High Road/Low Road 03.27.09: The WrestleMania Diva Battle Royal
Posted by Sat & Chad Nevett on 03.27.2009
The title says it all folks; chances are you'll love it or hate it. Come and tell us which!
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).
The Results for Matt Hardy versus Jeff Hardy at WrestleMania 25
High Road: 79%
Low Road: 17%
Both Roads: 04%
25 Diva Battle Royal at WrestleMania 25
High Road:
One of the main points that is not being mentioned is the fact that this 25 Diva Battle Royal is better than the stuff that we usually get. Let's take a look back at the last few WrestleManias. We have seen Divas that have posed for Playboy getting world title shot, Bunnymania matches, and Playboy pillow fights. I will take this 25 Diva Battle Royal over all of this stuff any day.
Low Road:
If this is better than what we usually get, it's a pretty serious comment on the state of women's matches at Wrestlemania. I agree that it will be better than Playboy Bunnymania matches but then very little could be worse. Wrestlemania is supposed to be the biggest spectacle of them all, the absolute showcase of the finest wrestling has to offer and to me, it's sad that Women's wrestling is so often represented with something which is frankly substandard.
High Road:
I like having a 25 Diva Battle Royal at WrestleMania because I think the WWE was going to have a tough time trying to get an interesting championship match set up. I think that any singles match the WWE had gone with would not have felt like a new match up. Plus, we all know that the WWE is going to fix this problem with the draft. I think that with this 25 Diva Battle Royal, the WWE knew that they did not have a good match up, so they went with this interesting concept.
Low Road:
Again, WWE's failure to build their female titles into anything meaningful is a low road as far as I'm concerned. Can you imagine this happening with any of the world titles? Can you imagine the uproar if it did? Surely it can't be that hard to create one interesting female feud with women who can work a decent match; this shows in many ways just how little WWE thinks of both female championships, that neither is defended on the biggest show, neither has a decent feud supporting it and the best concept they can think of for the female competitors is a battle royal.
High Road:
This year's WrestleMania is the 25th anniversary and it makes sense to bring back some of the divas from past WrestleManias. The Divas Battle Royal makes the perfect sense for this because you can add quite a few of them to this match. Plus, it will be interesting to see some of the older divas interacting with some of the newer divas. I think that this is a win win because you have the perfect opportunity to bring back some of the older divas and we get to see the old generation divas interact with the new generation of divas.
Low Road:
I would agree entirely if there weren't such obvious and glaring omissions. Not having Lita there, for example, is a glaring omission and one which will no doubt be picked up. If Trish Stratus doesn't turn up and if Victoria can't be coaxed back for one last match, this is going to fall very flat indeed.
High Road:
I look at this match and I think that it has the potential to be like the Gimmick Battle Royal from WrestleMania 17. Some of the positives about the Gimmick Battle Royal were that the crowd was into it the match and it was over very quickly. I think that the 25 Diva Battle Royal as the same potential. The only problem I see with this match is that some of the current divas will not be able to generate a reaction from the crowd, but I still see this Battle Royal having the same effect as the Gimmick Battle Royal.
Low Road:
The big difference is that the Gimmick Battle Royal was loaded with characters who got a nostalgia pop, and people were somewhat forgiving of the lack of in ring action due to the age and condition of many of those involved. The divas will get no such allowance and no such nostalgia pop, especially if the majority of those who could generate such a reaction are missing, as it seems they will be.
High Road:
The winner of the 25 Diva Battle Royal is going to be crowned Miss WrestleMania and I think that it is an interesting idea. I think that the diva that wins this battle royal could easily use this to elevate their career. I think that for a diva to be called Miss WrestleMania has to have a huge effect on somebody's career. While most people are not commenting on this, I think that the WWE is planning on promoting the winner of the battle royal as Miss WrestleMania and I see this having a huge effect on the winner's career.
Low Road:
It could. However, so could winning the women's title if WWE would actually give anyone any reason to care about such things. This is not going to elevate anyone if there is no push to follow it and it ultimately goes nowhere else.
