Preview of Tonight's TNA Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View

by Brian Phelps

http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com

No DQ Match for the TNA World Heavyweight Title
AJ Styles vs. Bully Ray

AJ styles vs Bully Ray is a tough one for me. I like Bully Ray as a heel. I like AJ Styles, but I feel like TNA has kind of pooped on this match-up. AJ Styles won the BFG Series (which is absolutely fine), but why did they drop his "No One" gimmick? For once, the AJ Styles character was compelling and different. It wasn't just his wrestling that was cool. With the "No One" gimmick, AJ Styles finally appeared to have the total package of gimmick and wrestling skills. For some reason, they just dropped his "No One" gimmick with kind of a haphazard explanation... AJ suddenly came out and cut a promo where he decided he was "ok" with being under appreciated and as a result he is back to the classic AJ Styles. He even went back to the Get Ready to Fly theme song. I think the one problem with AJ Styles legacy is that his character never fully evolves. Even the Hulkster evolved into Hollywood in the '90s. Styles always starts to evolve, but then suddenly devolves back into generic AJ Styles. He reverted back to old AJ after he took on some Ric Flair characteristics. Now, he reverts back to the generic AJ Styles after finally evolving into a compelling and entertaining character with his "No One" gimmick. Oh well, AJ Styles became the total package for about 5 months and then decided to revert back to generic AJ. As for Bully Ray, I'm happy for him that he is finally main eventing the biggest PPV in TNA as the champion. I do think it's time for Bully to drop what's left of the Aces and Eights and just keep Brooke Tessmacher. Knux and Bischoff at this point are just dragging his star power down. Time to cut bait with those jobbers. On a lighter note, what ever happened Tito Ortiz being in Aces and Eights? Or, Rampage in MEM? Boy... they just kind of forgot about them didn't they? lol. And what happened to Mr. Anderson? Why would you leave a 2-time TNA World Champion off the PPV? 

Ultimate X for the TNA X Division Title
Jeff Hardy vs. Chris Sabin vs. Austin Aries vs. Samoa Joe vs. Manik

I think this Ultimate X match will be the show stealer tonight. Anytime you put Hardy, Aries, Joe, Sabin, and Manik in a match together good things are going to happen. If you buy this pay-per-view, than this is the match that will make it worth the money. Weirdly, it kind of seems like a waste of several main eventers. You're wasting Hardy/Aries/Joe all in one match for a mid-card belt? The two biggest superstars in TNA who headlined last years Bound For Glory over the heavyweight title are now just tossed into an X-Division match. Don't get me started on Samoa Joe. It seems like TNA hasn't known what to do with Joe for the last 5 years. He just sort of floats around as nothing more than PPV filler nowadays. I am intrigued to see what Hardy will pull out for Ultimate X. It's kind of strange to think that Hardy has never participated in an Ultimate X match before this given his risk taking background. This is an awkwardly awesome match. Hey, does anyone else wonder why Chris Sabin never invoked his rematch clause? Or, why Sabin never exacted revenge on Tito Ortiz for costing him the TNA Title? lol. 

TNA Knockouts Title Match
Brooke vs. Gail Kim vs. ODB

TNA seemed to tease that Lady Tei'pa (or however you spell her name) would get involved. I don't expect a lot from this match. The Knockouts division has kind of fizzled in the last couple of months after a wild start to the year. Speaking of which, what ever happened to Taryn Terrell? I mean, weren't they raving about her ladder match a few months ago? And where is Mickie James? Why hasn't Velvet Sky wrestled lately? Weird.

TNA Tag Team Title Match
Winners of pre-show vs. Gunner and James Storm

This tag team title match feels like TNA's creative team really had nothing to do for Gunner and Storm, so they just threw this together real fast. It's kind of odd considering how important TNA's tag team division used to be. I used to rave about how great TNA's tag team division once was, but now it's really no better than WWE's. In fact, lately... dare I say the WWE Tag Team Division has been better. Wow, I never thought I'd say that. 

Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode

Angle/Roode at BFG is yet another sloppily thrown together at the last minute match. This storyline is sort of stupid. Kaz and Daniels decide to induct Bobby Roode into some made up Hall of Fame of theirs, and for some reason Kurt Angle is angry at Bobby Roode and not Kaz and Daniels? Wow... that makes a lot of sense. What makes this worse is that they already fought at Bound For Glory 2011, and it doesn't feel like all that long ago. Here's another question... is Kurt Angle still in the Main Event Mafia? Because since he returned they haven't really mentioned him as being a member. 

