Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
Impact Wrestling’s “Bound For Glory” Event comes to us Live this Friday, October 7th, 2022, from Albany Armory in Albany, NY, at 8 pm (730pm Countdown Show) on FITE TV. Here are the Experts on the Eastern Observer’s “Essential Wrestling Podcast,” sponsored by ProWrestlingPickem.com, who are picking this event.
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact World Championship**
**Champion JOSH ALEXANDER vs. EDDIE EDWARDS**
“If this whole Honor No More storyline wasn’t headed for an Eddie Edwards world title run, then I don’t know the point. You don’t turn your franchise player into a heel if it’s not going to include a run as champ.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: EDDIE EDWARDS
“I’m taking Eddie here ’cause I want Eddie’s decision to turn against Impact to be justified. Eddie was right. Eddie Edwards should’ve had an opportunity to fight Kenny Omega way back when to get the Impact Championship back to the company he loved. He even beat Kenny Omega in a tag team match! But Impact didn’t give him a chance. Long Term Storytelling at its finest here! This has been over a year in the making! Great work, Impact! Get that strap, Eddie!” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: EDDIE EDWARDS
“Unfortunately for our champion, this match is about solidifying Eddie Edwards as a dominant heel. Honor No More has been running roughshod since he was revealed to be their leader. All that’s missing is the Impact world title, and I think Edwards will stop at nothing to get what he wants.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: EDDIE EDWARDS
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact Knockout’s Championship**
**Champion JORDYNNE GRACE vs. MASHA SLAMOVICH**
“This match could steal the show, like a female version of Gunther v Sheamus. Neither woman will come out of it as they were before. But Masha is an undefeated monster, and although Grace is at the top of her game right now, I can’t imagine her retaining her title here.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: MASHA SLAMOVICH
“Masha’s dominance has been fun to watch. But Jordynne will prove to be a better competitor and too much to handle. I wouldn’t be shocked if Masha won this, though. This is an incredible Bound For Glory Knockout Title fight! I don’t think it’s going to happen.
Looking forward to the match!” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: JORDYNNE GRACE
“I hate picking against Jordynne, but Masha has been built up to be an unstoppable monster & I don’t see why they would give her a hiccup here.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: MASHA SLAMOVICH
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact Tag Team Championship**
**Champions THE KINGDOM vs. THE MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS**
“Putting the tag belts on the Guns is never a bad idea, but if I’m going to believe Eddie has a shot in the main event, I feel like things should be rolling Honor No More’s way at that point, so their tag champs need to retain.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: THE KINGDOM
“The boys from Honor No More have a lot of friends who can ensure that they retain. Sabin and Shelly will give it a valiant effort, but I don’t see them overcoming the odds this time.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: THE KINGDOM
“A Winner is Me in this match! Big fan of both teams! Glad this will be in the Bound For Glory history book! Give me the OGK to Retain, but this is a crap shoot. The Guns could walk out of this as Champs again. But I think this will be Honor No More’s big payoff and complete justification of their mission.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: THE KINGDOM
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact X-Division Championship**
**Champion MIKE BAILEY vs. FRANKIE KAZARIAN**
“Speedball all day! So far, this will be the biggest notch on Bailey’s belt, and his reign of excellence has no end in sight (unless….. Option C?!?).” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: MIKE BAILEY
“This match has all the elements to steal the show. I believe Kaz is here to give Speedball a hell of a match unless Kenny King weasels his way in, then Kaz is there to take the pinfall. But I’ll go with the idea that this match stays as is, and the champ retains.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: MIKE BAILEY
“Is Frankie going to stick around after this? He was here a bit, helping Impact fight against Honor No More. And then had two great matches with long-time rival Chris Sabin. Does AEW have nothing for him to do? I love this match-up, but I’m just not understanding why? The X-Division Champion has an incredible 11-4 record at Bound For Glory. So unless Kenny King gets added to this last minute and throws a huge wrench in the plan, I will take Speedball to retain.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: MIKE BAILEY
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact Knockout’s Tag Team Championship**
