Total Nonstop Action Wrestling: Victory Road

I will be there in section 108. Refgal's son wanted to go, and we watch wrestling together, so I picked up the tix.

Has anybody here been to a PWA show? That is Booker's school in Pasadena. The show I went to was a really good time. I recommend it to any wrestling fan.

 

will be there tomorrow, don't really follow TNA or WWE for that matter as much as I used to, but for $20 for a PPV, is not too shabby.

 

I really don't know what to make of it all. Joe's gonna be a bad guy in Houston, Booker will be cheered...Joe's supposed to be the new face of wrestling. Looking forward to the Ultimate X though. I love Team Japan.

 

I hear they are staged. Is it true?

 

I am enjoying TNA the last 2 years more than I have liked WWE since about 2002...

But, yes. I will be there tomorrow. Great ticket prices. Section 107.

 

I'm going tomorrow. I can't remember what section.

The only match I know on the Card was Samoa(n) Joe vs Houstonian Booker. teehee, so funny i am.



I wanted to watch TNA on Thursday just to get a rundown of what the heck is going on. However, I fell asleep. So I have no clue. I know booker is the heel in this one going in. But i will cheer for Booker.

 

Pretty good show.


I'm kinda confused about the ending to the main event.




There was some lady sitting in front of me. She was damn cute. But she had a HUGE rock on her hand.




Hasn't stopped me before.

 

do explain..........

 

no.










..

 

Results:

Spoiler

TNA Victory Road Results - 7/13/2008
Reliant Arena, Houston, Texas
Report by: Richard Gray of WrestlingNewsWorld.com

The pay-per-view comes on with a video of John F. Kennedy giving his speech as the United States launched in route to the moon accompanied by TNA highlights building to Victory Road. We're live from the Reliant Arena in Houston, Texas as Mike Tenay gives us the formal welcome. He pumps the pay-per-view as the pyros explode. Doesn't seem like a very lively crowd as the camera shoots Lauren in the crowd with BG James. They cut outside to Jeremy Borash where he promotes the voting for tonight's 6 Man Tag Team War on the official TNA website where fans can pick the stipulation for the match. We go to Lauren inside the arena with BG James. She plugs the pay-per-view as James says that the fans are losing their rabid a$$ minds. He plugs the fan's revenge match between LAX and Beer Money then Samoa Joe and Booker T.

TNA World X Cup: 12 Man Elimination Tag Match

In this match: Team Japan consists of Masato Yoshino, Milano Collection A.T., and Puma. Team Mexico consists of Ultimo Guerrero, Rey Bucanero, and Averno. Team International consists of Alex Kozlov, Doug Williams, and Tyson Dux. Team TNA consists of Curry Man, Chris Sabin, and Alex Shelley. Curry Man for Team TNA starts it out against Masato Yoshino. Curry Man tricks Yoshino and trips him face first into the mat. The Motor City Machineguns come in after a tag. They double team Yoshino. Tyson Dux gets in from a tag then Doug Williams against Chris Sabin. This is moving quick so bear with me. Rey Bucanero tags in and double teams Doug Williams with Ultimo Guerrero. Dux is eliminated via pinfall by Rey Bucanero. The action goes out of the ring between Collection A.T. and Bucanero. Puma and Milano Collection A.T. work over Rey Bucanero in the ring. Now it's Bucanero and Puma. Not for long as several tags are made. Puma is eliminated via pinfall.

Milano Collection A.T. is now in against Chris Sabin. Shelley comes in for the save by Milano takes him down as well. Milano as both the Guns in a double Boston Crab as Curry Man comes in for the save. Milano and Sabin are now in. Sabin gets a quick two count by Collection A.T. hits a nice drop kick in the middle of the ring. Sabin counters and hits a cradle shot. He pins him, Milano Collection A.T. is eliminated. Masato Yoshino is the only member of Team Japan still in the match. Shelley chops away at him in the ring. Masato whips him off the ropes in a counter. Shelley counters and sets him up on the ropes - connects a drop kick in the corner. Sabin comes in for a double team. Masato Yoshino and Averno are now the legal men. Masato is finally able to eliminate him after a delayed decision. Curry Man is in against Alex Kozlov. Doug Williams out of nowhere nearly gets an elimination on Kozlov but now it's Curry Man and Doug Williams. They work each other over in the ring.

