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That was, without exagerration, the best PPV I've seen this year. It just worked from start to finish. With the exception of a disappointing Monster's Ball - that card just worked. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'll rate it:
LAX vs. XXX in Ultimate X for Tag Contendership
What an awesome, awesome way to open the show. The Atlanta crowd were right behind this match from the beginning, and both teams gave it their all. I was especially impressed with Hernandez. The guy could main event if he had the right management - he is one of the most skillful big guys I've seen. Some sick spots.
RATING: ****
Fight for the Right Battle Royal
A stupid concept. Sixteen start outside the ring and the match starts when eight get in. Then it's a battle royal until two remain, and these two fight out a normal match. The eight are seeded based on when they're eliminated, so ostensibly the winner gets the easiest match.
The clash was decent, gave some guys a chance to get on PPV, I guess. The Motor City Machine Guns stole the show but Young went over. Nothing special.
RATING: **
Team Pacman (c) vs. AJ Styles & Tomko
Pacman was subbed out for someone named Consequences Creed. I was dubious at first, but this kid can go. I have absolutely no idea who he is. He's built like Elijah Burke and works a match like a seasoned spot monkey. Did some very cool things, as did Styles and Killings. A pretty good match that finished with the straps coming to Styles/Tomko.
RATING: **1/2
Christopher Daniels vs. Jay Lethal (c) for the X Division Title
The X-Division has felt a little stale to me of late, but I was spoiled by beginning my fandom at a time when the title was being fought over by Daniels, Styles, and Joe near constantly. The clash itself was quite good, but I'm not a huge fan of Lethal. He's charismatic and works a good match - but I just can't dig him. He goes over. A good bout, but nothing remarkable.
RATING: ***1/2
Best 2/3 falls table match: The Steiners vs. The Dudleys
This was just a good, old fashioned brawl. The Steiners, particularly Scott, turned back the clock in this one. Seeing Scott hit a frankensteiner to put Bubba through a table was just awesome, and the overall feel of it was good. You believed that these guys hated one another. The only blemish on the match was the need for the Motor City Machine Guns to distract The Dudleys and allow Scott to recover. Seemed to take away from the match.
RATING: ***
Knockout Gauntlet: Amazing Kong vs. Gail Kim vs. Roxxi Laveaux vs. Jackie Williams vs. Ms. Brooks vs. Talia Madison vs. ODB vs. Angel Williams vs. Shelly Martinez vs. Christy Hemme
Holy-f**king-sh*t. WWE, please take note. This is what women's wrestling can look like when you're not using silicone inflated managers made to play at being wrestlers. A ten woman Royal Rumble with only one case of high pitched screaming (and that through a f**king brutal torture rack from Amazing Kong on Christy Hemme). Who stood out? Gail Kim obviously, because she became the first TNA Knockout Champion. Talia Madison and Angel Williams both had flashes of quality. Roxxi Laveaux is a f**king goddess. But Amazing Kong stole the f**king show. She might never make it in the WWE (a 6'1", 250 pound black woman) but f**k, can she go. She hit powerbombs, the most brutal torture rack I've ever seen, and a bunch of other power moves. Actually disappointed that she didn't go over. But kudos to TNA - they've got two divisions that the WWE doesn't have now.
RATING: ***
Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage
Classic. The crowd was just alive for this one. These two are the future of the company, and I hope TNA management understand that. I probably would have had Cage go over, because his two year unpinned/unsubmitted streak is the kind of rub you can give to a good up and comer. But if Joe's clean win leads to a renewed main event push, I'm all for it. But Cage... man, the WWE dropped the ball on him. He's the complete package.
RATING: ****1/2
Monster's Ball: Black Reign vs. Abyss vs. Raven vs. Rhino
You can skip this. The most disappointing Monster's Ball of the three they've done. Rushed and not particularly impressive. Abyss goes over. Raven's lost a lot of weight. He looks like Raven again. Yay.
RATING: * 1/2
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Sting
I felt like I was watching an old WCW or WWF main event. The fans were on for this one as well. Great idea to take it down to Atlanta, where so many guys have their roots. The fans were tremendous all night. Sting really can go for an old guy. Angle is awesome too - reminds me that despite him being batsh*t crazy, he can still wrestle. He hit a 450 knee drop from the top rope - I'm not f**king kidding. Totally gratuitous, but righteous all the same. Interference from Kevin Nash and Karen Angle marred this a bit, but given they'd done so well to keep run ins low all night, I guess I can accept them blowing their wad here.
They gave the fans their feel good ending. Sting winning despite heavy interference and cheating from Angle and his team. Hopefully this run is better than the last.
RATING: ***1/2
Overall: A f**king awesome PPV. I've been jaded with wrestling these past few months because both companies had been producing utter sh*t. Hopefully Bound for Glory kicking so much ass is the sign of changes at TNA headquarters. With the buzz about Angle and his friends trying to usurp Jarrett and his friends at the top - it could well be the turning of the proverbial tide.
