Impact Wrestling is hoping their current momentum will lead them to a major Bound for Glory event later in the year. The history of TNA saw Bound for Glory becoming the company’s biggest show each year, starting back in 2005. TNA hoped to make it their version of WrestleMania or Starrcade, with wrestlers wanting to main event the show as the ultimate honor.
Bound for Glory had a mixed history, with many negative and positive memories. TNA missed the mark in making it as big as the other legendary events, but it did become the company’s biggest show. The main events also had different receptions each year from fans, for the better or worse. Find out which matches stand out for each reason, with the best and worst Bound for Glory main events of all time.
10 Best: Sting Vs Jeff Jarrett (Bound For Glory 2006)
The signing of Sting made TNA a bigger hot spot for wrestling fans to give their attention in 2006. Kurt Angle joined later in the year, right before the major Bound for Glory PPV, and was the special guest referee for the main event.
Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett to win the NWA Heavyweight Championship, with Angle serving as the impartial referee. It wasn’t a five-star classic by any means, but the match was the perfect way to end a great show.
9 Worst: Rhyno Vs Jeff Jarrett (Bound For Glory 2005)
The first-ever Bound for Glory event was meant to be main evented by Kevin Nash in the face role, challenging Jeff Jarrett for the NWA Heavyweight Championship. Nash suffered an injury and was pulled from the card at the last minute.
The change saw TNA putting the title shot on the line in a gauntlet for the entire roster to compete for. Rhyno won a Monster’s Ball match earlier in the show and the gauntlet to face Jarrett. Despite the feelgood moment of Rhyno winning the title, the match only went five minutes and was a disappointing main event to start an important annual event.
8 Best: AJ Styles Vs Bully Ray (Bound For Glory 2013)
Bully Ray and AJ Styles had a heated rivalry going into the main event of Bound For Glory 2013. Styles returned to TNA after an absence, with a new look and darker vibe going against the management of Dixie Carter.
The title shot saw Styles referencing his contract ending and wanting to win the TNA title while he still had the option. Styles defeated Bully in a violent brawl to take home the TNA World Championship, to the delight of the fans.
7 Worst: The Great Muta & Tajiri Vs James Storm & The Great Sanada (Bound For Glory 2014)
TNA experimented with hosting Bound for Glory 2014 in Japan when the company started to struggle. The show gave them a rare fun week of traveling in the country that loves and appreciates pro wrestling more than most.
Unfortunately, the main event wasn’t that exciting when the team of The Great Muta and Tajiri faced off with The Great Sanada and James Storm. Muta and Tajiri were legends, but they were clearly too far past their prime to have a main event on a major event.
6 Best: AJ Styles Vs Sting (Bound For Glory 2009)
Sting became a fixture at Bound for Glory when main eventing four events in a row. Three straight wins made him the most successful wrestler in the show’s short history when challenging AJ Styles for the TNA World Championship in 2009.
TNA presented it as an attraction playing into rumors that Sting was planning to retire after the show. Styles did his best to make up for Sting having a big match that late in his career. The match was a blast, with AJ getting the huge win and Sting leaving with pride in case it was his final match. (It wasn’t.)
5 Worst: Samoa Joe Vs Sting (Bound For Glory 2008)
The worst match from Sting in his four consecutive Bound for Glory main events was the 2008 show against Samoa Joe. TNA struggled to book Joe as a strong champion after a disappointing feud with Booker T.
Sting challenged Joe for the TNA World Championship with the present vs past story. Joe ended up having his title run end in weak fashion when Kevin Nash turned on him to help Sting win. The only positive was this match was that it led to the Main Event Mafia forming.
4 Best: Jeff Hardy Vs Austin Aries (Bound For Glory 2012)
Jeff Hardy’s rock bottom moment of appearing in TNA under the influence saw him taking time off to get his life together and return with a redemption storyline. Austin Aries was the TNA World Champion when Hardy won a series to become the #1 contender.
Both wrestlers had incredible chemistry on this night with Hardy scoring the victory. TNA played out a storyline that connected and saved the big moment for the biggest show’s main event
3 Worst: Eli Drake Vs Johnny Impact (Bound For Glory 2017)
TNA was struggling in 2017 when their biggest names left, and another management change left the company in disarray. Eli Drake won the TNA World Championship when Alberto Del Rio vacated it due to a suspension.
John Morrison started to appear for TNA as a top face when the company started a working relationship with AAA and Lucha Underground. Drake won a lackluster match that showed why the company badly needed some changes, since he wasn’t viewed as a main event level star.
2 Best: Kurt Angle Vs Sting (Bound For Glory 2007)
Kurt Angle and Sting were the two biggest legends in TNA that still had something to offer in the ring at Bound for Glory 2007. TNA was at one of its best peaks of both big names and rising stars working together before they started taking bigger risks.
Sting defeated Angle in one of the best matches of his career. Angle was still in top condition as an elite in-ring worker and helped lead Sting to a successful match. The moment was great for TNA and provided some hope for strong momentum moving forward.
1 Worst: Jeff Hardy Vs Kurt Angle Vs Mr. Anderson (Bound For Glory 2010)
The Bound for Glory 2010 main event pinpointed when TNA started to jump the shark. Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson faced off for the vacated TNA World Championship with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff getting involved.
The ending saw Hardy turn heel when getting help from Hogan and Bischoff to win the title. TNA hoped this moment would mirror Hogan forming the New World Order, but it just upset fans. Things started to drastically fall apart after this horrendous idea.