High risk moves from Team Mexico in the ring. Ultimo Guerrero is in the ring - it's mayhem in the ring. Doug Williams gets taken out but is not eliminated. Curry Man is eliminated. Rey Bucanero eliminates Doug Williams after a high flying maneuver off the top rope. Ultimo Guerrero lights up the chest of Chris Sabin on the outside with a knife edge chop. Kozlov and Guerrero are now in the ring. Kozlov and Guerrero go at it on the top rope as Guerrero hits a front suplex and a near fall. Guerrero continues to work on Kozlov in the middle of the ring. Kozlov counters and applies a submission hold. Kozlov taps out, he's eliminated. Rey Bucanero and Chris Sabin are now going at in the ring. Bucanero goes to the top rope but Sabin goes up top to cut him off. Hurricanrana off the top rope from Sabin on Bucanero.

Sabin and Masato Yoshino are going at it in the ring. Kozlove gets involved as Shelley hits a jaw breaker on Yoshino off the top rope. Sabin nearly eliminates Yoshino with a near fall. Kozlov tags himself in from Yoshino. Now it's Sabin and Kozlov, Sabin takes him down face first in the ring. Sabin goes off the ropes and hits a clothesline. Kozlov eliminates Chris Sabin with his feet on the ropes. We're down to the final three with one representative for Japan, TNA, and International. Kozlov dives to the outside onto Shelley on the outside. Masato Yoshino gets back in the action on the inside. Masato Yoshino works over Kozlov in the ring and gets him in a submission maneuver. Kozlov taps. We're down to Team TNA vs. Team Japan. It's Shelley vs. Yoshino.

Masato Yoshino goes off the top rope with a dropkick off the top rope. Yoshino works a quick pace but Shelley is able to counter and get a near fall. Shelley goes for the frog splash but misses. Masato Yoshino capitalizes and gets another near fall. Yoshino gets caught with a bridge suplex into a two count. Shelley, with the crowd behind him, sets Yoshino up on the top rope. Yoshino is able to battle out and gets a near fall on Alex Shelley. Shelley hits a fireman's carry on Yoshino and gets the three count for the win.

Winners - Team TNA

Gail Kim vs. Angelina Love

They run a promotional video prior to the match which looks more like confessions on an episode of the Real World on MTV. Angelina comes out first with Velvet Sky. Gail's rolling solo as she comes out next. Angelina Love goes on the offensive first, screaming while she assaults the former Knockout Champion. Gail Kim fights her off with right hands. Angelina ends up whipping Kim into the ropes but Gail fights back with high kicks. Kim sends Angelina to the mat and gets her up to hit some chops. Kim hits the outside but Velvet Sky roles her back in the ring. Angelina goes back on the offensive, clearly in control during the match opening. Love chokes Kim in the middle of the ring. Angelina drags Gail around the ring by her hair but Gail battles back. Gail ends up eating a clothesline as Angelina gets a two count. Angelina Love connects on a spinning heel kick and a two count. Love hooks the leg again after Gail kicks out - then again. Angelina begins to show frustration as Gail starts another counter.

Gail goes to the outside and wraps Angelina's legs around the ring post, she's going for a Figure Four type submission but Velvet Sky gets involved. Kim sends Sky into the rail and gets back on the ring apron. Gail gets to the top rope but she takes too long as Angelina shakes the ropes. Angelina gets on the middle rope and hits a suplex on Gail Kim. The crowd starts a 'you screwed Bret' chant at referee Earl Hebner. Love is able to get a near fall after the spot. Gail starts to counter with several moves but Love counters. Gail counters, Velvet Sky gets on the apron, Gail chases her off. Kim uses the knees to get the advantage on Love followed by a handcuffed neckbreaker to get the three count.

