Victory Road 2010: Tag-Team Excellence Lifts a Deep, Ambitious Card

Douglas Williams (c) defeated Brian Kendrick. The bout is presented as submission match for the tna x division championship on the main card and runs 10:03. The championship stakes give the bout an immediate purpose, and the successful defense provides a clear result. The submission match for the tna x division championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 10:03, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The result is a strong piece of the card, with enough time and purpose to reward a full viewing. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 1 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 7.6 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Brother Ray defeated Brother Devon and Jesse Neal. The bout is presented as three-way dance on the main card and runs 5:55. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its position through the matchup, stipulation, finish and the momentum it creates for the rest of the card. The three-way dance format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 5:55, the wrestlers have a relatively compact window, which puts extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The match is functional but limited, contributing to the card more through placement and story than standout bell-to-bell value. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 2 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 6.2 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Angelina Love defeated Madison Rayne (c) by disqualification. The bout is presented as title vs. career match for the tna knockouts championship on the main card and runs 4:40. The title change gives the finish direct consequence and makes the bout more important than a similarly placed non-title match. The title vs. career match for the tna knockouts championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives.

At 4:40, the wrestlers have a relatively compact window, which puts extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The bout has limited room or an unsatisfying structure, so its value comes mostly from the result rather than the match itself. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 3 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 5.8 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Fortune (A.J. Styles and Kazarian) defeated Rob Terry and Samoa Joe. The bout is presented as tag team match on the main card and runs 8:08. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its position through the matchup, stipulation, finish and the momentum it creates for the rest of the card. The tag team match format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 8:08, the wrestlers have a relatively compact window, which puts extra pressure on the finish and pacing. The match is useful supporting material, doing its job without becoming a major destination on its own. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 4 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 6.6 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Hernandez defeated Matt Morgan. The bout is presented as steel cage match on the main card and runs 10:43. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its position through the matchup, stipulation, finish and the momentum it creates for the rest of the card. The steel cage match format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 10:43, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The bout is worthwhile and purposeful, although it stops short of being one of the night's defining performances. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 5 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 7.2 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Jay Lethal defeated Ric Flair. The bout is presented as singles match on the main card and runs 12:03. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its position through the matchup, stipulation, finish and the momentum it creates for the rest of the card. The singles match format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 12:03, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The match delivers enough substance and consequence to stand out clearly above routine card material. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 6 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.0 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) defeated Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode). The bout is presented as tag team match for the vacant tna world tag team championship on the main card and runs 15:55. A vacant championship is decided here, so the result creates a new titleholder and gives the match unusually concrete stakes. The tag team match for the vacant tna world tag team championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives.

At 15:55, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The combination of time, placement and stakes makes this one of the event's clearest full-match attractions. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 7 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.9 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Kurt Angle defeated D'Angelo Dinero. The bout is presented as career threatening match on the main card and runs 12:05. With no championship changing hands, the bout has to earn its position through the matchup, stipulation, finish and the momentum it creates for the rest of the card. The career threatening match format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 12:05, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The match delivers enough substance and consequence to stand out clearly above routine card material. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 8 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.0 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.

Rob Van Dam (c) defeated Abyss, Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson. The bout is presented as four-way match for the tna world heavyweight championship on the main card and runs 12:27. The championship stakes give the bout an immediate purpose, and the successful defense provides a clear result. The four-way match for the tna world heavyweight championship format gives the match a specific framework, but that framework still has to justify the time and card position it receives. At 12:27, the wrestlers have enough room to establish a complete match and a meaningful finish. The match delivers enough substance and consequence to stand out clearly above routine card material. Within Victory Road 2010, it functions as match number 9 of 9, so its value is judged against both its own proposition and the momentum it gives the matches around it. The 8.0 score reflects the complete package: stakes, placement, time allocation, stipulation, finish and how effectively the result contributes to the event rather than any outside rating.