‘Impact Wrestling: Victory Road 2021’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s 2021 Victory Road pay per view… which is often seen as the build to Impact’s massive Bound For Glory PPV, ending some feuds, starting others and sometimes providing some interesting new angles for Impact programming. Sometimes… Anyway let’s get right to it.
Match #1: Steve Maclin def. TGP & Petey WIlliams
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The issues between these three men have reached their boiling point! Petey dropkicks Maclin, followed by a springboard crossbody from TJP. Petey is the next to fly, diving into both men on the floor. Maclin takes TJP to the top of the stage and connects with a vicious backbreaker. Maclin hangs up both of his opponents in the corner, then hits a running shoulder tackle for two. Petey hits a slingshot Hurricanrana on Maclin, followed by a springboard Codebreaker. All three competitors are down after a wild flurry of offense. TJP hits Maclin with the Detonation Kick. Petey hits TJP with the Canadian Destroyer. Maclin hits TJP with Mayhem For All before tossing him to the outside. Maclin capitalizes and pins TJP for three.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 – A solid start that didn’t excite but didn’t disappoint either. This one keeps the Maclin/Williams feud going and gave Maclin a win to build his rep more in Impact.
Match #2: Laredo Kid def. Black Taurus, John Skyler, Jake Something & Trey Miguel
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Buckle up for what will certainly be an action-packed five-way match! The first man to score a pinfall or submission will be declared the winner. The action is fast and furious from the opening bell as Jake takes out Taurus, Skyler and Trey with a big running crossbody. Laredo hits a springboard dropkick, sending Jake to the outside. Trey matches the speed of Laredo, connecting with a double foot stomp. Laredo hits his signature spear on Trey. Trey hits Jake with a top rope Meteora, causing him to DDT Laredo. Taurus spears Jake, followed by a crucifix bomb to Laredo. Skyler hits a double spear to both Trey and Taurus. Laredo hits Skyler with the belly-to-belly Moonsault off the top rope to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5 – This match moved at quite a pace and I was surprised to see Laredo Kid pick up the win – especially given the rest of the men on this match; all of whom got a spotlight in this match.
Match #3: Taylor Wilde def. Tenille Dashwood
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Taylor Wilde gets her hands on Tenille Dashwood in singles action tonight! Kaleb With a K hooks Taylor’s leg from ringside, allowing Dashwood to capitalize off the distraction. Moments later, Madison chokes her on the ropes while the referee’s back is turned. Dashwood begins to wear her down with a series of submissions. Kaleb gets up on the apron and the referee has seen enough. Jordynne gets physical with Madison at ringside, causing the referee to eject everyone from ringside! Taylor hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for two. Taylor avoids the Spotlight Kick, then hits her signature German suplex to win.
My Score: 2 out of 5 – This match fell a little flat. It was a good match but, much like the opener, this more serviceable than exciting. I think Taylor Wilde needs more of a spark under her to get things to the next level regarding her return to Impact…
Match #4: Matt Cardona def. Rohit Raju
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Anything goes in this personal grudge match with no disqualifications! Cardona blindsides Rohit during his entrance and it’s on! Cardona quickly falls victim to the numbers game as Shera gets involved. Shera hits Cardona with a vicious chokeslam backbreaker before leaving ringside to have Rohit finish the job. Rohit drives Cardona throat-first into a steel chair. Rohit continues the assault as he hits a running cannonball into a steel chair. Turnabout is fair play as Cardona turns the tide, hitting a Broski Boot into a steel chair. Cardona hits a cutter onto a trash can. Rohit double foot stomps Cardona into two chairs for a very close near fall. Cardona goes low, then hits Radio Silence but Shera breaks the pin. Cardona takes out Shera with Radio Silence on the ramp. Moments later, Chelsea Green returns from injury and attacks Rohit. Cardona capitalizes with Radio Silence on Rohit to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 – Again another good, yet serviceable, match. There were a few stand out moves but overall this was your typical Impact match. The conclusion was obvious given Green’s involvement in this feud so far but I felt that this one should’ve, even with the no DQ stipulation, ended cleaner.
