TNA Impact: Bound For Glory – Fade to Black Review – 10.23.25

Okay, we are still on Autumn hiatus, so we are going to yet another special TNA Impact show. This time it is the Bound For Glory: Fade to Black as advertised during the Premium Live Event. So, let’s relax a little and engage in some casual, yet Impactful, discourse, shall we? We shall.

We get a recap and some highlights of Bound for Glory. We see Trick Williams in character talking and Mike Santana post-match celebrating with family and saying the title is back home. We get the Edwards’ saying that this is real life and this something they Boston doesn’t celebrate winners, it creates. Greatness is earned in Boston (at least Boston area.) We see the fans enthralled with the action and the “Get the tables” chant. This was a celebration of what this company is, according to the voice over narrator. We get some highlights of the Hall of Fame

We get a shot of the cards driving on the Zakim Bridge in Boston and Mike Santana driving to the arena. We get Carlos Silva saying how the nice the arena is. In an all-talent meeting, he stressed the building is packed and after the meeting, all the competitors should push hard on social media that there are a scant few tickets left. There is also a lot of celebrations – Hall of Fame and Silva are happy to see KC Navarro back from injury. He also got a shot of Elijah sitting by himself, contemplating.

Silva talked about the previous week in Orlando and the NXT crossover show and thanked everyone and wants to keep the momentum going now and through 2026. He also gave a special shout out to Chris Bey, what he said what is so amazing is that he went to the Dudleys/Hardys meet and greet and that Bey is not just a guy that was injured but looked like a guy who was back. Bey got a nice round of applause and got the “All Star” trophy.

Bey said the award goes to everyone. He said God is great. This was a tough, but fun, year. He has appreciated the journey despite the difficulties. He also likes to watch -the competitors and that it pushed him through physical therapy, which he finished that week. Keep doing what you do, he will keep doing what he does and everyone will be happy.

We get some shots of fans who are attending their first TNA show and the line up at the entrances. Edwards talked about having TNA’s first show in Boston and the meaning behind it. Tom Hannifan said he was texting Mike Tenay that week and thought about him. He understood the responsibility and the history of announcers for TNA Impact. Hannifan propped up Tenay and Don West as the inaugural voices of TNA and the standard for the promotion. He and Rehwoldt want to continue that standard.

Eric Young said Impact is a drug that can’t be sold (well…..) A lot of things have to go right for the competitors to recognize their full potential but they are happening in real time and they are living history for pro wrestling.

Rehwoldt said what is cool about this is “we are doing this again.” Lightning strikes anywhere once. This is not lighting or just luck, this is working, anytime tries to stop us, they continue to keep doing it and this past year has been phenomenal.

We go to Ariana Santana who talked about his dad and appreciated what her dad did and went through. And, he went through a lot.

We cut to TNA Homecoming 2019 and the Ultimate X match. We see Jake Crist (there’s a name for you nostalgia buffs) slamming carrying and dropping Rich Swann on the entrance way and hobbled back to ringside. Crist started the climb and made it half way until Ethan Page climbed to the top turnbuckle and speared Crist down. Both competitors crumpled to the floor as Trey Miguel made his attempt to climb.

However, Swann recovered, ran to ringside and hit a leaping hurincanrana from the floor to the top turnbuckle. Bey flew to the mat but Miguel recovered and hit his own leaping hurincanrana. However, Swann flipped through it and ran to the other side of the ring and climbed those turnbuckles. Swann made the climb and just beat Miguel to the title.

We catch highlights of the Hall of Fame ceremony and we get Angelina Love saying the HOF ceremony is a full circle moment. We get a moment with Mickie James saying that a lot of the history of Mickie James is written here in TNA.

Sky said this felt nothing short of amazing and all the support of family, fans and peers. When she started , no one said they start of becoming of Hall of Fame and to end up in it is surreal. She said when she thinks of all the matches, makeovers, brown paper bag treatments, the laughter and everything they built, it reminded her of why she fell in love with wrestling in the first place. They didn’t just entertain, they inspired.

