Victory Road 2007: A Great X Division Showcase Cannot Fix an Overbooked Main Event

Serotonin (Havok and Martyr) defeated Akira Raijin and Brute Issei. The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 4:20. The opener is short and lightly connected to the major programs on the card, which makes it feel closer to a television warm-up than a pay-per-view attraction. Serotonin’s win gives the bout a result, but four minutes does not create enough time or consequence for lasting replay value. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as minor material whose main value is advancing the card. The 5.4 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Christopher Daniels defeated Jay Lethal, Puma, Homicide, Sonjay Dutt, Petey Williams, Shark Boy, Elix Skipper, Kaz and Senshi. The bout is presented as a ultimate x gauntlet match to determine the #1 contender to the tna x division championship on the main card and runs 18:48. The Ultimate X Gauntlet is the event’s clearest reason to watch. Ten wrestlers, nearly 19 minutes and a number-one-contender objective give the X Division both depth and consequence. The format is naturally crowded, yet the spectacle and variety make that density feel like part of the appeal rather than a flaw. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as an excellent match and one of the strongest reasons to revisit the show. The 8.5 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

The Voodoo Kin Mafia (B.G. James and Kip James) (with Roxxi Laveaux) defeated Basham and Damaja (with Christy Hemme and Lance Hoyt). The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 7:03. This continuation of the Voodoo Kin Mafia program receives more time than the comparable Slammiversary match but still feels like storyline maintenance. The interference-heavy atmosphere and limited competitive stakes make it difficult to treat as more than disposable midcard material. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as minor material whose main value is advancing the card. The 5.0 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

James Storm defeated Rhino. The bout is presented as a singles match on the main card and runs 7:28. Storm and Rhino have a personal issue, but the seven-minute singles match does not get enough room to develop into a major grudge bout. Storm’s victory advances the feud, while the presentation around the finish carries more weight than the wrestling itself. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as serviceable material that does its job without becoming a destination. The 6.2 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) (with Kevin Nash) defeated Jerry Lynn and Bob Backlund. The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 8:44. The Motor City Machine Guns are the reason this match works. Their speed and team identity give the eight-minute bout a modern edge against Lynn and Backlund’s veteran presentation, and the win is useful even if the match remains more of a showcase than a deep tag-team contest. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as solid-to-good supporting material with clear value. The 7.4 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Eric Young and Gail Kim defeated Robert Roode and Ms. Brooks. The bout is presented as a mixed tag team match on the main card and runs 8:17. Young and Kim against Roode and Brooks is easy to follow and gives both intertwined feuds a single match to advance. It is energetic supporting material with a clear crowd-friendly payoff, but the eight-minute mixed-tag structure keeps it from becoming a major part of the event. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as useful supporting material that works better in context than in isolation. The 6.6 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Christian Cage defeated Chris Harris. The bout is presented as a singles match on the main card and runs 12:27. Cage and Harris get 12 minutes for a conventional singles match, which should be enough to create a strong feature. The pairing has useful star power and competitive balance, but outside involvement around the finish keeps the bout from feeling as decisive as the straight matchup promises. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as solid-to-good supporting material with clear value. The 7.2 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Sting and Abyss defeated A.J. Styles and Tomko. The bout is presented as a tag team match on the main card and runs 15:32. Sting and Abyss against Styles and Tomko gives the late card a welcome combination of star power and contrasting styles. Fifteen minutes lets the match build beyond a television segment, and the straightforward tag format produces more satisfying momentum than several of the night’s more complicated ideas. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as a good match that rewards a full-card watch. The 7.5 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.

Kurt Angle (World) and Samoa Joe (X Division) defeated Team 3D (Brother Ray and Brother Devon) (Tag Team). The bout is presented as a tag team match for the tna world heavyweight, x division and world tag team championships on the main card and runs 18:25. The Match of Champions has enormous stakes on paper, but tying three championship categories to one tag result makes the rules more memorable than the competitive story. Angle and Joe versus Team 3D gets 18 minutes, yet interference and partner tension turn the finish into a setup for future programs rather than a clean main-event payoff. Within Victory Road 2007, the match grades as serviceable material that does its job without becoming a destination. The 6.4 score reflects the complete bell-to-bell proposition: the stipulation, placement, time allocation, competitive stakes and how much the outcome adds to the surrounding card are weighed together rather than treated as separate attractions.