‘Impact Wrestling: Bound For Glory 2021’ PPV Review

Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s 2021 Bound For Glory pay per view. The PPV opened with a pre-show that saw Jordynne Grace pin John Skyler to win the Impact Digital Media Championship defeating Skyler, along with Crazzy Steve, Fallah Bahh, Chelsea Green, and Madison Rayne in an intergender match that is only available to Impact Plus subs/YT channel members. The PPV itself opened with a phenomenal promo pacjed regarding Josh Alexander’s journey to the Impact Workld Championship match, solidifying him even further as THE face of Impact Wrestling… Anyway on with the review!

Match #1: Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship Match – The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay) def. Decay (Havok & Rosemary)

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

The IInspiration make their IMPACT debut tonight as they challenge Decay for the Knockouts Tag Team Titles! Rosemary hits Cassie with a sidewalk slam in the early going. Rosemary bites Jessie, then locks in the Upside Down to do some serious damage. Cassie quickens the pace, leading to tandem offense from The IInspiration to turn the tide. Havok hits a backbreaker clothesline combo to Cassie, then splashes both of them in the corner. Cassie pulls down the middle rope, sending Havok crashing to the floor. Rosemary hits Cassie with the Scorpion Death Drop to create separation and make the tag. Rosemary spears Cassie for two. Havok takes out Jessie with a sitdown chokeslam. Cassie clotheslines Rosemary over the top rope to the floor. The IInspiration send Havok into the steel ring post multiple times. Cassie makes the blind tag and kicks Rosemary from the apron. The IInspiration deliver double team offense to Rosemary and pin her to become the new Knockouts Tag Team Champions!

My Score: 3 out of 5

Great to see Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay back in the squared circle. Impact really was their only choice given the depth of the companies women’s division and in particular the Women’s tag team division. If I’m being honest there were a few clumsy spots but overall this was a great opener and hopefully means even bigger things for Impact’s Women’s tag division going forward.

Match #2: X-Division Championship – Trey Miguel def. El Phantasmo & Steve Maclin

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

The finals of the X-Division Title Tournament will determine a new X-Division Champion! Trey gains control in the early going with a stunning dropkick to Phantasmo. Trey is about to fly when Phantasmo picks his leg from the outside, allowing Maclin to attack from behind. Maclin and Phantasmo exchange strikes on Trey. Trey locks in a submission on Phantasmo, then simultaneously delivers a bridged suplex to Maclin. Phantasmo hits Maclin with a springboard Moonsault. Phantasmo shows off his incredible athleticism, connecting with a step-up Hurricanrana. Maclin takes out both of his opponents with unique combo offense. Trey goes for a handspring but Maclin cuts him off with a spear to the floor. Maclin continues the assault with a flying hip attack over the top. Phantasmo hits a springboard Moonsault to the outside. Trey hits Maclin with Code Red for two. Phantasmo picks Trey off the top, sending him crashing into the knees of Maclin. Trey hits a Brainbuster on Phantasmo, followed by the top rope Meteora to become the new X-Division Champion!

My Score: 4 out of 5

This was a tremendous example of a X-Division match with all three men bringing their A-game to this one. I would’ve been happy with any of the trio winning the title but I think Miguel was the best choice, especially if he continues to give it the respect and kudos that Josh Alexander’s reign has. I can see Miguel having some great rematches with both his opponents here. In fact I’d like to see him face Maclin as soon as possible – especially given how much of an impact Maclin’s performance had here (LOVED the brutality Maclin tried to bring to this match).

Match #3: Heath & Rhino def. Violent By Design (Joe Doering & Deaner) w/ Eric Young

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

While Heath was hopeful that Rhino would reunite with him against Violent By Design tonight, Rhino doesn’t show up. The match begins and it appears as though Heath must now compete at a numbers disadvantage. Heath brings the fight to VBD until Doering distracts him, allowing Deaner to take control with a DDT. Doering erases Heath with a huge running crossbody. Heath and Deaner hit in-sync clotheslines to take each other down. Out of nowhere, Rhino’s music hits and he makes the tag to Heath. Rhino hits Deaner with a mini-Gore in the corner, followed by a belly-to-belly suplex on Doering. Rhino hits Deaner with the Gore to score the victory!

