The main storyline heading into Bound for Glory revolved around the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. At TNA's previous PPV event Unbreakable on September 11, then-champion Raven retained the title in a Raven's Rules match against Rhino. On September 15, Jeff Jarrett defeated Raven with help from America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm; AMW) and Scott D'Amore at a Border City Wrestling event to win the championship. On the October 1 episode of TNA's television program "TNA Impact!", Jarrett announced a partnership with AMW and D'Amore before the 3Live Kru (Konnan, Ron Killings, and B.G. James) interrupted them. Team 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray) then made their TNA debut, followed by the TNA return of Kevin Nash, who challenged Jarrett to a title defense at Bound for Glory. Jarrett and Nash previously fought at TNA's Against All Odds PPV event on February 13, which Jarrett won to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On the October 8 episode of "Impact!", NWA Championship Committee member Larry Zbyszko announced that the match between Nash and Jarrett was official and set for Bound for Glory with an added stipulation. Mixed martial arts fighter Tito Ortiz was then revealed as the Special Guest Referee for the bout. This was Ortiz's second time refereeing an NWA World Heavyweight Championship match in TNA, with his first being the NWA World Heavyweight Championship bout at TNA's Hard Justice PPV event on May 15.