When James got the call, she was shocked. To see how hard everyone worked in this business, she felt her work was validated through all the fans and the company. She started with the company and had so many chapters with the company and that everyone means so much to her.

Sky wrapped it up by talking about going to all the wrestling shows and seeing all the icons of her youth and thought they were all icons. She never expected to follow in their footsteps and that is humbling.

We go to some behind the scenes footage of the Frankie Kazarian vs. Steve Maclin for the International title. Kazarian said he was from a small, nothing town that nobody thought would amount to anything because no one from his hometown did and how much it meant for him to do it and for his family.

Maclin said he doesn’t get a lot of tears or emotional but to see his mom who raised him and knew how much he was a fan as a kid sitting front row and taught him to kill with kindness but also taught him to stand his ground and defend himself and he will flip a bird to anyone who stands wrong against him but will a flip a bird because he loves people.

Kazarian said he is a husband and a father first. That is more important than anything. When he shows his dedication and to pro wrestling, he hoped his kid shows the same dedication to anything his does in life and knows he will because he is absolutely adored.

We then got highlights of the match from Bound For Glory and the post-match celebration with Silva giving Maclin the title and pictures of the Marines in the audience standing and cheering.

We get a segment of TNA Victory Road Ultimate X match from 2008 . Volador Jr. hit an Asai Moonsault to the floor on Naruki Doi. Both competitors were on the floor as Kazarian stared his climb with Daivari climbing next to him. Both went up the same post and Daivari and Kazarian traded shots as both teased falling. Kazarian held on after a punch as Daivari immediately started to scales the ropes to the title. However, Kazarian climbed to the top of the post and hit a legdrop to drop him and Daivari to the mat as we cut away.

We come back to highlights of the Kelani Jordan vs. Indi Hartwell for the Knockouts Women’s title. We see Hartwell hit the flying elbow drop but we got the One of a Kind Moonsault that got Jordan the victory and title retention.

Jordan is appreciative of the chance to work with people in TNA and NXT (not after the locker room scene Tuesday.) She thinks it’s great for business for “both NXT and both TNA.” Both Hartwell and Jordan fought to define what glory really looks like as we see good sportsmanship is shown post-match. Jordan said she wants to face the best of the best regardless of the promotion. We show Hartwell being consoled by her family as Rewholdt said “it’s back to the drawing board for Hartwell.”

We then cut to a feature on Eddie Edwards. The narrator said the arena might be bigger and the crowds louder but like TNA, Edwards took years to earn respect and to learn that anything is possible. Edwards has been in TNA longer than anyone else in the company (we get great photos and footage of Edwards’ past wrestling career.) He has seen the ups and downs of the company he loves so dearly.

Edwards said all he wanted in his life is the respect and admiration of his peers. He is a two-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, two time X-Division Titlist and a seven time World Tag Team Champion. He is the first foreigner to win the Pro Wrestling NOAH GHC championship and still the only American to do so.

We get various style highlights as they reiterate Edwards comment about TNA holding their first card in Massachusetts. We see Edwards at TNA Impact Day at Fenway Park working with the grounds crew. IT said it is a great cumulation to his career and a special feeling. As an added bonus, he got to do it with his best friends, the System, and his wife, Alisha. He touted the loyalty amongst them and the respect they all have for each other and that they all have the same goal – much like TNA.

We get highlights of the Hardcore War match from Bound For Glory. Moose said he always wants to give 110 percent but when he saw this kind of crowd, he bumps it to 130 percent, At Bound for Glory, the System didn’t just survive, they redefined the standard. We also get footage of the finish (Edwards won with the barbed wire Boston Knee Party.)

We get footage from Victory Road 2007 Ultimate X match with Christopher Daniels making his climb up the scaffolding and working his way across it. “Black Machismo” Jay Lethal was on his heels. West and Tenay talked about Daniels’ weird way of climbing the scaffolding (feet first.) Lethal took advantage by kicking Daniels but could not sustain his weight and collapsed to the mat.

