It’s always good to have a plan in place; After all you wanna make sure everything goes without a hitch, so you need to think things through and set it up accordingly.

In professional wrestling if all those plans goes well then things should be a success, however when those well laid plans get disrupted for one reason or another, you’ll need to find a way to improvise and hope for the best.

With TNA Wrestling’s Bound For Glory just weeks away, let’s take a look bacl at those planned matches and moments that were set to take place at BFG, but ultimately didn’t happen.

#10. Bobby Roode Wins The TNA World Title

Bound For Glory 2011 is often remembered for two things:

• 1. It’s the event where Hulk Hogan had his last televised match in professional wrestling with the bout being much better than it had any right to be.

and

• 2. It saw Bobby Roode suffering a pinfall loss to Kurt Angle after being hit with the Angle Slam and getting covered whilst Angle was holding onto the ring ropes.

For years, this led to much confusion amongst fans and wrestling critics alike as Roode’s win of the inaugural Bound For Glory Series a month prior and the hype around Bobby winning the title seemed like a forgone conclusion.

According to Kurt Angle during an episode of his Podcast, he knew that Bobby was going to win but plans changed with some believing that Roode beating a less than 100% Olympic Gold Medalist for the belt wouldn’t feel like the big moment it should’ve.

Some have claimed that Hogan didn’t think Roode was ready to be a top guy and that Angle would clean his clock from a performance standpoint and others believed that Roode winning the belt would taken some of the shine off of the Hulkster’s babyface turn mere moments after his bout with Sting.

Regardless of the reason for the change, the fact is that Roode was scheduled to win at Bound For Glory until the idea was nixed…Althought considering what we got with the one-two punch of Bobby’s heel turn/world title win over James Storm and the title reign that proceeded it you could almost say that it was worth it…almost.

#9. BFG 2014: Plans Subject to Change

Bound For Glory 2014 is often seen as the one of the worst shows in the events history due in no small part to the fact that the world title wasn’t even defended on the show, the main event was average at best and because the show took place outside of the U.S., the results of the show were leaked ahead of time.

Another reason why this show is often held in low regard might have something to do with the fact that most of originally planned matches never came to pass.

While some matches were changed ever so slighty, others ended up getting scrapped with the original plans at Bound For Glory 2014 supposedly having Team 3D vs. The Wolves and Bram taking on his then rival at the time, Abyss.

However, The Wolves were pulled from the event with the reasoning never being fully explained and instead the fans got to see TNA Hall of Famers: Brother Ray and Devon take on the makeshift team of Abyss and Tommy Dreamer.

With Abyss unable to do double duty on this night, the planned match between Bram and ‘The Monster’ was also scrapped…It’s a real shame as both men put on some good matches on TV and the wrestling fans got a glimpse of how good Team 3D and The Wolves could work together when they along with the Hardy Boyz battle in a series of matches in the Summer of 2014 that are easily the best of the entire year.

#8. Rohit Raju in the X Division Ladder Match

As one of the few highlights during the company’s pandemic era, indie wrestler Hakim Zane (better known to TNA fans as Rohit Raju), proved to everyone that he was more than a glorified jobber when he became X Division champion in the Summer of 2020.

This reign allowed Raju to not only demonsrate his work rate in matches that were given more time but it also gave him the opportunity to show how fanastic he is as a mic worker. At Bound For Glory 2020, Rohit successfully retained his X Division title in a six way intergender match, but the former ‘Desi Hit Man’ almost could’ve been fighting for the championship at BFG a year earlier.

In the lead up to the 2019 edition of Bound For Glory, the company aired a TV special exclusively on AXS TV to generate hype for the impending event with one of the matches being advertised is a five person ladder match for the X Division title. For a matter of moments a graphic showing the competitors in the match also shows Rohit Raju amongst them, leaving many to think TNA spoiled the results of the upcoming bout between Raju and Sabu to see who would be entered into the ladder match.

However, when that match ended up happening fans were bewildered as the things ended in a double count out meaning neither Rohit or Sabu would be entering the ladder match.

