wrestling / Columns
High Road/Low Road 02.08.08: Team 3D and the X Division
Welcome back to the High Road/Low Road!
A brief explanation of the column: Uncletrunx takes the Low Road (negative view) on angles, gimmicks, and other wrestling related “stuff” while Sat takes the High Road (positive view).
Sat: We had an emailer suggest that we move the emails and comments to the very end of the column, so we decided to give it a shot. Let us know if you like this format better or if you liked the previously format.
The Results for Jeff Hardy in the Main Event:
High Road: 33.3%
Low Road: 59.3%
Both Roads: 7.4%
Team 3D versus the X Division & the Stipulation at Against All Odds
High Road:
The main reason that I like the stipulation for Against All Odds is that we do not know what is going to happen in the match. Now, the stipulation is that if the X Division wins then there will be a weight limit, but if they lose then they X Division is going to be no more. I really have no idea what is going to happen here. Conventional wisdom would say that the division will not be disbanded because it is the staple of the company. But, the X Division has been struggling for a long time now and maybe it is time to put it out of its misery. Also, if the X Division title is disbanded, then a new title could be created and it could become the new secondary title; the main thing that this accomplishes is that it becomes a title that all of the midcarders can feud for. Either way, we do not know for sure what is going to happen in this match.
Low Road:
The sad thing is, with the way the X division has been booked lately, I really don’t care if it does get wiped out. That, to me, is a very sad state of affairs; once the X division was the most innovative thing in wrestling, producing state of the art matches and a unique selling point for TNA. Now it’s over gimmicked rubbish, and this latest asinine stipulation, far from making me concerned about the fate of the X division, makes me just wish they’d kill it off.
High Road:
Now, assuming that the X Division wins this match, then this really gives the X Division some much needed credibility. As I wrote above, the X Division has been struggling for a long time. What better way for them to get some credibility then by beating two heavyweights who are the biggest threat to the existence to the division. Now, I will say that this will not instantly lead back to the glory days of the X Division, but it will be a step in the right direction.
Low Road:
The X division had all the credibility in the world at one point; it was the thing which distinguished TNA from WWE. If it had continued to be booked as it was, credibility wouldn’t be an issue. Surely a better way to regain credibility would be for the X division belt to mean something, the wrestlers in it to mean something and it not be killed slowly with gimmick hell.
High Road:
Now, if the assumption is for the X Division to be no more, then this stipulation has accomplished something. One of the things that has happened is that the Motor City Machine Guns have shown that they can be a good team. If the X Division is disbanded, then they would have been lost in the shuffle, but because of the showing that they have had with Team 3D, they can be considered a credible threat for the tag team titles.
Low Road:
I have no problems with pushing the Motor City Machine Guns; I think they’re a fine tag team and deserve all the success they’ve got coming. However, I’m not convinced that this angle is necessary to get them over; they’re doing a fine job of that without sacrificing the entire X division to make it happen.
High Road:
Team 3D versus the X Division has brought something to the forefront and that is the fact the X Division is about competition. I think that this fact has left the minds of the fans with the Jackass angle and some of the main stars of the X Division moving up. Since the beginning of this feud, we have seen this being mentioned more and more. For example, we saw Tenay and West mention that the ladders were not used in an Ultimate X match because it was about competition.
Low Road:
Talk is cheap. It’s all well and good for the commentators to say that the X division is all about competition, but when it’s being drowned with awful angles which distract from the wrestling rather than add to it, those words are hollow and only serve to highlight what the division could be if they were true.
High Road:
We do not know for sure what the final result is going to be, but if this is going to be the end of the X Division, then I like the angle that we are currently seeing. First, we are seeing the best that the X Division as to offer being the ones that are defending the X Division. Sure, it isn’t the all time greats of the X Division, but they are the best that the division has to offer right now. Plus, if TNA has made the decision to end the X Division, then I think that this is the best way for it to go out.
Low Road:
Why should TNA want to kill off the X division? Because it’s lost momentum? Yes it has, but with good, solid booking it could regain that. I don’t care about the X division now, I don’t care if they get rid of it because it’s a shadow of what it was. What I would truly love to see, however, is the X division built again until it becomes a vital, integral part of not only TNA but the wrestling landscape in the USA. Surely that’s better than finishing it off in a horrible, contrived stipulation match?
High Road:
The Team 3D versus the X Division is working because this is something that you would expect from Brother Ray and Brother Devon. I have noticed that some of the best angles that are done in wrestling are if it is believable and this is one of those things. One of the main reasons that I have been enjoying this angle is because I am buying the fact that this is something that Brother Ray and Brother Devon would want to do. They have done a great job in playing those characters.
