‘Impact Wrestling: Victory Road 2023’ PPV Review
Welcome to this review of Impact Wrestling’s 2023 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. This time round we’ve also got the build to the 1000th episode of Impact. So with that, let’s get right to it.
COUNTDOWN TO VICTORY ROAD
Match #1: Alan Angels def. Guido Maritato
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Pro wrestling veteran Guido Maritato answers the open challenge of Alan Angels! Maritato hits a leg drop off the second rope for two. Angels feigns an injury, allowing Angels to blindside Maritato. Angels hits the Angels Wings to win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) def. Moose & Brian Myers
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Austin and Bey are in control as they take out Myers with innovative double team offense. Moose hits Bey with a powerslam. Myers trips up Bey and holds him down for a running senton from Moose. Bey tries to break free but Moose rakes the eyes to shut down his momentum. Bey counters a powerbomb from Moose, then hits him with an Enzuigiri to create separation. The pace quickens as Austin is tagged into the match. Austin connects with a springboard kick on Myers for two. Moose shuts down the 1, 2 Sweet before he and Myers hit their opponents with powerbombs. Bey avoids the Roster Cut clothesline and rolls up Myers to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
VICTORY ROAD
Match #1: X-Division Championship – Lio Rush def. KUSHIDA
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Rush tries to bait KUSHIDA as he immediately retreats to the outside. KUSHIDA attempts the Hoverboard Lock but Rush is on the ropes. KUSHIDA targets the arms of Rush as he drapes the left arm over the top rope, then locks in an armbar on the right. Rush bounces back with a clothesline for two. Rush tries to bring the championship belt into the ring but the referee stops him. Instead, Rush plays mind games as he puts on KUSHIDA’s glasses. KUSHIDA rolls up Rush for a very close near fall. Rush dives through the ropes but KUSHIDA catches him in a Hoverboard Lock on the outside. Back in the ring, KUSHIDA hits a Spanish Fly, then locks in another Hoverboard Lock. The referee almost gets struck, allowing Rush to hit a low blow. Rush capitalizes with the Final Hour to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Knockouts World Tag Team Championship – MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly) def. Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Kelly hits Shaw with a Fisherman’s suplex. Vidal pulls the ropes down, sending Kelly crashing to the outside. Back in the ring, Shaw hits Kelly with Shock & Awe for two. Evans continues the assault on Kelly with a Butterfly Suplex. Shaw and Evans have Kelly worn down as they cut off the ring and employ quick tags. Shaw charges into the corner but Kelly dodges out of the way. Kelly makes the tag to Slamovich, who goes on the attack. Vidal gets up on the apron, allowing Shaw and Evans to turn the tide on Slamovich while the referee is distracted. Evans inadvertently hits Shaw with a big boot. Kelly neutralizes Vidal at ringside. Slamovich hits Evans with a roundhouse kick, followed by the Snow Plow to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Crazzy Steve def. Black Taurus
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The bell rings and Taurus rams him in the corner. Taurus hits an explosive powerslam, sending Steve retreating to the outside. Steve confronts Tom Hannifan at the commentary table before refocusing on Taurus. Steve hits a springboard clothesline for two. Steve targets the eyes of Taurus before connecting with a side Russian leg sweep. Taurus attempts a Samoan drop but Steve counters into a modified Crucifix Driver for another near fall. Moments later, Taurus successfully hits the pop-up Samoan drop. Taurus hits a series of clubbing blows, then begins to build momentum with a Slingblade. Taurus hesitates to finish him off, creating an opening for Steve to attack him from behind. Steve retrieves a fork from underneath the announce desk. Taurus knocks it out of his hands but as the referee removes it from the ring, Steve rakes his eyes instead. Steve connects with the Belladonna’s Kiss to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Digital Media Championship – Tommy Dreamer def. Kenny King
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Dreamer whips King into the ropes but Jean protects him from the outside. Dreamer charges at King and clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor. Dreamer spits water in the face of King. Dreamer is about to fly but King cuts him off in mid-air. King hits a vertical suplex on the ramp. Back in the ring, Dreamer bites the head of King. King hits a slingshot corkscrew crossbody, colliding with Dreamer on the floor. King confronts Dreamer’s family at ringside. Dreamer hits a thunderous Superplex, providing him with an opportunity to regain his composure. Dreamer hits the Bionic Elbow but King comes back with a Spinebuster for two. Dreamer counters a superkick into a Cutter for a near fall of his own. Kenny soars for a big Blockbuster but it’s not enough to keep Dreamer down. Dreamer connects with a Dreamer Driver, followed by the Piledriver for yet another near fall. Jean trips up Dreamer on the top rope, causing the referee to eject him from ringside. Heath blindsides King with a Wake-Up Call out of nowhere. Dreamer follows up with his signature DDT to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Jordynne Grace def. Deonna Purrazzo