Meanwhile, Kazarian climbed the scaffold, made another leap from the turnbuckle and hit a cutter on Daniels so they both dropped to the mat. Homicide started to beat on Kazarian as we cut away to a feature on Leon Slater.

Before that, we got footage of Slater defeating “Stacks” Lorenzo. We get Slater and Evans challenging teams before being answered by La Parka and Mr. Iguana. We get NXT Halloween Havoc hype for this coming Tuesday and their tag match. Now, we get the Slater package. The narrator said the X Division is the soul of TNA Wrestling. Slater said this was his childhood dream. He said the whole thing is mad and had no words for it (aside from those.) We get footage from their amazing bout. We get the time limit draw and the disdain of the crowd and Hannifan.

Marella made the edict for five more minutes. Slater said he and Evans are destined to do this a million times. He said he is looking forward to the next one and one after that and eventually, they are going to be soulmates (awwwww…) Slater said the locker room has been so supportive and will continue to do it and get the standing ovations from the crowd and the backstage.

Oh, yeah, we get the Dark State interference to ruin this incredible bout. Hannifan said we had a masterpiece that was ruined by Dark State.
We cut away to a feature on Chris Bey. Last year, Bey said he broke his neck the day after Bound For Glory and was paralyzed for three or four months. After all the doctors, thoughts and prayers, he was able to get to his feet. Bey said there is a lot of good energy in TNA and it helped him even when he could not stand for more than five minutes on his feet. He was able to stand and watch the whole show. He missed being there with his family and missed the family.

We get footage of Bey’s return to Bound for Glory and his introduction and hype for the crowd. He talked about the moment he and his doctor sat him down and talked about the injury and the moment he looked out the window why did this happen and didn’t believe that he would get back on his feet. He talked about physical therapy and about moving his legs and couldn’t move them. H was at the point of tears at that point. He talked about the rehab and we show his rehab process footage, which was six times a week.

We then take a look at the Dudleys vs. Hardys match. We get a lot of footage from the previous hype packages leading to the match. For new content, we start with a teenage D’Von Dudley. Dudley talked about graduating from High School in 1991 and called Johnny Rodz, instead of playing college football. Bubba Ray was supposed to be training there but still worked with him. His first day in the ring “Good Day, New York” was shooting a segment there. D’Von talked about all the great boxing photos of Ali and Foreman all over the walls and in a small corner, Rodz set up his wrestling school.

D’Von and Bubba Ray wrestled each other in their first match. Jeff Hardy talked about staying up to 2 AM and watch ECW. HE said the Dudleys stood out and wondered if they would face the Dudleys one day.

Bubba Ray said he and D’Von did not officially meet until 1996, when D’Von arrived and became enemies. D’Von was the righteous Dudley brother and Bubba Ray was the happy-go-;lucky, stuttering, dancing brother which D’Von tried to curtail.

Matt said the first time he saw the Dudleys was 1998 and they were already carving a name for themselves with tables matches.. He also said the worked hard and busted their butts. Matt said he appreciated the flaming tables spots and doing things outside the box.

D’Von said he and Bubba had a great time in ECW and said there will never be another place like that. Bubba Ray said fans loved him and hated D’Von and the way he bullied him. People – and them – started to recognize the chemistry between the two. D’Von said he was scared about going to WWE because they would be a small fish in a big pond.

Jeff said the first experience with them that the had no idea what the future held for them. To see it cumulate like it did was bizarre and super cool. Bubba Ray said WWE was very serious about bringing in the Dudleys but felt they were really part of something in ECW. They told Paul Heyman about the call and if he could pay them one more dollar a day. Heyman said he couldn’t get into a bidding war with the WWE so he couldn’t do it. Bubba Ray tried to rationalize it but he realized Heyman and WWE were in cahoots.

Matt said it was interesting to see how talented they were and they immediately bonded and started to create the rivalry between the brawlers (Dudleys) and the acrobats (Hardys.) D’Von loved the Hardys and how in sync they were and didn’t mind sharing a ring with them. Bubba Ray said he knew about them and was excited that the WWE was trying to fire up the tag division. He said they had a mystique that was always going to happen.