It remains a mystery as to why the company went with this decision or if the graphic showing Rohit in the match was a mistake; In the end Rohit ended up wrestling at Bound For Glory in the opening Call Your Shot Gauntlet match while the final spot in that ladder match was given to Acey Romero who had signed with the company just days earlier.

#7. A Hot Mess of International Proportions

The 2017 Bound For Glory (much like the 2014 version) is often held up as one of the worst shows of all time with the event happening during one of the worst years in the promotion’s history, That said there were at least two things about the show that were alright; The first was a tag team title match between oVe and LAX which saw ‘The Draw’ Sami Callihan making his debut for the company.

The second was the Knockouts Triple Threat Title Match between defending champion Sienna/Allysin Kay, Allie and TNA Hall of Famer, Gail Kim with this match being built as the final bout in her illustrious career…Until 2019 and again in 2023.

Even though the match was fine and the outcome was so predictable that even Stevie Wonder from space could’ve seen it coming, the match looked very different from what we initially got.

In August of 2017, Taryn Terrell a former TNA Knockouts Champion and longtime rival to Gail Kim returned to the company and was set to take part in the aforementioned Knockouts title match at Bound For Glory, that was until it was announced that the former ECW general manager was gone from the promotion two months later.

While the reasoning for Terrell’s departure remains unclear (sort of a running theme on this list), it is understandable why she couldn’t compete at BFG 2017 as the event was set to take place in Canada and Taryn wouldn’t be allowed to enter the Great White North due to her arrest in 2011 following an altercation between herself and her then significant other, Drew McIntyre.

#6. James Ellsworth Replaces Joey Janela

Before his popularity peaked as part of the WWE main roster and the NWA, LA Knight was finding moderate success as Eli Drake in TNA from 2015-19 with the self proclaimed “Namer of Dummies” becoming a champion in the midcard, tag team and world title divisions.

At Bound For Glory 2018, Eli Drake issued an open challenge to anyone to fight him in the ring and someone did indeed accept in the form of……James Ellsworth; Naturally, the TNA Faithful pelted insults at WWE’s one time jobber turn surprising “success” story with Drake thankfully picking up the win.

While Ellsworth being the guy to wrestle the future WWE United States Champion at Bound For Glory was disappointing, this was actually a last minute solution as Drake was suppose to wrestler future AEW wrestler, Joey Janela but was pulled after suffering an injury at another event.

No further attempts were made to get a Janela versus Drake match on TNA programming with the former world champion leaving the company in June of 2019.

#5. Smiley Kylie No Shows

One of the best indie stars currently wrestling today, Kylie Rae is beloved by the wrestling community for her positive demeanor and her wrestling skills inbetween the ropes which has led to some wondering why no major wrestling promotion has signed her up to a contract…Turns out a few have but got diminishing returns in the process.

Rae was originally a part of All Elite Wrestling when the company began in 2019, but she pulled out of a scheduled match with Leva Bates at that year’s Fyter Fest with the Chicago native asking for her release from the company which Tony Khan granted.

This could be seen as a precursor for what happened next, as Kylie then went on to work for TNA in early 2020 and after much hype and several matches under her belt, a Knockouts Title bout was set between Kylie Rae and defending champion, Deonna Purrazzo.

Sadly, this match didn’t happen due to Kylie having concerns with her mental health and thus no showed the PPV; Thankfully the company was able to get Su Yung to return to the company and put on an amazing contest to become the new Knockouts Champion.

As for Kylie she would temporarily retire from wrestling, had her TNA contract bought out by Billy Corgan to work for the NWA promotion upon returning to the ring and had a tryout match with the WWE in 2023 but didn’t receive a contract.

#4. Big Sexy is M.I.A.

Continuing our theme of wrestlers being unable to compete at TNA’s Bound For Glory events, we turn to former WWE and WCW World Champion, Kevin Nash who was supposed to wrestle Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Championship in the main event of the inauguaral Bound For Glory PPV in 2005.

Nash wasn’t able to make it to the event as he was dealing with a medical emergency at the time and had to be removed from the proceedings with Don West and Mike Tenay announcing this on the preshow.

In the second to last match on the card, Rhino (who had wrestled early in the night) won a 10 person gauntlet match to become the number one contender for the NWA World Title with ‘The War Machine’ putting away Double J moments later to become the new world champion and closing out the show on a high note.