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Purrazzo offers a handshake but Grace immediately goes on the attack. The fight spills to the outside where Purrazzo drives her back-first into the apron. Purrazzo begins to target her arm for the Fujiwara Armbar. Grace fights back with a series of one-armed powerslams. Grace hits a Michinoku Driver for two. Purrazzo connects with a suplex, then transitions into the Fujiwara Armbar. Grace counters into a pin attempt for two. Grace hits a Superplex and rolls through into the Juggernaut Jackhammer. Purrazzo spikes Grace on the top of her head for a near fall of her own. Both Knockouts are down following a double clothesline in the middle of the ring. Purrazzo hits a pump kick, followed by a German suplex. Purrazzo locks in another Fujiwara Armbar but Grace breaks free. Grace counters the Queen’s Gambit on numerous occasions, then connects with the Juggernaut Driver to win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: Anything Goes Match – PCO def. Bully Ray
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Bully Ray tries to leave the arena but Director of Authority Santino Marella stops him with the help of security. PCO attacks him from behind and the fight is on. They brawl at the top of the ramp as Bully sends PCO tumbling down towards the ringside area. Bully knocks him off the apron, back-first into a pile of chairs. Bully turns his back, allowing PCO to pummel him with a steel trash can. Both men enter the ring and the bell finally rings. Bully sends him crashing through not one, not two, but four tables. PCO won’t stay down as Bully tries to retreat. Backed by security, Marella stands in his way once again. Bully slaps him in the face, summoning The Cobra from Marella. PCO suplexes Bully into a steel ladder. Bully returns the favor as he launches him off the top into the ladder. Moments later, PCO comes back with a Chokeslam through a table. PCO goes low with a cheese grater, then soars off the top with the Deanimator. PCO whips Bully through another table in the corner to win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #7: IMPACT World Tag Team Championship – The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) def. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
The Guns dismantle Wentz with double team offense in the corner. Shelley targets the knees of Wentz with a Figure Four leg lock. Miguel tries to break it up but Sabin neutralizes him with a Figure Four of his own. Wentz creates some much-needed separation with a handspring knee strike to Shelley. Wentz tags in Miguel, who connects with a springboard Moonsault on Miguel. Shelley is caught between both members of the Rascalz but fights free with a clothesline to Miguel. Sabin cranks the leg of Wentz on the middle rope, then Shelley does the same to Miguel on the other side of the ring. Sabin dives through the ropes, crashing into the Rascalz on the outside. Miguel holds Sabin down for a double stomp from Wentz. The referee stops Miguel from using the title as a weapon but Wentz cracks Sabin with the other belt. Miguel launches himself over the top rope, taking out everyone on the floor. Sabin spikes Miguel with a DDT onto the title but John Skyler pulls the referee out of the ring. Wentz blinds Sabin with spray paint, allowing Miguel to steal the win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #8: Knockouts World Championship – Trinity def. Alisha Edwards
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Trinity rushes her into the corner, then chokes Alisha with her boot. Trinity hits the running splits, sending Alisha to the outside for a breather. Trinity brings the fight to her on the floor as she hits a dropkick through the ropes. Alisha drives her into the top turnbuckle, then hits a neckbreaker to gain control. Alisha hits a running crossbody for two. Trinity turns the tide with a backstabber for a near fall of her own. Trinity inadvertently takes out the referee with a roundhouse kick. Alisha is tapping out to Star Struck but there’s no referee. Eddie attacks Trinity from behind. Eddie is about to put her through another table when Frankie Kazarian and Traci Brooks make the save. Trinity launches herself off the top rope and puts Edwards through the table. Alisha hits Trinity with a kendo stick but it’s not enough to keep her down. Trinity connects with the Full Nelson Slam to win.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #9: Josh Alexander def. Steve Maclin
The following is courtesy of impactwrestling.com:
Maclin clotheslines Alexander over the top rope to the floor. Alexander hits a modified Brainbuster on the hardest part of the ring. Maclin focuses on the surgically-repaired left arm of Alexander as he drives it into the steel ring post. Maclin stomps on the arm to remain in control. Alexander begins to build momentum with one German suplex after another, culminating with 10. Maclin takes him out with a SCUD missile through the ropes. Alexander’s arm gives out and Maclin capitalizes with an Olympic Slam for two. Maclin locks in the London Dungeon but Alexander creates separation with a belly-to-back suplex. Alexander hits his signature low crossbody to the back of Maclin. Alexander attempts the C4 Spike but Maclin counters into a driver for two. Alexander connects with a backbreaker for two, then transitions into an Ankle Lock. Now it’s Alexander who takes advantage of Maclin’s previously-injured groin as he targets the area. Alexander locks in another Ankle Lock but Maclin breaks free once again. Alexander is Caught in the Crosshairs after being tripped up on a Moonsault attempt. Maclin hits the KIA but the impact sends Alexander toppling to the outside. Both men exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Alexander gets his boot up on a Jarhead Drop from Maclin. Alexander goes back to the groin, then connects with the C4 Spike to win.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Once again Impact pulled off a great pay-per-view! Not quite the highs of last year’s Victory Road but a solid PPV nonetheless. I think this was overshadowed by the forthcoming Impact 1000 show but still delivered some great wrestling – and that’s the good thing, right? Delivering wrestling. GOOD wrestling. We got two great men’s tag matches, a brilliant main event that saw Josh Alexander come back from injury with a bang, and a great X-Division championship match. The real stand-out though? Seeing the former WWE star Nunzio wrestle Alan Angels in the pre-show match… Bizarre is not the word!!
