Welcome to Pulse Wrestling’s DVD Review of TNA Bound for Glory 2007. This is nominally TNA’s biggest show of the year, so we have several huge matches, many of which sadly lack the long term build you’d hope for in a culmination show, however, the talent of the roster really shines at this show and they all come out with their working boots on to steal the big night. Let’s get to the show.
TNA Bound for Glory 2007
10/14/2007
Atlanta, Georgia
We kick off with a video package about desire and dreams, everyone wishing to be the next Hulk Hogan, although I suppose Jay Lethal must prefer to be the next Savage… Well, we run down the main matches and we’re (cue deep movie announcer voice) BOUND FOR GLORY!
Don West and Mike Tenay welcome us to Atlanta and we’re off to the opening match.
Match 1: Ultimate X Tag Team Match: Triple X of Elix Skipper and Senshi vs. LAX of Homicide and Hernandez
Alright, quick rundown here. Ultimate X is a match where there are ropes high above the ring in a huge X with a title (or briefcase, whatever) in the middle. The winning team is to get to that X. The winning team here gets a tag title shot. Triple X was a major team in early TNA. They recently reformed to attempt to replicate past success. Senshi is all martial arts stiffness, while Skipper is about huge spots. They face the Latin American thugs of Homicide, a speed man who mixes lucha and brawling and Hernandez a surprisingly agile beast of a man. They were the hottest property in TNA the year prior and look to regain momentum starting here. LAX are the faces.
The faces come out on fire and destroy Triple X solo and then in double teams. They go for the X too early and Senshi is able to take control for his team. We settle into an early pattern of one team controlling until going for the X allows a comeback. They build the major spots around this structure.
These major spots include: a dropkick from Skipper to Hernandez across from the top rope to the X, but Hernandez was right up to powerbomb Senshi off the X. Skipper nails a splash from the scaffolding holding up the X on Hernandez and everyone is down. We also have a Homicide neckbreaker on Elix with both men on the X.
Hernandez throws Skipper with a Border Toss to Senshi on the floor and grabs the X for the win.
LAX defeat Triple X in Ultimate X (Hernandez grabs the X, *** ¾)
For a huge high risk match, there was a surprising lack of crazy spots here. That’s good in an opener in that it doesn’t burn out the PPV, but really hurts how memorably this match will ultimately be. Without that factor, I can’t go to four stars. Hernandez came off like a star here with great power moves and some fun, stiff exchanges with Senshi. It’s a shame we didn’t get that match properly before Senshi quit as it really could have made Hernandez. This had a nice structure and build, but this was on the short side. Hernandez’s could-have-been star making performance and the solid structure made this as good as it was.
We cut to Kurt Angle arriving at the arena. Karen arrives separately. Nash walks in too. Riveting.
Tenay and West hype the Pay Per View… during the Pay Per View. The fans already paid, so what the hell is the point of this?
Back to Crystal who’s with the Christian Coalition. Cage is angry that he isn’t automatically the number one contender and blames Joe. Cage says he’ll beat Joe then challenge for the TNA title. AJ Styles cuts a silly promo about taking the TNA tag titles later in the show. Tomko takes the mic and cuts a great, intense promo about destroying Team Pacman.
Match 2: Fight for the Right: Jimmy Rave vs. Lance Hoyt vs. Havoc vs. Shark Boy vs. Petey Williams vs. Kaz vs. Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin vs. Sonjay Dutt vs. Kip James vs. BG James vs. James Storm vs. Chris Harris vs. Eric Young vs. Robert Roode vs. Chris Harris vs. Junior Fatu
16 Wrestlers outside the ring and battle until 8 get in the ring. They compete in a battle royal until two are left, then they fight in a one on one match. This sets up seeding for a tournament and is absolutely retarded. None of the parts of this match have anything to do with how good a guy is at singles matches, so seeding couldn’t matter less. This is stupid. The winner of the eventual tournament is number one contender.
This is such a waste. Rave, Hoyt, Havoc, Dutt, Shark Boy, Petey Williams are pure cannon fodder and just bring down the whole affair. Shelley and Sabin had the highest selling merchandise at this point and weren’t featured at all. Fatu, the former Rikishi, was a big signing who they failed to highlight, as well.