Low Road:
They have indeed done a great job in playing those characters. But is it what the X division needs, and looking at the bigger picture, what TNA needs? I think the answer is a resounding no.
Are you taking the High Road or the Low Road?
Simply write “High Road”, “Low Road”, or “Both Roads” in the comment section
E-Mails:
These are all of the e-mails that we received this week. We do not respond to the actual e-mail, but the reply to your e-mail will be below.
Tony Sonita Writes:
Hey. long time reader, first time writer. I gotta go Both Road on this one. Cena winning the Rumble is genius in the fact that no one, and I mean NO ONE, expected it for a moment. We all thought Cena was out until past WrestleMania, and seeing him at the Rumble made everyone, smark, mark, or whatever, jump out of their seats and scream (admit it, you did.)
However, the booking afterwards was dumb as hell. The entire stipulation is that the winner of the Rumble gets a title shot of their choice at WrestleMania. Giving it to Cena at No Way Out just makes the Rumble a Money in the Bank match, except without ladders and flying spots and 30 guys as opposed to six. God, that is a scary thought. A 30 man Money in the Bank Ladder match. What a clusterfuck that would be, but I digress…
Long story short, Cena Good, Booking Bad.
Sat: Have to agree. High Road on Cena winning the Rumble, but low road on the aftermath.
Uncletrunx: Absolutely. I loved the Cena return but hated the way they undid all their good work the next day.
Tim Schmidt Writes:
Low road for sure. This absolutely sucked Cena won. Now I’m not saying his presence in the match was bad, but him winning? Come on! This damn guy never loses and I’m so sick of him I almost want to stop watching WWE. I liked being totally in disbelief as I watched him come back so soon from a serious injury, but had I known he was in it, I would have saved my 40 bucks. Know why? CENA NEVER LOSES! He could have been in the match and been tossed, that would have worked for me. But no, his dumb ass has to win! Bullshit! Cena did not need the rub from winning as he is already in the main event scene. I would have been happy with Kennedy winning. Final note, am I the only one counting on Orton’s days as champion ending at NO Way Out?
Sat: I think come WrestleMania, Cena is definitely going to lose. And yeah Orton’s day as champion are numbered unless Triple H wants a triple threat match at Mania.
Uncletrunx: I’m not sure Cena will lose at Wrestlemania. Cena is this generation’s Hulk Hogan. Incidentally, I wonder what the internet would’ve said about Hogan in his hayday?
John Writes:
I’m really disappoint that you didn’t mention the possiblity that Cena used steroid in order to make his return sooner. Other then that, it really felt like I was reading the same reason over and over. Also you should really consider moving the mail bag portion below the hig road/low road stegment of your column. Or just run your mail bag column if you are going to make it that long. Between both of those thing, I found that this weeks column came off on the weak side and just kind of killed any energy the reader might have going into it.
Sat: Sure, we can move this after the High Road. And I don’t think that it is fair to accuse Cena of using steroids to come back. Maybe, it was a four month injury and the WWE started saying that it was a six month injury, just to throw us off a little bit.
Uncletrunx: I really didn’t want to speculate about Cena’s use of steroids or not. I think, given the events of the past year and the sensationalist media storm it created, to do so would’ve caused too many problems. I do worry about just how healthy Cena is and whether or not it’s wise to have him wrestle big matches before Wrestlemania, but that’s a whole other argument.
Freddy Neuwendyke Writes:
I’m going with low road. Not because I’m a Cena hater but because they should have used it to help build up one of the other guys on the card like CM Punk or Jeff Hardy and give them their huge payday. John Cena is at this point so far over with the fans he could go for a
long time without the belt and it wouldn’t damage him.
Sat: Good point. Cena didn’t need the win, but would have his return have worked if he had come in at number 30 and lost. I don’t think so. The moment he made his surprise appearance, he had to win the rumble.
Uncletrunx: I think that for the surprise to work properly and create the full effect Cena had to win and for once, the value of the surprise outweighed the familiar sight of Cena with his hand raised.
