8 Ups & 2 Downs From Impact Wrestling Victory Road 2020

7. Creating An Opportunity

Now that the issues with Chris Bey, Trey Miguel, and TJP are behind him (in his mind, anyway), Rohit Raju decided to issue an open challenge for the X Division Championship, answered by Willie Mack, with 'Chocolate Thunder' needing to bounce back from the dismal rivalry he had with Brian Myers.

On paper, this one had the ability to deliver. Raju has been conniving since lifting the strap from 'The Ultimate Finesser' at Emergence, while Mack never fails to put in a grand performance every time we see him. Here, we saw exactly the sort of Mack we needed in order to be reminded of his immense determination in the ring. The former X Division Champion was flying about the ring one minute, and smashing in Rohit's the jaw the next, but Raju was the same. 'The Desi Hitman' was striking Willie stiff, and then capitalising on the weakened Mack by delivering impact moves, pun very much intended.

An awkward collision after the defending champion missed a double stomp off the top towards the end of the bout resulted in a count out victory for Mack, however, this means Raju retains the title. Regular readers of these columns may be assuming there is an honorary Down for Rohit again using a cheap tactic to come out on top, but because he's always using these sorts of tactics as opposed to just now and again, perhaps we can look at it from a different perspective in the sense that Rohit is being tactical.

You can't have a short run as champion if you're using tactics. Keep that in mind.