Bound For Glory 2025: This Close

Bound For Glory 2025
Date: October 12, 2025
Location: Tsongas Center, Lowell, Massachusetts
Commentators: Tom Hannifan, Matthew Rehwoldt

It’s the biggest night of the year and in this case we have some more guest stars. For the first time ever, Bound For Glory is featuring a bunch of names from NXT, some of whom are reigning champions coming into the show. That includes the Knockouts and World Titles, both of which TNA is trying to regain. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Elegance Brand vs. IInspiration

The Brand is challenging and jump the champs during their entrance. Lee gets sent into the corner for some shoulders to the ribs and Heather shoulders away in the corner. M’s Coast To Coast gets two as commentary runs through the Bound For Glory card. A top rope double stomp gets two with McKay making the save. Lee fights back and McKay gets the tag to clean house but M’s pump kick gets two. Heather gets sent outside though and the Idolizer retains the titles at 4:59.

Rating: C. Good example of how to do a Kickoff Show match, as they got in, did their thing, and got back out before anything went too badly. They didn’t need to make it more complicated than that and it’s nice to see the titles retained. The IInspiration only won them back recently so let them get a win and be more established as champions.

The opening video talks about the history of legends in Boston, including a look at some TNA wrestlers from the city (like Eddie Edwards). Now it’s time for some new legends to rise up. We look at some of the bigger matches on the card, as tends to be the case in such a video.

National Anthem.

International Title: Steve Maclin vs. Frankie Kazarian

Maclin is challenging after losing the title to Kazarian not very long ago. We start fast with Maclin suicide diving onto Kazarian to take over before the bell. They get inside for said bell, where Kazarian hits a slingshot Fameasser, followed by a sunset bomb out to the floor. Kazarian goes after Maclin’s mom, who flips him off (BIG pop there), allowing Maclin to jump him from behind.

An Angle Slam hits Kazarian back inside and Maclin grabs his own chickenwing. That’s reversed into a rollup for two so Maclin switches to a Boston crab. Kazarian gets out and hits a Pele Kick into Angel’s Wings. Kazarian’s slingshot cutter gets two more but he misses a spear in the corner. Maclin doesn’t miss, followed by the KIA to get the title back at 8:01.

Rating: C+. Well that’s more than a bit surprising. I’m not sure I get the idea of putting the title back on Maclin so soon, but at least he got a nice win to start the show. Hopefully this doesn’t mean something like Kazarian getting the Call Your Shot win, though it would be quite the stretch to put him there in back to back years. Either way, nice stuff here, as Maclin continues to look strong.

We run down the rest of the card.

Trick Williams wants to know why he isn’t being thanked for everything he’s done around here. Yeah he wears the TNA Title upside down because he’s turned TNA upside down. He’s the champion because he’s best for business.

We recap Tessa Blanchard vs. Gia Miller. Blanchard was a jerk to Miller (a backstage interviewer), who wanted to be just like Blanchard, which Miller doesn’t seem to find accurate. She attacked Miller as well but now Miller is ready to fight back.

Tessa Blanchard vs. Gia Miller

Blanchard has Victoria Crawford and Miller has Jody Threat with her. Blanchard lets her grab a headlock to start and is out of it just as fast. Miller’s rollup gets a fast two but she gets sent throat first into the rope. Some choking on the floor has Miller in more trouble and Blanchard beats her up in front of Miller’s family. Back in and a superkick drops Miller again and Crawford chokes in the corner.

That’s enough for an ejection but first Threat flip dives onto Crawford, security, and Blanchard. Threat chases Crawford to the back and Miller gets in a Thesz press, followed by a spinning middle rope crossbody. Granted it hit Blanchard’s feed but at least Miller is trying. Blanchard isn’t having that and takes turnbuckle pad off, allowing her to press Miller’s head into the buckle. A headbutt staggers Blanchard, who comes right back with a roll of quarters to knock Miller silly for the pin at 6:17.