Bill Bumgarner Writes:
Is there a more negative option than Low Road I can choose? Like “To Hell in a Handbasket”? As soon as I heard that Cena had entered the Rumble, I knew who the winner was going to be (and was glad I didn’t order it). The WWE has become that damned predictable. Granted, we all “knew” that HHH was going to win for a long time, but once Cena was back in the picture….no contest. The WWE was JUST starting to get entertaining again and now everything that’ve built up on RAW over the past few months is going to be pushed aside to make way for SuperCena and his three gigabytes of attitude on the two-gig hard drive. Some say he “puts asses in the seats” and “gets people to tune in”, either in the hope of seeing him win or the hope of seeing him lose. Well, I’m NOT tuning in again. I figured things would improve while Cena was gone, the main event picture be filled with guys who have this little thing called talent, and that, when he returned, he’d be, at best, a midcarder, all but forgotten. Alas, I should have known that anything can happen in the WWE – as long as it has no purpose, no talent, or involves an incest angle. Give me “Stone Cold” Shark Boy any day – at least THAT entertains me.
Sat: I think that Cena has a tougher time enteraining the IWC, but people that are not fans of the IWC love John Cena. I have a few friends who don’t visit WWE sites and they love Cena. As for Shark Boy, let’s just say that I am working on a spare column on that very topic.
Uncletrunx:
I think, like it or not, we all know Cena is “the franchise” for the foreseeable future. I’m not too upset about that, if the booking can keep my interest; this surprise return certainly did that.
Nikie Writes:
I really much agree with you this was the best royal rumble ever and John Cena is my favorite wwe wrestler I love absolutely everything about him I’m so happy he’s back too and I hope he beats Orton at no way out and gets Orton out of action by doing the F-U on the announcer table the only thing I’m worried about is his health I hope he is fully recovered I don’t want him to get injured again but other than that I’m just real happy and I can’t wait for no way out and yes this was the best rumble ever we got satellite (dish network) and we ordered the Royle Rumble and at first I was like ok this is gonna be boring but towards the end when I heard John Cena’s music hit and I saw him I was stunned and filled with happiness and so shocked and so happy and excited at the same time it wasn’t the same without him but now that he’s back I’m so happy I’m now looking forward to Monday nights I was screaming so much when I saw him too I was so happy its not even funny I just hope he’s fully healed
Sat: This email brings up an interesting thing about John Cena. I think that John Cena is hated by all the guys and loved by the girls. I usually listen to Colin Cowherd on the radio and he makes the same point, but with Tom Brady. Guys hate Brady because he is loved by the women, I think the same is true for Cena. Plus, it makes sense for the WWE to push John Cena. Most of their fans are males and they are not going to lose them. It makes sense to throw Cena out there and hope that the women start to tune in. It’s basically smart business.
Uncletrunx: It used to be true of Shawn Michaels too. For some reason I don’t have the same feelings of antipathy towards Cena as I did when Michaels was forced down our throats in the ‘90s. Interestingly, I now like Michaels. Funny how the world turns.
Matt Crew Writes:
I take the definite Low Road on Cena winning the Rumble, because he had been out 3½ months then to just come back out of nowhere and win it takes the win away from someone else who had become established in his absence. Someone else needs to be involved in the main event at Wrestle Mania for a change this year. I personally do not care to see Cena main event every PPV in 2008 and win the title at No Way Out and keep it for 2 years with only a 4 week break like he did before. I do however fully expect that to happen.
Sat: Triple H has been hogging the main event at WrestleMania for awhile (missing last year due to any injury) and he is getting a pass. Cena is the star of the WWE and the future, it make sense for him to be in the main event. When he gets older, he will be in the same situation as HHH
Uncletrunx: I’d love to see other people elevated, but I do feel that Cena’s shock return was a great piece of booking. As long as they can keep the main event scene interesting, I have no objections to Cena being there.
Comments:
411 has added a new feature. Below are the comments for last week’s columns and our responses. The comments are as of Monday Evening.
Matt Writes:
oddly, I am the guy who brought up Edge/Scotty and then “Matt P” asked what all the scotty hate was… what’s odd is I too am a Matt P… ANYWAY, on to this week:
I hate doing it, but I am going high road. MOSTLY because all of the low road arguments are all the same argument. And while I do agree with unk’s reasoning it has nothing to do with the issue at hand: the rumble itself (and I think you are aware of that too Unk and are just doing your job in coming up with a “low road”).
As for Jeff main eventing– what I would have done is give him the win at the Rumble & pulled a Kane/Austin and having Orton win it back the very next night. Cena could even have done a run in to *try* and screw Randy but it backfires and Jeff takes the pinfall.
Sat: I figured that Uncletrunx was in trouble when Cena came out (We had already decided to do this column on the person who won the rumble). Luckily, the WWE went ahead and shot themselves in teh foot the following night, giving Uncletrunx some ammunition. Your idea about Hardy is good. I would have given him a three week reign.
Uncletrunx: You got me. I thought that the Cena surprise in the Rumble was one of the best things WWE has done in years, and was wondering how on earth I was going to find a low road on it. As such, I cheated a bit and went with the fallout from the Rumble instead of the match itself. Hands up to that one!