**Champions VXT vs. TAYA VALKYRIE & JESSICKA**
“The whole storyline around this match has been about the challengers, while the champs have barely been on TV. So normally, I would say it led to a title change here. But when you consider what VXT has had, what? Two defenses? And then consider the history between Rosemary, Taya, & Havok. Then you sprinkle in Father James Mitchell. There are just too many ways for this to go bad for Taya & Jessicka.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: VXT
“Rosemary won’t allow this to happen. She hates this version of Havoc. The last thing she wants is for Jessicka to have success. More importantly, Deonna has walked the aisle at Bound For Glory as Champion for the past two years, and she’s come up short for the past two years. Time for this Jersey Girl to get a W on Impact’s Grand Stage!” – Al Karl, EWP Host
Pick: VXT
“I think that Taya, Jessicka, and Rosemary will not all be on the same page. VTX will take advantage and retain.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent
Pick: VXT
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Career Threatening Match**
**MICKIE JAMES vs MIA YIM**
“You don’t see too many Knockout’s Matches at Bound For Glory that are non-title. So I appreciate this! I think it’s too early in Mickie’s Last Rodeo for the ‘I’m sorry. I love you.” moment (although I think it’d be hysterical if Mia said it during the match, then Mickie countered whatever move Mia was attempting into the Mick-DT for the win!). But what a great pick and fun history between these two to make it believable that this could be a proper send-off for Mickie.” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: MICKIE JAMES
While there’s a certain beautiful symmetry to Mickie being Yim’s 1st ever-professional opponent & the possibility of Yim being Mickie’s last…I don’t see the rodeo ending here.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: MICKIE JAMES
“Does Mia Yim deserve to retire Mickie James? Heck no! NEXT!” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent
Pick: MICKIE JAMES
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**” Call Your Shot” Gauntlet”**
“We don’t even know half the participants here, but the one who sticks out for me is Heath. He has beef with Eddie, so there’s an easy story if Eddie should win the world title. He’s had an uneasiness with Josh for sticking his nose into Josh’s business, so they could easily build a story for a fight if Josh retains. And considering his ongoing feud with Honor No More, if the greatest competitor in the history of Bound For Glory, Rhino, should return to the delight of us all, Heath could call his shot and go after OGK and the tag titles (assuming they retain). And then Celebrating, of course, with sprayed cheese & saltines. OH, BABY!!” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent
Pick: HEATH
“Hopefully, Mr. Bound For Glory himself, the Man-Beast, Rhino, makes his return during this match. As the All-Time Winningest Competitor in Bound For Glory history, he’d be tough to pick against. But how much fun would it be if, after all the crap Eddie Edwards gives him weekly if PCO won this thing?! If Eddie wins the title, Eddie will be all over PCO to not cash in the Trophy on him. But if Eddie loses, I bet he’ll try to convince PCO to give him the Trophy so he can get another title shot. There’s a lot there that’s already set up, so I’m going with the Monster!” – Al Karl, EWP Host.
Pick: PCO
“Looking at the list of announced participants, it seems Heath is the only logical choice, so I’m going with him. That being said, Impact cares nothing about logic. So always be ready for a Shark Boy situation.” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent.
Pick: HEATH
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**Impact Digital Media Championship Open Challenge (Countdown Match)**
**Champion BRIAN MYERS vs.???**
“Who will answer the challenge? Will it be more than one person? I have no clue, especially since it’s on the pre-show. We could anticipate a high-level surprise if this were on the main card. But it’s not. So this could be anybody. I’m going with the odds here and betting on a new champ. Maybe Rhino!?” – John Smith, EWP Correspondent
Pick: ???
“Is this one just as easy as Cardona being healthy and coming back for the title he was never supposed to lose/surrender? Yeah, I think it just might be.” – John D’Aconti, EWP Senior Impact Correspondent.
Pick: ???
Photo Credit: impactwrestling.com
**2022 Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee**
**RAVEN**
As huge fans of his throughout his career, here at ProWrestlingPickem.com, The Essential Wrestling Podcast and The Eastern Observer would like to congratulate Raven on being Inducted into the Impact Wrestling Hall of Fame! “It is written; therefore, it shall come to pass. Quote the Raven, ‘Nevermore.'”
Photo Credit: Eastern Observer
Be sure to catch the “Essential Wrestling Podcast” on Tuesday Evenings at 5 pm on all of the Eastern Observer Platforms, and join the EWP Public Pool on ProWrestlingPickem.com to Play Against our Team of Experts!
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