Match #5: Bullet Club (Chris Bey & Hikuleo) def. FinJuice (David Finlay & Juice Robinson)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The war between Bullet Club and FinJuice continues tonight at Victory Road! The Bullet Club targets the injured leg of Juice as they cut off the ring and prevent him from making the tag. Moments later, Juice creates separation and makes the tag to Finlay. The pace quickens as Finlay comes in like a house of fire. Hikuleo shuts him down with a thunderous powerslam. Bullet Club now employs the same strategy on Juice, cutting off the ring and beginning the wear down process. Hikuleo hits Finlay with an impressive delayed vertical suplex. Juice connects with a back body drop on Bey, followed by a DDT for two. Juice takes out Hikuleo with a slingshot crossbody on the floor. Bey takes a steel chair to the injured leg of Juice. Hikuleo capitalizes with a massive sitdown slam to pick up the victory.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5 – Now this is more like it! Chris Bey is a great foil for FinJuice and the addition of Hikuelo gave this match a different feel to the previous Bullet Club/FinJuice matches we’ve seen on Impact this year.
Match #6: Moose & W. Morrissey def. Sami Callihan & Eddie Edwards
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Arch-rivals Sami Callihan and Eddie Edwards join forces against a common enemy, the unstoppable alliance of Moose and W. Morrissey! Callihan and Eddie work well together in the early going but Morrissey brings their momentum to a halt with a double chokeslam. Morrissey sends Eddie toppling all the way to the floor with a big boot off the top. After several minutes of domination from Morrissey, Eddie hits a Blue Thunder Bomb to create separation and make the tag to Callihan. Moose gets taken off the top with a Death Valley Driver for two. Moose then takes Callihan off the top with Go To Hell for a near fall of his own. Moose soars through the air, hitting a massive Superplex on Eddie. Callihan and Eddie show off their tandem offense but it’s not enough to keep Moose down for three. Moose pries Eddie’s kendo stick out of Alisha’s hands but Eddie avoids the incoming shot. Eddie takes a page out of Callihan’s playbook and hits a Piledriver. Morrissey picks up Alisha at ringside. The distraction allows Moose to capitalize with a spear to Eddie. Morrissey goes too far and powerbombs Alisha in the middle of the ring. Concerned for the wellbeing of his wife, Eddie takes her to the back. Callihan must now fight Moose and Morrissey at a disadvantage. Moose hits him with the spear to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5 – This match got a decent amount of time compared to the early matches on this PPV card. I could’ve done without the Alisha spot which ended this one abruptly but it is part of the longer over-arching feud between Edwards and Morrissey so I can’t complain too much. Speaking of Morrissey, I have no qualms about saying he has improved ten-fold during this feud with Edwards, both in the ring and on the mic. Although I don’t know whos his next feud could be – he still needs someone charsimatic to face in order to keep his work improving.
Match #7: Decay (Havok & Rosemary) def. Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans – Knockouts Tag Team Championships
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Despite being the rightful title-holders, Havok and Rosemary look to reclaim the Knockouts Tag Team Titles from Tasha Steelz and Savannah Evans tonight! Two powerful forces collide as Havok squares off with Savannah. Havok pummels her in the corner, then makes the tag to Rosemary who hits a running clothesline. Rosemary locks in Upside Down but Tasha blindsides her with a clothesline to turn the tide. Havok hits a big sitdown powerbomb on Tasha but Savannah breaks the pin attempt. Rosemary sprays mist into the eyes of Savannah. Moments later, Havok tosses Tasha over the top rope, colliding with Savannah on the floor. Havok hits Tasha with the Tombstone Piledriver to retain the Knockouts Tag Team Titles.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5 – The crowd were really into this one and it helped bring some much-need excitement to this PPV, the crowd not really adding much to the event for the most part. Rosemary and Steelz carried this one through to the end… but then when has a match featuring Rosemary EVER disappointed?
Match #8: The Good Brothers (Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson) def. Rich Swann & Willie Mack – IMPACT World Tag Team Championships
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Not only are Rich Swann and Willie Mack looking to become IMPACT World Tag Team Champions tonight but they’re also out for revenge! Rich and Willie take Gallows off his feet with a double dropkick. Gallows hits Rich with a pinpoint kick to the head. Anderson attacks Rich on the outside before throwing him back in for another big boot from Gallows. Gallows drops an elbow over the chest of Rich, then wears him down with a headlock. Willie quickens the pace, hitting Gallows with a Samoan Drop, followed by a pop-up forearm to Anderson. Willie’s adrenaline rush comes to an end when Anderson hits him with his signature spinebuster. Rich hits Anderson with a handspring cutter but Anderson comes right back with a Gun Stun. Gallows powerbombs Rich on the hardest part of the ring. Back in the ring, Gallows hits Willie with the Gun Stun, followed by the Magic Killer to retain the IMPACT World Tag Team Titles.