High Road:
A minor point here, but this should be mentioned. I like that this 25 Diva Battle Royal gets all of the divas into the ring. First, most of the time the WWE usually does a good job in getting all of the Divas involved at WrestleMania. But, if you look at most of the divas on the WWE roster, there are quite a few that have never had a WrestleMania match. This 25 Diva Battle Royal will finally get some divas their first match at WrestleMania and that is a good thing.
Low Road:
Wrestlemania should be about promoting the best that wrestling has to offer, not shoehorning as many semi trained models as possible into a match just to get them involved. There are a huge number of midcard wrestlers who won't get anywhere near Wrestlemania throughout their entire career and that's not necessarily a bad thing, if the importance of a Wrestlemania appearance is kept. As it stands, we're going to get to see a whole load of people who have very limited wrestling skills involved in a match for the sake of it. Given that this match is likely to be a vehicle to get Gail Kim reintroduced, I have to wonder what can be achieved here which couldn't be achieved in a one on one or tag match involving a "mystery opponent". The only good thing about this as far as I can see is that it will give the crowd an opportunity to go to the toilet.
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.
Uncletrunx: In the absence of emails (other than votes), let's go to the comments!
Comments:
Below are the comments for last week's columns and our responses. All of the comments will not be included. Only a few select comments will be included because it makes our lives a lot easier. The comments section was last looked at on Saturday Afternoon.
The Gold Standard Writes:
I'll go both roads. Depending on who gets the win as I believe a Matt Hardy win would help more than a Jeff Hardy win. While I like Jeff more I think Matt needs win in order to legitimize him as a future main eventer. Otherwise he'll always be Jeff's shadow.
Sat: I agree. Matt needs to win this match, but with the WWE you never know.
Uncletrunx: In some ways, a Matt win is almost too obvious. Also, I have to ask; is Matt really going to be a main event star? He's a solid upper mid card talent, but I just don't see him making that final step.
Iron Knee Writes:
Definitely, possibly, High Road:
The match ought to be interesting at least. While I'm not really fond of Jeff, Matt might be able to drag a solid to good match out of him.
The storyline could turn out to be gold. Imagine that Matt really isn't to blame for all of Jeff's accidents. Jeff and Matt go at it hammer and tong. Just as Jeff's about to put Matt away, the true malefactor emerges and puts Jeff on the shelf. Then, Matt hunts the malefactor in order to avenge his brother. Matt and Jeff reconcile and reform their tag team.
Sat: I just do not see this happening at all. This would get the IWC is an outrage.
Uncletrunx: It's a bit too much of a swerve and a bit too illogical for my tastes.
B.W.G. Writes:
High Road...here, we find out whether these guys can take a regular match with a lot of backstory coming it, and make it interesting enough to keep the crowd the whole way through, without other established main eventers around to help with the storytelling. If the match works, Jeff's near two-year push is justified and he can head into the main event again at some point, and Matt has a legitimate case for being brought up to that level, if only for a short time (what I refer to as the Umaga push). If the match bombs, at least the 'E can say they tried to further establish two fan faves into something more.
Sat: Yeah, even if it does not work the WWE can say that they tried to elevate some new stars.
Uncletrunx: I suppose if nothing else it works on an experimental level.
The Great Captain Smooth Writes:
High Road. These two wrestlers are talented, over, going to make sure that the other brother looks good, and still young enough to try some crazy shit. I am curious to see how they will reunite. I can just picture Matt seeing that he has done wrong and pleading for Jeff to forgive him. Perhaps Matt will win the big one at next year's WM. Jeff could come out and they could embrace. It would be a GREAT WM moment.
Sat: I don't see this happening right away, but I could see this happening in a few months.
Uncletrunx: I hope they leave it a good amount of time before the inevitable Hardy reunion.
Guest #8315 Writes:
High Road.
They've announced in this week's Smackdown that the match is going to be an extreme rules match. If it's straight no-DQ match I would be cautiously optimistic, but if it's an extreme rules match I have faith on them to deliver a good to great match.
