By @BSA1978
Wrestling Lockup with Brandon, brought to you by Triple Threat CLE. Today's edition is last night's TNA Bound For Glory Pay Per View. Bound For Glory took place live at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Korakuen Hall, according to TNA announcer, Jeremy Borash, is one of Japan's most famous arenas. Tonight's show is working with a four sided ring not the current TNA six sided ring. Let's get to the recap.
- Manik vs. Minoru Tanaka: Back and forth mat wrestling to start off the match. Manik, at one point in the match, snuck under the ring, came out the other side and caught Tanaka with a neckbreaker. Tanaka hits a snap suplex on Manik for a near fall. Manik gets dumped to the floor by Tanaka. Tanaka climbs the ropes and lands a moonsault off the top rope onto Manik. Manik goes to the air with a frog splash but Tanaka gets his knees up for the block. Tanaka lands a huge superplex on Manik off the top rope for a near pinfall. Manik hits a brainbuster on Tanaka for a near pinfall. Tanaka plants a hard kick into Manik then rolls through with an armbreaker submission. Manik taps out and Tanaka is the winner.
- Backstage Segment with Ethan Carter III: ECIII told Rockstar Spud he was fired this past week and plans on debuting his replacement this Wednesday on Impact. The bigger his opponent the more impressive the victory and tonight is no exception. His winning streak is going worldwide tonight.
- In Ring Segment with Ethan Carter III: As if his backstage interview wasn't enough, ECIII has a mic before his match. ECIII mocks the Japanese fans by speaking in broken English. Says that he is the greatest wrestler alive today, has beaten every single TNA Hall of Fame member, will beat Hama tonight and promises to slam the big ex-sumo wrestler.
- Ethan Carter III vs. Ryota Hama: Hama rolls ECIII over easily with shoulderblocks early. ECIII mocks Hama but gets dropped with a flapjack. Hama missed a splash giving ECIII some offensive opportunities. Hama crushes ECIII in the corner with a back splash and gets a near pinfall. Hama gives ECIII the "stinkface" but ECIII goes low with a low blow on Hama. ECIII hits the "one percenter" on Hama and scores the pinfall.
- Backstage Segment with MVP: Is asked all the time why he turned down a multi-million dollar spot in Japan. Says he's not afraid to walk away from money to prove himself. Names off some Japanese wrestlers that he considers heroes. Came to Japan in the past to show he was fearless and to win titles. Doesn't know much about Sakamoto so MVP isn't impressed with him but Sakamoto will be impressed with MVP tonight.
- MVP vs. Kazma Sakamoto: MVP hits a shoulderblock on Sakamoto. Sakamoto tries to land his own shoulderblocks but MVP doesn't budge. MVP goes for the "ballin'" elbow but Sakamoto rolls out of the ring. MVP goes over the ropes and takes Sakamoto out on the floor. Sakamoto unloads on MVP with strikes, shots across the back, a series of kicks and chokes MVP with his boot in the corner. Sakamoto mocks MVP's "ballin'" elbow but gets kicked in the face by MVP. MVP hits the "ballin'" elbow on the second attempt. Sakamoto nails a leg lariat for a near pinfall. MVP hits the "Drive-By" on Sakamoto and covers for the pinfall.
- Backstage Segment with Samoa Joe: Joe is on a mission to bring the X-Division to its prominence. Every challenger has fallen before him and Low Ki and Kaz Hayashi will be no different tonight.
- "TNA X-Division Championship, Triple Threat Match": Samoa Joe (c) vs. Kaz Hayashi vs. Low Ki: Hayashi gets taken out early and Joe and Ki beat the hell out of each other. Hayashi returns but gets lit up by Joe with kicks, chops and a senton splash. Joe gets dumped to the floor and now it's Hayashi and Ki's turn to beat the hell out of each other. Ki lands a drop kick through the ropes on Joe then Ki gets dropped with a Hayashi leaping kick. Ki and Hayashi trade chops on the floor until Joe destroys them both with a clothesline. Joe hits the back senton splash on Hayashi for the pin but Ki breaks it up. Joe locks Ki in an "STF". Hayashi joins in and locks an "STF" on both Joe and Ki at the same time. All three continue to go back and forth with each other until Joe catches Ki in the "Kokina Clutch. Ki tries to break free but it's over as Ki taps out. Samoa Joe retains the TNA X-Division Title. After the match Joe thanks the Japanese fans for their respect and promises big things to come with TNA and Wrestle-1 working together.
- Backstage Segment with Tommy Dreamer: Says he never thought he'd ever be back in a Japanese ring. Talks about teaming with Sandman and Terry Funk in Japan. Says his match tonight with Abyss against Team 3D is the last hurrah and a huge honor.
