Well slap a horse and call it Gary Coleman, we’ve made it to the Go Home for Bound For Glory. The past few weeks have been…terrible television. Could it be chalked up to a truncated process because of the hurricane delaying tapings? Sure. But an excuse doesn’t suddenly make it good.

Bound For Glory on paper could be solid, Hardyz involved in a TLC style match for the tag titles, Joe Hendry possibly getting crowned since he’s as hot as he’s gonna be right now, Vikingo challenging for the X Division Championship and Jordynne Grace hopefully passing the Knockouts division to Masha Slamovich.

All of that sounds great as matches with potential excitement, quality matches and reasons to trend to Twitter/X. But I’d be lying if I said the last 5 weeks of television would’ve convinced anyone on the fence to tune into the show. Can we please get a tolerable Go Home? I just want a touch above mediocre to make me feel better about Saturday’s PLE. Please? Maybe? Asking too much?

Let’s find out.

.@Santana_Proud shares his story and takes a shot at @TheMooseNation from the Lower East Side of New York City, Santana's streets.

Watch #TNAiMPACT now on TNA+: https://t.co/BD2puWefaK pic.twitter.com/D3v3fIItem

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) October 25, 2024

Ratings:

• Call Your Shot Gauntlet #20 & #1 Match: Kaz vs Sami Callihan vs Jake Something vs Laredo Kid vs Jason Hotch vs AJ Francis: AJ #20, Kaz #1 – ***
• Josh Alexander w/Northern Armoury vs Jonathan Gresham: Josh wins via C4 Spike – ** 3/4
• Wendy Choo w/Rosemary vs Jody Threat: Wendy wins via pinfall – ** 1/2
• ABC & The Hardyz vs The System w/Alisha Edwards: ABC wins via 1-2-Sweet – ** 1/2

Results:

Call Your Shot Gauntlet #20 & #1 Match: Kaz vs Sami Callihan vs Jake Something vs Laredo Kid vs Jason Hotch vs AJ Francis

Kaz tries to do his normal “yell at Jade to be called the King” but Laredo Kid attacks him and the match starts off fast. Jake cleans house, AJ then dumps out Jake and starts dominating, even teasing a potential Dive since we all know he sucks at those. Sami clocks AJ when he’s posturing, Hotch takes out Sami and then dives on the pile, Sami gets back up and goes for his own dive but Jake Thesz Press intercepts. Laredo Kid tries to Crossbody Jake, but Jake clocks him out of the sky and then Jake dives into the pile. Sami tries again, but Laredo cuts him off with a Superkick, Sami catches the kick and Powerbombs Laredo into the pile. Sami really wants to do a Dive but no one is letting him, so Sami tries AGAIN, but AJ cuts him off with a Big Boot, then Jake goes after AJ, Hotch realizes that AJ is the biggest problem so Hotch Superkicks AJ and they Shield Bomb AJ Francis.

Being opportunistic, Kaz tries to steal the pinfall but AJ kicks out, Laredo gets involved and just a lot of spot spams. Hotch does get a little something rolling with a DDT on Jake whilst kicking Laredo in the face. Hotch starts feeling himself but Sami walks away to avoid a potential dodge so Hotch cuts it short and lands on the apron, Kaz pulls him in for the Slingshot Cutter for a near fall! Fade to Black attempt but Laredo Superkicks Kaz and Hotch turns it into a Destroyer. More spot spams, Cactus Driver ’97 from Sami on Kaz, AJ ambushes Sami and steals the pinfall. AJ Francis earns #20, Kaz is #1.

Next segment is the Launch Party by Elegance, where ASH and the Personal Concierge reveal the Heather Reckless makeover. She comes out looking like a Polly Pocket sized ASH, and the crowd chants “Basic White Girl”. Not a terrible make over, just really looks like a tiny ASH. Xia’s music hits and she starts by calling them fake, she brings up the Brinley Reece moment last week, tells them karma comes back around, so Brinley sneak attacks and Xia and Brinley slam their faces into bowls of champagne or something. It’s very Nickelodeon High School girl fight at Homecoming, but its not terrible and ASH’s over acting is actually wonderful. Nothing revolutionary about the segment, but at least the heels looked dumb and the cute babyface girls walk away triumphant. 