My Score: 2 out of 5

This one was all ab out Heath and Rhino getting bacl together once again. It’s been good seeing Rhino more vicious as part of VBD (whilst Heath was out with injury) but he and Heath really do make for a great pairing so to have them back together is fantastic. Here’s hoping the duo get a shot at the tag belts in this run too.

Match #4: Call Your Shot Gauntlet Match – Winner: Moose

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

The winner of this match will earn a future title match of their choosing, anyplace, anytime! Eliminations occur by throwing your opponent over the top rope to the floor. Chris Sabin enters the match at #1. With the first surprise entrant of the gauntlet, NJPW star Rocky Romero enters at #2. Madman Fulton enters at #3. Rohit Raju enters at #4. Tasha Steelz enters at #5. Rohit throws Romero over the top rope for the first elimination. Ellering enters at #6. Fulton is the next to be eliminated. Savannah Evans enters at #7. Johnny Swinger enters at #8. Meanwhile, Ellering and Evans are eliminated. In another surprise, the legendary Melina enters at #9. The Demon signs an autograph for Swinger before tossing him to the floor for the elimination. Brian Myers enters at #11. Matt Cardona enters at #12. Laredo Kid enters at #13. Melina ducks Tasha, sending her to the outside for the elimination. Myers then immediately eliminates Melina. Sam Beale enters at #14 and despite being cut from The Learning Tree, listens to orders from Myers. Rich Swann enters at #15. Myers turns his back on Beale and pays for it as Beale eliminates him. Ace Austin enters at #16. Ace baits in The Demon for the elimination. Moose enters at #17. Moose eliminates Beale by powerbombing him over the top rope to the floor. Eddie Edwards enters at #18. Moose powerbombs Eddie on the apron. Alisha enters at #19. Eddie and Alisha deliver a double team assault to Moose with a pair of kendo sticks. W. Morrissey is the final entrant at #20. Morrissey quickly eliminates Alisha. Morrissey eliminates Eddie with a big boot. Rohit tries to form an alliance with Moose and Morrissey but they want no part of it and eliminate him. Sabin eliminates Ace. Fulton illegally reenters the match and assaults Sabin from behind. Moose and Morrissey dump an unconscious Sabin over the top for the elimination. The final four are Moose, Morrissey, Swann and Cardona. Moose turns on his ally, eliminating both Morrissey and Swann simultaneously. Moose and Cardona are the final two and the match must now end by pinfall or submission. Cardona crashes and burns with Radio Silence. Moose capitalizes with the Spear to win the Call Your Shot trophy!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

This was a good example of Impact’s gauntlet match – with some surprise (REAL surprise!) entries and some great in-ring action. Some of the eliminations got lost in the shuffle but that’s to be expected in such a crowded field. The “Call Your Shot” stipulation for this match would be an ominous portent for the rest of the PPV.

Match #5: IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) def. FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson) & Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Hikuleo)

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Three of wrestling’s top teams collide for the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles! Finlay hits Bey with a back suplex, followed by a squatting senton from Juice. Gallows and Hikuleo square off in a showdown of giants. Hikuleo knocks Juice off the apron, before hitting Finlay with a delayed vertical suplex. Hikuleo whips Bey into Finlay, then delivers a high sidewalk slam for two. Finlay creates separation and makes the tag to Juice who delivers repeated fists to Anderson. Juice hits Bey with an elevated Gutbuster for two. Chaos reigns supreme and everyone is down. Juice hits a top rope frog splash on Bey but Anderson tags himself in and steals the victory!

My Score: 3 out of 5

The Good Brothers retain the titles. Again. I get why they kept them, some of the contenders here don’t work exclusively for Impact and titles need to stay “in house” but it’s about time Impact’s Men’s Tag division was given a boost with some homegrown talent so we can get the belts off the current champs and take the pair down a peg or two. I was surprised by how good Gallows looked in this match, undoubtedly because he had, in Hikuleo, opponents to match his size and strength.

