TNA: Victory Road PreviewBy Tony Cottam| March 13, 2011 The Live Wire Well, hello. It’s that time of the month again… it’s time for TNA to see if they can break their own record for “fewest PPV buys ever” that they seem intent on breaking. To be fair, the last couple of PPV shows have had a couple of decent matches in them. Sadly, they’ve also had the pre-requisite TNA duds, and in some cases, just flat out “wha-huh?” booking. I see no reason that this show should be any different. Also, remember that as I’m in the UK, I haven’t seen the latest Impact, which doesn’t air here until Tuesday, so I’m working totally from the results that I read. With that in mind… let’s get to it. Tommy Dreamer vs. Brother Ray Even as a huge Tommy Dreamer fan, I really don’t care. Dreamer in TNA is just one of those guys, he’s just there, and adds very little on screen or in the ring these days. Brother Ray or Bully Ray is still sound in the ring. It’s just a shame that the trigger wasn’t pulled on a singles run for him earlier in his TNA career. It might be too little too late for him now… but on that basis, surely the right call here is Ray to go over? Remember… this is TNA, wrestling’s equivalent to Bizarro-land. I see Devon getting involved somehow. Winner: TOMMY DREAMER Matt Hardy vs. AJ Styles Give Matt some credit, he’s looked more into things in recent weeks than he did when he debuted in TNA. Although, that’s like saying lethal injection looks better than hanging, it is a step in the right direction. Matt’s mind for wrestling has always been pretty sharp, and if he can get back on track, then he WILL be valuable to TNA. AJ Styles, however, is wasted in a feud with Matt. This is the guy that TNA should be pushing. Styles SHOULD be TNA’s golden ticket, and I really don’t see any benefit to him being in the mid card. Oh, and you just know Ric Flair is gonna get involved somewhere in this match. AJ has to win. Surely. Winner: AJ STYLES First Blood Match Matt Morgan vs. Hernandez I’m bored of Hernandez now. Go back to the tag team division, because you ain’t ever gonna be a singles star. Matt Morgan, however… I’m convinced he has “it” – Vince must kick himself that he had him and let him go. This is a pretty nothing match, to be honest. The gimmick is the only thing that possibly makes this PPV worthy. Morgan needs to move on from this and move up the card. Winner: MATT MORGAN TNA Knockouts Tag Team Title Match Rosita and Sarita vs. Angelina Love and Winter Although I’m a firm admirer of Winter’s talents (what?) this is a total waste of PPV time. A Knockouts Tag Team Title that nobody cares about gets airtime, yet people like Samoa Joe and The Pope don’t? Ridiculous. Gotta expect Angelina and Winter to go over here. Go get a sandwich while this is on. I recommend a nice mature cheddar, with some smoked ham or pastrami. Winners: ANGELINA LOVE & WINTER #1 Contender’s Match Rob Van Dam vs. Mr. Anderson Mr. Anderson impressed me at the recent TNA house show I attended with how he handled himself and worked the crowd. I’ve never really been convinced of his credentials as a top line player, but he seems to be maturing into the role nicely. As for RVD, well I think we all recognise that while he is still pretty unique in his style, he has lost a step or two. The next question for RVD is how he adapts to that, or even if he wants to. He’s still earning a big pop, but I think his days as a World Title challenger are in the past. He’s still a useful upper midcarder tho. Given enough time, this could be a good match, and having RVD pin Anderson on the last Impact is – amazingly for TNA – some good booking… face vs. face matches need a little seed of dissent planted to spike the interest. Even allowing for that, this has to be Anderson’s win. Winner: MR. ANDERSON TNA Tag Team Title Match Ink Inc. vs. Beer Money You know, I really can’t stand Shannon Moore. No real reason, just an irrational yet incredibly intense dislike for the little goofball. I’m fairly apathetic towards Jesse Neal, which may be worse. Beer Money, however, are awesome, THE best Tag Team in the business right now. What I want out of this, is a good match, and a hint of a rematch with the Motor City Machine Guns. Winners: BEER MONEY Ultimate X for the X Division Title Jeremy Buck vs. Max Buck vs. Robbie E. vs. Kazarian There’s no real point in taking the title of Kazarian right now, or in splitting up Generation Me right now. Tag team wrestling is something that TNA should focus on, especially given WWE’s failure to maintain a strong tag division right now. TNA should be trying to do something different to what is the accepted ‘norm’ of what the WWE puts on, and tag team wrestling is just that. Generation Me should be a big part of a thriving tag division… but I digress. You just know the Bucks are gonna take crazy bumps all over the shop here. Here’s hoping they stay safe. Winner: KAZARIAN TNA World Title Match Jeff Hardy vs. Sting Really? Sting? As your young, exciting, company tries to push itself as an alternative to the established WWE, you push a 50 something veteran as champion? This struck me as a peace offering to make sure he returned to TNA rather than went to WWE-land. Use him, by all means… but not right at the top of the card. Jeff, however, should be their champion. And I reckon he will be by the end of this show. Jeff is a major drawing point for TNA, and for my money, AJ Styles and Jeff should be feuding at the top of the card, supported by Anderson, Morgan, Samoa Joe and The Pope. So, I would easily put Jeff over for the belt here… and that is hard for me to say, given my history of Jeffy-baiting. Expect outside interference galore in this one. Winner: JEFF HARDY There we go… should be a decent enough show, the Ultimate X match should steal the show as it usually does. Until next time… have fun, go mad.