Rating: D. I didn’t get why this was on the pay per view and the match didn’t make it any better. Miller got in a tiny bit of offense at best and then gets knocked out to give Blanchard the win. This never felt like it belonged on the card and I’m rather worried if this is the best they have for Blanchard. Yeah she has issues, but if this it as good as she can get, let her go elsewhere.

We look at Lei Ying Lee and Mance Warner earning the first and last spots in the Call Your Shot gauntlet match.

Call Your Shot Gauntlet

20 person Royal Rumble, two minutes for the first two entrants then sixty seconds each, over the top eliminations, last two people have a regular singles match for a Money In The Bank style shot at any title. Lei Ying Lee is in at #1 and Mara Sade is in at #2. Sade knocks her down to start and dances a bit but Lee gets in a kick to the ribs. A Hennig necksnap has Sade in more trouble until Ryan Nemeth is in at #3.

The women chase him around and knock him into the corner for some stomping. Nic Nemeth is in at #4 (to quite the pop) with Sade dropping him with a superkick. Ryan has to save Nic, who clotheslines Sade and Lee at the same time. Cedric Alexander is in at #5 to go after the Nemeths until Rich Swann is in at #6. Swann takes Alexander down and knees him in the face as AJ Francis is in at #7.

Sade and Lee are both tossed, followed by Francis chokeslamming Swann and eliminating him as well. The former Northern Armory comes out and flips a coin, so it’s Travis Williams in at #8. A suplex takes Ryan down and it’s wrestling YouTuber BDE in at #9. BDE escapes a chokeslam and Stunners Francis to a big reaction. The Rascalz (all three of them) are in at #10 and team up with BDE to get rid of Francis. Dani Luna is in at #11 to clean house with some suplexes. Williams gives Luna a running knee and it’s Eric Young in at #12. Williams knocks Young down as well, only to get pulled to the apron, where Young piledrives him out.

Jake Something is in at #13 and runs some people over before he and Luna give the Rascalz stereo powerbombs. Young knocks BDE out and Rosemary is in at #14. Miguel and Alexander are both out and the Hometown Man is in at #15. Rosemary mists Something by mistake and he’s gone as Zack Clayton is in at #16. Luna tosses Rosemary but gets eliminated by the Man, with the fans approving.

Jody Threat is in at #17 but cue Frankie Kazarian to jump her and take her place, which apparently you can just do. Santino Marella comes out to glare…and he’s in at #18. The Cobra knocks Kazarian silly and Marella is knocked out almost immediately in a Royal Rumble flashback. Matt Cardona is in at #19 to get rid of Clayton but gets jumped by the Nemeths.

Mance Warner is in at #20 as the Rascalz are eliminated. Warner, with a zombie motif, grabs a chair and starts to clean house. Cardona breaks that up, leaving Young and Man to tease eliminations. Young low blows Man out but gets eliminated by Cardona. Warner is gone as well and the Nemeths go after Cardona, who knocks them both out of the corner. Nic kicks Ryan out by mistake but Warner is back to get rid of Cardona.

Kazarian and Nic are the last two so it’s a singles match for the title shot. The referee gets bumped so Kazarian’s rollup doesn’t get a count. Nic’s superkick gets a delayed near fall from a second referee so they go up top. A superplex brings them both back down and it’s a double pin (with double referees) at 30:51.

Rating: D+. That’s definitely a Call Your Shot Gauntlet, in that it was way longer than it needed to be, with pretty much nothing in the way of a good surprise, involved. It comes off as a “get everyone on the show” match, but dang it would be better if they cut it in half (at the longest) and just had a battle royal. Either that or make it all goofy fun, because this stuff is getting rather tedious over the years. Oh and yay for screwy finishes on top of that.

Post match Marella announces that there are two winners and gets booed out of the building.

We look at the NXT women beating the TNA women at Showdown.

We recap Kelani Jordan defending the Knockouts Title against Indi Hartwell. A few weeks back, Hartwell became the #1 contender but then Ash By Elegance had to step away from the ring, leaving NXT’s Jordan to step up and win the title.