By the time Nash was back in the ring, Jarrett had regained the title but their paths never crossed again for the NWA World Championship.

#3. Rey Mysterio Doesn’t Cross the Line

We return to Bound For Glory 2017 to talk about another title match that had to be changed, but this one being for the world championship.

After Alberto El Patron’s personal life began to affect his wrestling career following that year’s Slammiversary PPV, a new champion needed to be crown as Alberto was stripped of his belts and suspended with crowd favorite heel, Eli Drake becoming the new world champion.

Elsewhere, Jeff Jarrett who came back to company as part of a merger with Global Force Wrestling was also let go for personal issues with reports coming out soon afterwards that Jarrett and others in the company were trying to sign wrestling legend, Rey Mysterio to a contract with a big money match set for Bound For Glory with the Master of the 619 scheduled to wrestle Double J.

Because no one would’ve been interested in seeing Jarrett vs. Mysterio in a PPV match in 2017, Jeff would come out at BFG and swerve the fans by saying that Rey’s actually opponent was going to Alberto El Patron due to the previous history in the WWE.

Jarrett’s firing from the company and Mysterio not willing to sign a contract left things in disarray with the main event for BFG 2017 seeing Eli Drake retain his world championship against Johnny IMPACT/John Morrison thanks to the outside interference of Alberto.

#2. Omega vs. Alexander

Okay, so this entry sees the words “Plans Changed” in massive quotation marks as Kenny Omega has mentioned during a Twitch Stream in April of 2024 that no plans were made to have this match happened, but considering how things turned out in the end, it’s likely Omega would’ve been the one to face Alexander at Bound For Glory and as such onto the list it goes.

Back in 2021, TNA and AEW had a working relationship with each other which saw Kenny Omega becoming the IMPACT World Champion at the same time he was the AEW World Champion.

Around this time, Omega and then TNA X Division Champion, Josh Alexander had a face-to-face confrontation backstage that was broken up by Don Callis giving fans the idea that a match up between these two were set to happen at some point.

However when Omega lost the IMPACT World Title to Christian Cage at the very first episode of AEW Rampage, any chances of this match happening were over and Cage would return to TNA to defend the title a handful of times before losing the belt to Josh Alexander in the main event of Bound For Glory 2021.

Many at the time believed the title change from Omega to Cage was made either because Tony Khan didn’t want one of his top stars losing to someone on the IMPACT Wrestling roster or because of Omega’s multitude of injuries.

Apparently, Scott D’Amore had no plans in this first time ever match taking place which is baffingly especially when you consider that Omega wouldn’t stop wrestling until November and so therefore could have easily wrestled and lost the belt to Alexander with BFG taking place in October…Unless Alexander ends up in AEW and Tony Khan brings up his company’s history with TNA in 2021, then the chances of this match happening at least for right now are slim.

#1. Double J vs. The Hulkster in 2003

We close things out by bringing up yet another time Jeff Jarrett was suppose to wrestle someone at Bound For Glory but plans change…Due in no small part to the person Jarrett was set to face being notorious for changing ideas at the last minute.

In 2003, an idea was hatched to have Jeff Jarrett take on Hulk Hogan in a wrestling match after Double J attacked the red and yellow megastar during a press conference for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Not long after these stunning turn of events, the company during it’s weekly pay per view era aired a few graphic teasing Jarrett vs. Hogan at a brand new wrestling event held by TNA and it would be called ‘Bound For Glory’ with the TNA Founder and the Immortal One more than likely being the main event of the show.

That proposed BFG event never came to pass with the Hulkster claiming that his knee and hip problems made him unable to commit…Of course, this is what Hulk Hogan said and his not exactly known for being a reliable narrator.

As it turns out, Hogan was hoping his return to New Japan and this potential rematch with Jarrett for this new upstart promotion would be enough for the WWE to bring him back for another run and sure enough the Hulkster made his way back to the WWE in 2005.

Hulk would end up in TNA in 2010 and the moment of Jarrett sneak attacking Hogan has become one of the most iconic moments in early TNA Wrestling.

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