Sat: I agree. I think that this really elevates the match. The one concern I have is that I don't really see the point of having Brian Kendrick versus Jeff Hardy in an extreme rules match.
Uncletrunx: So what they've done in simple terms is given them a license to get a ladder involved. I suppose it plays to their history at least.
Jonberg Writes:
High Road. The best built match on the card. Excellent work from two very capable workers.
The only thing that bothers me a bit is that they've done this match before and everyone seems to have forgotten it. Back when the Hardys first split and Matt became V 1.0 And the match stank.
Sat: I think that the Hardys have gotten better since that time and I expect this match to be better.
Uncletrunx: I certainly hope it's better.
Brad Writes:
Low Road
The black hole of charisma that is Matt Hardy vs The charismatic enigma who cant wrestle unless he's jumping off a ladder (VINTAGE HARDY) Jeff Hardy.
They save the match for Wrestlemania which is fine but it is overshawdowed COMPLETELY by everything not named the Divas Battle Royal, for god sakes Raws top angle is a burning passionate hate feud. This looks like
Also how will this elevate Matt? Even though I think the task is impossible people seem to think this guy is a main eventer. Even if he does win at Mania this feud ends with Jeff getting revenge on a large structure.
This feud is a poor mans Bret/Owen and I do not care for it.
If it is a normal rules match this will suck beyond belief, if they make it Extreme Rules then Jeff Hardy fans get to see how talented their boy is once again.
Sat: I think you are commenting on the fact that all of the other matches are on multiple brands. I think that this helps this feud instead of hurting the feud.
Uncletrunx: It looks like they're going to be able to use a ladder. At least Jeff can play to his strength.
Csonkamaniac Writes:
i HATE to say it... but... low... road.
i have no real problem with this match, i've even been looking forward to it since wwe botched it the first time they split these two up. i just think this match, above all others on the card, is really going to be hit-or-miss. and i say that partly because matt IS hit-or-miss, and partly because they're definitely going to try to steal the show, but can they deliver?? i just don't know. i wish i could sit here and rant one way or the other, but i just don't know about this match.
p.s.
hey sat, what i said last week about comparing edge/cena to rock/austin; i was talking in terms of fueds, not star power. as far as HHH is concerned, i've got an order of heart punch and a side of big wiggle waitin' for'm.
Sat: I thought you meant star power, so my bad. Still, I think that Edge and John Cena are the two stars of the WWE right now.
Uncletrunx: It is a match which could go either way. I think they'll go for pure spectacle in terms of jumping from high stuff. If that's your thing, it'll deliver.
Michelle Writes:
High road. I've never been a Hardy fan, but this match is going to be Extreme Rules apparently and Jeff is always good when he's doing something crazy. Matt's also been pretty damn good at the promos and his heel character is pretty cool and for once he's actually sexy.
Sat: I think Extreme Rules is definitely going to help this match become a classic.
Uncletrunx: I decline to judge the match in terms of whether the participants are sexy or not. I may hold onto that concept for future Low Roads though.
KanyonKriest Writes:
The build on this has been well-executed (background strings during Matt's promo aside *sigh*), even if predictable. Both of these guys are putting in the best mic work of their careers, and the resulting match at WM XXV is the one I am most looking forward to on the card. Matt and Jeff have both come a long way since their slapdash little program at the end of 2001, so I'm optimistic about this feud, moreso, by far, than with any other heading into the Grandaddy of 'em All... HIGH ROAD.
Sat: I think that the mic work of both guys has definitely been a positive.
Uncletrunx: They have been surprisingly good on the mic. I did wonder about the wisdom of having just about all of the buildup as verbal exchanges given that it's not traditionally either man's strong point but they've done stunningly well here.
Eddie Chicago Writes:
High Road. Hopefully, the whole thing can wash the stink off their previous feud. Matt should win at WM to keep the feud going and because if he loses it makes him look like he isn't on Jeff's level, negates the entire feud and Matt's career may never recover.
