For the third time in its history, Bound For Glory emanated from the state of Illinois. While one could debate whether this show was as good as previous BFG events held in the Prairie State, it can’t be denied that the 2023 edition was a strong show, ending with an earth-shattering video package and announcement signalling the return of TNA Wrestling. This marked the final PPV of the IMPACT Wrestling Era. Welcome to Pop Culture Sports! Here are 10 Interesting Facts About Bound For Glory 2023.
10. CM Punk Was Offered a Contract Days Earlier
CM Punk’s 2023 saw him make a polarizing return to All Elite Wrestling after his infamous altercation with the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega in 2022. However, the CM Punk in AEW experiment ended controversially with his departure from the promotion following an altercation with AEW star ‘Jungle Boy’ Jack Perry before wrestling Samoa Joe at All In.
In the final months of 2023, the ‘Straight Edge Superstar’ made his return to WWE at that year’s Survivor Series, receiving a standing ovation and frustrating Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins.
In between Punk’s AEW exit and WWE return, he made several behind-the-scenes appearances in TNA to support fellow wrestler Trinity (aka Naomi) and reportedly even played a game of Uno with the locker room.
This sparked discussions about IMPACT’s interest in signing the former WWE Champion, and a contract was offered to Punk just days before Bound For Glory 2023. Around the same time, names like Mercedes Moné and Will Ospreay were also circling free agency, leading to speculation that Punk could return to the company for the first time since 2004.
Ultimately, disputes over money prevented Punk from signing, but the funds were used to secure another former WWE superstar when Nic Nemeth (aka Dolph Ziggler) was revealed as the company’s big free agent signing after his surprise attack and debut in the final moments of Hard To Kill 2024.
9. No Knockouts Tag Title Match on the PPV
Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich quickly rose to prominence in TNA, eventually forming a tag team known as MK Ultra and winning the Knockouts Tag Team Titles at Slammiversary.
Leading up to Bound For Glory 2023, Kelly and Masha were targeted by the makeshift team of Deonna Purrazzo and Tasha Steelz, setting up a title match for the pay-per-view. However, if you watched Bound For Glory 2023 when it aired, you might have noticed that this title bout wasn’t televised.
Instead, the Knockouts Tag Titles match aired exclusively on the company’s YouTube channel as part of their short-lived Main Event Mondays special. The champions retained their titles in a serviceable match, marking the first time since 2009 that the belts didn’t change hands.
8. Purrazzo’s Fourth Straight Loss
Since returning to the company in the summer of 2020, Deonna Purrazzo has been one of the most celebrated and decorated Knockouts. Unfortunately, the Virtuosa’s luck at Bound For Glory 2023 has been dismal.
In previous years, Deonna suffered losses in all her matches, falling to Su Yung and Mickie James for the Knockouts World Championship at Bound For Glory 2020 and 2021. BFG 2022 continued this losing streak when she and her best friend Chelsea Green lost the Knockouts Tag Team Titles to the Death Dollz, marking Purrazzo’s third straight loss at Bound For Glory. Her fourth and most recent loss came when she was pinned in the aforementioned Knockouts tag title match in 2023. With her contract set to expire in early 2024, Purrazzo packed up and signed with All Elite Wrestling.
7. The Rascalz 0-3 at BFG
Deonna Purrazzo isn’t the only IMPACT/TNA wrestler struggling to find success at Bound For Glory; the company’s resident ‘High Flyers’ have also had a rough time.
At Bound For Glory 2023, The Rascalz put their World Tag Team Titles on the line against Ace Austin and Chris Bey of ABC. Despite a strong match, it was Austin and Bey who walked away as the new Tag Team Champions.
In addition to their losses on the pre-shows of BFG 2019 and 2020, The Rascalz have yet to win a match at Bound For Glory as a tag team. However, individually, Trey Miguel is the only member of the group to have secured a victory after winning the X Division Championship at BFG 2021.
6. PCO Revealed the Monster’s Ball Match in Advance
The French Canadian Frankenstein became a fan favorite in IMPACT since his debut in early 2022, thanks to his high-risk antics and over-the-top gimmick.
