A Practical Outlook: TNA Victory Road Preview/Review
Special Guest tonight is a friend of mine who is watching it with me. He will basically just give his predictions as well. Maybe ratings too. For the first time in nearly a year, I will be buying a TNA PPV event.
The show kicks off with a video package followed by Don West and Mike Tenay welcoming us to TNA! The video package was far too long and generic but it did put over the fact that TNA is planning on giving us one hell of a show. Let's hope they follow through. The flags are around the ring for the X-Cup. Lauren and BG along with Borash keep putting over how the fans get what they want.
Match #1: 12 Man World Cup X Match
Ken's Predictions: Team International
Friend's Predictions: Team Mexico
Match Thoughts:
This match is going to be fast and probably very spotty. Dux is eliminated first by Buccenero (sp?) Puma then out from the Angel's Wings (but not from Daniels) A cool double single leg crab on both of the MCMG. Cradle Shock with a knee to the head from Shelley. I marked. Another member of team Japan eliminated leaving the Speed from Speed Muscle in the ring with Shelley. Doi eliminated a member of Mexico. Kozlov is so fun. WWE should sign him with Vladimir. Great team work. Improved as the ring started clearing. Curryman gets eliminated. I love Team Japan's team work. As Doug Williams got eliminated. Guns vs. Speed Muscle vs. those two Mexican guys should happen for sure. Ultimo Guerrero and Buccerenero maybe? I don't know. Ultimo Guerrero eliminated by Kozlov. Ray then takes his role in. I should have voted TNA! Team Mexico is completely out. Kozlov pins Sabin despite botching the cheating. Kozlov is eliminated by one of the Japanese guys. Shelley and Jap are the last two. Neither me nor my friend were correct. Team International still got 1 point. This match is greatness. Shelley and Jap are so good. Shelley wins and I marked like a little girl.
Final Rating: I don't know if it deserves it but I loved this match which lasted like... 25 minutes. This is a great match and I'd give it at least ****
A show run down followed by part one of Booker T's homecoming.
Match #2: Angelina Love vs. Gail Kim
Ken's Predictions: Gail Kim
Friend's Predictions: Angelina Love
Match Thoughts:
I must say, if nothing else the Beautiful People have an amazing entrance. Some decent brawling and of course, Velvet Sky cheated but it was done nicely. A small Christian like temper tantrum by Angelina Love. Gail Kim with a Bret Hart like Figure Four Leg Lock using the turnbuckle, just without going all the way with it. Silly Gail, go all the way damn it! Gail then attacks Velvet Sky and climbs to the top rope but she hits the ropes. A decent match so far but nothing great. Kim with the Codebreaker later on and the Regal Cross picking up the win. Sky attacks her afterwards and they want to paper bag her. They went for a double clothesline but Gail gets out.
Final Rating: **1/4-**1/2. Nothing great but far from bad.
Shit segment backstage with the guys for fans revenge. Hate the idea for the match.
Match #3: Jay Lethal vs. Sonjay Dutt
Ken's Predictions: Sonjay Dutt
Friend's Predictions: Jay Lethal
Match Thoughts:
Lethal goes after him right away. A lot of build up for this match. I am calling it now. Val turns on Lethal. If I'm wrong, then don't mind this. I've been waiting for this feud since last year and Dutt has become so charismatic. I love it. Some good combos. A lot of big spots but Lethal has a lot of anger and displays it nicely. I'm not a fan of some of the build up but it's certainly dramatic which adds to it. What I love is how Lethal isn't as flashy as normal, which kind of puts over his anger and it seems like Sonjay when he does flashy moves it screams trying to impress Val. Val asks him to calm down which let Dutt his a clothesline and get the upper hand. He calls for Val all match. Lethal Combination. Lethal went to climb to the top, Val tried to calm him down, then Sonjay rolled up Lethal for the win. He kissed Val and ran away as Val stands in shock. Not quite turning on him but cost him the win either way!
Final Rating: I'd give the match about a ***1/4. Not as good as I hoped but still good.
Beer Money is backstage bullying JB. Good. Robert Roode uses the term mark. TNA keeps using it. Meh. James Storm is epic. Jackie says she's not coming out with them.
Match #4: LAX vs. Storm and Roode Fan's Revenge
Ken's Predictions: LAX
Friend's Predictions: LAX
Match Thoughts:
I hate the idea of fans revenge but I love the idea of Beer Money. I'm a huge James Storm fan and Roode is growing on me, and at the same time with no mid-card title they wouldn't go anywhere anyway so its good to have them in a team. Storm runs around the ring, obviously giving the fans free shots. Some very fun Beer Money tag team work. Hernandez is a beast. T-Bone by Homicide. Hernandez gets in and clears house. Train Wreck by Hernandez followed by a Batista Bomb... I mean the sitout powerbomb. I like the camera angle where it shows him from behind in the air. Tornado DDT by Homicide. Hernandez held Roode in the air and Homicide hit a cutter off the top to end the match. It looked like a gang bang with so many people in LAX shirts.
Final Rating: It was at least **3/4. Could be more but I hate fans revenge matches. This was pretty fun though.
PWG clips and more on Booker's home coming.