Winner - Gail Kim

"Black Machismo" Jay Lethal w/ SoCal Val vs. "The Guru" Sonjay Dutt
Grudge Match

Sonjay Dutt comes out first with a card and a rose. Jay Lethal comes out next with SoCal Val. Dutt tries to give Val the card and rose but Lethal goes right on the offensive. Lethal takes Dutt out who is on the outside and throws down the rose and the card. The bell rings and we're officially underway. Lethal hits a double sledge off the top onto The Guru. Lethal gets a quick cover and follows it with some right hands. Sonjay gets to hits feet and goes into a counter. Lethal counters and gets a quick two count. Dutt springboards over the top rope from the apron onto Lethal. Val looks concerned from ringside as Lethal is dazed in the ring. Dutt mocks Lethal after kicking him in the back of the head. He locks in a submission hold on Machismo on the mat. Lethal gets back to his feet and backs Dutt off with elbows. Dutt applies a drop toe hold and follows up with more humiliation. Sonjay hits a standing moonsault and a near fall.

Lethal builds a counter and suplexes Dutt to the mat. Both men are down as the referee starts the double count out. Lethal hits a series of clotheslines on Dutt along with some chops. Dutt goes for a DDT but Lethal counters off the middle rope. Sonjay sets Jay up on the top rope and gives him a chop. SoCal Val cam barely watch as Sonjay hits some more offense into another two count. Lethal plants Dutt face first on the mat. Dutt goes to the outside and Lethal starts to mount offense. Lethal throws Dutt into the rail and follows with right hands. Lethal kicks Dutt on the outside as Sonjay pleads with Val to help him. Lethal bounces Dutt's head off the announce table and rolls Dutt back in the ring. Lethal applies a submission maneuver on Dutt in the middle of the ring. He continues to plead with Val to help him. Val gets up on the ring steps but Lethal tells her to get off. The Guru uses the hesitation to his advantage. Lethal tells Val he loves her from inside the ring. Lethal takes out Dutt in the ring. Val gets on the apron, distracts Lethal, and Dutt is able to roll him up and get the three count.

Winner - Sonjay Dutt

The Latin American Xchange (c) vs. Robert Roode & "Cowboy" James Storm
Fan’s Revenge Match For The TNA Tag Team Championship

The 12 fans come out first with the straps. Tenay runs down all of their names but I'm not. Beer Money comes out first. The following match is for the TNA World Tag Team Championships. Hernandez and Homicide come out with Hector Guerrero and Salinas. Robert Roode and Homicide are going to start things off. They exchange right hands to get the action underway. Roode applies a side headlock but Homicide gets out of it and dumps him to the outside where he gets beat by the straps from the fans at ringside. James Storm is now in against Homicide. Storm throws him to the outside but he lands on his feet. He drinks Storm's beer with the fans on the outside. Storm goes outside and gets beat by the fans. Back in the ring, it's Homicide and Storm. Storm gets sent to the outside and whipped. He gets back in the ring to be greeted by a double team by LAX. It's time for Hernandez as he gets a two count.

Hernandez makes a quick tag, Storm gets one to Roode. Nelson and Bobby go at it in the ring as Roode gets caught in the banner on the outside where he gets strapped by the fans. Roode is able to get back in the ring only to eat a couple of snap suplexes from Homicide. Another for good measure. A tag is made and now it's Storm and Homicide. Storm applies a submission maneuver on Homicide. Homicide counters but Storm hits a power move and a two count. Roode gets tagged in and Beer Money double teams Homicide. Storm throws Homicide into the turnbuckles and goes to work on him. Hernandez tries to get in as Beer Money double teams his partner. James Storm locks a Boston Crab on Homicide after all the double teams. Roode has Homicide in a submission hold as Homicide is able to get to his feet. Roode attempts a suplex but eats one from Homicide. Homicide reaches for Hernandez but Storm breaks it up. Only momentarily as Hernandez gets the hot tag and cleans house.

Roode goes off the middle rope and Hernandez catches him. He hits a sit down power bomb and a two count. Storm is in the ring as well and he takes our Hernandez before he can land anymore offense on Roode. Storm throws Roode into Hernandez but he gets a boot to the midsection. Finally Beer Money goes for a double team on Hernandez on the top rope. Hernandez throws them off like rag dolls and hits a splash for a two count on Roode. Storm breaks it up. Roode gets thrown to the fans again but back in only to eat LAX's signature double team manevuer to get pinned by Hernandez.

