Victory Road (2023)
Victory Road | |||
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Promotion | Impact Wrestling | ||
Date | September 8, 2023 | ||
City | White Plains, New York | ||
Venue | Westchester County Center | ||
Impact Plus Monthly Specials chronology | |||
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Victory Road chronology | |||
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The 2023 Victory Road was the 17th Victory Road professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on September 8, 2023, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York, and aired on Impact Plus and YouTube.
Twelve matches were contested at the event, including two on the pre-show and one taped as a digital exclusive. In the main event, Josh Alexander defeated Steve Maclin. In other prominent matches, Trinity defeated Alisha Edwards to retain the Impact Knockouts World Championship, and The Rascalz (Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz) defeated The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) to retain the Impact World Tag Team Championship. Also at this event, it was announced that Mike Tenay and the late Don West would be inducted into the Impact Hall of Fame at Bound for Glory.
Production
[edit]Background
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Westchester_County_Center_%2852641236751%29.jpg/220px-Westchester_County_Center_%2852641236751%29.jpg)
Victory Road was an annual professional wrestling event produced by Impact Wrestling (then known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) between 2004 and 2012. In 2013, TNA discontinued most of its monthly pay-per-view events in favor of the new pre-recorded One Night Only events.[1] Victory Road would be revived as a "One Night Only" event in 2014[2] and a special edition of Impact's weekly television series in 2017.[3]
On May 26, 2023, Impact Wrestling announced that the 2023 Victory Road would take place on September 8, 2023, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York, as they would tape the following day the 1,000th episode of Impact!, named Impact 1000.[4][5]
Storylines
[edit]The event will feature several professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds, plots, and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines are produced on Impact's weekly television program.[6]
At Emergence, it was announced that Jordynne Grace would make her return to Impact Wrestling at Victory Road, after taking an hiatus from wrestling back in May.[7][8] Four days later, on the subsequent episode of Impact!, Grace's old rival Deonna Purrazzo, furious that Grace's return announcement came after she lost her Impact Knockouts World Championship match to Trinity, would challenge Grace to a match at Victory Road.[9]
On the August 31 episode of Impact!, Alisha Edwards won a 10-knockout battle royal for the right to challenge Trinity for the Impact Knockouts World Championship at Victory Road.[9][10][11]
At Slammiversary, Kushida won an Ultimate X match to earn an Impact X Division Championship match at the time and place of his choosing.[12] Over a month later, on the August 31 Impact!, Kushida confronted champion Lio Rush and declared he would invoke his opportunity for the title at Victory Road.[9]
On the August 31 episode of Impact!, Chris Sabin defeated Zachary Wentz in a singles match,[10][11] which granted The Motor City Machine Guns (Sabin and Impact World Champion Alex Shelley) an Impact World Tag Team Championship match against The Rascalz (Wentz and Trey Miguel) at Victory Road.[9]
At Emergence, Kenny King retained the Impact Digital Media Championship against Johnny Swinger. After the match, King and his protege Sheldon Jean continued to attack Swinger, before being stopped by referees, security guards, and Tommy Dreamer. However, King would then assault Dreamer as well, with Kean holding back the referees and security.[13][14] On the subsequent Impact!, Dreamer interrupted a promo by King and Jean, telling them about how much the match at Emergence meant to Swinger, who had learned his father-in-law passed away over the weekend. Dreamer then berated King and Jean for their behavior after Emergence, who had left the show before the main event. King didn't care, calling out Dreamer for being a veteran trying to take the spotlight away from younger wrestlers like himself. Dreamer would reflect on how the past year was possibly the worst in his life, from being diagnosed with skin cancer to the passings of his mother and mentor Terry Funk.[10][11] He then challenged King to take the spotlight off him, offering his career for a Digital Media Championship match at Victory Road.[9]
At Rebellion, then-Impact World Champion Josh Alexander was supposed to defend the title against Steve Maclin, but Alexander vacated the title and was pulled from the show due to a torn triceps.[15] Maclin would defeat Kushida to win the vacant title but felt unsatisfied as he wanted to beat Alexander for it in his hometown of Toronto.[16][17] Several months later at Emergence, while Alexander was competing in an eight-man tag team match, Maclin, who himself previously suffered a groin injury, returned and diverted Alexander's attention, targeting his surgically repaired triceps.[13][14] On the August 31 Impact!, Impact announced that Alexander and Maclin would finally have a one-on-one match at Victory Road.[9]
On the July 6 episode of Impact!, Bully Ray and Steve Maclin assaulted PCO, beating down backstage, pouring battery acid in his mouth, and finally lighting him on fire.[18][19] PCO would be gone for the better part of a month, eventually returning on August 10 to confront Ray during his match and chasing him out of the arena.[20][21] For the next few weeks, Ray would continually be targeted by PCO, never seemingly able to stop him. On the August 31 Impact!, when PCO again chased down Ray, the latter tried to explain himself by saying that he cared about PCO and that lighting him on fire was meant to kill the "monster" to bring back the "man" Carl Ouellet.[10][11] Later, Impact announced on their website that Ray and PCO will face off at Victory Road in an Anything Goes match.[9]
Results
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ The match was taped for an Impact Digital Exclusive that aired on September 12.