LAX vs. XXX in Ultimate X for Tag Contendership
What an awesome, awesome way to open the show. The Atlanta crowd were right behind this match from the beginning, and both teams gave it their all. I was especially impressed with Hernandez. The guy could main event if he had the right management - he is one of the most skillful big guys I've seen. Some sick spots.
RATING: ****
Fight for the Right Battle Royal
A stupid concept. Sixteen start outside the ring and the match starts when eight get in. Then it's a battle royal until two remain, and these two fight out a normal match. The eight are seeded based on when they're eliminated, so ostensibly the winner gets the easiest match.
The clash was decent, gave some guys a chance to get on PPV, I guess. The Motor City Machine Guns stole the show but Young went over. Nothing special.
RATING: **
Team Pacman (c) vs. AJ Styles & Tomko
Pacman was subbed out for someone named Consequences Creed. I was dubious at first, but this kid can go. I have absolutely no idea who he is. He's built like Elijah Burke and works a match like a seasoned spot monkey. Did some very cool things, as did Styles and Killings. A pretty good match that finished with the straps coming to Styles/Tomko.
RATING: **1/2
Christopher Daniels vs. Jay Lethal (c) for the X Division Title
The X-Division has felt a little stale to me of late, but I was spoiled by beginning my fandom at a time when the title was being fought over by Daniels, Styles, and Joe near constantly. The clash itself was quite good, but I'm not a huge fan of Lethal. He's charismatic and works a good match - but I just can't dig him. He goes over. A good bout, but nothing remarkable.
RATING: ***1/2
Best 2/3 falls table match: The Steiners vs. The Dudleys
This was just a good, old fashioned brawl. The Steiners, particularly Scott, turned back the clock in this one. Seeing Scott hit a frankensteiner to put Bubba through a table was just awesome, and the overall feel of it was good. You believed that these guys hated one another. The only blemish on the match was the need for the Motor City Machine Guns to distract The Dudleys and allow Scott to recover. Seemed to take away from the match.
RATING: ***
Knockout Gauntlet: Amazing Kong vs. Gail Kim vs. Roxxi Laveaux vs. Jackie Williams vs. Ms. Brooks vs. Talia Madison vs. ODB vs. Angel Williams vs. Shelly Martinez vs. Christy Hemme
Holy-f**king-sh*t. WWE, please take note. This is what women's wrestling can look like when you're not using silicone inflated managers made to play at being wrestlers. A ten woman Royal Rumble with only one case of high pitched screaming (and that through a f**king brutal torture rack from Amazing Kong on Christy Hemme). Who stood out? Gail Kim obviously, because she became the first TNA Knockout Champion. Talia Madison and Angel Williams both had flashes of quality. Roxxi Laveaux is a f**king goddess. But Amazing Kong stole the f**king show. She might never make it in the WWE (a 6'1", 250 pound black woman) but f**k, can she go. She hit powerbombs, the most brutal torture rack I've ever seen, and a bunch of other power moves. Actually disappointed that she didn't go over. But kudos to TNA - they've got two divisions that the WWE doesn't have now.
RATING: ***
Samoa Joe vs. Christian Cage
Classic. The crowd was just alive for this one. These two are the future of the company, and I hope TNA management understand that. I probably would have had Cage go over, because his two year unpinned/unsubmitted streak is the kind of rub you can give to a good up and comer. But if Joe's clean win leads to a renewed main event push, I'm all for it. But Cage... man, the WWE dropped the ball on him. He's the complete package.
RATING: ****1/2
Monster's Ball: Black Reign vs. Abyss vs. Raven vs. Rhino
You can skip this. The most disappointing Monster's Ball of the three they've done. Rushed and not particularly impressive. Abyss goes over. Raven's lost a lot of weight. He looks like Raven again. Yay.
RATING: * 1/2
Kurt Angle (c) vs. Sting
I felt like I was watching an old WCW or WWF main event. The fans were on for this one as well. Great idea to take it down to Atlanta, where so many guys have their roots. The fans were tremendous all night. Sting really can go for an old guy. Angle is awesome too - reminds me that despite him being batsh*t crazy, he can still wrestle. He hit a 450 knee drop from the top rope - I'm not f**king kidding. Totally gratuitous, but righteous all the same. Interference from Kevin Nash and Karen Angle marred this a bit, but given they'd done so well to keep run ins low all night, I guess I can accept them blowing their wad here.
They gave the fans their feel good ending. Sting winning despite heavy interference and cheating from Angle and his team. Hopefully this run is better than the last.
RATING: ***1/2
Overall: A f**king awesome PPV. I've been jaded with wrestling these past few months because both companies had been producing utter sh*t. Hopefully Bound for Glory kicking so much ass is the sign of changes at TNA headquarters. With the buzz about Angle and his friends trying to usurp Jarrett and his friends at the top - it could well be the turning of the proverbial tide.