Sat: Matt needs to win becuase this can be a good feud if it can extend for multiple pay per views.
Uncletrunx: As I said above, Matt winning could be too predictable. There are ways to keep it going without a Matt win.
Your reasons for taking the High Road, Low Road, or Both Roads and suggestions for future High Road/Low Road are welcome at satuncletrunx@gmail.com or in the comment section. Your reply will be included in next week's column.
Low Road, the divas for the past couple years have always been the bathroom break at wrestlemania and often regarded as worst match of the night
Examples
WM 20 Playboy tag match Pointless
WM 21 Christy Hemme vs Trish Stratus, worst match of the year
WM 22 Torrie vs Candice Pillow fight same as above
WM 23 Melina vs Ashley this was brought to you by the letter A which stands for Abomination which fits this match perfectly.
WM 24 Maria Ashley vs Beth Melina so bad that God himself said "Screw this garbage." and turned the power off during the match.
And with the mess this is going to be why I should expect any different?
Posted By: Michael (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Low road. I was hoping with the build-up before the match was announced that it would be Maryse vs. Michelle vs. Melina vs. Beth or something along those lines. This match is going to be a clusterf*ck. :(
Posted By: Michelle (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Low Road:
A much better use of the alotted time would be a Fatal Four Way between Trish, Mickie, Beth, and Kim. Have Kim go over and then she has beaten a legend, a top face, and a top heel. Plus, you'd likely get a servicable match and the Trish nostalgia pop.
Posted By: Iron Knee (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 12:54 PM
High Road.
Look - it's the biggest card of the year. And you can't have EVERY match be about something serious (titles, grudges, respect). There always needs to be at least one lighter moment somewhere on the card.
I'm not expecting this to be anywhere near a Royal Rumble type of event. In fact - I expect the introductions - if they introduce everyone separately - to take longer than the actual match.
This will be a fun little transitional match. Assuming that the main event will be HHH/Orton - the Cena/Edge/Show match will be somewhere in the middle of the event. This will be a great follow up to that match as the crowd "catches their breath" before the next big match.
Posted By: BobbyC (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 01:07 PM
"WM 22 Torrie vs Candice Pillow fight same as above"
Um, Mickie vs. Trish? You remember Torrie-Candice but you forget the Women's title match that had a six month build up to it AND was a good match?
Posted By: Guest#2532 (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Low Road: No Lita, means I don't give a shit.
Posted By: MBD (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 01:16 PM
High Road only if we get Santino dressed as a woman to compete and win it.It would be funny as hell although he deserves more.In all seriousness Low Road out of the divas roster theres only a few that can actually deliver a decent match.Maybe a match consisting of Beth Phoenix,Natalya,Mickie James and Gail Kim would be a good technical match.Besides the average dude would probably rather see them in a 25 woman lingerie battle royal where the last person eliminated has to get stripped and pinned sunnyside up.Oops my bad I had a little Russo booking in me haha..
Posted By: The Gold Standard (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 01:24 PM
High road
People seem generally interested in this with lots of speculation on who will be returning and who will win.
Posted By: john (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 01:30 PM
High road
They actually are doing something different that what we see on TV every week, and people are interested to see what will happen. Which Divas will be returning? Who will win? Plus, the potential confrontations between Trish Stratus and several of the current Divas make this an easy HR for me.
Posted By: Guest#8806 (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 01:40 PM
High Road
Posted By: Mike (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:08 PM
I will have to go both roads.
I'm looking forward to it and think it can be a good thing for the division, if done right. Many fueds can be started here (which is odd since Wrestlemania is supposed to be about ending fueds).
However, if we see 19 eliminations within 12 seconds (which is highly likely) and it basically turns into a 1 on 1 or 2 on 1 match, it will obviously be a potty break match with a little PG T&A for those not needing the break.
No battle royal should last less than 3 minutes. And I see that happening here. But if done right, it can make for several good fueds.
