Here's a match by match analysis of this card. Shown in October 2005 and recently released on DVD, this is purported to be TNA's equivalent to Wrestlemania. The matches listed here are listed not in order of appearance, but rather how good they are in context of the whole show; the best match is first, the worst match is last. Simple as that.
#1 - X Division Title: AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels (30m Ironman Match) (eighth match)
These two met in exactly these circumstances at Against All Odds 2005 and that was a really good match. This too did not disappoint. I can see the logic of having a 30min Ironman match on a three hour pay-per-view; however, my philosophy is that 30min does not an Ironman match make. It's 60min or nothing; maybe that's why they met in two 30min matches, 'cause that makes a "true" Ironman match spread out over the course of six months. Which must mean that Styles won 2 falls to 0. I also liked the emotional ending to the match, with Styles getting all mushy for the crowd's reaction. He gave the "point of mutual respect" to Daniels. Of course, Styles' reappearance in the Gauntlet later in the show kind of tarnished that lasting image.
#2 - Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Rhino vs. Sabu (Monster's Ball II) (seventh match)
They be plundering, I can almost hear Dusty Rhodes saying in the commentary in my brain. Unlike Monster's Ball I (from Victory Road 2004) where the competitors sold the disorientation of the "24 hours of no light, no food, no water" kayfabe stipulation, everyone came out looking fresh, bathed, and ready to fight. This match was sick, sick, sick. Sick bumps, sick spots, blood flowing like wine ... I have never been more impressed with Jeff Hardy than I was here. The swanton from the entryway to Abyss on the table was jump-out-the-seat impressive, and even his taking the middle rope piledriver from Rhino was pretty admirable.
#3 - Samoa Joe vs. Jushin Lyger (first match)
Oh my good god, this match was a hot opener, from Joe's Samoan dance troupe accompaniment to the streamers from appreciative fans for Lyger. Great chemistry between the two (they actually teamed together in 2004 for ROH's Weekend of Thunder night two main event). The one problem that critics have given this match is its relatively short length; granted, the ending was out of the blue, but overall it was a tight match.
#4 - NWA Tag Team Titles: America's Most Wanted vs. the Naturals (sixth match)
Gail Kim is hot, even though her vajonky goes sideways. Bwa-ha-ha. These two teams have had some very strong matches in the past, including the first ever Six Sides of Steel match that was a classic. This didn't disappoint. I never was really high on the Naturals, two Southern States born & bred fellas from what I understand. They try to execute the Death Sentence on AMW for the win here, but no such luck. Handcuffs get factored in heavily to the ending, and AMW gets the duke.
#5 - 10 Man Gauntlet Match (ninth match)
The Gauntlet is, by nature, a Royal Rumble style battle royal, except the last two competitors will face off against each other in a standard pinfalls/submissions match. In context of battle royals, I'd actually rank this match higher than the 2006 Royal Rumble. I think the secret to making battle royals a step above a bunch of guys just pretending to push a guy over the top, while actually hanging on to them so that they'll be eliminated in the proper order, is to have interesting segments that interrupt the usual proceedings and create reference points. Examples here include Ron Killings mocking Samoa Joe's dancing intro earlier in the show; the Samoa Joe and Abyss standoff; Kip James tries to save Ron Killings from elimination to further the 3LK storyline; the battered competitors from Monster's Ball striding triumphantly to the ring, to cheers from the crowd; Monty Brown accidentally eliminates himself from competition by eliminating Jeff Hardy.
Order of entry: Sabu - Lance Hoyt - Abyss - Jeff Hardy - Monty Brown - Rhino - Kip James - AJ Styles
Order of elimination: Jeff Hardy/Monty Brown (elim. each other) - Hoyt (by Rhino) - Sabu (by Joe & Rhino) - James (by Abyss) - Killings (by Styles, after James saved him twice) - Syles/Joe (by Abyss) - Abyss (by Rhino)
The match created some speculation of what certain matches would be like with several of the competitors:
Samoa Joe vs. Sabu
Rhino vs. Monty Brown
AJ Styles vs. Ron Killings
Jeff Hardy vs. Sabu
Kip James vs. Lance Hoyt (would probably make a good opening match or midcard palate cleanser)
Rhino wins this one by an over-the-top elimination of Abyss, foregoing that pesky stipulation that the last two have a regular match, one fall to a finish.
#6 - NWA World Title: Rhino vs. Jeff Jarrett (tenth match)
This had a Funk vs. Raven at Barely Legal 1996 vibe to it; it followed a strong set-up match, then the fresh champ comes out ready to kill his opponent. Rhino brought up the best of his ECW memories throughout the duration of this show, but this match made him, in my eyes, a more credible champion than he ever was in ECW. It's one thing to be that dominant Goldbergian type, but Rhino at his weakest still displayed that underdog, never lay down spirit that made the likes of Hulk Hogan a superstar. This ushered in the TNA era of Rhino, which ... ahem, lasted approximately two weeks, when Jarrett got his title back.
