High Road/Low Road 09.04.09: R-Truth
Posted by Chad Nevett on 09.04.2009
This week we're looking at one of the more flamboyant characters in WWE. As ever, we need your opinions so read the column and give us your opinion.
Welcome back to the High Road/Low Road!
A brief explanation of the column: Sat takes the High Road (positive view) on angles, gimmicks, and other wrestling related "stuff" while Uncletrunx takes the Low Road (negative view).
Results for The Hurricane:
High Road: 70%
Low Road: 21%
Both Roads: 09%
R-Truth
High Road:
R-Truth is a unique wrestler for the WWE because he is he is the only other wrestler beside John Cena in the WWE who sings their entrance theme song. The thing that makes him more unique than John Cena is the fact that R-Truth sings his theme music to the ring all the time. While this does not give him a huge edge over all the other wrestlers, it is something that distinguishes him from the other wrestlers.
Low Road:
I remember, back in about 1991, there was a wrestler in WCW who played the guitar on his own entrance theme when he came to the ring. The fact that I can't remember his name shows you how far it helped him in his rise to superstardom. Yes, it is a semi-unique gimmick but no guarantee that he will become as big as Cena.
Incidentally, it's now annoying me intensely that I can't remember who the WCW guy was. I vaguely remember him as something like J T Southern, although I'm not sure that's right. So if there's a reader out there who can either confirm this or remind me who he was, I'd be grateful. I remember him hanging around with Scotty Flamingo, if that helps!
High Road:
Interaction with the crowd is very important and there are very few wrestlers that interact with the crowd. R-Truth is one of the wrestlers that is always interacting with the crowd. He is always guaranteed to get the crowd involved with them chanting what up. He is interacting with the crowd more than most of the wrestlers in the WWE.
Low Road:
The crowd are important, that cannot be denied. However, more important than the crowd reaction is the reaction of one man; Vince McMahon. I have to note that Vince seems very reluctant to push wrestlers who have been in TNA, and probably with good reason; making wrestlers who have been with the number two company seem important will be a tacit acknowledgment that they are approaching WWE. Vince has so many guys on his roster that he has no need to push former TNA guys (or girls); look at how he handled the re-debut of Christian or Gail Kim. If they, with the potential for a really big introduction, were damned with faint praise, I think it is highly unlikely that R-Truth is ever going to get above the mid card no matter how loudly the crowd cheer for him.
High Road:
Most of the top stars always get a reaction. Everybody else is hit and miss in terms of getting reaction. The one guy that is always guaranteed to wake the crowd up is R-Truth because of his theme song. This makes him a valuable asset to the WWE.
Low Road:
He does get a reaction, but so do a lot of guys. R-Truth is far from untouchable in that regard and his TNA past cannot help but count against him. I hope he makes it, I think he's a talented and charismatic wrestler who deserves all the good things that come his way. However, having seen how WWE have used him thus far, I don't think he's going to be one of their top guys.
High Road:
While it is good that R-Truth is interacting with the crowd, that would not mean a whole lot if he was a bad wrestler. I think that R-Truth is a decent wrestler, but the thing that separates him is the fact that he has a unique wrestling style. He is an acrobatic wrestler and the WWE has very few of those guys.
Low Road:
Again, I look to another example, that being Shelton Benjamin. His athleticism was, at one stage, supposed to be his ticket to the top. As it is, he is still languishing in the mid card about four years after he was supposed, by many accounts, to have been on his way to the top. R-Truth is a great athlete, but WWE does have others and the example of Benjamin shows that it will not guarantee him a top spot.
High Road:
I have noticed something about R-Truth that is kind of weird and I am not sure if anybody else has picked up on this. R-Truth has taken quite a few of losses on SmackDown, but every time he wrestles it seems like his previous losses are forgotten in my mind. I think that this helps him because it means more to beat somebody who you think can win every time out. Of course, maybe I am crazy and I am the only one that has noticed this.
Low Road:
To be honest, I'd not noticed that but it strikes me as a two edged sword. While he may recover well from losses, the fact that he does so could well lead to more losses in the future. Lose too much and inevitably, you're not going to be seen as a winner and a top level guy. I for one see R-Truth as a competent wrestler but not in the same league as the main event talent, simply because he loses too often to mid card level wrestlers.
High Road:
R-Truth has shocked me with one thing and that is the fact that he has made his opponents look very good. Two matches that come to mind for me are the ones that he had against Ricky Ortiz and Mike Knox. In both of these matches, R-Truth won the match, but at the end of the matches I was shocked at how well Ricky Ortiz and Mike Knox looked in the match.
