[2011-10-16-TNA-Bound For Glory] Bully Ray vs Ken Anderson (Falls Count Anywhere)

[DMJ]

Reviewed this for my blog - I am reviewing the full Bound for Glory 2011 show available on YouTube - and was somewhat surprised not to see this match here...

 

Anderson eschewed his usual intro to run to the ring and take the fight right to Bully. Lots of energy to start things with Anderson landing a big shot to the groin but then eating a big boot soon after to slow things down. Bully hit some stiff open-hand chops in the corner but Anderson landed a jumping kick and got a 2-count. Anderson went to the floor and grabbed a hold of a sign that was - you guessed it - actually a steel Dead End street sign. Not the most original spot, but this crowd was craving ECW callbacks and it was wise to give those to Anderson. Ray rolled out of the ring and Anderson followed him, dousing him with a cup of beer. An overzealous fan splashed one onto Anderson (and he looked legit surprised and pissed). Bully mounted a comeback and grabbed a table. Anderson and Bully fought their way up the ramp before it could be used, though, with Anderson attempting a suplex on the stage only to take one himself. Bully mocked Anderson's intro and brought the microphone down, which Anderson then used to clobber him in the head. Ray was bleeding a bit as they fought into the backstage area. Ray hit a not-so-pretty piledriver on the concrete but Anderson got a shoulder up. There was a time when that would've been sold like death. Ray grabbed a chair and tried to choke Anderson out with it before leading him back into the arena. Anderson fought back and hit a short-arm clothesline and then a stomp to the groin. Back to the ringside area they went, trading fists. Anderson took apart the guardrail, bringing a piece into the ring. As he tried to get it inside, Bully caught him with a clothesline and grabbed another table, sliding it into the ring as well. Bully set it up but got back body dropped onto the guard rail, bending it. Anderson then went for a senton but landed on the rail when Bully rolled out of the way! Bubba Bomb through the table! 1...2...kickout! Bubba set up Anderson on the rail and went for a senton himself - not a move usually in his repertoire, but whatever - but Anderson evaded it and hit a Mic Check onto the rail for 2. Ray rolled out of the ring as the camera showed that Anderson had a busted lip. Anderson grabbed a trash can and bashed it over Bully's face, causing him to lay down on the table at ringside. Anderson climbed to the top rope, blood dripping down from his nose/lip, and hit a senton but the table didn't break (bummer). Bully rolled to the floor and the two clearly had to work out a new finish with Anderson hitting the Mic Check through the table to get the W. I'm not a huge fan of either guy, but this was a career match for both as they gave each other hell, told a very straight-forward and physical story, and smartly built it around Anderson getting to have multiple "ECW" moments to keep the babyface/heel dynamic consistent. 

 

I gave it a 4-out-of-5 on my scale (which goes 0-5 with half-points but not quarter points). A "4" usually means it is in the "should watch/must watch" territory and could potentially be in the Top 10 matches of any given year.