Knockouts Title: Kelani Jordan vs. Indi Hartwell

Jordan is defending and grabs a headlock before sweeping the leg for two. A backslide gives Jordan two and they get up for a standoff. Jordan dropkicks her down but misses a big kick to the head, leaving Hartwell down for a breather. Hartwell gets sent into the corner for a springboard spinning legdrop to give Jordan two. Back up and Jordan cuts a springboard out of the air for a spinebuster.

We hit a chinlock with double knees in the back but Jordan elbows her way out quickly enough. They slug it out until Jordan cartwheels into a back elbow to drop Hartwell again. The splits Stunner lets Jordan grab a half Liontamer to work on Hartwell’s back for a change. That’s escaped and, eventually, Hartwell muscles her up for a sitout powerbomb.

Jordan kicks her in the head and drops a frog splash for two. Hartwell manages to trip her on the apron, followed by a running big boot. Back in and they trade rollups until the Hurts Donut gives Hartwell two more. Jordan avoids a top rope elbow and kicks her in the head, setting up One Of A Kind to retain at 12:32.

Rating: B-. Well ok then. That was quite the surprise, as it seemed like this was the time for Hartwell to get the big win and rescue the title from the (rather nice) outsider. I’m not sure where that leaves Hartwell, or the title, but it certainly seems that we’re going to be seeing NXT around here for a good bit longer.

Post match respect is shown.

The Nemeths have the Call Your Shot Gauntlet trophy but Kazarian comes in to say it belongs to him. Arguing ensues.

We recap The System vs. Order 4. They’ve been fighting for months and now it’s time to have a Hardcore War to blow the whole thing off.

The System vs. Order 4

The System: Moose, Alisha Edwards, Eddie Edwards, JDC, Brian Myers
Order 4: Mustafa Ali, Tasha Steelz, Agent Zero, Jason Hotch, John Skyler

Hardcore War, with two wrestlers starting for two minutes. Then Order 4 gets to send in its second entrant for a one minute advantage. They can all bring in a weapon of choice and the match can’t end until all ten are in, when it’s first pinfall or submission. Jason Hotch and Eddie Edwards start things off, with the latter being accompanied by the Boston Red Sox mascot. Some hip swiveling (I think) distracts Hotch so Eddie can hit a big dive to get us going.

Back in and a triangle dropkick puts Eddie on the floor, where he comes back with a trashcan lid to the head. Skyler comes in to save Hotch in the corner and it’s the Favor onto a chair. That lets Skyler and Hotch pose until JDC comes in to even things up. JDC’s big dive to the floor takes them out and it’s time to scrape Skyler’s head with a cheese grater. Steelz, in a New York Yankees jersey, makes the save and the beatings continue.

Alisha comes in to cut Steelz off with the System getting to use a staple gun. Zero comes in to make it 4-3 and tosses the steps at Eddie’s head. Myers is in with a trashcan lid, which gets taken away so Zero can wreck things. Ali completes the Order and a top rope double stomp drives a chair into Eddie’s back. Moose is in to complete the System and clears the ring rather quickly. Zero and Moose slug it out, with Moose dropkicking a chair into his face. Moose is sent outside so Zero hits a big dive onto the pile. Alisha brings in a bag of tacks (sigh) but Zero is back in.

A chokebomb puts Alisha into the tacks so Eddie comes in, only to get taken out as well. Myers and JDC swing kendo sticks at Zero, who shrugs them off, only for Moose to come back in with the spear. Another, with a chain wrapped around his shoulder, drops Zero again but Moose bangs up his own shoulder. Myers and JDC dive onto the Great Hands, leaving Ali to pour more tacks onto Alisha. A 450 only hits tacks though and Eddie is back in with a barbed wire Boston Knee Party to pin Ali at 20:07.

Rating: B. This started slow but did get better near the end. They could have done more with the weapons and I could go with never seeing tacks in a match again, though that 450 did look good. Zero looked like a monster in there and while I’m surprised that the System won, and almost even more by Ali taking the fall, I liked this more than I was expecting.

