's putting over people for the good of the company.

There's a great spot where Bully Ray takes Anderson's mic and starts talking, but Anderson gets up and takes out Ray and hits him with the mic.

They battle backstage, they battle in the crowd, they battle all over. Lots of near falls, lots of solid moves, this is a very good match.

Halfway through Ray hits a nice Bubba Bomb on Anderson through a table for two, and then we get Anderson getting the same near fall after he hits a mic check on Bubba onto a guardrail.

He then proceeds to set Ray up on a table outside the ring and go for the Kenton Bomb, and here is where things get interesting, he overshoots the move, Ray falls off the table, crawls to Anderson, I think tells him to hit Mic Check him through the table, and proceeds to take a nasty looking Mic Check though the table.

If it was Ray that called that audible, he needs to be congratulated on saving that finish because he decided that instead of having them do a stupid redo of the spot, that he would take a serious bump for the company, i have nothing but respect for Bubba Ray for that move.

He yet again put over a young guy, and yet again took a big bump doing it, this is what the older guys should be doing in my opinion.

To Live And Die In Dudleyville!!!!

 This was quite simply put, the best match so far. It was great.

The only negative things I can say are that TNA may have mixed the rues for a "Street Fight" and a "Falls Count Anywhere Match" up, and that it's a shame the botch at the end happened.

Winner: Mr. Anderson via pinfall by Mic Check through a table

Predictions: 4-0

My Thoughts: I think I summed it all up in that recap, it was a great match, best so far.

Match Ratings: **** (4 Stars)

5) (c)Winter vs. Mickie James vs. Madison Rayne vs. Velvet Sky *TNA Knockouts*

I'm going to get through this very quickly because Karen Jarrett ruined anything that could have been good about this match, becaus this wasn't about the Knockouts Title, it was about getting the woman that's married to the blood sucker that is Jeff Jarrett tv time.

Despite being a 4 woman match, this turned into a tag team match and despite the wrestlers being the main attraction, Karen Jarrett got the most tv time, most involvement, last introductions, and all around was the star of the match.

It really didn't matter how good the match was (not that good, the fan's were chanting "This is Boring" and I agree) it was all about the princess.

The only positive thing was that the right person won.

Winner and New Champion: Velvet Sky via pinfall by random series of run ins and illegal actions and ref bumps, also known as a Vince Russo ending

Predictions: 4-1

My Thoughts: I don't want to live on the same planet as Karen/Jeff Jarrett anymore.

Match Rating: (A Generous) ** (2 Stars)

6) AJ Styles vs. Chris Daniels *I Quit Match*

For the second time this year two of my favorite wrestlers, and two people involved in the greatest TNA match of all time, fought. For the second time this year I was let down.

I came in with sky high expectations and yet again they weren't met.

I liked the opening, I liked the middle, it's just the second that Daniels told AJ's wife to "put the kids to bed" it went downhill.

I just don't get it, Daniels and AJ are better then this but this match just wasn't what I expected it to be.

Maybe they've wrestled too much, like how even when Randy Orton and Christian wrestle a good match it just doesn't seem that good, I don't know.

The finish saw AJ hit a Pele, followed by a Styles Clash, and then he was about to hit Daniels with a screwdriver, but he gave up and ran away.

A good ending....back when it was done by JBL in 2005, I mean honestly, how many I Quit Matches are going to end that same way.

I mean that finish just wasn't satisfying, I just almost want this feud to be over so we can maybe....just maybe get a Roode/Daniels feud for the belt where (and I know this sounds crazy) Christopher Daniels finally gets the TNA title. No that's too crazy, lets just slap it back on Jeff Hardy or RVD and have AJ and Daniels feud for the 5,000th time before firing Daniels at Feast of Fired.....again.

Dear Daniels, TNA creative has nothing for you man, signed A Guy That Feels Your One of The Best in The World and The Second Most Wasted Talent in Wrestling History (next to Owen Hart).

Winner: AJ Styles via Quitting by WWE, JBL, 2005

Predictions: 5-1

My Thoughts: Disappointing match, but still not bad. I enjoyed the early goings of the match but the last handful of minutes left a bad taste in my mouth. Maybe Daniels/AJ Feud #3 Part 3 will be better......hopefully......please.......maybe a Last Man Standing Match over an I Quit Match.

Match Rating: **3/4 (2 and Three Fourths Stars)

7) Battle for Control of the Company – Hulk Hogan vs. Sting

Before I start talking about this I have to say, Jeff Jarrett, why do you have to be on my screen during PPV time, doing a segment where your trying to get over Jeff Hardy that could have been done easily on a tapped Impact, why?

The man who's built a career on backstage politics once again had to get his TV time.

Onto the Main Event, and even though it wasn't "The Main Event," Hogan/Sting was the match you bought this PPV to see.

I'll say this, I was the most focused on this match more then any other, maybe because I felt a train wreck coming months ago (see my articles six months ago on TNA for more information). Maybe because it was, potentially, Hogan's last match, and maybe because it was, just as I predicted, a train wreck, an utter disaster of a match.