Posted By: David (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:08 PM
both roads unless no victoria then low road
Posted By: james T. (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Once again, every single broad under contract with WWE is going to be stuffed into the ring at once at Wrestlemania. Plus like another TEN. You know who I feel bad for? Beth Phoenix, who's once again robbed of the chance to wrestle for the Women's Title on "the Grandest Stage of All"(tm). Instead, she's forced to try and stay afloat among a SEA of undertrained modeling agency castoffs, bumping into eachother like they're in one of those inflatable cages that wealthy parents rent for their kids' birthday parties.
Low Road.
Posted By: KanyonKreist (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:35 PM
Low Road
I hate to do that as there is nearly everyone of the good female workers earmarked to be there, i can always watch some Trish and Victoria and i am a huge Gail Kim mark(single most talented woman working for the wwe now)
I like Mayrese's character but she's just the deadman's bitch's bitch at any given time Melina is boreing,Beth is booked weaker then WC Rey and aside from Eve and Natyla there isnt an in ring talent booked for anyone to give a damn on the card.
Proving the VKM axiom(too much SFIV)
If you cant sell ice cream bars you dont matter.
Or if you cant hang and bang in Golds in venice brother you dont matter.
Posted By: Showster (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:40 PM
High Road
This SHOULD be a great match with great action and a great story. Some of the divas aren't the most talented, sure, but they have enough where we could get a really great match.
But, this is the WWE, so it'll either be really short or have a bullshit finish. Hopefully they don't fuck this up, but they will.
Posted By: Jawshii (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:41 PM
100% High Round.
Mickie, Beth, Neidhart, Nikita, Kim, Melina and Jillian are all great-good wrestlers and most of the others save for Maria aren't horrible, so what's the problem here?
At worst it will be fun like the Gimmick Battle Royal. We will get to see Gail Kim make her in-ring return and it will be great to see Sunny's return along with whoever else they bring back.
While it may be good to see Mickie James and Katie Lea get a 20 minute match, it's not going to happen sadly, but this is MUCH better than the pillow fights or the playboy stuff and it gives a lot of the deserving Diva's a chance to appear at Wrestlemania.
Posted By: Tim (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 02:52 PM
Low Road
While I'm curious to see who'll come back (I still got my fingers crossed for Luna), they shot themselves in the foot by not having the Raw vs Smackdown match center around the divas. When Maryse DDT'd Melina on the floor a few weeks ago I thought this would be the divs match this year, but then this was announced. The two divas had shown a little bit of chemistry in their diva match and really thought it would've been a great match for mania.
Posted By: Jackson (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 03:04 PM
1,000,000 % Low Road.
Posted By: Tower of Bauer (Registered) on March 27, 2009 at 04:26 PM
Both Roads. I always found the diva matches to be short, harmless timewasters. If you like the divas you can watch it. If not, you got a 5 minute bathroom break. No big deal either way.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 04:57 PM
low road.
this is the first year they had the opportunity to have either 2 title matches or a unification title match. melina and maryse did good with each other, so it wouldve been a good match.
theyre not gonna have anyone in that people really want to see: Chyna, Molly Holly, Lita, etc.
Posted By: christi (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 05:30 PM
High Road: Mania needs a piss-break match
Posted By: Guest#4086 (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 05:51 PM
christi, you are an idiot. wwe needs 2 women's belts because they have 19 women on the roster.
the divas match is FILLER just like women;s wrestling.
the only big name from the past that wwe needs for this crap is trish stratus.
chyna is a drug addict. sable is prenant. lita has no interest in wwe anymore. molly is retired.
the battle royal is the best way to get all the women on the ppv so they can get a mania paycheck.
Posted By: ted (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Both Roads. Low, because we could be having a Swagger/Bourne match instead. High, because it could be a lot of fun to see some Divas from the past and we could get a huge "WE WANT PUPPIES!!!" chant.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 07:04 PM
High ROad .
It will be fun , and all the divas get to be on the show .
Could a better match have been
booked ?
Yes , but it could've been worse , at least it is not a playboy pillow
fight .
What makes me excited to see it the return of Sunny , Trish ... and other former Divas . Also , it is interesting to see who will be given the title of Miss WM , it's the most unpredictable match on the card .
