TNA VICTORY ROAD: ROAD TO VICTORY OR TRAIL OF DEFEAT

SPOILER ALERT: I am giving only a brief description with my thoughts on the event. If you were not able to check out the PPV and want to watch, then do not view any further.

We head into Victory Road with a lot of potential for TNA. The story lines have been getting better as of late and the last couple of Impact’s were really good.

I hate that they spoiled a PPV caliber match with Joe vs RVD, but what else is new with TNA. I do like how they built up the match in just the few seconds, right before the match. But then what happens, they dismiss the build by switching focus. Bringing out Tommy Dreamer and his crew was good for the growing story line, but not with this type of dream match happening. Also, what is up with the damn “putting the career on the line” crap?

On to the show.

Brian Kendrick vs Douglas Williams

We start things off with Ultimate X/Submission for the X division Title. Williams using his tech. style. Using bridge chin lock. Nice. Williams goes for tornado DDT, but kendrick counters and goes for submission. Williams w/ head scissors lock. Kendrick gets out. Williams puts kendrick in widows peak lock hold. Kendrick gets out. Kendrick kicks him with the first X division type move of the match. Kendrick keeps going for Cobra Clutch all night. Kendrick goes for title and Williams hits a super back body drop. Williams puts gloves on and goes for title. Kendrick up after him and goes for Clutch. They drop to floor. Williams gives Kendrick Clutch and wins via Submission.

MY THOUGHTS: This match should have never been an Ultimate X match. They went up to the top like twice. My thoughts on Kendrick are that I don't like him, so it was good that he lost. I mean the whole match he either went for a Clutch or just hit Williams with right hands. Williams on the other hand was great. He pulled out his tech. style and it was fun to match. Only if he had an opponent to go against. I think it ended wrong because it seemed Kendrick had a legit concussion, we will see. That's it. It didn't get the crowd hyped like they generally do with the X division to lead things off.

3-Way Match. Bubba Ray vs DeVon vs Neal

Bubba waits on Neal and starts to beat on him. Meanwhile, Devon is backstage stuck in a room. Bubba beats on Neal. During this match we see Tommy Dreamer and the group come to the ring. Bubba asks them what they are doing there. But, gets caught by Neal and they start to fight more. DeVon makes his way to the ring. He gives a stare down with Bubba. The go for an attack on each other and Neal tries for the spear on Bubba, hitting Devon instead. Bubba hits Neal with the Bubba Bomb and gets the pin. Bubba is the winner.

MY THOUGHTS: This match had more crowd reaction than the first one. But it was just a squash B.S match to continue the ECW story line. There is nothing else to say here, that's it.

Angelina Love vs Madison Rayne- Knockout's Title

These two go at it back and forth. Rayne goes for chair. Love boots the chair in her face. A mystery woman rides up on a bike dressed in black. She hits Love. The ref thinks it's Lacey and goes to Borash. Rayne is disqualified via interference and the New champion. Love is the winner. Rayne goes crazy and takes off on bike.

MY THOUGHTS: This is just like the 3D match. A quick match that was just there to push a story line. They should be doing this on Impact, not the PPV. They give away free PPV on Impact and give Impact matches on PPV. This company is Ass Backwards. Anyway this woman is probably TARA as she is in talks to coming back. I was looking at her walking style and it kind of looked like her plus she owns Cycles so I believe that was the case. Next PPV reveals this person.

AJ/Kaz vs Mystery Team

So the mystery team is ... TERRY and JOE'S GONNA KILLL YOU. Joe of course comes out killing dudes. He is taking care of both AJ/Kaz. Suicide dive to the outside against both AJ/Kaz. Good Tag Team back and forth with AJ/Kaz. Keeping Joe on their side. AJ for Clash on Joe but joe kicks out. Joe goes for clothesline, AJ ducks and PELLE. Joe falls to corner. AJ runs, YuriNagi on AJ. Joe tags Terry and the crowd who was hyped at that point dies down, lol. Terry does his impression of Goldberg. Joe who choppes the crap out of Kaz. Goes for Muscle Buster but Wolfe runs in and holds Joe's leg. Some good tag team on Terry and AJ with 450 springboard. Winner AJ/Kaz. Joe is pissed and Muscle Buster on Wolfe.

MY THOUGHTS: Good match. The best one so far. The crowd was into it. Joe was awesome of course and AJ/Kaz were a really good tag team with the back and forth. I personally wish the other partner was someone else. But, Terry did good with the little chance that he had. It was good that they only featured him for a second. He gets to do his power thing and doesn't stay too long to show that he isn't that sound in the ring. Good Match.

Morgan vs Hernandez Cage Match

These two pummel each other back and forth. Morgan rips his back on cage causing blood. Morgan gets upper hand and Hernandez is laying out. Morgan goes for door of cage and has one foot out. He comes back in and attacks Hernandez even more. Hernandez bloody from head. Hernandez gets second wind and goes off on Morgan. He goes for border toss but Morgan gets out. Hernandez goes for biggest spot of night, TOP OF CAGE. JUMPS AND....MISSES. Morgan rolls out. Morgan gets handcuffs. Cuffs Hernandez. Morgan climbs cage for no reason when he could have opened the door. Hernandez pulls cuffs. Hernandez runs and diving headbutt through the cage door. Winner Hernandez

MY THOUGHTS: It was a classic big man match. One good spot with Hernandez jumping from top of cage. I thought the end was dumb because Morgan could have just opened the door. He should have attempted to open the door. Hernandez should have went for the dive. Morgan duck, and Hernadez go through the door. But that would have probably been a little difficult.

