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…Here are 10 Interesting Facts About Bound For Glory 2023.
#10. A Contract was offered to Punk Days Prior
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. A Tag Title Match was Moved to the Preshow
In the lead up to Bound For Glory , KIller Kelly and Masha Slamovich (aka MK Ultra) were targeted by the makeshift team of Deonna Purrazzo and Tasha Steelz who were vying for their Knockouts Tag Team Titles.
This set the stage for a title match BFG, however as anyone who’s watched the event can tell you, the title match never took place…at least on the live broadcast.
Instead, the tag title match was aired exclusively on the company’s YouTube channel as part of their short-lived, Main Event Mondays special.
The match itself lasted around six minutes with the champions retaining the gold in a decent match, marking the first time since 2009 that the belts didn’t change hands at Bound For Glory.
#8. Purrazzo’s Fourth Straight Loss
Since returning to the company in the summer of 2020, Deonna Purrazzo had been one of the most celebrated and decorated Knockouts of the modern era. Unfortunately, the Virtuosa’s luck when it came Bound For Glory was abysmal.
At BFG 2020, Deonna would lose the Knockouts World Championship to Su Yung (who was a last minute substitute for Kylie Rae) in the semi-main event; The next year, Purrazzo again fought in the semi-main event and lost Knockouts Championship but this time to Mickie James.
Her losing streak continued when she and Chelsea Green lost the Knockouts Tag Team Titles to the Death Dollz at BFG 2022, and as we just mentioned a moment ago, she and Tasha failed to win the tag titles from MK Ultra at the 2023 Bound For Glory PPV.
Purrazzo soon packed up and signed with All Elite Wrestling after her TNA contract expired in early 2024.
#7. The Rascalz (0-3)
Turns out Deonna Purrazzo wasn’t the only wrestlers who struggled to find success at Bound For Glory as the company’s resident ‘High Flyers’ have also had a rough time at Bound For Glory.
As part of Bound For Glory 2023, The Rascalz lost their IMPACT World Tag Team Titles to Ace Austin and Chris Bey of the ABC.
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 to date the only member of the group to have secured a victory after winning the X Division Championship back at Bound For Glory 2021.
#6. PCO Reported His Match in Advance
Well considering how PCO’s time in the company turned out in the end, this story particularly doesn’t paint the former Digital Media Champion in a positive light.
During an online signing event, the French Canadian Frankenstein 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.
Now this would be fine, except TNA hadn’t yet advertised or mentioned the match prior, so PCO inadvertently spoiled the announcement.
Strangely he didn’t face any repercussions for this mistake and actually won the monster’s ball match.
#5. PCO Re-Signed Days Later
So after PCO’s unintentional spoiling of the Monster’s Ball match and subsequent victory at the show itself, news emerged a few days after the pay-per-view had re-signed with the company.
This quelled any rumors about a potential departure for PCO, as his previous deal was set to expire and he would be one of several wrestlers who either re-signed or signed with the company in the days and months that followed.
On the one hand it’s good thing he stayed considering the role he played in helping TNA to sell out Slammiversary 2024, on the other hand his actions at a GCW show in early 2025 were quite unprofessional.
#4. Penzer Botches Mickie’s Intros
The Knockouts World Title between Mickie James and Trinity (aka Naomi in WWE) was a good match when you realize this was the first time these two ever fought each other inside the ring.
However this match is notable for three things:
- It’s James first loss at BFG since 2012
- (As of 2025) this is her last match in IMPACT/TNA
But perhaps to most memorable part would be longtime ring announcer, David Penzer mistakenly saying that Mickie James was from Roanoke Virginia when in actuality she was from Richmond Virginia.
This soon became a moment of hilarity for many TNA fans and even Mickie herself hs brought up the botch in interviews, mentioning how close she was from taking the mic a redoing her own introduction.
#3. The Only 5-Star Match in Bound For Glory History
Despite the match have little to no build up going into the event, match between Mike Bailey and Will Ospreay was by all intent and purposes an instant classic.
For nearly 18 minutes, ‘Speedball’ and ‘The Billy Goat’ tore the house down, with the crowd hanging on their every move with Ospreay ultimately picking up the win.
So outstanding was this match that Dave Meltzer awarded it a five-star rating, marking the first time since the triple threat X Division title match at Unbreakable 2005 that a TNA Wrestling match received such acclaim.
Ospreay would further elevate his reputation months later, receiving five-and-a-half star match for his bout with Josh Alexander on episode of IMPACT in January 2024, making it the highest-rated match in TNA Wrestling history according to Meltzer.
#2. Alexander’s First Singles Loss in Two Years
The main event between 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 and much needed win for Alex Shelley, who had won the title back June at their Against All Odds event.
What might get overlooked is the fact this match marked the first time Josh Alexander lost in singles competition in two years…Talk about being protected by the booking.
Between 2021-2023, ‘The Walking Weapon’ seemed almost unbeatable, with his only losses occurring in tag matches or via disqualification…and no were not counting Moose’s cash in on Josh for the world title at BFG 2021.
The last person to have pinned Josh Alexander on IMPACT programming was Brian Myers in a preshow match for Hard To Kill 2021.
#1. Shelley Became the 3rd Man to Compete for All Three Major Titles
Aside from it being Josh Alexander’s third straight main event appearance at Bound For Glory and his first singles loss in two years, what’s less recongized is that Alex Shelley actually made history in his own right.
Shelley’s involvement 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; It started in 2009 when he and tag partner, Chris Sabin fought in an Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship before defending the TNA World Tag Team Titles a year later at BFG against Generation Me (aka The Young Bucks).
The first wrestler to achieve this milestone was AJ Styles, who competed for all three titles at BFG between 2005-2009 while Jeff Hardy became the second man to do so when he fought for all three titles between 2010-2016.