Match #6: Knockouts Championship – Mickie James def. Deonna Purrazzo

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

The Knockouts Championship is on the line is this highly-anticipated dream match. Purrazzo’s “Drama King”, Matthew Rehwoldt, is banned from ringside. Mickie launches herself off the apron, colliding with Purrazzo on the floor. The brawl spills to outside as Purrazzo drives Mickie back-first into the stage. Purrazzo throws Mickie into the ring as the bell rings, officially starting the match. Purrazzo continues the beatdown on Mickie, wearing her down in the corner. Deonna counters a Hurricanrana attempt into a modified powerbomb for two. Both Knockouts collide with double crossbodies, allowing Mickie to create separation. Mickie and Purrazzo exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Mickie gains the upper-hand with a running boot. Mickie hits her signature Hurricanra, followed by a flapjack. Purrazzo counters the DDT into a jumping pump kick. Mickie successfully hits the DDT but Purrazzo somehow kicks out at two. Purrazzo locks in the Fujiwara Armbar but Mickie gets her feet underneath the ropes to break the hold. Purrazzo connects with an assisted Queen’s Gambit but this time it’s Mickie who kicks out just in time. Referee Brandon Tolle stops Purrazzo from introducing a steel chair. Purrazzo uses the referee as a shield but it costs her as Mickie sends her face-first into the chair. Mickie hits a tornado DDT to win the match and become the new Knockouts Champion!

My Score: 4 out of 5

Another great title match from Deonna Purrazzo, a woman whose title reign has been epic, so epic that it took a legend to take the belt off her. Yes, it was right the Mickie James got the belt after this feud because I don’t see many of the current Impact women’s roster being of the calibre of James or Purrazzo. I’m hoping we see James open the belt up to anyone who wants to challenge her – maybe that way we’ll see just who’s at the same level as James and Purrazzo. Right now I can only think of possibly Jordynne Grace, who has just won the Digital Championship and Rosemary, who was – until this PPV – a tag champ.

Match #7: IMPACT World Championship – Josh Alexander def. Christian Cage

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Josh Alexander exercises Option C to challenge Christian Cage for the IMPACT World Title in the Bound For Glory main event. Alexander pushes Cage off the top, sending him toppling all the way to the floor. Alexander remains in control with a backbreaker, followed by a bridged suplex. Cage avoids the C4 Spike and backdrops Alexander to the outside. Cage counters the Ankle Lock on the floor, sending Alexander head-first into the steel guardrail. Alexander turns the tide with a release German suplex into the turnbuckles. Cage pummels him with repeated shots in the corner but Alexander comes back with a powerbomb backbreaker for two. Cage hits his signature reverse neckbreaker. Alexander soars with a top rope knee to the back of his head. Cage hits a tornado DDT out of the corner for another two count. Alexander connects with the Chaos Theory. Alexander locks in the Sharpshooter but Cage fights out. Alexander overshoots the Moonsault, allowing Cage to capitalize with the Spear. Cage pushes Alexander off the top, then follows up with a Frog Splash for yet another near fall. Alexander counters the Killswitch into the Ankle Lock. Cage attempts to break the hold but Alexander holds on. Alexander steps on his hand, forcing Cage to submit. Josh Alexander is the new IMPACT World Champion! After the match, Cage hands Alexander the IMPACT World Title in a show of respect. Alexander is celebrating with his wife and son when Moose appears in the ring and calls his shot!

My Score: 4 out of 5

This was something of an instant classic, with two Canadians going all out to deliver a match that really meant something not only for both men but also for the championship they were fighting for. Plenty of near falls and plenty of back and forth action meant this one was a close call throughout. Cage did the right thing by literally giving Alexander the belt after the match and congratulating him. Fantastic passing of the torch to end a fantastic main event WRESTLING match.

Match #8: IMPACT World Championship – Moose def. Josh Alexander

The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:

Moose immediately spears Alexander and pins him to become the new IMPACT World Champion!

My Score: 0 out of 5

F*ck!

Final Verdict: 4/5

Well I’ve got to say this was another quality pay per view from Impact Wrestling, who haven’t really disappointed all year in terms of PPVs. The only real disappointment, for me, was the Tag titles not changing hands and THAT end to the show which, I have to say, was a shocker but HOPEFULLY provides another decent angle for Josh Alexander and, when the times comes, Alexander’s reign will be long and glorious. Having the face of your company chasing the championship can only last so long Impact… only so long.