Before the match starts Flair comes down the ramp, ready to interfere if needed.

Let me give credit where credit is due, Hogan can control a crowd. He pulled the strings on the Smark-filled Phily crowd and they were marking out and going wild. It was the only match where the crowd was involved from the beginning to the end, and so I wonder, were we watching the same match?

I mean look, Hogan isn't my favorite guy in wrestling, but I sure as hell respect the guy, but why are we going wild for headlocks and slaps. Then I realized, it's because Hogan is that good at playing a crowd.

They got back in the ring, Sting hit super, super weak splashes and then they finished it with a terrible Scorpion Deathlock.

The match was slow, boring, terrible, but at the end of the day I sat there, mesmerized by what I was seeing. 

Honestly I don't know how to rate this match. It was a bad match, but for some reason it was watchable, albeit a trainwreck. So I find myself in the odd position of assigning a grade to something I can't grade. Because of that I have to just shake my head, give this match a pass and say I'll grade it several ways.

Winner: Sting via Submission by Scorpion Deathlock

Predictions: 6-1

Technical Match Rating: * (One Star)

Enjoyment Match Rating: * (One Stars)

Wachability of This Match: ***** (Five Stars)

Crowd Match Rating: ***** (Five Stars)

Overall Rating: Who Knows? Was it good, was it bad, mediocre, I just don't know.

I just don't get it. Add to all that the Crash TV face turn at the end and it was everything I dislike in wrestling before my eyes like some kind of Human Centipede of Wrestling, and I just sat and watched.

Hulk Hogan going babyface got the biggest damn pop of the night, and I just don't get it. Has wrestling got so bad that this is what fans want to see. Is this why TNA has so many old guys at the top? I am baffled and I just need to get away from this match as quickly as I can because if I dwell on it too long I might explode.

8) (c)Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode *TNA World Championship Match*

Yet again this PPV has me shaking my head, as does the crowd.

This was Robert Roode's time and they couldn't even give him the belt. He couldn't even get over with the crowd.

And one more thing, I really want someone to tell me this. For weeks I said the Bound For Glory Series was pointless, for weeks people told me I was wrong. Now that we come full circle and see that Robert Roode's journey to the belt, all the video packages, all the interviews, all the build, the BFG Series itself was all pointless, the whole damn thing was pointless.

Why waste TV time with the BFG Series to begin with if it's going to add up to nothing.

I don't understand...at all.

The match was ok, a little rushed, but ok.

I could sit here and review the match and explain how the match itself was ok and how certain counters and certain moves looked good, or how the finish was a little wacky, but I won't because that's not what this came down to.

Last year I thought TNA botched The Pope. He was over and they decided to bury him, now they can't do anything with him. Samoa Joe the same way, Daniels the same way, Pete Williams, Jay Lethal, Christian, James Storm, Kaz, time in and time out they have botched their booking and I've let it go, but not this time.

The wrestling business is a weird thing. It's all about timing; people wanted Goldberg vs. Lesnar and the WWE waited until it was a pointless match, which ruined it.

WCW waited too long to push Scott Hall.

ECW waited too long to push Taz and before they knew it the WWE had sucked him up.

Time in and time out timing has made all the difference and TNA botched this big time.

This was Robert Roode's time and he was at the peak. They just said we don't have enough faith in this guy and they let him fall.

It's terrible. They wasted your time, they wasted my time, they wasted TV time pushing this. Then they failed to do the one thing that should have been a sure thing, it's just terrible.

Also if your going to have him lose, at least have Storm be the one to cost him, at least start a Storm/Roode feud. Don't just let him lose in a muddled way with the ref screwing up the count, Angle's foot on the ropes and Roode's hand under the ring, don't do that.

It ruined this main event, and it ruined this PPV.

It just makes no sense to me.

Winner and Still Champion: Kurt Angle via pinfall by Angle Slam

Predictions: 6-2

Rating: ** (2 Stars)

Final Thoughts and Grade

So we come to this, what are my final thoughts on the PPV?

Because of all the let downs and the high moments and the I just don't know moments, I find this PPV hard to grade.

Bully Ray/Anderson was great, The Knockout's match was not, The X-Division match was solid, Styles/Daniels was disappointing, Hogan/Sting was the best/worst trainwreck of a match ever, Roode/Angle was the worst booking I've seen in a long time, all in all, saying I'm conflicted would be an understatement.

However, after adding the match totals up I finally was able to come up with a letter grade that I thought reflected my thoughts on the PPV.

Final Grade: C-

Quite frankly I wanted to like this PPV, but because of the last two matches I can't.

One Word Review of the PPV: Interesting/Disappointing/Enigma/Hulk-A-Mania (Take Your Pick)

Match of the Night: Bully Ray vs Anderson

Move of the Night: The Audible Bully Ray, or Mr. Anderson, called at the end

Stupid Booking Decision of the Night: Angle Retains

Big Positive:  Hogan's Retired...for good...maybe

Big Negative: The BFG Series was Pointless

As always thanks for reading, comment bellow.

...See You Space Cowboy