TNA’s biggest show of the year goes worldwide! TNA aims to bring its best on its flagship show from Tokyo, Japan. Tonight on TNA Bound for Glory, TNA and Wrestle-1 collide. Will “Cowboy” James Storm continue his revolution with The Great Sanada over his former mentor The Great Muta and Tajiri? Plus, the TNA Knockouts Championship and the TNA X Division Championship are on the line! All that and more on Bound for Glory!
We are on LIVE via tape delay from Tokyo, Japan. Mike Tenay and Taz have the call tonight.
Jeremy Borash introduces the show.
Match One: Minoru Tanaka vs. Manik
The two start out chain grappling. Minoru Tanaka and Manik exchanging positions and submissions. Tanaka knocks Manik down with a dropkick and lands a jumping back kick. Action spills outside and Manik misses a crossbody. Tanaka looks for a dive and Manik hides under the ring. Neckbreaker lands for Manik as he sneaks into the ring and he goes to work with strikes. Nearfall for Manik off the dropkick to the back of the head.
Manik working Tanaka down with submissions. Suplex and back suplex get Manik a nearfall. Tanaka tries a missile dropkick and misses. Tanaka misses a dropkick, but gets Manik the second time around. Missile dropkick gets Tanaka a pin attempt. Snap suplex and knee drop get the same. Manik sends Tanaka out with a dropkick, but runs into a kick from Tanaka on the suicide dive. Moonsault lands for Tanaka. Back inside, Manik with a missile dropkick and gutbuster that almost wins it.
Manik lands on the knees of Tanaka and gets sent into the corner. Superplex converts and nearly puts Manik down. The two exchanging pin attempts until Manik lands a brainbuster for a nearfall. Double-underhook gutbuster nearly wins it for Manik. Tanaka lands a headkick and locks in a cross armbreaker.
Winner by submission: Minoru Tanaka
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Video highlights Team 3D’s TNA Tag Team Champion defense at Slammiversary 2007.
Ethan Carter III talks about replacing Rockstar Spud, his first year in TNA, and his plans for the second year.
Video package recaps the year for Ethan Carter III.
Ethan Carter III on the microphone before the match. EC3 says he is in a country that shows him respect, but he will speak slowly so they can understand him. EC3 says who he is and says he’s undefeated in a patronizing tone. EC3 says he beat TNA Hall of Famers at their own games and he will beat Hama tonight with strength. EC3 chants “Slam ham, ham slam” and says the world needs Carters. EC3 closes by saying he’s big in Japan.
Match Two: Ethan Carter III vs. Ryota Hama
Ryota Hama pushes Ethan Carter III into the corner and gets shoved out of the ring after getting in the face of Hama. Shoulder bumps failing for EC3 and Hama takes EC3 out with one. EC3 calls for a sumo challenge and Hama accepts, popping EC3 up into the air. Hama stands on EC3 and hits a suplex. Cannonball splash lands for a nearfall on EC3.
EC3 evades a splash and goes to work by slamming the head of Hama off the mat and lading strikes. Slam attempt is shucked away by Hama and a clothesline leads to an elbow drop for a nearfall. Corner splash lands and Hama with a running butt splash in the corner for a pin attempt. EC3 unable to get Hama up for a slam and Hama crossbodies him down for a pin attempt. Stinkface in the corner from Hama and EC3 punts Hama with a low blow as the referee is distracted. One Percenter lands.
Winner by pinfall: Ethan Carter III
Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
Video highlights of Team 3D winning the TNA Tag Team Championships at Lockdown 2009.
MVP talks about his return to Japan and his love of Japanese professional wrestling.
Match Three: MVP vs. Kazma Sakamota
The two start with chain grappling. Shoulder bump from MVP puts Kazma Sakamoto down. Sakamoto playing mind games and he hides between the ropes as MVP attacks. Sakamoto tries shoulder bumps and gets dropped by MVP. Slam lands for MVP and the elbow drop is rolled away from by Sakamoto. MVP with a slingshot crossbody to the outside. Sakamoto holding onto the guardrail and with a rake to the eyes. Sakamoto sent into the barricade and lands a Yakuza Kick that gets him a nearfall back inside.
Sakamoto landing chops and strikes in the corner. Sakamoto looking to keep MVP down with strikes. MVP fighting back and missed a Yakuza Kick. Bulldog from Sakamoto gets a pin attempt and a Ballin’ Elbow lands on the knees of MVP. MVP in control with corner clotheslines and an exploder suplex. Ballin’ Elbow lands and a fisherman’s suplex gets a nearfall. Sakamoto striking back and landing a series of nearfalls off the grinding offense before being put away with the Drive-By Kick.
Winner by pinfall: MVP
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
TNA X Division Champion Samoa Joe talks about the X Division and his return to Japan.
