On Sunday, October 11th, TNA Wrestling returned to Tampa, FL, for its biggest show of the year, “Bound For Glory.” The event was stacked from top to bottom. The main event of the show saw Leon Slater cash in Option C and look to make history by challenging Nic Nemeth to become the youngest-ever TNA World Champion. However, that was only the start of all the action, as we saw a ton of surprises and amazing action. This was truly a generational night, with the stars of tomorrow taking center stage against some of the best that our generation has ever seen.
We also saw Syx’s Joseph Sawyer & Samuel Shaw make their TNA tag team wrestling debut against The Hardys, Moose go one-on-one against a debuting Max Caster, Xia Brookside put her TNA Knockouts Championship on the line against Indi Hartwell, Order 4 collide for the TNA International Championship, the Call Your Shot Gauntlet, Allie and Kiera Hogan put the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championships on the line against Zoey Serrano and Shayna Baszler, a seven-way scramble for the TNA X-Division Championship, and Ricky Sosa take on Eddie Edwards to kick it all off. So, what were the top three moments?
3. Erick Redbeard Debuts
In the final match before the historic main event of Bound For Glory 2026, we saw Syx’s Joseph Sawyer and Samuel Shaw make their TNA Wrestling tag team debut against one of the greatest tag teams in professional wrestling history, Matt and Jeff, The Hardy Boys. Fans may most remember Sawyer and Shaw as a part of the WWE Wyatt Sicks faction as Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis. However, Sawyer and Shaw had something new to prove.
For several months, wrestlers were being attacked backstage, including the likes of Moose, Cedric Alexander, Elijah, Leon Slater, Ryan Nemeth, and most recently, The Hardys. The stage was set, and the two teams went to war at Bound For Glory in a Falls Count Anywhere match. We saw many memorable spots in this match, including Jeff Hardy hitting a swanton bomb on Shaw on a table in the crowd from the stands, and some other very fun moments.
Perhaps no moment was bigger than the debut of former Wyatt Sicks member, Erick Redbeard, fka Erick Rowan. Redbeard made the save for Syx later in the match and took out both Hardys with a vicious clothesline. Redbeard hit a chokeslam on Matt Hardy through a table on the entranceway and a powerbomb on Jeff through a table on the entranceway. He quickly established himself as a threat in TNA, and aligning with Syx is something that is going to be so much fun. As a fan, I’m absolutely hooked by this. Syx is officially in TNA to stay. Lord, help the TNA tag team division.
2. Amazing Red Regains The X-Division Championship
Did anyone have a more fun night on Sunday than Amazing Red? What a night for the absolute legend in the professional wrestling business. Amazing Red was inducted into the TNA Wrestling Hall of Fame before the show. This was a very deserving moment for Red, as his accomplishments and everything he did for TNA cannot be overstated. However, little did we know that Amazing Red’s night was just getting started.
Following Leon Slater’s decision to vacate the TNA X-Division Championship and cash in on Option C, the title was vacated. TNA’s Director of Authority, Santino Marella, announced a number of qualifying matches where the winner would get a spot in the six-way scramble match for the vacant title at Bound For Glory. KC Navarro was the first to qualify. Followed by Fabian Aichner, Cedric Alexander (per rematch clause), Rich Swann, Ryan Nemeth, and BDE. This field was absolutely stacked, but it was about to change drastically.
Fast forward to Sunday night, during the Hall Of Fame ceremony, Amazing Red announced he was going to take part in the match, making it a seven-way. Amazing Red showed up and showed out in this one, only continuing to confirm that he is indeed a timeless wonder. In the end, Red pinned Navarro to win the X-Division Championship. This now marks Amazing Red’s fourth reign with the title that he helped to put on the map.
1. Leon Slater Makes History
Now, let’s get to the main event. This was a main event with a lot riding on it. Somehow the top prize in TNA wasn’t even a major part of the puzzle piece amongst fans heading into this match. Many fans thought this was going to be Slater’s swan song in TNA and that we would see him on All Elite Wrestling or WWE sooner rather than later. However, those fans couldn’t have been more wrong.
Back at Lockdown in August, Slater defeated Cedric Alexander in a Last Man Standing Steel Cage match to win the TNA X-Division Championship. That very same night, he decided to cash in on Option C. Slater made his intentions known almost immediately. He had the time and place already picked out. Now, the moment has arrived, and he and Nic Nemeth absolutely tore down the house on Sunday.
This was a match that many considered to be a make-or-break match for Slater in his time with TNA Wrestling. Slater obviously has the talent, potential, and charisma to be a top star anywhere. However, would he be a top star in TNA? Spoiler alert: yes, he would. Slater defeated Nemeth to become the youngest-ever TNA World Champion. Nemeth is a generational talent, but I am so happy to see Slater get the win and the title here. So well deserved.
What do you think? Any comments, questions, or concerns? Reach out to me on Twitter, X, at @Scott44Mitchell.
Until next time,
Scott Mitchell