We recap Leon Slater defending the X-Division Title against Je’Von Evans. Slater is the new, big star who has been trying to prove himself. Evans is here from NXT and it’s time for the big showdown, which has the potential to steal the show.

X-Division Title: Leon Slater vs. Je’Von Evans

Slater is defending. They stare each other down to start and the fans are rather approving. They finally lock up with Slater taking him down and offering some polite applause. Evans takes him into the corner for a quick staredown before a springboard rollup gets two. Evans can’t get a standing moonsault so Slater small packages him for two more. A running shoulder puts Slater on the floor for a quick suicide dive, only for Slater to come back with a crossover.

Slater chops away but gets caught with a springboard clothesline for two. Evans gets kicked down and a handspring elbow knocks him down again. Slater’s slingshot cutter gets two and they head out to the apron, where Evans is back up with a kick to the head. Another slingshot cutter is countered into a DDT to drop Slater and Evans’ OG Cutter onto the apron knocks Slater silly.

Back in and Evans hits a heck of a frog splash, followed by a heck of a frog splash for two more. Slater is back up with a running side kick, only to get caught with a hurricanrana for another near fall. Slater manages to neckbreaker a springboard out of the air for two of his own and the fans are rather approving. Evans hits another OG Cutter for another rather near fall and they both go up top.

They crash down to the floor before Evans knocks him into the crowd. Naturally Slater is right there with a dive…and it’s a time limit draw at 20:00 (20:06 but close enough). Hold on though as the fans are VERY unhappy until Santino Marella comes in to say five more minutes. The bell rings and Evens kicks him down for two but Slater is back with Utopia. That means the big running flip dive over the post can connect, only for Evans to come back with a Spanish Fly. Then the lights go out and Darkstate is here to jump them both for the no contest at 23:42.

Rating: B. Oh sweet goodness they managed to tick the fans off TWICE. This started slow but got better as the match went on. At the same time though, it’s not a great look to have TNA now at 0-1-1 against NXT at the biggest show of the year. The good thing is that these two started going nuts near the end with the reactions to the near falls being outstanding. If they were able to build to one of them winning or something other than a time limit draw, or then the interference after the false hope, it would have been even better. But then NXT might not have stood tall over TNA and…well NXT, but it’s been a weird night.

Post match the big beatdown is on and Darkstate stands tall, with the fans again not being happy.

Here is Chris Bey to announce the new North American attendance record: 7,794. He sends us to our next recap.

We recap the Hardys defending the TNA/NXT Tag Team Titles against Team 3D. They’ve fought on and off for twenty five years so we’re doing it one more time with one more tables match. In other words, it’s time for a big legends/nostalgia match which is arguably the show’s main event.

TNA/NXT Tag Team Titles: Hardys vs. Team 3D

The Hardys are defending in a tables match, with both members having to go through for the win. Spike Dudley even shows up as a bonus. After a rather long staredown, Jeff’s charge misses and he’s sent outside, leaving Matt to charge into a 3D. Jeff fights back but misses a Whisper In The Wind and What’s Up makes it worse.

The tables are brought in and it’s a 3D to put Jeff through one of them. Another table is loaded up but Matt grabs a Twist Of Fate to D-Von on the floor. Matt’s running elbow only hits table, which doesn’t count as he wasn’t put through it by the other team. Back in and Ray is sent into (not through) a table in the corner, leaving D-Von to put Jeff on a table.

D-Von takes too long to climb a ladder, with Matt making a save. Jeff does the Swanton for the big flashback and we look at it about five times. The Hardys beat on Ray with chairs and it’s a Twist Of Fate into a Swanton. Ray gets up, they stare at each other, and it’s a double spinebuster to put Ray through the table and retain the titles at 15:56.

Rating: C+. I liked the story well enough and the match could have been FAR worse, but I wasn’t interested in seeing this before and that was the case again. Between the fans chanting for ECW at the beginning and this being a call back to a WWF match from twenty five years ago, it certainly didn’t come off as something involving TNA. It’s cool enough that they got to do it again, but dang it doesn’t exactly make the current tag division look great.