Winners - LAX to retain the TNA Tag Team titles

Taylor (c) vs. Awesome Kong w/ Raisha Saeed
Knockouts Women’s Championship Match

Kong comes out first with Raisha Saeed. This match is for the TNA Knockout Women's Championship. As soon as Wilde gets in the ring, Kong attacks her from behind. Kong sends Wilde hard to the mat and goes for a quick two count. Kong kicks Taylor in the back of the head and chops away at the chest of the challenger. They botched a couple of camera shots before returning to the ring with Kong with her foot over Taylor's throat. Kong locks a submission maneuver on Wilde in the middle of the ring. Kong wrenches back on the chin lock on Wilde who refuses to tap. Kong lets off and reapplies to quickly. The cameras keep going to Saeed on the outside.

Wilde gets her hands in Kong's hair to break the hold, she begins to hit some dropkicks and goes to the top rope. She connects, sending Kong to the mat, but Kong gets right back up and clotheslines Wilde. Kong goes to the middle rope as Wilde hits an armdrag take down with Kong sitting on the top turnbuckle. Taylor Wilde gets a near fall but ends up eating some slaps. Taylor counters and gets a two count. Out of nowhere Wilde reverses a chokeslam and gets Kong caught in the roll up for the win.

Winner - Taylor Wilde to retain the TNA Knockout Women's Championship

TNA World X Cup: Ultimate X

Here's who will be representing each team in the match: Kaz (Team TNA) vs. Naruki Doi (Team Japan) vs. Volador, Jr. (Team Mexico) vs. Daivari (Team International). The bell rings and all three workers go at it with fast paced action Kaz is the first to get on the structure but Daivari cuts him off. Kaz gets back on the structure but Mexico and Japan work together to get him off. Volador Jr. and Naruki Doi go at it but it's Volador that gets on the cables above the ring. Kaz cleans house and climbs to the top rope. Daivari pulls him off from the outside and goes to work on him. Daivari gets Kaz back in the ring as Doi and Voladir work to take Kaz out. Kaz cleans house again and goes back to the top rope. Kaz had one hand on the cable but he ends up falling off and gets worked over Volador Jr. and Doi. Doi sets Kaz up in the ropes and Volador ends up getting tossed to the outside.

Doi climbs up the Ultimate X structure but Daivari uses headbutts to send him off on the outside. Volador pulls Daivari off the cables and they go at it in the ring. Volador hits an arm drag take down on Daivari and he gets on the structure. Doi works on Kaz as he has him setup in the ropes. Doi hits a nice dropkick and climbs the top rope to get on the structure. Doi climbs the cables backwards so he can keep an eye on Kaz who is coming up after him. Volador is climbing up the other side as Doi falls off. NOw Kaz kicks Volador off. Here comes Daivari. Daivari gets knocked off, as does Kaz. The structure is clear and Volador and Doi work each other for control. They have a mid-ring collision. As Doi goes up to the top ropes.

Volador Jr. is able to knock Doi off the structure and send him to the outside. Volador hits a moonsault onto the outside on Doi. Good spot. Daivari and Kaz are climbing the steel on the structure. Daivari and Kaz exchange blows at the top of the structure. Daivari starts to climb the cable backwards. Kaz hits a leg drop from the top of the structure, sending Daivari to the mat. Outstanding spot. With everyone else incapacitated Volador Jr. gets the X down from the structure to win the match.

Winner - Volador Jr. (Team Mexico)

AJ Styles, Christian Cage & Rhino vs. Kurt Angle & Team 3D
Six Man Tag Team War

The match starts on the outside with Styles and Angle going at it and Christian and Bubba working over one another. Devon and Rhino are also battling it out on the outside. AJ goes air born outside of the ring onto Bubba and Angle. Devon and AJ are now in the ring. AJ sends Devon to the outside. Rhino hits a spinebuster on Angle, Bubba comes in and makes the save. Christian hits Bubba over the head twice with a trash can. He goes for cover. Styles goes off the top rope onto Brother Ray for a two count. Devon gets in and they double team Styles. Styles uses his high flying tactics to counter but Team 3D still take him down. Christian and Rhino get in with a table and take out Team 3D. Angle evens the score with a chair. Angle suplexes Christian with a belly-to-belly overhead release suplex onto a ladder. Both Devon and Bubba have ladders. They set them up as Angle stomps Rhino out of the ring.