I Could be negative , but it IS WrestleMania , and I'm going to stay positive about everything and actually enjoy the show . No point bitching about everything ., and being disappointed .
So , yeah , i will look forward to the battle royale . Hopefully it will be good .
Posted By: HBK Fan (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 08:57 PM
both roads
They havent even filled the 25 spots yet.
But anytime i get to see sunny, thats always a high road.
Posted By: setobakura (Guest) on March 27, 2009 at 09:04 PM
HIGH ROAD
I finally get to masturbate to something!!!!
Posted By: Guest#8725 (Guest) on March 28, 2009 at 01:55 AM
both roads.
i'm not a mathematician, but if i'm countin' right that's fifty, that's right, FIFTY BOOBS. that's why i'd take the high road.
but i know it. you know it. the gold standard's grandmother knows it. brad's boyfriend knows it. two of those fifty boobs are going to belong to one mae young. and i'll be goddamned if she doesn't try and pull them floppy sons'a'bitches out at some point. i've seen them biker titties once before around the 2000 royal rumble, and i don't care to ever visit that seventh level of hell ever again. that's why i'd also take the low road.
it'll be a nice little moment for nostalgia(i can't wait for sunny, she's still lookin' good). and this is inserted into 'mania's program purely for spectacle and to try and cultivate another "wrestlemania moment" ala' okerlund and heenan at XX, the gimmick battle royal at x-7(i could've put XVII or 17 but everyone would flame me) and the running joke that was pete rose(not his life or career, just his WM moments). it'll be fun, it won't last longer than 10-15 minutes, but that's 10-15 minutes they could hand over to michaels and taker.
so both roads.
Posted By: csonkamaniac (Guest) on March 28, 2009 at 07:26 AM
Both Roads
Posted By: phil (Guest) on March 28, 2009 at 11:59 AM
High Road, I care more about this Hardy/Hardy.
Plus its 10 minutes of useless fun, harmless to anyone.
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on March 28, 2009 at 10:09 PM
High Road: If Sunny rightfully wins it (unless they can get Chyna).
Low Road: If the "legendary" Trish Stratus ends up winning.
Posted By: Magnum TOKYO, JP (Guest) on March 29, 2009 at 05:31 AM
High Road
Posted By: michael (Guest) on March 29, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Both roads. The WWE has enough talented divas to make this interesting but I can easily see them keeping a few of the talentless ones in right until the end. All the pieces of eye candy like Kelly, Candice, Layla, all the Smackdown divas except Gail Kim should be eliminated in the first couple of minutes but unfortunately there is a good chance the WWE will have someone like Maryse or Taker's bitch win which would shit on whatever credibility the women's division has. Ideally this should be won by Mickie, Beth or Gail so there can be a believable winner who can be pushed for a title afterwards. If she's involved Trish is an acceptable winner for nostalgia purposes but it should go to one of the current divas with talent. It will be nice to see Trish and others again but without Lita nostalgia wise something will feel like it's missing. This is an improvement on some of the matches over the last few years, but the best women's match at Mania was a singles match between Mickie and Trish which was given both a lot of build and a sufficient amount of time in the match itself. I would have much rather seen a one-on-one match between two divas who can actually wrestle and are given a story to work with, but by that same token this is much better than throwing a talentless diva or two into a one-on-one match and then acting surprised when they stink up the place. All in all this could have been a lot better, but it could have been a lot worse.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on March 29, 2009 at 03:00 PM
How Low Road can I go?
Seriously, does anyone remember when Trish, Jazz and Victoria used to tear shit up. There were times when those ladies had the best match on the card. Not great for women wrestlers, but actually great matches.
Posted By: Guest#4150 (Guest) on March 29, 2009 at 11:14 PM
High road I want to see lots of Divas' asses.
Posted By: Chuck Steaks (Guest) on March 31, 2009 at 07:34 PM
High Road
Posted By: tom (Guest) on April 01, 2009 at 06:39 PM