Low Road:
Again, this has both upsides and downsides. Making an opponent look good can be a great thing, but if that opponent is another midcarder at best, it can potentially backfire; R-Truth needs to appear better than guys like Knox if he is to get to the top of WWE, and making them look as strong as he is could well hold him back.
As I say, I like R-Truth but I am not at all convinced that he will make the leap to Main Event level, which is where his talent should put him.
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.
Doyle Rodgers Writes:
This is so low. Hurricane did good for him back in the day and he definitely had some good build when holding the cruiserweight title before the injury. However, he lost a lot of it due to the injury and bringing back the Hurricane will not do him any favors whatsoever. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Helms regardless of the condition he's used in, but the Hurricane will not ever get Helms where he needs to be or want to be. I feel sad for the guy.
Sat: Gregory Helms lost a lot of momentum and a change needed to be made. And eventually he can change his character back.
Uncletrunx:To me, it is a step back. Amusing in the short term, possibly damaging longer term.
Jake Corbet Writes:
Normally I'm a Low Road kind of guy, but I see a glimmer of potential for Helms pulling out the cape and mask again. In a time where superhero movies are still doing well, it makes sense to pop out a superhero gimmick .. and with Hurricane, they've got one established.
As Sat stated, it'll sell merch .. and we all know how the WWE loves to sell it's merch, especially with Jeff Hardy leaving for an extended bit.
Maybe this is just me here .. but during his match with Burchill, it seemed that he was a bit more aggressive than he has been in previous incarnations. I'm wondering .. everyone is assuming this is the Hurricane of old, a comedy bit .. and while yes, the leadup to his (re) debut was amusing (to some) with people being saved in various ways .. his actual in ring work showed perhaps a more gritty side of his character. I'm wondering if they're perhaps going to try to cash in on the Dark Knight phenomenon and make him more Batman-esque. Yes, he's a superhero .. but he's also an ass kicker. That could really play as both a face and a heel. So this is my stipulation. If they follow the "Dark Knight" model .. High Road. If not, if it's just going to be a comedy routine .. Low Road .. for every single reason Trunx said.
Sat: The Dark Knight route did not come to mind for me and if they go in that direction, I think that would be a definite high road. With the Dark Knight route, I could see him easily becoming the ECW champion.
Uncletrunx: It's an intriguing thought. The modern superhero tends to be a bit more dark and if they play this out as you suggest, it could be interesting.
Comments:
Below are the comments for last week's columns and our responses. Every comment will not be included because it makes our lives a lot easier. The comments section was last looked at on Sunday Afternoon Pacific Time.
Empire of Ownage Writes:
It very much seems like you want us to take the low road, but when the Hurricane gimmick went away years ago, I didn't think it was necessary. He could have done a heel turn and just become a supervillain. I think that his run in ECW could potentially culminate with him becoming ECW champion as the superhero to save us from the "Evil League of Regal's Evil" after Christian, Tommy Dreamer, and maybe Shelton Benjamin fail to dethrone his title reign that I see starting at Breaking Point.
High road for me.
Sat: I think that while a supervillian is a good idea, you can't do that without first reintroducing him as a superhero.
Uncletrunx: I'd prefer it if he managed to make a more rounded anti-hero type character as Jake suggested above. A straight swap of superhero to supervillain would still leave him using a gimmick which is many years out of date.
HBK's Smile Writes:
High Road. It's time to acknowledge the glass ceiling for Helms. He will never be World Title material or anything near it. For him to have a future in WWE, it will be by filling a niche, which The Hurricane does. It's his best bet at staying employed and contributing something to the product, even if that contribution is comedy and kiddie fans.
Sat: I'll agree with that.
Uncletrunx: While I acknowledge the glass ceiling, I do think his longer term future is far better served away from a comic relief role. The Hurricane is not a gimmick with a long life expectancy unless they change it up in the ways suggested above; I fear he'll end up being wished well in his future endeavors far sooner if he doesn't get rid of the gimmick.
Andrew Writes:
i'm taking high road for a reason you guys almost got to... the wwe is pg and the last time helms was hurricane, all the little kiddies weren't even born. so for all us old-heads can remember just 2-3 short years, we do. hurricane is something new and funny and a superhero to these kids. wwe is for the kids, not us anymore
Sat: I did mention that the WWE is PG, so he does fit in that environment.