Match Four for the TNA X Division Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Low Ki vs. Kaz Hayashi
Kaz Hayashi sent out immediately as Samo Joe and Low Ki go at it. Ki hit with a kick in the corner from Hayashi. Joe striking away at Hayashi and landing a back splash for a nearfall. Joe sent to the floor by Hayashi and Hayashi and Ki now exchanging. Joe once again sent out to the floor by a dropkick. Kick from Hayashi drops Ki. Joe and Hayashi battling and they again spill out to the floor. Springboard kick from Low Ki gets a nearfall inside on Joe. Low Ki and Hayashi going at it on the floor and they are taken out by a double clothesline from Joe on the outside.
Back inside, Joe lands a back splash on Hayashi that gets a nearfall broken by Low Ki. Low Ki landing strikes on Joe in the corner and Joe counters with a powerbomb and turns it into a Boston crab. STF applied by Joe on Low Ki. Hayashi applies a crossface on both men to break the holds. Joe and Hayashi exchanging strikes. Clothesline misses for Joe and a neckbreaker from Hayashi lands for a nearfall. Hayashi looking to go for a suplex and he can’t get Joe up. Running dropkick from Low Ki lands and he counters Hayashi to land The Warrior’s Way for a nearfall. Joe pulls Low Ki outside and Hayashi tries a dive, but Joe runs into the ring and lands one on Low Ki and Hayashi. Inside, STJoe lands as Hayashi charges Joe in the corner.
Low Ki in with a handspring kick to send Hayashi down to the floor from the top off a Joe Muscle Buster attempt. Low Ki and Samoa Joe exchanging strikes and Low Ki has Samoa Joe up for the Ki Krusher. Joe elbows his way out and applies the Coquina Clutch.
Winner by submission and STILL TNA X Division Champion: Samoa Joe
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Post-match, Jeremy Borash with Samoa Joe. Joe speaks to the Japanese crowd and introduces himself. Joe says he has loved Tokyo ever since his first match in Korakuen Hall and he loves the fans even more. Joe says Wrestle-1 and TNA want to bring the wrestling world together tonight and welcomes everyone to Bound for Glory.
Tommy Dreamer talks about having the honor of inducting Team 3D into the TNA Hall of Fame and the honor of returning to Japan for a match against the team.
Match Five: Andy Wu & El Hijo de Pantera vs. Jiro Kuroshio & Yusuke Kodama
Jiro Kuroshio starts with Andy Wu. Jiro playing mind games and avoiding any wrestling by admiring himself. Wu getting the better of Jiro with strikes and speed. El Hijo de Pantera and Yusuke Kodama brought in. Hurricanrana lands for Pantera and Kodama feigns respect with a handshake to land a kick to the midsection. Pantera sent to the ramp. Pantera counters to land a springboard arm drag. Kodama sent out and Pantera uses the referee as a launching pad for a tope. Back inside, facebuster gets Kodama a nearfall.
Jiro in and working the grinding offense. Standing corkscrew moonsault gets a nearfall and Kodama returns to continue the grinding offense on Pantera. Rear chinlock applied and Pantera fights up, only to be hit with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Pantera finally breaks away and makes the tag to Wu. Wu in like a house of fire and hits a dropkick for a nearfall. Double-team offense from Wu and Pantera on Kodama. Jiro tossed outside and dropkicked to the floor. Wu takes him out. 450 Splash is rolled under by Kodama and he lands a Superkick that nearly wins it. All four now in the ring and Jiro and Wu spill outside while Kodama hits a corkscrew moonsault.
Winners by pinfall: Jiro Kuroshio & Yusuke Kodama
Rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
TNA Hall of Fame Induction ceremony of Team 3D highlighted.
Bully Ray with a microphone before the match. Bully speaks to the fans and shakes Tommy Dreamer’s hand. Abyss refuses a handshake.
Hardcore Match Six: Tommy Dreamer & Abyss vs. Team 3D
Tommy Dreamer and Devon start out with chain wrestling and grapple to a stalemate. Abyss tags himself in and calls for Bully Ray to tag in. Devon obliges him and the two exchange punches. Abyss runs into a uranage slam and pops back up to hit a chokeslam. Bully pops right up and the two run into each other with clotheslines. Slam for Abyss lands, but a splash misses. Devon tags in and Abyss sent outside. Dreamer steps in and landing strikes. Double-team lands on Dreamer.
Abyss brought back in. Devon landing shots on Abyss and Abyss sent back out as Team 3D lands Whassup? on Dreamer. Bully calls for tables from Devon and he obliges Bully. Abyss in and knocks Team 3D down with clotheslines. Dreamer brawling with Bully and he spits beer in the face of Devon. Abyss takes the bell to the side of the head of Bully. Bully comes back with a chair to the back as Devon and Dreamer fight through the crowd. Bully with the bell to the family jewels of Abyss.
