‘Impact Wrestling: Victory Road 2020’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s Victory Road 2020, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the big duke-a-roo between Eric Young and Eddie Edwards for the World Title. Shannon Elizabeth helps people in Africa and this review begins…OLIVE GARDEN!
Match #1: Rascalz (Dez & Wentz) def XXXL (Acey Romero & Larry D)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Larry connects with a series of fists in the corner, followed by a modified powerslam for an early two count. Acey continues the beatdown with a back suplex as Dez desperately tries to make a tag. Dez dives to the outside but is caught with a mid-air uppercut from Acey. Dez is able to create separation and finally make the tag to Wentz. XXXL misfires as Wentz uses his agility to avoid the oncoming attack. Larry hits a huge splash on Dez but Wentz breaks up the pin. Dez hits Larry with a handspring kick, followed by Final Flash to win.
My Opinion: 2.8 out of 5 – The Rascalz sold well for XXXL and helped spice-up the gumbo mix that was this match. Nobody stunk-up the joint here, but it wasn’t Pay Per View quality either.
Match #2: Brian Myers def Tommy Dreamer
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Myers pummels Dreamer with multiple kicks in the early going. Myers continues to wear down the hardcore legend with a choke on the ropes. Dreamer begins to build momentum by launching himself off the apron with a clothesline to the floor. Myers is perched on the top when Dreamer sends him crashing to the mat. Dreamer almost puts Myers away with a DDT but he breaks the pin by getting his foot on the bottom rope. Myers puts Dreamer away with a huge clothesline for three.
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – Screw it. It was slow and dull at times, but this turned out well enough and made Dreamer look better than he has in years. Myers worked the right style and speed to keep Dreamer from looking too past his prime. Both guys tried and it showed in a fine under-card bout.
Match #3: Willie Mack def Rohit Raju (c) by Countout – Defeat Rohit Challenge for the X-Division Championship
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Defeat Rohit Challenge is open to anyone who has not already challenged him for the X-Division Title. Willie Mack’s music hits and it looks like the former X-Division Champion will look to add another reign to his resume. Willie is in control early as he sends Rohit flying with an arm drag. Rohit delivers kicks to the chest and head, before grounding Willie with a headlock. Rohit hits a running neckbreaker for two. Willie quickens the pace with a leg drop, followed by his signature standing Moonsault. Willie avoids Rohit coming off the top, allowing him to connect with an Exploder suplex for a near fall. Champion and challenger clash heads in the corner but Rohit purposely gets himself counted out. Willie Mack wins the match but Rohit Raju retains the X-Division Championship.
My Opinion: 3.1 out of 5 – When this was all about the action, it was on the mark, but since we had too much interference with Raju’s heel antics, we were never ready and set to go. Mack should have won here, but Callis seems to think that Raju is going to become a big star by wrestling brief matches on big events. Well, good luck with that booking strategy. In any case, this was decent, but not worthy of a PPV prize fight.
Match #4: Tenille Dashwood w/ Kaleb With a K def Jordynne Grace
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Jordynne hits a running strike in the corner, then repeatedly drives Tenille into the top turnbuckle. Jordynne attempts a splash in the corner but Tenille avoids it. Tenille sends Jordynne crashing into the steel steps as Kaleb takes photos at ringside. Tenille puts Jordynne in the Tree of Woe and pulls her hair. Tenille takes her eye off the prize, allowing Jordynne to send her flying off the top. Jordynne is enraged as she connects with multiple powerslams, followed by a Spinebuster for two. Jordynne counters the Spotlight Kick with a back elbow. Jordynne forces Tenille to tap but Kaleb distracts the referee. Tenille successfully hits the Spotlight Kick to win this rubber match.
My Opinion: 3.8 out of 5 – This turned out pretty well and was the best match of the card so far. Tenille and Jordynne had a vigorous fight that may not be the best that either can do, but it was a good teaser of what both can do. While no great PPV bout, this was fine affair that went over well enough.
Match #5: Rhino & Heath def Reno Scum (Adam Thornstowe & Luster the Legend) – Unsanctioned Match
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Heath still doesn’t have a job with IMPACT Wrestling and because of that, this tag team match is unsanctioned. Rhino and Heath take control in the early going with a flurry of dominant offense. Luster clubs Heath from the apron, allowing Thornstowe to turn the tide. Reno Scum employ frequent tags to continue the wear down process on Heath. After a big dropkick, Heath is finally able to make the tag to Rhino. Rhino hits Luster with a mini Gore but Thornstowe breaks the pin attempt. Rhino and Luster take each other out with double clotheslines. Heath tags himself back in. It almost ends up costing them the match but Rhino makes the save. Heath hits Thornstowe with the Wake Up Call to win.
My Opinion: 2.5 out of 5 – This was standard fare for tag wrestling, with nothing out of the ordinary occurring. I wish this would have been more of a visceral scrap, but we got what we got and the right people won, so that’s that.