Styles goes off the top onto Brother Ray. Devon gets in and takes out AJ. Now Angle joins in on the action, assaulting Styles. Christian is on top of the scaffolding from the Ultimate X match, cross body block on Team 3D and Angle. He gets a two count on Bubba but that was another awesome spot. Brother Ray starts to counter with a chair but Rhino hits Gore on all three of his opponents. Rhino sets up a table in the ring. He works over Devon in the corner. Devon is setup on the top turnbuckle, Rhino follows. Brother Ray sets up a table and puts Rhino on his shoulders. Devon connects, sending Rhino through the table. Christian tries to mount a comeback with a double clothesline on Team 3D. He attempts the Unprettier on Angle. Angle counters, Christian goes for it again. Now Angles locks in the ankle lock. Christian reverses it and gets a two count. Christian goes to the ropes but Angle gets up, Christian bites him on the head. Devon throws Christian to the outside right into a 3D with Bubba standing there into a table. Now AJ is going at Angle in the ring. Team 3D and Angle are alone in the ring with AJ. Angle inadvertently clotheslines Devon. AJ uses this to get control back on Angle. AJ goes to work on Bubba but he sends him to the mat.

Devon and Brother Ray go after AJ in the corner. AJ chops Brother Ray but he counters with a hand to Styles' face. In the ring, Brother Ray sets AJ up on a table. He gets on the middle rope but AJ hits a low blow. AJ gets up on the ropes and powers him through the table. AJ sends Devon through another table. Angle gets in goes for the Olympic Slam but AJ counters and hits Styles Clash. Two count. Here comes Johnny Devine with a kendo stick. Styles takes it from him and hits him over the head with it. Styles looks at Frank Trigg but Angle hits the Olympic Slam. AJ kicks out of a cover. Angle puts another table into the ring. He hits a European uppercut on Styles and sets up a ladder. Angle throws Earl Hebner down, Hebner holds his ankle. Angle sets up a table and takes the straps to his singlet down. AJ outsmarts Angle and sets him up on the table. AJ climbs the ladder in the ring but Frank Trigg gets on the apron and hits AJ over the head with the kendo stick. Angle sends Styles through the table as Hebner makes the three count.

Winners - Team 3D and Kurt Angle

Samoa Joe (c) vs. Booker T
TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match

During a pre-match interview between JB and Samoa Joe, the Champion told Kevin Nash to stay in the back. We cut to a shot backstage of Booker T walking to the ring. Back to a promotional video for Booker T. Sharmell is shown front row at ringside. We go to a shot of Samoa Joe backstage where he is making his way to the ring. Back to a promotional video for Samoa Joe. JB is in the ring for the official introductions. The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is the main event of the evening. Rudy Charles will be the official as this bout is for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. Booker T is the babyface in this building but the crowd is pretty dead. The bell rings and Booker T runs his mouth at Joe. Finally we get some Booker T chants that come through on TV. Joe starts with his MMA style punches on Booker. They lockup and Booker lands some chops on the champion. Joe counters with his own chops, Booker counters. Blows continue to be exchanged as the fans boo Joe. Samoa Joe runs into Booker with all his weight in the corner.

Booker chops Samoa Joe then whips him off the ropes. Joe ducks a kick and lands a knee to the face of Booker. Joe gets a quick two count. The crowd gets even more behind Booker as Joe tries to mount more offense. Joe has the opening control of the match but Booker builds a counter by throwing Joe to the outside. Booker kicks Joe on the outside. Joe counters with punches. Booker pokes Joe in the eyes and throws him off the rail. Booker hits a short-armed clothesline. Booker throws Joe into the steel ring steps - Joe's busted open. Booker follows up with right hands. Booker gets Joe back in the ring and sends him to the mat. There's a crimson mask on the face of Joe as he gets covered for a two count by the challenger. Booker hits more right hands with Samoa Joe on the mat. Joe is back to his feet and counters with an atomic drop on Booker. Booker counters with an axe kick - he gets a two count. Booker chops Joe in the ring and backs him into the ropes with more. The cameras keep shooting Sharmell in the crowd. Booker lands a high kick to the face of the champion. Another near fall.