Everyone brawls outside. Fatu is quickly in the ring. Kaz hits the flux capacitor (one man Spanish fly) to get he and Roode into the ring. Eric Young is in as are both Murder City Machine Guns, Lance Hoyt and James Storm.
They start the battle royal and Storm is unceremoniously dumped. Fatu takes on everyone, and all end up breaking down and brawling. Fatu uses butt power to control. Everyone gathers to eliminate Fatu and it works. The Guns destroy Hoyt with beautiful double teams. They do the same to Roode and Young. Sadly this leads to no eliminations, but Sabin is kicked out by Kaz in the middle of a double team attempt. Kaz and Roode both skin the cat to stay in, but Roode notices Kaz and knocks him out. Hoyt is dumped by Robert Roode and we’re down to Eric Young, Roode, and Shelley. Shelley is knocked out by a reversal of a move by Roode.
Now Eric Young vs. Robert Roode. Eric Young is beaten on but manages a small package win. Well, I’ll never get that time back; I hope you all appreciate it.
Eric Young wins Fight for the Right seeding (Roll up on Roode, Dud)
The overriding pointlessness of the whole affair makes it difficult to deal with.
Pacman Jones video package. He’s a controversial football player they put the tag belts on (with Killings) despite the fact that he couldn’t wrestle or talk and is a distasteful human being. He was the reason I didn’t get this PPV at the time.
Killings and Jones cut a promo and Pacman can’t wrestle. Consequences Creed will replace Pacman.
The Angles argue backstage.
Match 3: TNA World Tag Team Title Match: Ron Killings and Consequences Creed with Pacman Jones © vs. AJ Styles and Tomko
Consequences starts off with some babyface shine on AJ. He’s flashy and impressive with an Apollo Creed gimmick. AJ can’t catch the fast Creed so Tomko gets in. Killings tags in and Tomko beats on him. And Creed. Tomko is badass.
AJ and Tomko work over Creed. AJ quickly gives control back to Team Pacman and is worked over. A Pelle saves AJ, then Tomko is tagged in and cleans house. Jones pulls down the top rope, the only way to stop Tomko and Killings dives on him. AJ gets the big shooting star to the floor. AJ and Tomko seem to have turned face mid-match. Pacman on the apron distracts the ref with money and AJ sends it flying. Killings has the pin, but the ref is picking up the cash. A corkscrew double team on Killings and we have new tag champions.
Tomko and AJ Styles defeat Killings and Creed (Pin, Corkscrew, *** ¼)
This was pretty good. Styles and Tomko played face for a lot of this match, even though they were heels going in which confused things, but they are an excellent face team so it worked out. Creed and Killings for a bit too flashy to be pure heels, but they sold well enough to make the next champions look great, which was their job.
Karen Angle talks about how much money is involved in having the title. Karen begs Nash for help and says Angle is his meal ticket. Kevin agrees to talk to Nash.
Match 4: TNA X Division Championship: Jay Lethal © vs. Chris Daniels
This is the height of Lethal’s Black Machismo gimmickry. Daniels is in full vet heel mode, easily his best role.
Lethal has a fabulous shine period early using speed and athleticism to control, before Daniels uses his veteran wiles to take over. A load of back work follows, which is sold exquisitely by Lethal. Lethal’s athleticism allows him to make a comeback, and he sells through that.
Once his comeback is done, they trade advantages quickly, with Daniels controlling on counters and Jay using speed. He begins to catch up with Daniels, stepping up his game on counters and getting out of Daniels big moves until he is able to hit a second rope Lethal combination for the win.
Jay Lethal defeats Chris Daniels (Pin, Lethal Combination, **** ¼)
I absolutely cannot believe I’m writing this. Jay Lethal has become an absolutely fantastic face. Daniels was very good in his wily vet mode here, but Lethal’s awesome selling and crisp moves absolutely made this match. Consider this a complete 180 on Jay Lethal, of whom I am now a big fan.
Scott Steiner cuts a promo on Team 3-D about a tables match. It’s hilarious as he talks about the Dudleyz “faaat asses.†Niiice.
Match 5: Tables Match: The Steiners vs. Team 3-D
To win both opponents must be put through a table.