WWEMAN88 Writes:
John Cena winning sucked. If I knew he was in it,I would have saved my money and not bought the Rumble because Cena never loses.
Sat: Reading this comment, lead me to believe that the WWE might have lost a fan.
Uncletrunx: Did WWE gain more buys off the replay than it lost through disgruntled fans? I don’t know, but i’m beting the answer is yes.
Uglar Writes:
It’s always important to remember that roid freaks like Cena, have a greater risk of muscle related injuries.
Low road on this. But I thought you missed a great many of the important low road points, in favor of harping on the no way out booking.
Example
Low Road:
With Cena back, the title seen has become extremely predictable for the next 2
years, so much that we don’t even need to watch.
Sat: I would buy the steroid argument for HHH and Batista because they have had multiple tears. This was Cena’s first in four years. Now, if has another one in a year, then I would be suspicious.
Uncletrunx: I’m hoping that if they can make Cena’s return interesting, they can keep the main event scene fresh and worth watching.
KanyomKriest Writes:
High road, but if they had advertised his early return as much as a DAY before the show, I’d go low, because it would seem clear that he’d win. The shocking return worked very well, though, and I pay both Cena and WWE their deserving props for it. Moving the title match to No Way Out, on the other hand… GAH!!
Sat: I have to agree with everything that you said.
Uncletrunx: So do I. That’s scary, I’m agreeing with Sat a lot this week…
Jacko Writes:
Why oh why do people hate on Cena so much.
Love him or hate him you have to admit that he puts asses on seat and puts on an entertaining show.
Yeah, maybe sometimes he’s booked a little too unbelievably, but so have others in the past, and so will others in the future.
Nobody is gonna turn down a push of any kind, and say thanks but no thanks, give it to someone else.
Cena works damned hard, both in and out of the ring, its time some of you clowns gave him a bit more credit.
And as for the injury side of things, this is his first major injury, and was cased by the so called golden boy “Kennedy” who to me and many others really needs to start showing some of the potential that he supposedly has.
Just my 2p worth.
Sat: I love this comment. Let’s look at this carefully. If you were running the WWE, wouldn’t you want the guy that is working the hardest and doing the most to interact with the crowd, leading the way. I know I would. It is easy for us to sit here without a billion dollar company saying that Kennedy should be on the top or CM Punk should be on the top, but really are they at the same level of Cena. Cena is on a whole another stratsophere and he should stay there; he should not be coming down to everybody else level. And Jacko makes a good point. This was his first injury since he became champion. Who many has Kennedy had? Batista? HHH?
Uncletrunx: I’m still agreeing with Sat. It’s getting worrying…
Steveo Writes:
High Road
It seems like all the smarks are pissed because they didn’t get the heads up. It’s like “that sucks, why didn’t you tell me, i couldn’t condescend to marks”.
I kidd. But seriously, some of you have a problem
p.s
Anybody who hates the worm and loves the people’s elbow should take a good, long look at their life. Yea.
Sat: I hate the worm, the people’s elbow and the five knuckle shuffle. We know that wrestling is fake, but these moves make is really obvious.
Uncletrunx: I also hate all those moves. Anything which forces the opponent to lie still while the wrestler delivering it runs up and down three times, checks his watch, boils an egg, changes his pants, jumps up and down, has a nap then drops some sort of transition move on his opponent insults the fans and the opponent. I know it’s a work, we all know it’s a work but I do like to try to suspend my disbelief somewhat.
Also, that’s three times in a row I’ve agreed with Sat. I’m off for a lie down.
Lumpybacca Writes:
Cena is terrible, in all known ways. Him showing up as #30 with his horrific
music and non-talent ‘wrestling skills’ made this the worst Rumble I can
remember.
Sat: This isn’t the worst rumble ever. I was watching one of the Rumble in the Rumble Anthonlthy set (it was either 1994 and 1995) and that was the worst rumble ever. It make basically no name after no name.
Uncletrunx: Cena isn’t terrible in all known ways. He gets a reaction (you’re giving him one right there) and he shifts a lot of merchandise…
Laura Writes:
This argument is total bullshit!