#7 - Monty Brown vs. Lance Hoyt (third match)
Even though these guys can come off as green as the newly-mowed grass, they gelled surprisingly well. Hoyt and his tramp stamp tatoo takes the offense to Brown early, but Brown and his charisma prove to be too much for Hoyt. The fans love them some Lance Hoyt though. Brown brings some heavy duty offense, and I keep thinking of the FSN-era Impacts where Brown adopted a Taz-circa-1996 style to his offense. Hoyt counters the first pounce attempt with a HUGE boot, which sets up a moonsault for two, and a 6-9 guy nailing a moonsault if one of the reasons I love the wreslting. This was a nice palate cleanser following the Diamonds vs. SiApolark Boy. Pounce ends the business betwixt Brown & Hoyt.
#8 - Matt Bentley vs. Chris Sabin vs. Petey Williams (Ultimate X) (fifth match)
You can say whatever you want about Petey Williams, but the Canadian Destroyer is just great looking, and the tree of woe/stand on the crotch/"Oh Canada" spot is funktastic. Shame Matt Bentley is in this, 'cause wow, does he suck; it's clear that Uncle Shawn got all the talent in that family. Sabin & Williams can bring the great (see "Turning Point 2004" for proof). Sabin's run-up enziguiri/DDT combo is a very nice sequence. Oh shit, Sabin powerbombs Bentley from the cables! He's dead. The Ultimate X matches are usually either really good, or really bad and ... what the fuck?! The Big Red X (the goal of the match) falls off the cables and lands in the ring. That's kinda funny, but it also clearly exposes one of the bugs of this style of match. But at least the wrestlers improvise pretty well to keep the match from being terribly hurt by the botch, and it gives the fans a chance to come up with another little cutesy chant. They're back on and ... holy shit, it falls again, right into the hands of Petey Williams. And Petey's reaction is perfect. But shit, is Matt Bentley pissed, throwing a tantrum after the match. Wow, like uncle, like nephew. Note: TNA threw a rematch of this bout on their prime time Impact special; that match is also included in this DVD.
#9 - 3 Live Kru (Konnan/Killings/James) vs. Team Canada (Young/Roode/A1) (fourth match)
Whew, this match is bowling shoe ugly! Any tandem of Team Canada that includes A1 and leaves out Petey Williams is most unfortunate. Johnny Devine needs to get back in the Canadian fold immediately. The fans are just so damn smart tonight, foregoing the usual "USA" chants for actually singing the National Anthem. A1 has some serious backne and looks like he's a real shithead outside the ring. "[Killings] has lost all motor skills right now" makes Don West > Jerry Lawler in the booth. She-nan-igans w/ Kip James following the Team Canada victory by hockey stick madness sets up everything that led to the split of 3LK and the formation of Konnan's Latin American Xchange.
#10 - Diamonds In The Rough (Young/Diamond/Skipper) vs. Apolo/Siaki/Shark Boy (second match)
Anyone that pays attention to the internet wrestling community knows that for some unknown reason, six-man matches are now being referred to as "trios" matches. Fuck lucha libre, and fuck their hardcore American fans. Shitcan your masked acrobats, and stick to your subpar, in-ring melodrama and half-assed reheated American matches. This match began and ended with a swank Skipper walk-up shining wizard, mid-match. Diamonds win.
So, to view the card as run, with the appropriate rankings ...
- TNA Bound For Glory -
October 2005
Samoa Joe vs. Jushin "Thunder" Lyger (ranked #3)
Diamonds In The Rough (Young/Diamond/Skipper) vs. Apolo/Siaki/Shark Boy (ranked #10)
Monty Brown vs. Lance Hoyt (ranked #7)
3 Live Kru (Konnan/Killings/James) vs. Team Canada (Young/Roode/A1) (ranked #9)
Ultimate X
Matt Bentley vs. Chris Sabin vs. Petey Williams (ranked #8)
NWA Tag Team Title Match
America's Most Wanted(c) vs. the Naturals (ranked #4)
Monster's Ball II
Abyss vs. Jeff Hardy vs. Rhino vs. Sabu (ranked #2)
TNA X-Division Title Match
30m Ironman Match
AJ Styles(c) vs. Christopher Daniels (ranked #1)
10 Man Gauntlet Match For #1 Contender Shot (ranked #5)
Abyss - Monty Brown - Jeff Hardy - Lance Hoyt - Kip James - Ron Killings - Rhino - Sabu - Samoa Joe - AJ Styles
NWA World Title Match
Jeff Jarrett(c) vs. Rhino (ranked #6)
Final analysis:
Strong opener, mediocre middle which built on solid matches toward a pretty good main event.
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