Josh Alexander w/Northern Armoury vs Jonathan Gresham

Gresham offers the handshake to open, but Josh just kicks it away. Early posturing and angling for an opening, but as expected, its fairly even. Go Behinds, Hip Tosses, Arm Winger escapes, etc. Josh grabs an Arm Wringer again and won’t let go. Gresham tries a few World of Sport escape attempts, but to no avail, tries to block Josh’s torque with his free arm, but Josh finds a unique way to twist, tries a Monkey Flip break, but Josh refuses to break. Gresham gets a little playful, goes to the ground, Josh yanks him up and Gresham launches to his shoulders, Electric Chair head scissors escape, but Josh gets annoyed at Gresham showing him up, so a Backbreaker into a slam into the post once they’re on the outside, gives Josh all the control. Gresham tries to fight back here and there, but Josh stays on him and for every two or three strikes from Gresham, Josh knocks him down with one and then locks in a Bow and Arrow submission.

Gresham does a valiant job trying to break the hold, bridging through, forward rolling and twisting, but Josh won’t let it go until he just drives his knee into Gresham’s back. Josh clocks him, but Gresham Kip-Up into an Enzuigiri and then low Missile Dropkicks at Josh’s left leg. Lucha Arm Drag from Gresham sends Josh outside, three Suicidas have Josh down to a knee, and Gresham hits a fourth, but still Josh isn’t dropping. Josh moves on the fifth, Gresham expected it, turns it into a Triangle Moonsault to take out Josh and then the jabronis attack but a Body Scissors roll projection into a Cutter takes both dorks out. Josh gets back in the ring by 7, and Gresham locks in the Octopus but the jabronis distract the referee. Slingshot Moonsault stops Josh from a sneak attack, Dive takes out jabroni one, Gresham goes for another springboard but slips. Josh tries to capitalize but Gresham counters the Powerbreaker into a Cradle for two, they stand up, trade strikes and Gresham tries the Enzuigiri again, but gets caught in the Ankle Lock. Gresham tries to counter, but more jabroni distraction means Josh can pull the metal out of his knee pad and clock Gresham, C4 Spike, and Josh wins.

Maclin tries to make the save when they attack Gresham, the chair is an equalizer, until it isn’t. Josh uses the chair against him and zip ties Maclin to the ropes. Apparently security exists this week because they try to stop the assault but they’re ineffective. Sami Callihan, Cody Deaner and Ace Steele hit the ring to actually stop the beat down.

Wendy Choo w/Rosemary vs Jody Threat

Wendy starts off with creepy and off putting demon stuff. No real crazy bumps, just spooky month creepy stuff, but Jody does Whip her into a corner and start clubbing away. Wendy powders but Jody continues to throw her around, Rosemary distracts Jody and Wendy posts her and starts controlling the match. Back in the ring, Cartwheel Forearm Smash into the Charging High Face Wash. Jody tries to fight back and climb the ropes but Wendy just chucks her off the ropes, Tree of Woe into the KENTA influenced Hesitation Dropkick. Chin Lock tries to slow down Jody but Jody fights back up and a sloppy looking Flying Crossbody leaves both selling. Kick to the gut, Wristlock Pump Kick into the Double Knees to the back and German Suplex. Charging Lariat from Jody gives a near fall.

Jody goes for another German but Wendy grabs the rope, runs Jody into the corner, Jody fights her off, climbs the corner, Diving Senton connects, Jody goes for Pop-Shove-It, but Rosemary throws in the pillow to distract the referee, interferes and demons win!

ABC & The Hardyz vs The System w/Alisha Edwards

Bey and Moose start, but Ace pops in quickly to double team Moose, they dump JDC, Eddie and Myers come in, all of the members for ABCTLC hit Poetry in Motions and then Dive to the powdered System members. As is the typical bad pacing for The System, they get their asses beat for the first third of the match and then they’ll cheat their way into an advantage at some later point. But let’s cut to a commercial like a bunch of dweebs. As soon as the babyfaces get some momentum I need to see a commercial about Solar Panels and Super Beets….yup.