Jeff talked about the Madison Square Garden Match and doing the Swanton during the match from the stands to the table on the floor,. Bubba Ray said they stole the show and that it put tag team wrestling back on the map.

The story continued after the break. We get footage. The Dudleys amicably parted ways with the WWE in 2005, Bubba Ray said. We get footage of their debut during a Jeff Jarrett and team Canada beatdown. Bubba Ray said he wanted the split to have real meaning and story. He wanted people to know that the split revolved around the Dudley Death Drop. No one had kicked out of it until Sabin did so.

It was the most protected finish in history. That level of shock caused the Motor City Machine Guns to win the match. The next week, they were to part ways. They hugged but when D’Von turned his back, Bubba Ray attacked him and became “Bully Ray.” He said the feud set the standards.

The Hardys put over the turn and that people yearn to see partners together. He said Ray did such a great job getting it over and people hating him. Jef talked about the Aces and Eights team.

Matt talked about how people see Michael Cranston and see him as Walter White or see Michael C Hall and only see Dexter and how they might get typecast. He turned it into the Brother Nero and “Delete” Matt Hardy go their separate paths because want to see them get back together.

Bubba Ray said the legacy of the Dudleys is the most decorated tag team in history. D’Von said he has to plant the seed in his kids that D’Von achieved legendary status in wrestling. He also shared a moment with his daughter, Taliyah, and she joked she wanted to join him in the ring. We get the footage of Nera Hardy, Jeff’s daughter, who only saw her dad one in wrestling and when he climbed the ladder to grab a belt send was doing his dance.

He is blessed to see his daughter and a female version of him and he feels blessed. Ruby Hardy, Matt’s daughter, said it is such a surreal feeling to see people come up to her dad and uncle and say how much they helped hat person. She said it is really cool to see what kind of impact they had on someone who is going through whatever they are.

We get the repeat of Bubba Ray’s comments about real emotion and planned emotion and that this match will make people feel something and if things go as they think, that would be real emotion.

We get footage from the YouTube channel of D’Von from the post-match. We see D’Von consoling his kids that he is done. Matt said the 25 years rivalry has defined them and the Dudleys. These are great memories and it is what he envisioned and it was reflected in the reactions from the crowd. Jeff and Matt said they couldn’t get to sleep the night before and probably wouldn’t until the match was over. We get more highlights from the match and the match’s denouement. Jeff said he is so blessed to be part of TNA Impact. Bubba Ray said it is not about his words but what the fans thought of it. It was the largest crowd in Bound for Glory History. He talked the about the fans thanking both the Dudleys and the Hardys and Bubba Ray said thank you. D’Von said he could not have asked for a better 33-year career and thanked the fans.

After the break, we get to Mike Santana’s story. We get the footage from the show’s introduction and see Ariana Santana talk about how her dad went through to be where he is now. The narrator said it was not about winning the title; it was about redemption. We see backstage celebration footage. Mike said she gets to leave an amazing life because of this business. She was happy she got to experience this special night. Santana said he was just a kid from the projects who had the dream and the testicles to do it.
We get footage from the match with Trick Williams, including the Spin the Block for the victory. We get the post-match footage where Santana puts the Puerto Rican flag and the title on his daughter and bows to her feet. We see backstage with hm hugging Konnan. We see him getting hugs from everyone (even Williams.) He said none of this happens without any of them. He said we’re nothing without the fans out there.

He said Santana and TNA are now synonymous. He said he is the first Puerto Rican TNA World Champion. He said it doesn’t matter who came before or after them but he is proud to be the first “Boricua” to win the title. He wanted to be humble and wanted to give everyone and thank everyone, but instead he wanted to thank himself.