However, PCO made a little mistake during an online signing event when he accidentally revealed details about a four-way Monster’s Ball match featuring himself, Rhino, Moose, and Steve Maclin, set to take place at Bound For Glory 2023.
The issue was that TNA hadn’t yet advertised or mentioned the match, so PCO inadvertently spoiled the announcement. Fortunately for him, he didn’t face any repercussions and went on to win that match at Bound For Glory 2023, but it wasn’t the only major news surrounding PCO and the company.
5. PCO Re-Signed with the Company Days Later
After PCO’s unintentional spoiler of the Monster’s Ball match and subsequent victory, news emerged regarding the former Ring of Honor World Champion.
Just a few days after Bound For Glory 2023, PCO re-signed with the company, quelling any rumors about his potential departure, as his previous deal was set to expire soon. PCO was just one of several wrestlers who either re-signed or signed with the company in the days and months that followed. Considering his role in helping to sell out Slammiversary 2024, it was a good thing he stayed.
4. Ospreay vs. Bailey: 5-Star Classic
While some impressive matches occurred at Bound For Glory 2023, like the tag title match, the Call Your Shot Gauntlet, and the main world title match, nothing compared to the instant classic between Mike Bailey and Will Ospreay.
For nearly 18 minutes, ‘Speedball’ and ‘The Billy Goat’ tore the house down, with the crowd hanging on their every move.
The match was so outstanding that Dave Meltzer awarded it a five-star rating, marking the first time since Unbreakable 2005 that a match in the company received such acclaim. That year, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels delivered a five-star match in their three-way encounter for the X Division title.
Ospreay would further elevate his reputation months later, receiving five-and-a-half stars for his rematch against Josh Alexander in January 2024, making it the highest-rated match in company history according to Meltzer.
3. Mickie’s First BFG Loss in Years
The first-ever one-on-one meeting between Mickie James and Trinity Fatu (aka WWE’s Naomi) at Bound For Glory 2023 was a solid match, though nothing particularly stood out. Ultimately, Trinity secured the victory over the former Knockouts World Champion.
Since that defeat, we haven’t seen Mickie James in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, although the door remains open for her return.
Mickie’s loss to Trinity marks her first defeat at Bound For Glory in years. Prior to this, she lost a four-way Knockouts title match at Bound For Glory 2012, where Velvet Sky won her first of two TNA Knockouts Championships.
2. Josh Alexander’s First Loss in Two Years
The main event featuring Josh Alexander and Alex Shelley for the IMPACT World Championship at Bound For Glory 2023 was an excellent way to conclude the show. While their first encounter at Emergence 2022 was slightly better, their second match served as a worthy sequel.
Notably, this was Shelley’s first time headlining BFG and achieving a singles victory at the event. This match also marked Josh Alexander’s first singles loss in two years.
Between 2021-2023, ‘The Walking Weapon’ was protected, making him look unbeatable, with his only losses occurring in tag matches or via disqualification.
Ironically, the last person to pin Josh Alexander on IMPACT programming was Brian Myers in a preshow match for Hard To Kill 2021, and the last person to defeat him before his undefeated streak was also a well-known tag team wrestler.
1. Shelley Became the 3rd Man to Compete for All Three Major Titles
The main event between Josh Alexander and Alex Shelley for the IMPACT Wrestling World Championship at Bound For Glory 2023 was an incredible match and a fitting sequel to their previous bout at Emergence 2022.
While it’s known that this match marked Josh Alexander’s third straight main event appearance at Bound For Glory, what’s less known is that Alex Shelley made history in his own right.
Shelley’s participation in the main event makes him the third wrestler to have fought for the X Division, Tag Team, and World Titles at Bound For Glory. He competed for the X Division Championship at Bound For Glory 2009, and a year later, he and his tag team partner, Chris Sabin, successfully defended their titles against Generation Me (aka The Young Bucks) at Bound For Glory 2010.
The first wrestler to achieve this milestone was AJ Styles, who competed for all three titles at BFG between 2005-2009. Jeff Hardy became the second man to do so when he fought for all three titles between 2010-2016.