- Andy Wu and Hijo Del Pantera vs. Kuroshio Ikemen Jiro and Yusuke Kodama: Wu went with a lot of lucha style wrestling early on. Pantera is tagged in and delivers a hurricarana on Kodama. Kodama fakes a respectful handshake and kicks Pantera in the stomach. Pantera lands a springboard arm drag that sends Kodama to the floor. Next Pantera leaps off the referees back and hits a diving flip on Kodama on the floor. Jiro is tagged back in and he lands a twisting moonsault on Pantera for a near pinfall. The match continued on with hot tags and high flying action. Wu and Pantera hit a "619" on Kodama. Jiro gets dropkicked to the floor then taken out by a Wu dive. Pantera misses the "450" splash and gets hit with a super kick by Kodama for a near pinfall as Wu breaks the pin. Jiro takes Wu out on the floor with a moonsault. Kodama hits a twisting moonsault on Pantera for the pinfall.
- "Hardcore Match": Tommy Dreamer and Abyss vs. Team 3D: Abyss and Bully traded power moves early. Team 3D double team Abyss then dump him on the floor. Dreamer gets double teamed next as Team 3D hits "wazzup" on Dreamer. Bully gets a table but gets cut off by Abyss. The action spills outside as Abyss and Bully brawl on the floor and Dreamer and Devon brawl into the crowd. Bully grabs a steel chair and unloads on Abyss. Bully rings the ring bell on Abyss' groin. Weapons fill the ring and things are really getting "hardcore" now. Abyss choke slams Devon but Devon kicks out at two. Abyss plants Bully with the "Black Hole Slam" but Bully kicks out at two. Abyss goes for a sit down splash on Devon but Devon turns a steel chair side ways and Abyss takes another groin shot. Dreamer goes for a superplex on Devon but Bully hits Dreamer with a trash can. Bully goes under Dreamer and power bombs him off the top rope and through a table. Abyss lays down thumbtacks on the mat but gets a double flapjack onto them from Team 3D. Dreamer grabs a Singapore Cane and looks to unload but Team 3D drop Dreamer with the "3D" and that's it as Team 3D score the pinfall.
- In Ring Segment with Team 3D: Team 3D talk about being put in the TNA Hall of Fame and thank the fans because we're the reason they got to where they are. They thank God for allowing them to continue to compete. They thank the Japanese fans because their favorite place to wrestle is in Japan.
- Backstage Segment with Velvet Sky: It's Velvets first time in Japan and she's honored to be there. Says her opponent tonight, Havok, is a newbie and Velvet is getting the TNA Knockouts Title back.
- "TNA Knockouts Championship Match": Havok (c) vs. Velvet Sky: Sky lands strikes, clotheslines and top rope axehandles on Havok, staggering the champ. Sky goes for a cross body but Havok catches Sky and slams her. Havok works on Sky's back and locks in a bearhug. Havok goes for a leg drop off the ropes but Sky moves. Sky lands clotheslines again staggering the champ and finally takes Havok down with a head scissor. Sky climbs the ropes and leaps at Havok. Havok catches Sky and applies another bearhug. Havok squeezes the life out of Sky as Sky gives in and taps out. Havok retains the TNA Knockouts Title.
- Backstage Segment with James Storm: Storm is sitting in a church pew. Says that even in Japan people come here for guidance. Senada learned that Storm's way was the righteous way. They will take down Tajiri and Muta and there is always room for one more.
- Yoshihiro Tajiri and The Great Muta vs. The Great Sanada and James Storm: Mentor and Student started the match, as Sanada and Muta locked up. Sanada and Muta showcased some great mat wrestling. Tajiri and Sanada end up under the ring at one point and when they emerge Tajiri has blue mist in his face and Sanada now has offensive control. Senada and Storm tag in and out and work over Tajiri. Tajiri lands a springboard elbow and hot tags Muta. Muta unloaded on Sanada, tossing him to the floor, tossing him into the railing, hitting Sanada with a chair and choking Sanada with a tv camera wire. Back in the ring, Sanada hits a moonsault on Muta for the pin attempt but Tajiri breaks the pinfall. Tajiri sends Storm over the ropes and onto the ramp and hits Sanada with a kick to the head. Tajiri gets shoved into the referee by Sanada. Sanada comes off the top rope but gets mist in the eyes from both Tajiri and Muta. Tajiri hits the knock out kick on Sanada and Muta follows up with the shining wizard. Cover and the pinfall for Tajiri and Muta. After the match Manik hits the ring and joins Storm and Sanada in beating down Tajiri and Muta. Storm chokes Muta with a bullrope until Team 3D hit the ring and make the save. Team 3D clear the ring and celebrate with the Japanese fans as Bound For Glory ends.
And that was last night's show. Unfortunately I've read a lot of negative reviews about this pay per view. No TNA World Title Match, a lot of wrestlers that the TNA audience wasn't familiar with, there were a lot of empty seats in the arena and having Muta/Tajiri vs Storm/Senada main event didn't sit well with some fans.
That's a wrap, till next time tap or snap.