Match #6: Trey Miguel def Moose
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trey attempts a Hurricanrana but Moose counters and chops Trey to the mat. Moose connects with a huge dropkick as he blames EC3 for the ensuing beatdown. Moose sends Trey crashing into the corner turnbuckles with a strong Irish whip. Every time Trey tries to build momentum, a focused Moose shuts him down. Moose launches Trey off the top rope and halfway across the ring. Trey digs deep for one final push, hitting multiple dives to the outside. Trey follows up with a Moonsault but Moose catches him in mid-air and drops him on the apron. EC3’s mind games continue as is logo appears on the screen. Trey rolls up Moose off the distraction to score the huge upset win.
My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – Trey and Moose had a pretty good exchange here, but Betty’s no brioche biotch, so good is not good enough for PPV. One thing to note here is that these matches are not getting the optimal length for them to really hit their stride. The finish was stupid, but it’s typical stupid, so there you go.
Match #7: Josh Alexander def Alex Shelley, Ace Austin & Karl Anderson
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Two competitors are legal at any given time during this match and two others must tag in from the apron. The match kicks off with one half of the reigning champs Alex Shelley and the Inevitable Ace Austin. Later on, Page trips up Anderson from the outside, allowing Alexander to take control. Shelley locks in an innovative double Boston Crab on both Ace and Alexander. Behind the referees back, Fulton gets involved and delivers a vicious Chokeslam to Shelley on the apron. Shelley hits Ace with a snap German suplex. The action heats up as Anderson and Alexander tag in, leading to Anderson connecting with a big Spinebuster. The referee gets inadvertently taken out, and all hell breaks loose as everyone at ringside gets involved in the action. The referee recovers and ejects them all from ringside. Shelley initiates a huge Tower of Doom out of the corner. Shelley hits Alexander with a top rope Frog Splash but Anderson breaks the pin. Anderson connects with the Gun Stun on Ace. Alexander catches Shelley with a Piledriver to pick up the victory.
My Opinion: 3.8 out of 5 – This got some decent time to work with and had more than enough action to shake a baby at. You got a little bit of every-thing here, but it all gelled well together as well. Josh winning was a great surprise, because he really needed the victory amidst the presence of three more over fighters than he. …than he? What is this…Snow White and the Seven Dongs? Ding Dong! I’m a sexy boy…not! I just liked this, warts and all. It’s no All Japan classic, but it is strong wrestling that delivered a certain experience that was welcome on PPV.
Match #8: Deonna Purrazzo (c) w/ Kimber Lee def Susie w/ Kylie Rae – Knockouts Championship
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Susie has Deonna on the run in the early going as she escapes to the outside for a breather. Susie doesn’t let up and takes out both Deonna and Lee with a dive to the floor. Behind the referees back, Lee clobbers Susie with a big boot from ringside but she’s somehow able to kick out at two. Susie takes Deonna down with a Thesz Press, then connects with the Aracnarana. Susie begins to channel Su Yung, hitting a crossbody off the top. Lee distracts the referee but Kylie takes her down. Susie attempts the Panic Switch but Deonna counters and snaps her arm. Deonna locks in the Fujiwara Armbar to win by submission.
My Opinion: 4 out of 5 – This was damn good…great even. Deonna worked over a limb and didn’t let-up, no matter how many times Ma rang the bell to tell ‘er that supper was on. Susie made for a very sympathetic figure here, like whoever has to smell Donald Trump’s farts before he goes to bed. So much of this was fine-wine mat work that has that pedigree good folk like…good folk? I gotta get out of the house more often. Hey, this was a fabulous prize fight. Give this one a go and you’ll go wild for it…unless you don’t.
Match #9: (Main Event) Eric Young (c) def Eddie Edwards – IMPACT World Championship Match
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The fight spills to the outside as Eddie hits a dive to the floor. These two rivals brawl up the ramp where Young hits a back body drop on the steel. Back in the ring, Eddie connects with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Young halts Eddie’s momentum with a sick neckbreaker onto the middle turnbuckle. Eddie hits the Backpack Stunner out of the corner. Young targets Eddie’s knee as the former World Champion screams out in pain. Young traps Eddie’s knee in the steel guardrail and delivers another devastating attack. The referee asks him if he should stop the match but Eddie won’t back down. With a burst of momentum, Eddie hits back-to-back Blue Thunder Bombs for two. Eddie connects with a thunderous Tiger Driver for another near fall. Both men jockey for position but Eddie gains the upper-hand by taking Young off the top rope with another huge Blue Thunder Bomb. Eddie almost takes Young’s head off with a Boston Knee Party but the pin is broken up when Young gets his foot on the bottom rope. It’s finally too much for Eddie to overcome as Young hits the Piledriver, then locks in the Figure Four Leg Lock to win by submission.
My Opinion: 4.6 out of 5 – This was a great main event that had a few minor flaws to it, but it was still a fantastic clash of Impact Wrestling titans. Eric plays the part of a bastard well and that makes Eddie’s job that much easier. This felt like a fight, even when they were grappling. This was paced beautifully, with both fighters attacking specific areas of the body to establish the story of the match. Everything was grueling, brutal and rough, which sold this as a grudge match like you may not believe. Over-all, this was the best match of either man’s career in some time.
Final Verdict: 4/5
Many of these matches were too short for their own good, but so much of the wrestling was a thrill to watch, so screw it…4 out of 5.