Match #5: Taylor Wilde vs. Awesome Kong
Ken's Predictions: Taylor Wilde
Friend's Predictions: Taylor Wilde
Match Thoughts:
Ok beginning but kind of dull. I marked for the ref with shorts on twice so far tonight. Taylor is already being overrated. She's solid but not great. I loved her front dropkick off the ropes and even more for Kong's roll into a clothesline. Taylor Wilde with a quick win. They attack her after, which sort of makes up for the match. Saisha botched throwing the chair in the ring, which I marked for. Abyss comes out! Saisha gets Kong to leave and slaps Abyss, leading to a black hole slam. He then carries Taylor out.
Final Rating: **1/4 final. Was only getting ** but Abyss helped.
Another Booker segment. Worst one yet. Then showing the Houston space center.
Match #6: Kaz vs. Davari vs. Naruki Doi vs. Volador Jr. Ultimate X
Ken's Predictions: Kaz
Friend's Predictions: Kaz
Match Thoughts:
Should be good but Davari will be the weak link of this team. Some predictable spots but still fun. All three men attack Kaz but Kaz fights them off. Kaz went to jump but fell off the ropes. A lot of botches tonight. Doi took a huge bump. Volador is like lightning. Loved the spot with Davari. An obvious spot but ftw with Doi running head first into Volador's... man section. Which Volador didn't sell, I might add. Doi climbs backwards, another obvious spot. Kaz and Volador are near the X and Volador falls. Davari is back up and kicks him off. Volador gets back up and powerbombs Davari. Cool moonsault by Volador to Doi. WWE should hire Volador since the other guy turned it down. An amazing leg drop off the scaffold to Davari who was trying to get the X. Don totally oversold it, but it was epic. TEAM MEXICO WINS! HOLY SHIT! A celebration after the match
Final Rating: ***3/4. Not as good as the first match due to some blown spots and predictable spots, but I marked for someone not TNA winning.
Yet ANOTHER Booker segment. Getting old very fast. Then Frank Trigg is shown ringside putting over Angle and saying how he hates AJ. I like when sports stars come into wrestling, minus Pacman Jones. Especially MMA guys. Puts it over.
Match #7: AJ, Christian, and Rhino vs. Team 3D and Kurt Angle in... Full Metal Mayhem!
Ken's Predictions: Team 3D Angle
Friend's Predictions: AJ, Christian, and Rhino
Match Thoughts:
I like how they keep the metal poles up for Full Metal Mayhem. Frank Trigg called Karen Angle a whore. Greatness. They kind of changed Christian's theme. That's dumb. Huge AJ spot early on. Some nice moves with the ladder. Insane splash by Christian. Christian further enforces why he's my favorite, or one of them, in TNA and in wrestling. GORE! GORE! GORE! Says Don West. Shades of LOD, they hit a huge Doomsday device through the table. D-Von may be injured. Cage is back in though. Ankle Lock on Christian Cage. I marked. Reversed into a pin attempt. Good series of moves. 3D THROUGH THE TABLE TO CHRISTIAN! I know my calling of the match is random, but hey, it's insanely fun. Did I just see Ray hit a superkick? Holy... you know. X-Factor like through the table. Devon pushed through the table. Angle slam into a roll up into the Styles Clash 1, 2, no! Johnny Devine is out! Pele kick! He hit him with the cane! Angle Slam to AJ! Earl Hebner hurt his ankle! Oh the drama! AJ is on the ladder and gets hit with the kendo stick by Frank Trigg, then an Angle Slam through the table. Angle and Team 3D win!
Final Rating: **** spotty but still I highly enjoyed it. Plus the Angle/Trigg/3D/Devine stable rocks my socks.
Joe is backstage with JB. Says he'll win then shakes Nash's hand, providing he stands in his corner. The main event, is next!
Match #8: Samoa Joe vs. Booker T
Ken's Predictions: Samoa Joe
Friend's Predictions: Samoa Joe
Match Thoughts:
I missed the first few minutes but the fans are solid behind Booker. Joe is busted open and Booker has been on top for most of the match. Really putting over the Booker is better thing and I predict Joe will reign victorious in the end. Big leg lariat off the second rope by Joe. A beautiful T-Bone by Joe. Joe with the classic knee to the guard rails. So much heat for Joe. I love it. Sharmell slapped Joe! Joe attacks the bodyguards and students of Bookers. Other refs came for the hurt ref and attacks then. He bites the bloody Booker T. Dave Hebner came out. Mark out! Joe is attacking security and is in all heel mode. Belly to belly suplex to a security guard. Joe then puts Booker in a sleeper and Stings music plays. Sting comes out with the big coat and a bat. Joe glares at him, bloody. Joe turns around and Sting is angry. Sting says he's gone too far. Joe acts like he's walking away, then he runs in and attacks Booker more. Sting pulls him off yelling at him and Joe flips him off then tells him off. Sting hits him with the bat. So Joe is heel tonight and Booker isn't. But they were a week ago. Sting is face but not face. Sharmell is counting with Booker over Joe. Is Booker T TNA champion? What the hell? I'm definitely tuning in to iMPACT to see how this is carried.
Final Rating: **3/4
Overall I would say this is one of TNA's better PPVs in recent time.
I'll probably rewatch it when I get the chance, because I couldn't focus as much with a friend over and some drama happening with others, so if my ratings sound faulty, that could be why.
Linear Mode