He gave credit to Pedro Morales, Savio Vega and the Colon family, Amazin Red, Homicide, LowKi, the Spanish Announce Team Divine storm and all Puerto Ricans. If anyone steps in the ring with him and comes at him better come with the same passion and fight because he came from the ground to the world title. It doesn’t matter what organization a person represents, they better come correct because he is not relinquishing this over his dead body.

We get another recap with the narrator saying the lights didn’t just shine. they burned at Bound for Glory. TNA is the heartbeat of professional wrestling (well….) We get more highlights of the show. The narrator said if Bound for Glory proved anything, it is that the story of TNA Impact is still be written and the next chapter starts now

We finish with the main event between Santana and Williams in its entirety, Here is my previous review of it.

Santana came to the ring first through the concourse and was mobbed by the fans. Santana made his way through the crowd slapping hands with the crowd. Santana had some small face paint further cementing his status as a “Loud and Proud Boricua.” He even got a chance to meet with Konnan in the stands and Konnan walked him the rest of the way to ringside. A loud “Santana” chant emerged from the crowd. Willimas then came to the ring and an equally loud “Whoop That, Trick” emerged. Williams had a slightly muted entrance sans for a new robe. Hannifan begrudgingly gave Williams his due but remained steadfast that Williams does not care about NXT. Hannifan talked about his spitefulness during a confrontation between Oba Femi and Joe Hendry.

During the formal introductions, Williams grabbed the mic from McKenzie Miller and shooed her out of the ring. Williams said he is going to beat Santana like the Red Sox. Williams gave his own introduction (stating that he is taller than Santana at 6’4 and a sexy 255 pounds. He is responsible for every backside in the arena. Santana heard enough and started to attack and beat on Williams.

Wiliams went to the floor but Santana continued to beat on Williams and chopped away on Williams on the barricade. Williams caught a charging Santana with a boot but Santana was undaunted in his attack and threw Williams into the barricade but Williams leapt over it and beat a retreat in the crowd. Santana pursued and blocked a trashcan spot from Williams and managed to hit one of his own.

Santana beat on Williams up the aisle and hit another trashcan spot. Santana beat on Williams through the crowd> Williams though recovered and started to beat on Santana. He threw him through a barricade opening to the ringside area (knocking down a cameraman in the process.) Santana, though caught a charging Williams and hit a back suplex on the apron. Santana was slapping hands with the fans and that gave Williams time to recover and hit a running shot on Santana with the title belt.

Williams got Santana back in the ring and the bell actually rang. Willams instantly hit the Trick Kick for a two-count. He also hit a Falcon’s Arrow for another two count. Williams got a Flapjack of the ropes and started to beat on Santana, taking time to soak in the boos of the crowd. Santana tried to recover but Williams dodged a series of punches and hit a double thrust to stop the rally. He followed it with a spin kick and a neckbreaker for a two-count.

Willams grabbed the chinlock and beat on Santana. He paintbrushed Santana but Santana no sold it. Santana rallied and beat on Williams but Williams backdropped a charging Santana over the ropes to the floor. Williams went to the floor and hit a slingshot on Santana to the ringpost and the challenger started bleeding.

Willams continued to beat on Santana on the floor and dismantled the ring steps. Willams lifted the steps was going to finish Santana. However, Santana moved and the step shot hit the floor. Santana recovered and leapt off the steps to hit a flying forearm on Williams. However, Williams backdropped a charging Santana into the lower part of the steps. Williams got back in the ring and Santana struggled to get to his feet.

Williams continued to soak in the boos as the referee started his 10-count. Santana made it to his feet and in the ring. He was met with an axe kick for a two count. Williams taunted Santana and grabbed the chinlock. Santana tried to rally by running Williams into the turnbuckles and eventually, Williams relented the hold. Santana beckoned Williams and caught a charging Williams on his shoulders hitting the Outline in Chalk in the turnbuckles. Santana hit a kick in the corner. Santana put Williams on the turnbuckles and charged at Williams. However, Williams hit a blockbuster off the turnbuckles for a two count.