Weapons being tossed into the ring by Team 3D. Dreamer with a kendo stick and Bully with the same as Abyss and Devon share chairs. Dueling weapons won by Team 3D, but Dreamer with a DDT on the kendo stick and Abyss with a chokeslam on the chair for a nearfall. Trashcan in the corner and Dreamer sent into it. Black Hole Slam from Abyss nearly finishes Bully. Chair punched into the face of Devon and Abyss working with the chair. Devon with the chair to the groin and a spinebuster for a nearfall.
Abyss laid across the table and Dreamer saves his partner. Dreamer goes up to superplex Devon and gets hit with a trashcan lid from behind by Bully. Dreamer powerbombed through the table. Abyss moves outside and brings in the thumbtacks. Chokeslam attempts for Team 3D are countered as they hit snake eyes on Abyss into the thumbtacks. Dreamer in with the kendo stick and he gets receives a 3D on the thumbtacks.
Winners by pinfall: Team 3D
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Post-match, Bully Ray with the microphone. Bully wants to thank all the fan in attendance and watching worldwide. Bully says himself and Devon were able to be inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame because of wrestling fans and they are thankful to be able to do what they do. Bully says Tokyo is their favorite place to wrestle in the world and he again thanks the fans. Devon closes with a “TESTIFY!”
Velvet Sky talks about this being her first time in Japan and her match tonight against TNA Knockouts Champion Havok.
Video package highlights Havok.
Match Seven for the TNA Knockouts Championship: Havok (c) vs. Velvet Sky
Velvet Sky running away from Havok and using her speed to land strikes. Double sledges land from each corner and a crossbody from Sky is caught by Havok. Backbreaker puts Sky down. Havok choking Sky on the ropes and grinding her down. Sky worked in the corner and Havok with another backbreaker across the knee. Havok stretching Sky across her knee as she works the back. Sky fighting back and dropped by Havok.
Bear hug submission applied by Havok. Slam from Havok as she drags Sky across the ring by her hair. Leg drop from the corner misses for Havok and Sky attempts to capitalize with strikes. Havok with a back elbow and Sky comes back with tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Crossbody from the top gets Sky a pin attempt. Double sledge from the top caught and Sky caught in a bear hug again.
Winner by submission and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Havok
Rating: .75 out of 5 stars
“Cowboy” James Storm talks about Japan being a chance for revitalization and salvation and his revolution.
Video package recaps the revolution of Sanada and Manik with James Storm.
James Storm with the microphone. Storm introduces himself as a legend and says that he turned a boy that lost his way against his mentor, The Great Muta. Storm made him into a man and made him great, introducing The Great Sanada.
Match Eight: “Cowboy” James Storm & The Great Sanada vs. The Great Muta & Tajiri
The Great Muta and Tajiri spit mist in the air to start. The Great Muta starts out with The Great Sanada. Exchange of holds and positions between the former mentor and protege. Tajiri and James Storm in. Storm and Tajiri exchanging strikes and Tajiri grabs the beard of Storm. Tajiri swept to the mat and Sanada in. Sanada grinding Tajiri down until Tajiri hits a handspring kick as Sanada is on the apron.
Action moves outside and Sanada and Tajiri move under the ring. Tajiri comes out with blue mist on his face and Storm claps his hands for a false tag as he works Tajiri into the mat. Sanada and Storm working Tajiri down with double-team offense. Standing moonsault misses for Sanada, but the dropkick followup doesn’t and Sanads with a nearfall. Submission from Sanada fought out of by Tajiri and Storm blindsides Tajiri. The referee distracted by Storm as Sanada hits Tajiri with a foreign object for a nearfall.
Springboard back elbow from Tajiri. Muta in and Sanada hit with a dragon screw. Action spills outside and Muta sends Sanada into the barricade. Chair to the head lands for Muta and camera cables being used to choke Sanada. Back inside, Muta with an elbow drop for a nearfall. Storm with Closing Time on Muta and an elbow drop from the top. Moonsault from Sanada lands for a nearfall that is broken by Tajiri.
Muta sent out by Storm and Tajiri sends him out. The referee is knocked down and mist from both Tajiri and Sanada miss. Sanada goes up top and gets misted by both Tajiri and Muta. Buzzsaw Kick connects for Tajiri and a Shining Wizard lands for The Great Muta on his former protege.
Winners by pinfall: The Great Muta & Tajiri
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Post-match, Manik brought to the ring by James Storm and The Great Muta beat down and choked with the bull rope by Storm. Team 3D come out to make the save. Mist to the face of Storm is followed by a 3D.
Comments: While this show was an admirable change of pace on paper,.it was very bare bones. From the atmosphere in the Korakuen Hall to the matches themselves, everything was totally inoffensive. The show was not bad by any means, but by the same token, it didn’t have any particular special moments to set it apart. While the show was at least entertaining, it is hurt by the fact that this is supposed to be the biggest show in TNA. Overall, this was an average show that was hurt by the magnitude of the name slapped on it.
Overall Rating: 2.25 out of 5 stars
Nolan Howell can be reached at nth993@gmail.com for any questions or comments.