My Score: 3 out of 5 – I really hoped the outcome of this one would’ve been different but then what would The Good Brothers do without the titles? Probably end up in mid-card obscurity once again – especially given how unresponsive the Impact crowds have been to them recently. Still, Mack and Swann REALLY deserve the belts given how much they’ve done in the tag division, and how good they actually are as a team and were in THIS match! They carried this one for gallows and Anderson. Honestly.
Match #9: Josh Alexander def. Chris Sabin – X-Division Championship
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Josh Alexander defends his X-Division Title against perhaps the greatest X-Division star of all time, Chris Sabin! It doesn’t take long for Sabin to fly as he hits a slingshot crossbody to the floor. Sabin jumps off the top but Alexander counters into a flapjack. Alexander locks in the Ankle Lock but Sabin wisely breaks free. Sabin rolls up Alexander for two but Alexander quickly shuts him back down with a forearm shot to the mat. Sabin avoids a top rope Moonsault, then hits a twisting neckbreaker on the floor. Sabin targets the neck of Alexander with a missile dropkick. Sabin locks in the Crossface but Alexander fights out of it. Sabin transitions into a pinning predicament for two. Alexander locks in another Ankle Lock but this time, he lays down for more pressure. Sabin counters, then superkicks his headgear off. Alexander comes back with the C4 Spike to retain the X-Division Title.
My Score: 4 out of 5 – Goddamn this was good, pitting the new face of the X-Division against a man who was the face of the TNA Tag Team division AND a multi-time X-Division champ! Sabin might be getting on in years but he’s never lost what made him, and the Motor City Machine Guns, so great. Meanhwhile Josh Alexander does what he does best – wrestle a superb match. And I was worried Alexander might disappear into shuflle when The North broke up… How wrong could I be?! Instead he’s levelled up and become the face of Impact Wrestling alongside Eddie Edwards and Sami Callihan.
Match #10: Christian Cage def. Ace Austin – IMPACT World Championship
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Ace Austin looks to become the youngest IMPACT World Champion in history but in order to do so, he must defeat Christian Cage in the Victory Road main event! Christian Cage is firmly in control from the opening bell, hitting a flapjack for two. Christian Cage avoids the Fosbury Flop, then hits a basement dropkick to the outside. Fulton distracts Christian Cage at ringside, allowing Ace to gain control. Ace hits a superkick behind the ear. Fulton is about to attack Christian Cage at ringside but he’s caught by referee Brian Hebner who ejects him from ringside. Christian Cage hits a tornado DDT but Ace kicks out at two. Ace counters the spear into a springboard kick. Christian Cage crashes and burns with a Frog Splash attempt after Ace rolls out of the way. Christian Cage hits the Spear but Ace kicks out at two for yet another near fall. Ace begins pulling off the top turnbuckle but it’s only a distraction so that Fulton can return to ringside and attack Christian Cage. It’s not enough to keep the champ down, however, as he turns it around and hits the Killswitch to retain the IMPACT World Title.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5 – This was a great technical wrestling match, the kind of match Cage is known for. Ace Austin match Cage step for step and didn’t look weak in the slightest in defeat. It was hard to follow the great X-Division match and Cage and Austin just about managed to. Just.
News of the Night:
- X-Division Champion Josh Alexander will use Option C to relinquish the X-Division Title for an IMPACT World Title shot at Bound For Glory
Final Verdict: 3/5
Another solid pay per view from Impact Wrestling that was elevated by a handful of good matches, some great matches and one supeb one… Just the kind of card that you expect from an Impact+ PPV that is helping to build to one of Impact’s biggest show of the year, Bound For Glory. And nowhere was that build more prevalent that in the closing moments of this show and the exciting news that Josh Alexander would be challenging Christian Cage for the Impact title… Fitting given how much Alexander’s X-Division Championship reign has elevated that belt back to the dizzy heights of the AJ Styles/Samoa Joe/Christopher Daniels era of the X-Division!
