Series on the June 13 episode of Impact Wrestling. Roode began the BFG series with a string of losses against Jeff Hardy, Magnus, and his former tag team partner Austin Aries. On the August 1 episode of Impact Wrestling, Roode claimed he would go back to his old ways in order to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. Roode then defeated Hernandez via pinfall, after hitting him in the head with a beer bottle, to earn seven points in the tournament. The following week, Roode allied himself with Christopher Daniels and Kazarian to form a new force and so that one of them would win the Bound for Glory series. On August 15 at Impact Wrestling: Hardcore Justice, Roode defeated Magnus, Mr. Anderson, and Samoa Joe in a tables match, following interference from Daniels and Kazarian, to capture twenty points in the BFG Series. The following week, the trio labelled themselves EGO and Roode and Kazarian went on to defeat TNA World Tag Team Champions Gunner and James Storm in a non-title match. EGO also tried to recruit Roode's former tag team partner Austin Aries, but Aries answered their offer by attacking Daniels and costing him his BFG series match. Roode's participation in the Bound for Glory series ended on the September 5 episode of Impact Wrestling, when he was eliminated from a twenty-point battle royal by A.J. Styles. EGO went on to feud with Magnus by attacking him and costing him several matches. On the October 3 episode of Impact Wrestling, Magnus ran a gauntlet match against EGO and eliminated both Daniels and Kazarian before Roode won the match by making Magnus submit to an ankle lock. As a result of defeating Magnus, EGO held a mock Hall of Fame induction for Roode the following week, in mockery to Kurt Angle's induction, leading to Angle returning, attacking all three members of EGO in retaliation, and issuing a challenge to Roode at Bound for Glory, which Roode accepted. On October 20 at Bound for Glory, Roode defeated Kurt Angle after Angle injured himself while hitting his finisher. The two had a rematch on the October 31 episode of Impact Wrestling, where Roode won via referee stoppage after Angle suffered convulsions and post-concussive symptoms. After his two victories, Roode continued the feud by insulting Angle and brawling with him. Simultaneously, Roode entered a tournament for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship and defeated