Bound for Glory (2023)

Background Bound for Glory is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. The event was created in 2005 to serve as the company's flagship PPV event, similar to WWE's WrestleMania, in which wrestlers competed in various professional wrestling match types in what was the culmination of many feuds and storylines that occurred during the calendar year. On January 25, 2023, it was announced by Impact Wrestling that Bound for Glory would take place on October 21, 2023, at Cicero Stadium in Cicero, Illinois, a suburb just outside Chicago. Storylines The event featured several professional wrestling matches, which involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on Impact's weekly television program. At Emergence, Impact announced that NJPW's IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay will return to the company at Bound for Glory. His opponent was later revealed as Mike Bailey on Week 2 of Impact! 1000, a match that was originally scheduled for Multiverse United in March before Ospreay sustained an injury. On the April 6 episode of Impact!, due to a torn triceps, Josh Alexander was forced to vacate the Impact World Championship. In his absence, Steve Maclin and later Alex Shelley would hold the title, with Alexander returning to confront Shelley at the end of Slammiversary. In the following weeks, Shelley took exception to Alexander calling the Impact World Championship "his" title, since he was never beaten for it. The two would continue to be reluctant allies, however, Shelley would at points abandon Alexander whenever the latter was in trouble, such as at Emergence. On Week 2 of Impact! 1000, Impact announced that Alexander will challenge Shelley for the Impact World Championship at Bound for Glory. On the September 28 Impact!, after Chris Sabin retained the Impact X Division Championship against Alan Angels, a video package played announcing the Impact return of Kenta at Bound for Glory. Later in the night, Impact announced that Sabin will defend the X Division title against Kenta at the event. On the April 13 Impact!, Mickie James was forced to vacate the Impact Knockouts World Championship due to a broken rib. Deonna Purrazzo and Trinity would become champion in James' absence. On Week 1 of Impact! 1000, James made her return from the injury, teaming with current champion Trinity to win a 10-Knockout tag team match on Week 2. Although during the post-match celebration, James was noticeably eyeing Trinity's title belt. On the following week's episode, Trinity defeated Gisele Shaw in a non-title main event, before being ambushed by Shaw and the SHAWntourage (Savannah Evans and Jai Vidal). However, James would emerge to help the champion fend off Shaw's associates. James later spoke to Trinity about how she earned her title but reminded her that she never lost it herself. On the September 28 episode of Impact!, the Call Your Shot Gauntlet was announced for Bound for Glory, with the winner as always earning a trophy they can use to invoke a championship opportunity of their choice at any time and place. A ten-person tag team match would be announced for the following week, with Champagne Singh, Dirty Dango, Eric Young, Jake Something, and Jordynne Grace defeating Bully Ray, Brian Myers, Shera, Jody Threat, and KiLynn King. The following week, the five of them would go on to face each other, where Dango – with help from Oleg Prudius (formerly Vladimir Kozlov in WWE) – pinned Something to earn the last entry spot in the gauntlet match, and Something was forced into the first entry spot. At Slammiversary, ABC (Ace Austin and Chris Bey) defended their Impact World Tag Team Championship against Brian Myers and Moose, Rich Swann and Sami Callihan, and Subculture (Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster). At the closing moments of the match, The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz) appeared and neutralized ABC from the match, allowing Andrews to pin Myers and Subculture to win the titles. At Emergence, The Rascalz would defeat Subculture to win the tag team titles, when outside interference from Dani Luna, ABC and The Good Hands (John Skyler and Jason Hotch) allowed Miguel to blind Webster with spray paint before pinning him. which contained a tag team title opportunity. On the October 12 Impact!, The Rascalz successfully defended the titles against Rich Swann and Sami Callihan, now going on to face ABC at Bound for Glory. ==Event==