People love to bash Hardy for being suspended for his immature behavior but at the same time they are forgetting that Randy Orton was on the list of many wrestlers who were ordering illegal steroids off the net and he never even got suspended for it! It’s absolutely ridiculous that anyone can think Randy is a more deserving champ than Cena or Hardy. Hardy puts his body on the line each time he is in the ring. Cena might not be the best technical wrestler but he’s carried the WWE for 2 years straight. He put asses in the seats and deserves respect and a little more credit then most people are giving him. I hate when senseless wrestling-fans talk about something they very well do not know shit about. Randy Orton is pure trash. He’s boring, he has no charisma whatsoever, and he’s a major dick! You’re telling me you would rather have a roided up , treats-his-fans-like-crap wrestler as your champ than a high flying, risk taking, deserving champion such as Jeff Hardy? This is absolutely ridiculous it amazes me.
Sat: I don’t think that people are hating Orton because he is on steroid, he is being hated because he is just plain boring. And I wanted to see Hardy get a short run as champion, but Orton needed to go into Mania as the champion. Now, it will probably be Cena.
Uncletrunx: I think Captain Chinlock does indeed get the hatred for his small collection of long restholds rather than any extra curricular activity, be it drug based or related to other forms of bad behaviour. The public really don’t seem to care that much about whether or not their entertainers do drugs. Pete Docherty sells a lot of records, for example, people still turn up to his shows and the same is true of wrestlers. Sure, the Benoit situation made quite a few folks feel uneasy about the whole steroid situation but they’re likely to still be cheering for wrestlers who look “artificially big”.
Lone Jobber Writes:
I pretty much agree with the Low Road side’s two points. Cena winning Rumble
in a shocking mannor – Good. Cashing it in at No Way Out – Horrible.
Sat: I can’t disagree with this. You summarized the entire column in two lines.
Uncletrunx: That’ll be us out of a job if we’re not careful!
Ron Writes:
Pardon me, but when did Cena ever put an ass in a seat? WWE ratings are horribly down, PPV buyrates are down, house shows are near non-existent.
So…when did he put asses in the seats?Here’s the deal. It’s a one match card and you have to get as many people as you can to pony up $20 to see the one match between two wrestlers. Who are you putting in the match to fill up as many seats? Probably not Cena. Of current active stars today I would say HHH, HBK, Taker, Rey, Edge and Flair are on that list before Cena.
Sat: We all knew that Cena was going to open the show on RAW and what happened? It was the highest rated show (non special) since last year. I take that as Cena putting butts in the seat.
As for your second point, Rey basically has the same fan base as Cena only less. And out of the wrestlers that you listed the only ones I would pay for are HBK/Taker, Taker/Edge (barely), Cena/HBK, Cena/Taker.
Uncletrunx: I’d be interested to analyse the ratings before and after the Cena return. Business has been bad lately but I think that’s as much to do with the Benoit aftermath as Cena.
Eric Writes:
“Having him work the shortest amount of time in the ring to keep him protected has now been rendered null and void by having him cash in his title match early. Why would he do that? Where’s the logic? Nobody would say “I could have the biggest match at the biggest show of the year; I’ve just won that right. But I’ll choose not to do that, in order that I can get my match a
month early.” Perhaps if he’d been so angry and annoyed with something Orton had done he could’ve demanded an early shot that very night, but choosing to take the match a month early and forego the Main Event makes no sense from a storyline point of view.”-Trunx sixth LRUmm putting him on the shelf for a year (well it woulda been) isn’t enough of a reason? I’d call that pretty “annoying”.
And its not like you guys have to include EVERY comment.
Sat: I buy the argument on why Cena wanted the match early, but the WWE should not have mentioned it. The thing about the title shot at Mania is special and by doing this it is losing it luster. I think that’s what Uncletrunx’s was trying to say.
As for the comments, they have been driving me crazy. I have been working on trying to filter them out for awhile. We’ll see how the new criteria works. Hopefully, it will lead to making the comment section smaller.
Uncletrunx: I’d also buy that argument, but it is in turn rendered null and void by him not demanding his revenge that very night. Either he’s burning for revenge, and wants it now, or he can wait and get his revenge on the biggest show of the year. Waiting a little while to cash it in is the worst of both worlds and defies logic.
Black Scorpion Writes:
Cena appearing was not announced, hence no extra buys for an already hurting PPV schedule, and him winning meant all the people who had to, oh I don’t know, QUALIFY among other things look like stepping stones. Yes, I know Cena’s the merchandise seller and all that and the surprise was very well done by WWE in a time we rarely get surprises but frankly, I’d have preferred not seeing Cena for another 5 months at least.
Sat: You make a good point about it hurting the buys because most likely people might have bought the show to see Cena’s return.
Uncletrunx: I take the point about the qualifiers, that was a good point which I missed.
Your reasons for taking the High Road, Low Road, or Both Roads and suggestions for future High Road/Low Road at welcome at [email protected] or in the comment section. Your reply will be included in next week’s column.
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