Post match we get the big staredown of EXTREME respect before Team 3D takes off their boots and hand them to the Hardys. Another big hug wraps it up. Well eventually, as the posing goes on for a good while.

Genesis is in Dallas in January.

We recap Trick Williams defending the NXT Title against Mike Santana. Williams, an NXT star, is holding the title behind enemy lines so it’s time for Santana to step up and take it. Santana is the hottest star in TNA and has been for a long time now, so this has felt like the logical conclusion for a long time. That’s not a bad thing either, as it’s the best way to go. Assuming nothing insane happens here.

TNA World Title: Trick Williams vs. Mike Santana

Santana is challenging. Williams promises a beating and does his own Big Match Intro. That earns him a kick to the face and the fight is on, with Williams getting chopped up against the barricade before the bell even rings. They go out into the crowd, where Santana blocks a trashcan shot and hits Williams with it instead. Santana is sent back to ringside, where he drops Williams onto the apron.

A belt shot knocks Santana down though and we get the opening bell. Williams hits the Trick Kick for two and grabs a neckbreaker before shoving him in the face. They head outside, with Santana being catapulted into the post to bust him open. Williams backdrops him onto the steps, followed by a side kick for two. A front facelock of all things doesn’t last long for Williams and Santana manages a Death Valley Driver into the corner.

A fireman’s carry faceplant and a Cannonball give Santana two but Williams slams him onto the apron. Williams makes the mistake of yelling at Santana’s daughter though and Santana dives onto him, followed by a powerbomb for two. The 450 hits Williams for two more and it’s time to argue with Williams’ lawyer.

The distraction lets Williams come back with a release Rock Bottom and a super Rock Bottom gets two. A quick Spin The Block gives Santana two of his own, followed by Williams hitting the Trick Shot for two of his own. Santana looks over at his daughter and it’s a clothesline into Spin The Block to make Santana the champion at 16:12.

Rating: B. This was a main event style match and what matters most is that it ended with Santana winning. There were no shenanigans as Santana overcame the odds to win the title. That’s how a major pay per view should end as a new champion is crowned. Santana has more than earned this and Williams got a lot out of being the invading champion. Good main event and it was nice to see them not go nutty with the booking.

Post match here is Nic Nemeth with the Call Your Shot trophy….but Elijah returns and guitars him down. Kazarian tries to cash in as well but gets dropped with Spin The Block. Santana is presented the belt, which he hands to his daughter in a great moment. A Puerto Rican flag is brought in (as the building is rapidly emptying out as he celebrates) and Santana poses to end the show. There was zero need to have the cash-in attempt(s) and the return here. Stop overthinking this and just let it end as it should.

Overall Rating: C+. They got the big moment at the end and, after the goofy cash in teases (BECAUSE EVERY PROMOTION HAS TO HAVE THAT STUPID STUFF THESE DAYS), the feel great moment to wrap up the show. Unfortunately, there are not many other things to be overly positive about here, between the double Call Your Shot winner, the stupid ending to the X-Division Title match and a Tag Team Title match that was first done almost twenty six years ago.

There were some good matches in there, but my goodness they need to stop making these things way too complicated. At least the ending was right, but they got really close to screwing this show up with some of their ideas. That has been a TNA problem for a long time now and it’s absolutely continuing.

Results
IInspiration b. Elegance Brand – Idolizer to M
Steve Maclin b. Frankie Kazarian – KIA
Tessa Blanchard b. Gia Miller – Punch with a roll of quarters
Nic Nemeth and Frankie Kazarian won the Call Your Shot Gauntlet
Kelani Jordan b. Indi Hartwell – One Of A Kind
The System b. Order 4 – Barbed wire Boston Knee Party to Ali
Leon Slater vs. Je’Von Evans went to a no contest when Darkstate interfered
Hardys b. Team 3D – Double spinebuster to Ray through a table
Mike Santana b. Trick Williams – Spin The Block

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6