Jay Lethal vs RIC FLAIR

They lock it up. Crowd chanting for Flair. I don't care what anyone says. Flair is old but he can still take back body drops. You can't say that about anyone who wrestled at the time he started in this business. Flair tries for suplex out of the ring but Lethal gives him suplex into ring. Lethal missile drop kick. Flair raked the eyes. Chops Lethal, then again, then again. Lethal with 6 chops. Flair goes off into the distance then his patented drop to the floor. Flair to top rope. Taz says he's 0-6000 with this but I actually saw him land it twice in WWE when he was ending there. Lethal with moonsault but flair rolls in to corner. Flair works on right leg setting him up. Crowd back and forth for both men. Flair with Figure Four. Lethal holds on. Hebner sees Flair holding rope, classic Flair/Hebner. Lethal with rollup but Flair breaks out. Chops back and forth. Lethal imitation flair. Lethal grabs flair shorts, OOHHH GOODNESS FLAIRS ASS IS SHOWN. Lethal cross body. Lethal with splash on knees. Lethal with Figure Four. Flair TAPS. Winner Jay Lethal.

MY THOUGHTS: I wish Flair didn't have his first 1on1 match on PPV with Lethal. He did with Hogan before that but not in the states. He wrestled on Impact but I mean PPV match. Flair vs Sting would have been better. But, this was a descent match. It went back and forth nicely. I liked it.

Beer Money vs MCMG

Taz/Tenay say that this is the match to anticipate and that it will be talked about. I agree with them and it's good that they say that. I can't wait for this one. Good back and forth with Shelly and Storm. Classic MCMG combo's to Beer Money. MCMG cutting the ring off a la Beer Money and tagging back and forth. Ref distracted while Roode pulls Shelly, Crotch to ring post. Now Beer Money tag back and forth on Shelly. Double team suplex...BEER MONEY! Roode with Gut Buster to Shelly, then to a Gut Wrench. Shelly fighting his way, goes for Sabin and tags him. Sabin taking over ring. DDT on Roode. KIcks the crap out of Storm on the outside. Goes for 3 on Roode. NO. Taz says you wont see anything like this, anywhere, I agree. Shelly with standing Sliced Bread. 2. Sabin fighting Beer Money. Roode picks up Sabin, passes him to Storm, eye of storm on Sabin. Beer Money going for DWI but Sabin took out Storm. MCMG work on Roode but Storm in taking both men out. Storm goes for beer spit. Spits in ref face. Shelly stomps on Roode goes for 3 but ref is out. Hebner runs in but ..2. Shelly cross body, Roode counter, 2!. Crowd chanting MCMG. Back and forth with two teams. Each team member pins the other. 1,2,3. But which one won. They restart match thank GOODNESS, they usually save this for another impact or PPV. Back again. Shelly with Super kick to Roode. Sabin holding Roode, while Shelly cross body off top. 1,2, 3!!! Winner MCMG.

MY THOUGHTS: Best match of the night. Almost Worth the price of the PPV, really it was, just need another good match on the night. Great match as we all expected. This one was great back and forth between the two teams. Great that they restarted match instead of doing what they usually do.

The Pope vs Kurt Angle

The two square off. Angle doing his classic mat wrestling. Pope trying to hold up. Angle powerbombs Pope into the turnbuckle. Angle giving pope belly to belly suplex. Pope fights back and gives angle german suplex, holds on a la Angle but angle battles out. Angle with clothesline but Pope blocks it sends Angle to corner, goes for DDE but Angle avoids. Angle with 3 german's. Angle for Angle Slam but Pope battles out. They go back and forth. Angle straps down. Angle with the lock. Pope reverses it and holds Angle but angle out. Angle goes back for lock again. Pope taps. Winner Kurt Angle.

MY THOUGHTS: Descent match. Good back and forth. Good for Pope to try some technical style to add to his arsenal. Not a bad match at all, but we knew that Angle was going to win.

4 way Anderson vs Hardy vs Abyss vs RVD TNA Title

Anderson out with an A**hole shirt which is stupid. He has the crowd say his name which sounds horrible. 150 people saying your name sucks, just wait for a larger crowd to do that. Anyway all men are out. They attack Abyss. Then focus on each other. Anderson uses some cheap tricks on Hardy. RVD split leg on Anderson, Hardy breaks count. X division type tower of doom (double super plex off top by Hardy/Anderson on RVD with Abyss on bottom with powerbomb). Hardy, whisper in wind on Abyss, Anderson breaks count. Anderson mic check on Abyss, Hardy breaks count. Abyss black hole on Hardy, Anderson breaks. Hardy/Anderson back and forth. Hardy twist of fate and swanton on Anderson, Abyss breaks it up. Abyss to pin Anderson/Hardy, RVD 5 star frog splash on all 3 men. Winner RVD.

MY THOUGHTS: Even though it doesn't seem RVD did anything, he had his moments but none were the big moments of the match. This was a pretty bad main event, considering the potential. It seemed the crowd was never into the match at all. It seemed a little too quick and nothing really stood out here. I wish something actually happened in the end with Abyss. I actually wish that Abyss won the title, then it would have been a better match to be quite honest and would have pushed the story line.

OVERALL:

The PPV had one stand out match and that was MCMG as the winner. The AJ/Kaz match was really good too, and Flair/Lethal was surprising. But, overall we had the X division match which didn't seem anything of X division. We had the Knockout, and 3D match which were just story line progression matches which should have been on Impact. Then we had a big man match with Hernandez/Morgan, and Angle's match was just okay. I actually can't wait till Impact to see the new top ten rankings. Doing it after the PPV actually makes you want to tune in and find out, which is a good thing. So tune into Impact this Thursday, I have a feeling some good things will come from it as TNA does some good story line progressions after their PPV's.

UPDATE 7.13.10: COPY AND PASTE

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/419913-tna-impact-a-must-watchhow-dare-dixie

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