Williams chopped away at Santana in the corners. Williams indicated this is his house and threw Santana into the corner. However, Santana reversed it. Williams backflipped out of harms way but Santana stopped his momentum and hit the Rolling Block 50 on Williams. Santana followed it with the Outline in Chalk and a running Cannonball in the corner for two-and-a-fraction.

Another “Santana” chant emerged as Santana got Williams in position in the corner. Santana climbed to the top rope but Williams quickly recovered and threw Santana from the turnbuckles into the apron and the floor. Williams ran Santana into the ringpost. Williams dragged Santana over to his daughter and taunted his daughter. Williams continued to beat on Santana and asked Santana’s daughter who’s her daddy now. Arianna slapped her and Wiliams sold it. Santana, by this time, recovered and hit a senton over the top rope.

Santana threw Williams back in the ring and hit a kick and a powerbomb out of the corner for a two count. Santana picked up Willams and hit a Death Valley Driver and went back to the top while a dueling “Mike Sanana/Whoop That, Trick” chant emerged. Santana hit a 450 splash for another two-and-a-fraction.

Both men were exhausted on the mat but eventually Santana made to his feet; only, he was distracted by Williams’ “lawyer” who was sitting at ringside. Williams took advantage of the distraction for a roll up for two and blocked a Spin the Block into two urinagis. Williams went to the top turnbuckle but Santana met him there with a boot. Santana climbed the turnbuckles and the two fought on the top but Willams caught Santana and hit an urinagi off the top rope for two-and-a-fraction.

Williams grabbed his belt from ringside but missed a swing of the belt. Santana got a series of two-counts from cradles. Willams dodged a Spin the Block attempt but caught with a big boot from Santana off the ropes. Williams recovered and hit a Trick Kick that Santana no sold and hit the Spin the Block for a two-count. Williams tried for a quick rollup for two.

The lawyer got on the apron and accosted the referee but Santana grabbed him and dragged him into the ring and hit the Spin the Block. Williams took the time to recover to hit the Trick Shot for two-and-a-fraction. Williams was visibly frustrated but got to his feet. Santana looked at his daughter as he crawled on the ring. He managed to arise in the corner but Williams went for the kill. Williams missed another Trick Shot but another Spin the Block was blocked into another urinagi but Santana reversed it into an armdrag and a clothesline. Santana set up Williams and NOW hit the Spin the Block for the victory.

Post Match: Santana celebrated with his daughter, who climbed in the ring. He got a Puerto Rican flag and celebrated on the turnbuckles. Ariana left the ring as Silva attempted to give Santana the belt. BUT WAIT, Nick Nemeth’s music started and he emerged from the walkway. However, the lights went dark and we heard a guitar strum. The lights came back on and Elijah stood behind Nemeth and “El Kabong”ed Nemeth. He tipped his hat to Santana and was acknowledged. BUT WAIT, whilst that was happening, Frankie Kazarian, the other co-winner of the Call Your Shot match got in the ring. However, Kazarian did not have the trophy. Kazarian realized it and started to get it. However, Santana hit the Spin the Block and dropped Kazarian. Now, Silva – and Ariana – made it back in the ring and gave the title to Santana. Mike gave the title to his daughter and bowed to her feet. They hugged and we went off the air.

Impactful Discourse:

One: The editing was choppy as we went from Slater to Bey without a smooth transition but the stories were still somewhat compelling – aside from one thing…

Two: I loved the unused footage of the Dudleys and the Hardys (a 1991 D’Von Dudley was a great photo.) It was sandbagged by a lot of previously used hype footage which made it drag. If we are truly looking backstage, and something no one else has seen – make sure no one has instead of the audience a mere three weeks ago.

Three: The post-match footage of Santana was great and still showed the fire he emotes in his work in front of the camera.

Four: Speaking of Santana (and something alluded in the past by people here,) this hiatus came at a terrible time for Santana. If you want to get things set up for new tapings, fine. Do what you have to do. But, have him show up somewhere. NXT, he could be there with Slater or in some capacity. He is a champion you want to put front and center – so do it.