Joe and Booker exchange repetitive blows. Samoa Joe ends up getting more momentum and getting to his feet first. Joe backs Booker down with an elbow and a boot to the face. Joe goes off the middle rope and covers Booker for a two count. Samoa Joe hits a snap slam and a two count. Blood is pouring down his face as Joe starts to cough in the ring. Joe gives Booker a chop but walks into a Book End attempt. Joe counters with a suplex and a two count. Joe sets Booker up on the top rope but Booker fights his way off with knees to the upper midsection of Joe. We see a series of counters that leads to the referee getting knocked out.

In the ring, Booker and the referee are down. Joe grabs Booker and throws him to the outside. Joe sets Booker up in the corner of the guard rail. He sets him up in a chair and gives him a knife edge chop. Joe connects with a boot to the face of Booker. Sharmell pleads with Joe from ringside. Sharmell screams at Joe to stop, she slaps him. Joe takes out the bodyguards that are with Sharmell. Joe bounces Booker's head off the ring apron. Booker is now busted open. Slick Johnson has came in as the new referee. Joe assaults the bloody Booker in the ring. Joe takes out Slick Johnson and then Andrew Thomas who comes from the back. Joe goes back to beating on Booker. TNA staffers come out from the back and tell Joe to stop. Booker tries to mount offense but Joe slams him to the mat. Security hits the ring and Joe takes them out. Now Sharmell is in the ring trying to back Joe off (what the hell?). Joe locks a chokehold on Booker as Sharmell continues to scream. The lights go down and Sting's music hits.

Sting comes out and looks Joe in the eye. Joe turns his back and goes back to work on Booker. Sting tells Joe that he's gone too far. Joe leaves the ring with Sting as the crowd boos (and rightfully so) heavily. Joe waits for Sting to get to the back as he goes back to the ring and goes after Booker T. Sting pulls him off this time. Joe gives Sting the finger. Now Sting takes Joe out with his baseball bat. Sharmell makes the three count with Booker on top of Joe. She puts the TNA Championship on Booker T and they leave ringside.

Winner - Booker T, new TNA Champion?

 

this post belongs here

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=151105&page=1

 

Sucks the main event ended so confusingly, but the X division matches were awesome and Joe for the most part ended up returning to form as a badass.

 

An online wrestling journalist's (or should I say critic) analysis of last night's PPV. Not very pretty...

Spoiler

Richard Reacts To One Of The Worst PPVs Of The Year - TNA Victory Road
Submitted by Richard Gray on July 14, 2008 - 10:07am

Before I start this review I want to make it well known that I am not a writer that is bitter on the business. You can read through my blog archive and see that I try to find the positives in every wrestling show because I know how frustrating it is reading writers that always post negative work. However, TNA marks beware, because I am about to rip into the company for last night's Victory Road pay-per-view which took place from the Reliant Arena in Houston, Texas. It's become pretty clear even in the TNA locker room that the company has been putting on lackluster television week in and week out with booking that could irritate even the most diehard TNA fan. To be honest the past few weeks of Impact for me have consisted of covering the shows as they are taped and not even bothering to watch on television. I was seriously considering not even ordering Victory Road but because I wanted to see Samoa Joe vs. Booker T in Houston I decided to take the risk and cover the event. Boy did I ever make a mistake.

I do not know how the crowd came off live in the arena but as soon as the pay-per-view came on it felt like that the crowd was already dead. There were no loud, out of control "get me on TV" chants, just Mike Tenay's dry voice welcoming us to yet another TNA pay-per-view. They cut to a shot outside with Jeremy Borash talking to more enthusiastic fans only to go back to the dead arena where BG James made what TNA is calling his "broadcast debut". BG James was just like the rest of the event - awful. His attempts to pump up the crowd sounded forced and he tried to grab the microphone from Lauren before she even said her opening line.

The first match of the night was the 12 Man Elimination Tag Match which I felt was a good fast paced match. It was nothing overly special but perfect for an opener. The problem with it was, while I know who guys like Milano Collection A.T., Rey Bucanero, and Tyson Dux are - most casual wrestling fans do not. I understand that the World X Cup is a once a year thing and it is a change of pace but the decision to showcase wrestlers from other promotions on pay-per-view is not the smartest decision from a business perspective. Nonetheless I had no problems with this opening match; it was good for what it was.