The Steiners dominate the entire early portion of the match with a big brawl. Scott randomly gets caught through a table with a 3-D and Scott is in trouble. Team 3-D try to powerbomb Scott through a table, but he Frankensteiner’s Brother Ray’s head through it instead.
The brawling continues, only this time with more laying around. Brother Ray starts to whip Scott with a belt. Rick has barely been in this match. Team 3-D get a char so the Guns run out and distract them and the Steiner’s come back to win with a double team bulldog through a table on Brother D-Von for the win.
Steiners defeat Team 3-D (**)
Pointless brawling and a lot of big selling set up some fun spots. Not much here and LAX in MCMG’s role would have made a lot more sense in context of the feud.
ODB cuts a promo about the other Knockouts who all get insulted. Amazing Kong makes a face at the camera and we got to a promo video.
Match 6: Knockout Gauntlet Battle Royal for the Knockout Title: Awesome Kong vs. Gail Kim vs. ODB vs. Christy Hemme vs. Jacky Moore vs. Roxxi Leveaux vs. Ms. Brooks vs. Shelley Martinez vs. Angel Williams vs. Talia Madison
This is Royal Rumble rules with 60 second entries. The last two will end the match with pinfall or submission.
Jackie Moore and Ms. Brooks begin. Shelley Martinez is in next. Nothing interesting happens. Awesome Kong is next and finally things pick up. Jackie Moore is the only one not aftraid, but all girls jump her. It isn’t effective. ODB comes out. Ms. Brooks and Shelley Martinez are dumped. Kong eliminates Jackie before ODB gets to the ring.
Angel Williams is next. And she is destroyed by Kong. Hemme comes out next as Kong is still in control. Hemme is twisted in a torture rack and Gail Kim comes out. She’s finally able to get offense on Kong. Kim using a hurricanrana and getting help finally eliminates Kong.
Hemme is hurt and carted away, then Talia Madison comes out. Angel Williams is out quickly via Kim and ODB. Roxxi is the last lady in. The final four pair off and begin to go to work: Kim with Madison and ODB with Roxxi. Kim makes quick work of Madison and Roxxi tosses ODB.
Roxxi Leveaux vs. Gail Kim one on one is now. They do a speed (Kim) vs. power (Roxxi) story until Kim gets an Air Raid Crash out of nowhere for the win.
Gail Kim becomes the first Knockouts Champion winning the Gauntlet Battle Royal (*** ½)
The Kong story in the middle carried this. What an awesome monster.
Nash talks to Kurt Angle and offers to apologize to Sting for Angle hitting Sting’s son. Angle refuses and Nash says he won’t go out to back Angle up.
Match 7: Christian Cage vs. Samoa Joe with special enforcer Matt Morgan
Cage is undefeated in TNA and Joe wants to take him out. This is where Joe begins to regain his edge. Joe comes out with the Samoan fire dancers.
Joe establishes he’s got more power and better wrestling skills and, when Cage delivers a slap, better striking as well. It’s the early facewash, but Joe misses and Cage uses his slipperiness to get control. Joe takes that opportunity to break out a leg lariat and show he can hang in terms of speed as well. Cage has nothing here and Joe may finally get the elusive win on Christian.
Christian uses slipperiness again for a momentary advantage, but tries a dive, forgetting how quick Joe is and an elbow suicida smashes Cage. Ole kick follows the dive. Cage does a handstand DDT counter to a backdrop in desperation and Cage works over Joe.
Christian doesn’t go with anything fancy, just boots and chokes as he catches his breath. Joe constantly fights back and only going to the eyes helps. A reverse DDT nearly keeps Joe down, but a frog splash misses. Christian gets his head kicked in and he rolls to the floor. Christian tries to leave and Morgan stops him while Joe dives with a twisting press on Cage. Joe is even ahead of Cage’s quick moves, causing Cage to miss another dive and Cage is destroyed with a lariat.
Muscle Buster attempt by Joe is reversed and they do finisher reversals. Joe continues his attack with combinations as the crowd is rabid for a Joe win. Cage tries to comeback with desperation moves, but Joe continually has an answer. With Cage desperate, Tomko comes out. He and Morgan begin to brawl. AJ comes out and sneaks out behind Morgan. AJ is caught and thrown backwards. Morgan chases them away, but the distraction causes a low blow and Unprettier. Joe is just too strong and escapes.