Back from useless commercials Jeff Hardy is legal and then The System immediately start to isolate Jeff and take over. Just basic and bad TV pacing, oh look now Moose tags in, distracts the ref and Alisha chokes Jeff while Moose then keeps him grounded and tags in Eddie. Jeff pulls off a Vertical Suplex counter, but Eddie tags in Myers quicker than Jeff can try a tag, so Myers cuts off Jeff and keeps him isolated. Jeff pulls off his vintage Jawbreaker counter to tag in Matt, and Broken Version 1 comes in, Corner Delete Face Smashes for Myers and Eddie, Side Effect for Myers…and of course only a two count. Matt tags in Bey, they pull out a little tandem offense, Bey goes to run the ropes and Alisha low bridges the middle rope and Bey falls through. Now another picture in picture break. Jesus, I guess they don’t really care about their BFG Grudge Match and tag title hype because six minutes of commercials are inane. Anthem owns AXS, you’d think they’d time commercial breaks better since they literally have ALL OF THE CONTROL. Where’s Randy Orton when I need to call someone Stupid?

We come back to a screen where you can see things and Myers suplexes Bey for a near fall. Bey tries to fight through, Myers goes to knock off all the babyfaces but only connects on the Hardyz. Ace is still up and eligible, so hot tag is made and Ace is dog walking JDC who got the other tag. Click Click Boom, Eddie comes in, eats some strikes, Moose tries to trip him on the apron, but Ace does his patented apron dodge gymnastics, Double Leg Dropkick levels Eddie and JDC, Moose slides in to break the pin, dispatches Ace, Twist of Fate from Matt takes out Moose, Roster Cut from Myers, Whisper in the Wind from Jeff does a lot of damage, 1-2-Sweet on JDC and ABCTLC win!

Post Match beatdown from The System, but Santana and his chain even the odds, him and Moose have a staredown but Alisha hits him with Kendra and Santana doesn’t flinch. Santana looks to attack Lish, but Moose attacks Santana before he can do anything to our favorite trashy Boston brat. The System stands tall, but they’ve become such a Suzuki-Gun hollow heel stable, I can’t be inclined to care. 

Even though we’re ending with a “Double Contract Signing” segment for the last 15 minutes of the show, this has still be the best show of the Bound for Glory build. They could play a game of POGs and study the bible in Latin, and this is still a superior episode to the last 5 or 6. Masha does a very basic babyface “full circle moment” promo, but she executes it fine. Jordynne rubs their personal record in Masha’s face and definitely has the vibe of more of a heel in this signing. Hendry mentions his time as a Russian lawyer on Raw to say he believed in Nic then and now people know his name and believe in…Joe Hendry. Nic cuts his retort very naturally, even starting it off with a joke and punctuating it as a clear babyface. 

With 5 minutes left, Kaz’s music interrupts after the signings are done since all four are technically faces and we need a person to go through the table. Kaz says he went to the Earl Hebner Academy for refereeing, and went over Santino’s head for the nod to be Special Guest referee. Kaz runs down everyone in the segment including Santino. So it’s almost too obvious all 5 are gonna beat his ass and put him through a table. Jordynne holds Kaz, Nic points to Hendry to hit him, Hendry points to Santino, Kaz spits in Santino’s face and Santino pulls out THE COBRA! He hits THE COBRA and the other four grab a limb and toss him through the table. Champs and Challengers do the title between them pose and the show goes off. 

Overall Score: 6.5/10

Okay I got a tolerable Go Home that wasn’t like pulling teeth. Sure, the final match was marred with commercial breaks and making The System look like a dweeb heel stable who mostly sucks and just gets their heat back after matches, but all of the matches were fine or pretty decent. Hell even the Jody Threat match was alright, and I’m not a fan of her at all, but I do like Wendy Choo…so that brought things up a little. Xia and Brinley getting revenge on the Elegance faction was corny but fine. Josh and Gresham’s match was fairly enjoyable save for the botch from Gresham and the jabronis existing. Hell even the contract signing was more entertaining than it had any right being since it was a little different.

Bound For Glory should be a good show, so here’s to hoping that continues the normal trend of TNA PPVs being must watch content. See y’all Saturday!