Sting vs. Magnus

Sting vs Magnus is a match-up that could've been much more intriguing. Magnus held a large lead in the BFG Series only to suddenly start getting screwed every week until he ultimately lost. Lately, it seems TNA is teasing a heel turn for Magnus as he is starting to turn into a whiner. A real "woe is me" character. This match-up with Sting was kind of thrown together, and honestly seems somewhat random. Their was really wasn't much build-up to this match. Two and a half weeks ago, Sting claims he will put Magnus on the map after Magnus whines for weeks about losing all the time. Dixie Carter randomly tries to sabotage the Sting/Magnus match at Bound For glory for some reason... but fails. Then this past week, Magnus fights Bully Ray and loses and whines some more. This match just seems rushed, awkward, and forced... but if any two men can make this work... it's these two. 

An appearance by Ethan Carter III

TNA has done absolutely nothing to interest me in Ethan Carter III. The video packages seemed really low budget and second rate. Let's hope he makes a splash. 

Pre-show Gauntlet Match
Daniels & Kazarian vs. Joseph Park & Eric Young vs. Chavo Guerrero & Hernandez vs. Robbie E and Jessie Godderz

This Pre-Show Gauntlet match to decide who faces Gunner and James Storm for the tag team titles seems like it was just lazily thrown in for filler. It's interesting to see TNA now taking a page from WWE's playbook and having a pre-show to shore up last minute PPV buys. 

TNA Bound for Glory 2012 Official Theme Song (Trapt "Bring It")

TNA Bound For Glory in Phoenix October 14, 2012 - Tickets On Sale Now

Sting's "Joker" Gimmick Officially Comes to an End After Bound For Glory

by Brian Phelps

Well, it now appears that Bound For Glory was the end of Sting's explosively popular "Joker" gimmick. Back during the Summer, Sting transformed from "The Crow" into "The Joker", taking on an even darker character in order to combat Hulk Hogan and his Immortal faction. His goal was to lead Hulk Hogan back from the dark side. He stated that he wanted to see the Hulkster, "not the Hollywood one". After defeating arch-nemesis Ric Flair in order to set up a match between himself and Hulk Hogan at Bound For Glory, Sting went on to defeat Hogan at the pay-per-view. After the conclusion of the match, Hogan's cronies came out and brutalized Sting. Sting cried out for Hogan's help, and Hogan seemingly having an epiphany came to the Stinger's aid. Hogan fended off his own Immortal members in order to save Sting. In essence, Hulk Hogan turned good again. The "Joker" Sting accomplished what he set out to do and thus it makes sense for the character to come to an end so that the normal Sting can return to the surface. Sting returned to Impact after Bound For Glory as normal old Sting, and was promoted to essentially a "General Manager" type of role on Impact.

It makes sense because Sting only became the "Joker" because he was driven to insanity by Hogan and his Immortal faction. If you recall, Sting tried to warn Dixie Carter about Hogan a year and a half ago and she wouldn't listen to him. Sting saw Hogan and Bischoff coming to TNA and taking over, and immediately had deja vu back to the mid 90's when Hogan and Bischoff came to WCW and took it over with their NWO faction. Sting foresaw the same thing happening in TNA and tried to warn the company, but no one would listen. Once Hogan and Bischoff swindled Dixie Carter out of the company, and formed the Immortal faction... he was driven over the edge. That's what prompted the change to the maniacal "Joker" gimmick. With Hogan returning to the side of good, there is no further need for "Joker" Sting.

However, back in the 90's Sting went from his "Surfer" gimmick to the "Crow" gimmick in order to defeat Hogan and his NWO faction and keep them from taking over WCW. After the NWO ended, Sting remained in the "Crow" gimmick and has carried it all the way to the present. Who knows... maybe one day we will see a return of the "Joker" gimmick. Only time will tell.

Dream Match of the Week: Sting vs Kurt Angle

This Dream Match comes from TNA once again as the "Franchise" Sting battles the "Olympic Gold Medalist" Kurt Angle for the World Heavyweight Title in Atlanta, Georgia at Bound For Glory. This is a match that no one ever thought would ever happen. WCW's Sting vs WWE's Kurt Angle. This is what sets TNA apart from the WWE. TNA delivers matches that we never thought we would ever see.

Flashback of the Day: The Steiner Bros cut a great promo on Team3D

All I have to say is that Scott Steiner is the funniest promo man in pro wrestling. Enjoy!