Joe is up with a kick and a Muscle Buster. Kokina Clutch and Cage is done as is his no loss streak.
Samoa Joe defeats Christian Cage (Submission, Kokina Clutch, ****)
This was a karmic retribution match. Joe shows he is flat out better than Christian and all Cage’s tricks will fail to be effective. Perfectly executed, if formulaic, as Joe gets the big win.
Nash and Sting talk, while Nash says Angle is all he has in the lamest top angle for a company’s big show since Jericho was Steph’s lackey vs. Triple H.
Match 8: Monster’s Ball: Raven vs. Abyss vs. Black Reign vs. Rhino
Everyone smacks each other with weapons for a long time. Rhyno eventually runs threw a wall with a missed gore as they fight all over the building. Raven jumps from the balcony onto Abyss. Everyone hits each other more and they make their way back to the ring.
Mitchell finally emerges and brings out a bag of broken glass, which Raven pours on thumbtacks. Abyss Black Hole Slams Raven on the big mess of tacks and glass. Match over.
Abyss defeats Raven, Rhyno and Black Reign (Pin, Black Hole Slam on Raven, * ½)
Whatever. They all hit each other a lot. A couple of flashy spots couldn’t save it.
Match 9: TNA World Championship: Kurt Angle © vs. Sting
Angle starts early trying to go to the mat. Sting shows he’s just as good on the mat (why?), controlling Angle. Interestingly, Sting is supposed to hate Angle for hitting his son, but he’s doing mat wrestling… not exactly heated. Angle goes to brawling and Sting wins that too and beats Angle about for awhile.
Angle finally gets heat on Sting with an eye rake then a German suplex. Angle controls the match with various suplexes. The comeback is off a double clotheline spot where Sting’s arm ends up on Angle so the ref has to pull it off to do the ten count since Kurt was pinned.
When they get up, Sting is a house of fire, except the heat wasn’t long enough and the selling not good enough so the crowd is lukewarm. Sting goes into his traditional moves with the Stinger Splash and bulldog, but goes up and gets caught with a pop up belly to belly. Angle Slam reversed they trade reversals until Angle ends up with three German suplexes.
Angle lucks in the Ankle Lock and Sting sits in it before casually reversing into the Scorpion Deathlock, selling not at all. Karen Angle runs out to break that up. Glad to see overbooking in TNA never stops. Nash from behind lariats Sting. The ref returns after an Angle Slam, but it takes too long. The follow with some more weak false finishes until Angle hits a 450 knee drop… for another two. That would have been a lot more believable had Angle done the move properly.
Angle goes for the Ankle Lock and throws Angle into Nash. The ref goes down and Sting hits the Scorpion Deathdrop. A new ref eventually emerges, but Nash pulls him out mid-count. He then gets in the ring and Sting kills Nash, but Angle gets a low blow. Oh God. Angle swung Sting’s bat at him and Sting was supposed to catch it. It hit Sting in the chest and he pretended to have caught it. This is terrible. Sting beats on Nash and Angle with the bat. Sting bladed for no real reason. Scorpion Deathdrop and it’s mercifully over.
Sting defeats Angle (Pin, Scorpion Deathdrop, **)
This was a much weaker, less intense version of Christian vs. Joe with a heat segment that was nowhere near Lethal’s match in quality, length or selling. Then they drop that whole story and go into crazy overbooking mode. I get that Angle would need help to win, but Sting destroyed everyone multiple times, then ending up using the bat, but botching that spot. Adding in the botched 450, you can say the two most dramatic points in the match were flubbed. That was bad.
Alright, this show was up and down all over the place. Lethal vs. Daniels and Joe vs. Cage were legitimately great matches, while LAX vs. Triple X was damn close. The AJ and Tomko vs. Team Pacman match was better than it had a right to be, while the Women’s Gauntlet is great booking. Everything else ranged from bad to unwatchable, but two four star matches, one near, and two other good matches makes this DVD one of TNA’s best and a must own for fans of the promotion. If you’re curious about the promotion, try this two as it gives you an idea of both the good and bad of the company. You should skip everything but those mentioned in this paragraph, except Angle vs. Sting is absolutely hilarious in that TNA really believes that is what people want to see. Strong recommendation to buy.