After the match, TNA aired the first of a four part series of videos where they showcased Booker T coming to his hometown of Houston, Texas. The first segment featured Booker T at his house which was identical to a segment on MTV Cribs. I guess it was neat seeing his house but it didn't exactly get me pumped up to see him face Joe later in the night. After that, TNA kept the MTV influence by running a promotional video on the Gail Kim/Angelina Love feud which looked more like the "confessions cam" on an episode of Real World. Corny would be putting it nicely.

The match between Gail Kim vs. Angelina Love was not really bad - it was a basic TNA Knockout match that included the expected interference from Velvet Sky. In the end, Gail Kim went over and escaped the "brown bag" treatment. The match would have been better for an episode of Impact but like I said there really isn't much to criticize about it because there was not that much to it.

Jay Lethal's grudge match with Sonjay Dutt was another basic - mediocre - match. I felt that Sonjay outworked Lethal in the match which is something that I do not say often about Lethal. Dutt hit an awesome standing moonsault that showed off his versatility and was one of the spots of the contest. The match was really a storyline advancer as SoCal Val looked confused and ended up costing Lethal the win when she distracted him and Sonjay snuck in for a roll-up. Three matches into the pay-per-view and there was nothing that I would consider worth paying for so expectations were definitely starting to build on the show's main event.

Prior to the Beer Money vs. TNA Tag Team Champions LAX match there was another "what the hell" TNA creative moment when Roode and Storm cut these huge heel promos only for Jacqueline to refuse to go to ringside because of the fans with lashes. I thought the heel team was supposed to come out cocky and arrogant - especially after the promos cut by Roode and Storm. Oh well. The match with Robert Roode & James Storm tagging against Homicide & Hernandez was just as a lackluster as the entire event. The fans would strap Storm and Roode every time they went to the outside and finally Roode ate an LAX double team to get pinned and look like a jobber. Roode has a tremendous upside and a lot of potential but TNA made him look very insignificant last night. I don't know if anyone even broke a sweat in this match as the work rate seemed down.

Awesome Kong vs. TNA Knockout Women's Champion Taylor Wilde for the title was up next. This match was a nightmare. Not only was TNA creative unable to convince me or anyone else in the arena that Taylor could possibly have a competitive match with Kong - they had Kong dominate the entire contest only for Wilde to steal the win a roll-up. It was eye rolling for me to see Kong get pinned clean, especially when she has been booked since her TNA debut to be unstoppable. They tried to soften the blow by having Raisha Saeed and Kong work over Taylor after the match but then it was time for another "what the hell" TNA creative moment. Abyss hit the ring - yes - Ayss hit the ring and made the save. He ended up giving Saeed the Black Hole slam in which Tenay said that Jim Cornette is not going to be happy about. Abyss - yes - Abyss carried Taylor Wilde to the back. Do I even have to say anything to criticize that? Abyss!

The Ultimate X Match was up next and after a delay in setting up the structure which featured Tenay looking nervously at the ring as he and West kept repeating the same lines over and over - it started. The match itself was solid with some very cool spots. Kaz delivered a breath taking leg drop from the top of the structure and Volador Jr. hit an awesome backwards moonsault to the outside. Volador Jr. ended up getting the win for Team Mexico after everyone else had been incapacitated. As for the wrestling of the match, it was probably the second best of the night next to the opener, but it isn't going to make casual wrestling fans happy seeing people that they have never heard of going over on pay-per-view. Wrestling diehards love stuff like this but I'm not so sure that your average fan is going to feel like paying $30 to watch Daivari, Volador Jr., and Naruki Doi battle it out. Kaz is the exception as I feel that he is at least a draw to mainstream American fans but the match lacked star power.

The Six Man Tag War ended up being a Full Metal Mayhem match that the fans voted on at TNAWrestling.com. Now we're watching Cyber Sunday. I don't know if it's just me but it seems like TNA tries to put as many stipulations and match alterations in their events as possible to try and prove to their fans that they can outdo WWE in pay-per-view quality. Nonetheless, Team 3D and Kurt Angle teamed together to take on Christian Cage, A.J. Styles, and Rhino. Styles looked great during the match and Christian had an insane dive off the top of the scaffolding from the Ultimate X match but other than that - this match was more of the same. Angle had a limited role and Team 3D was Team 3D with all of the tables and ladders. Real gimmicky stuff but TNA made sure to make it even more gimmicky with interference from Johnny Devine and Frank Trigg. Five on three and Angle finally put Styles through a table for the three count.

