Tonight could very well be the biggest show in TNA history. It could also end up being one of the biggest clustermesses in TNA history (and that's saying something). Either way, the show could have some pretty big implications for the future of the company. Read on for how I'd book it.
First off, it should be said that I think TNA's in quite a mess right now creatively. There are plenty of stop-start pushes, stars around for a good part due to their name value, wrestlers barely (if ever) being used, feuds that never seem to end, etc.. There's no way to remedy all of that in one night. In fact, things might very well have to get worse in some places before they can get better. The end goal is to determine who should really be in the company and who's taking up space and money. The older stars need to help elevate the younger wrestlers and teach them some tricks to be more successful when it's "just them" in the company. So on and so forth. I'll explain more as I go.
The first match will be on the pre-show: Mexican America defends the Tag Team Titles against Ink, Inc.. The division right now is to some degree in shambles. Other than Beer Money, who may or may not be splitting, the only other tag teams I can think of are the British Invasion and Devon/D'Angelo Dinero. The Brits are particularly directionless right now. We don't really have much of a reason to cheer them. Anyway, point being, we need something fresh in the division. That starts here. Ink, Inc. wins when Sarita distracts the referee, leading to interference by Rosita being blocked by (whatever name they're giving the new Knockout). Hernandez gets distracted by this chaos and takes a Mooregasm for the loss. The feud continues, with a new dimension to it thanks to the title switch and new Knockout.
The X-Division continues to be the Land of Misfit Toys, filled with unused wrestlers and people with crazy gimmicks (some have both). In this match, Kendrick tries all of his goofy... whatever it is he does... but loses to the more serious Aries because this is a serious fight. Next up, Aries accepts challenges from the X-Division wrestlers who aren't being used on his quest to save us from this... thing called the X-Division. This is designed to show us whether some of the new signees (and other "in limbo" performers from the division) can cut it, or if they were just hired to please the indie/internet fanbase. Think of it as an extended tryout. Once (main event booking spoilers) Dixie Carter takes back control of the company, there could be "budget cuts" to even out the excesses of the previous/current administration. Everyone has to step up and prove they belong, etc..
On to the Knockouts division. Lo and behold, another place that could use some remodeling (though not as badly as the two divisions I've already addressed). Long story short, Mickie James as the division's top babyface is getting pretty old with me. Time for some changes, and yes, it's another crazy finish (get used to them tonight. Major surgeries leave scars and stitches, and that's what TNA seems to need right now). Mickie hits her finisher on Madison, but Winter pulls her off and dumps her out of the ring. Angelina keeps Velvet from breaking up Winter's cover, and Winter retains. Karen Jarrett, who has a pretty ironclad contract and can't be fired by Dixie Carter without a hefty pricetag, books Velvet vs. Madison for the #1 Contendership, pointedly ignoring Mickie since she's had so many title shots recently. This eventually leads us to Winter vs. Velvet, and Mickie eventually gets tired of being overlooked (she won't be booked in many matches while this feud is going on, with Karen making up that Mickie's contract only allows her so many matches in a year). Mickie eventually gets into fights with Karen's friends ODB and Jackie, doing anything she can to get back in the mix. No dice. Down the line, when Velvet wins the title, Mickie will turn heel and attack her, realizing that doing this will get her featured more. She'll be fed up with Velvet getting all the attention and such as well.
That was only 3 matches!? Wow. We'll move on to a few easier ones then:
RVD and Jerry Lynn pull out all of the crazy weapons and spots they want to in the "ECW" style match of the night. They get everything they want out of it, because it's the feud ender and we're (eventually) moving on to more current things. RVD wins, Lynn accepts the loss (since he pulled out everything he could think of), and it's over. Lynn goes back to whatever he was doing before his comeback.
Mr. Anderson beats Bully Ray. I'm not crazy about Anderson, but the win means more for him than for Ray and we can move on from this feud as well. Bully Ray faces RVD in his next feud. Ray in particular is doing good work lately, and as much as they're probably paying RVD they should do something useful and somewhat fresh with him.
Matt Morgan wins the triple threat by DQ when Joe goes crazy on his leg with a chair. Anderson feuds with Morgan for "complaining" about his injury (since Anderson didn't complain about his concussion). Joe feuds with Crimson, who he claims he could have easily done the same thing to as he did to Morgan.
Styles beats Daniels. Another case of them pulling out everything they want to pull out, because it's time for this one to end, too. There's really no ground left to cover here.
Near the beginning of the show (maybe the pre-show?), Kurt Angle cuts a promo on Beer Money. Basically saying that if it wasn't for him, no one would know who they are and so on. He also insinuates that if Roode wants to be successful, he should split from Storm (who's "holding him back" and the like). This gets Storm riled up, and Roode tries to calm him down. Roode puts up a good fight in the match, but the veteran instincts of Angle give him the edge. Storm eventually comes to ringside (since Roode's not in the back to convince him otherwise) and tries to get his partner to use a chair to get the win. Roode tries to get him to go to the back so he doesn't get DQ'd in his big opportunity, and falls victim to the crafty Angle's roll-up (grabbing Roode's tights for leverage). Roode and Storm are bewildered, and have words over what went down. Angle smirks as he leaves with the title. Next month, we get Angle vs. Roode vs. Storm vs. Sting.
Sting beats Hogan with the Scorpion Deathlock after however many run-ins they need to save that one. At least Jeff Hardy, Abyss (making a face turn), Gunner, Jarrett, Kazarian, and Scott Steiner. I get the feeling they're going to need the help to distract from the physical condition of the competitors.
And that's how I'd do Bound For Glory. Is it a clustermess? You bet. But given the hands dealt by TNA and where I think they should be headed, I think it would end up justified in the long run.
I'll be back later to cover the actual show, and a news post will be up later tonight. Thanks for reading!
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