References
[edit]- ^ "News: TNA Impact Wrestling Announces Major Changes To 2013 Pay-Per-View Strategy". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Martin, Adam (May 11, 2014). "SPOILERS: TNA One Night Only "Victory Road" 5/10 taping". WrestleView. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Strode, Cory (September 30, 2017). "IMPACT Wrestling Victory Road Report". PWInsider. Archived from the original on October 29, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (May 26, 2023). "IMPACT Episode 1000 Set To Tape On 9/9, IMPACT Victory Road Announced For 9/8". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Middleton, Marc (May 27, 2023). "Impact Announces 1000 Episode, Victory Road Special for This Year". Wrestling Headlines. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 27, 2023). "Jordynne Grace Returns to IMPACT Wrestling at Victory Road". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ Tessier, Colin (May 26, 2023). "Jordynne Grace Enters Free Agency As IMPACT Wrestling Contract Expires". WrestleZone. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 31, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling Presents Victory Road LIVE September 8th on IMPACT Plus". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ a b c d IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 31, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: August 31, 2023 (Episode 998)". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Moore, John (September 1, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (8/31): Moore's review of Sanada, Jake Something, and Frankie Kazarian vs. Moose, Brian Myers, and Eddie Edwards, battle royal for a shot at the Knockouts Title, Kon vs. Eric Young". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 15, 2023). "Slammiversary 2023 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
- ^ a b IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 27, 2023). "Emergence 2023 LIVE Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ a b Vetter, Chris (August 27, 2023). "Impact Wrestling Emergence (8/27) results: Vetter's review of Trinity vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the Knockouts Championship, Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Kushida, and Josh Alexander vs. Bully Ray, Moose, Brian Myers, and Lio Rush". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (March 24, 2023). "Josh Alexander Out Of Action Indefinitely". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (April 16, 2023). "IMPACT Wrestling: Rebellion 2023 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ Powell, Jason (April 16, 2023). "4/16 Impact Wrestling Rebellion results: Powell's review of Steve Maclin vs. Kushida for the vacant Impact World Championship, Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace for the vacant Knockouts Title, Ace Austin and Chris Bey vs. MCMG in a Ultimate X for the Impact Tag Titles, Trey Miguel vs. Jonathan Gresham vs. Mike Bailey in an elimination match for the X Division Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (July 6, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: July 6, 2023". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ Moore, John (July 6, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (7/6): Moore's review of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin vs. Nick Aldis and Lio Rush, Frankie Kazarian vs. Eddie Edwards, Jonathan Gresham vs. Angels, PCO vs. Jason Hotch and John Skyler". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (August 10, 2023). "IMPACT! on AXS TV Results: August 10, 2023 (Episode 995)". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on February 25, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ Moore, John (August 10, 2023). "Impact Wrestling TV results (8/10): Moore's review of Rich Swann and Sami Callihan vs. Ace Austin and Chris Bey in a tag tourney match, Mike Bailey vs. Kushida, Bully Ray, Moose, and Brian Myers vs. Samuray Del Sol, Laredo Kid, and Black Taurus". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ a b c d IMPACT Wrestling Staff (September 7, 2023). "Victory Road 2023 Full Preview". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- ^ IMPACT Wrestling Staff (September 8, 2023). "Victory Road 2023 LIVE Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on September 18, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ Vetter, Chris (September 8, 2023). "Impact Wrestling Victory Road (9/8) results: Vetter's review of Josh Alexander vs. Steve Maclin, Trinity vs. Alisha Edwards for the Knockouts Title, The Rascalz vs. Motor City Machine Guns for the Impact Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Impact Wrestling Countdown To Victory Road 2023". Cagematch. September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
- ^ "Impact Wrestling Victory Road 2023". Cagematch. September 8, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.