Leading into the main event I knew that Booker T and Samoa Joe had to have a spectacular match for me to feel that I got my money's worth. Not only did the match not deliver with a work rate that looked like it was more suited for a holiday edition of Impact, the match had one of the most bizarre and dumb endings that I have ever seen. All of the sudden Samoa Joe (who had been bleeding throughout the majority of the match) started to go crazy on Booker T. With the referee knocked out, Sharmell, who was sitting at ringside, began to plead with Joe to stop as she even slapped him in the face. Without ringing the bell or anything - more TNA officials hit the ring trying to stop Joe, then security, and finally Sting. Prior to Sting coming out, Joe took out everyone in his path. After Sting came out, he and Joe had this "what the hell" confrontation that resulted in Joe flipping off Sting; in retaliation, Sting took Joe out with his baseball bat. Just to make sure that the entire match did not make one bit of sense - they had Sharmell (who was billed as a spectator mind you) make the three count and leave ringside with Booker and the TNA Championship belt. Booker was a one night babyface in his hometown of Houston but the main event came off so bad that the crowd was BOOING as their hometown hero retreated to the back with the title. Is Booker T the TNA Champion? Is Samoa Joe a heel? What about Sting? The only thing that could have been worse would have been if Kevin Nash would have come out.

Before I conclude, I wanted to make mention of the Booker T homecoming videos. After part one that looked like an episode of MTV Cribs and part two where they showcased his wrestling school, the videos went from out of place to downright embarrassing. In a segment highlighting Booker T on the golf course, one person said that Booker was as good of a golfer as Tiger Woods - I guess trying to play him up as a heel. It was stupid to try and push Booker as a heel in Houston but that is what they did. Although I am not completely sure I know what TNA creative did on this pay-per-view.

With the exception of TNA Sacrifice I have watched every WWE and TNA pay-per-view of the year and this was the worst yet. It was a night full of eye-rolling booking, questionable creative calls, and an ending that made the conclusion of the Sopranos look pleasing. The in-ring work was not very spectacular and despite a couple of good spots here and there and two good X Division matches - they could not save the pay-per-view. Victory Road was a complete waste of time and money. I can't help but think of World Championship Wrestling back in the late 90s when I think of this pay-per-view. Some heads in upper management need to roll over this event because it is not fair to all of the wrestlers on the TNA roster to produce something this lackluster. If the company does not make some changes and get someone in there that knows how to book a wrestling show I'm afraid that they will have the same fate as WCW. The TNA creative team is running the company in the ground and I just hope that someone with some pull notices before it's too late.

Here's a line from the article:
"I do not know how the crowd came off live in the arena but as soon as the pay-per-view came on it felt like that the crowd was already dead. There were no loud, out of control "get me on TV" chants, just Mike Tenay's dry voice welcoming us to yet another TNA pay-per-view. "

Hahah typical Houston crowd...

 

well, one reason the crowd wasnt, loud is that THEY ONLY FILLED UP HALF OF THE FREAKING ARENA!!!! The side where the cameras were, the section WAS EMPTY!!!! They has like 10 people in each of the empty section, probably just workers, while the floor was filled up. My section was pretty loud because they had this 2 chicks behind us screaming there asses off. It was funny before the cameras rolled they said they were going to pick the loudest people in each section and bring them to backstage to meet everybody, after about 2 matches, nobody gave a damn anymore.

Somebody in front of us said they say Russo viewing the match from the entrance area, but I didn't see him myself, is even still with TNA?

btw, found a review in which he thought it was the best PPV of the year???

http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/columns/80186/Worth-Your-Wealth?-07.14.08:-Victory-Road.htm

 

Hahah is that guy the John Hollinger of wrestling shows?

I can't wait until Wrestlemania in 2009 in HOUSTON! I don't keep up much anymore, but this one I definitely won't miss.

BTW, for those that know... how are buying tickets for Wrestlemania? Are they one of the "sold out in a few minutes" or "camp at the box office" type events... or do they usually last a while before its sold out?