Uncletrunx: He does to an extent. Being PG doesn't necessarily mean that they have to pitch everything towards small children using basic storylines and primary colours. Some of the work on Smackdown shows that it is possible to create a compelling wrestling show without having to make it a children's show.
The Gold Standard Writes:
Low Road.I think The Hurricane is just around to be gimmick to appeal to the younger audience.In any event I don't see Hurricane becoming ECW champion, but then again you never know with Vince.I just think its a shame that hes not on Smackdown or Raw causing he could be a great midcard face challenging for either the IC or US title.
Sat: I do think that it is possible for Hurricane to be an ECW contender, but I would not put money on it.
Uncletrunx: I could see Gregory Helms competing seriously for the I C or US titles, but not the Hurricane.
guest writes:
If Helms really delivers in the ring, I think he could outgrow the superhero character.
I agree that "The Hurricane" is a comedy act, but "Hurricane Helms" could potentially be US or IC Champion. And I'd really like to see that version of Helms up against the likes of Morrison and Punk someday.
Once the double-identity thing plays itself out and Helms is exposed as the Hurricane, a more serious tone to his character could earn him some championships. The change of character would be similar to Hunter Hearst Helmsley becoming Triple H.
Of course I could be wrong. Helms might be a green Goldust.
Both roads.
Sat: That is the thing people forget, you can always change character when the time is right. We have seen it multiple times.
Uncletrunx: The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the darker superhero character might be the way to make this work in the longer term.
Burnout Writes:
High Road - Santino and Lawler are the most over guys on RAW. Comedy has its place but good comedy can get the crowd eating out of the palm of your hand. HHH, Shawn Micheals, John Cena, and many of the past huge names, from Stone Cold to The Rock, were elevated alot through their own comedy gimmick. Make us laugh and we'll love ya for it. Let us down and we have a short attention span anyway. Besides, green is my favorite color. *shrugs*
Sat: I'll agree. People are down on comedy, but I think it is something that is needed.
Uncletrunx: I agree that green is cool. I'm not convinced by your assertion that comedy lifted Stone Cold to the heights he achieved, although I'll acknowledge it in the case of The Rock.
JLAJRC Writes:
I vote High Road. People only liked him when he was the Hurricane, not as plain old Gregory Helms. Frankly, this gimmick is the only thing keeping him employed.
Also, since he is in the same boat as Goldust as a respected low-card veteran who can still get some pops even while jobbing, I can see him filling that niche nicely on ECW.
Sat: If the Hurricane is in the same boat as Goldust, then I would just cut my losses and release him. I think he is probably being looked as one of the top ten guys on ECW.
Uncletrunx: How many guys are there on ECW? How hard is it to break into the top 10?
The Great Captain Smooth Writes:
High road. I get that the gimmick won't make people a world champ, but I do think there is a place in wrestling for the over-the-top characters that make the fans smile. Honestly, I feel the same way about Hurricane as I did about Boogeyman. They should be mantles that can be passed down, wagered, stolen, won, bought, etc. as a way to get as many people over as possible. Maybe he can even have a sidekick. I can just picture Helms as The Hurricane and Hornswoggle as The Tropical Depession.
Sat: There is a place for over the top characters. The one thing that I have noticed this time around is that the Hurricane is a less over the top character than his last run.
Uncletrunx: I must admit to a fondness for over the top characters, but then I was brought up on Wrestling in the 80s where there were loads of them.
David Writes:
Low road-
The Gregory Helms character was bland on return as a babyface - the Helms character was most successful in his cruiserweight heel run, coming back as a generic babyface wasn't going to do anyone any favours - but neither is stepping backwards 3 years to an old gimmick. The reason he dropped the hurricane was because of how stale it became - how long before the character becomes boring and stale once again?
Sat: Honestly, Hurricane is way better than Gregory Helms.
Uncletrunx: In the short term he is. It's the longer term that concerns me.
Guest#5573 Writes:
I think I would prefer him as Gregory Helms on ECW and as a heel. Go after the ECW belt and maybe form a team with say.. Zack Ryder and go after the Unifed tag team belts as well. He was pretty good as a heel on Smackdown before his injury.
At the same time, ECW need more Face stars, outside Christian and Dreamer, no one is super over with the crowd, they could possibly try make Hurricane like the John Cena of the show. He isn't as popular as Mysterio but his merchendise can make a bit of cash, especially the masks.
Both roads.
Sat: I do see his masks selling a bit. Not at the Rey Mysterio level or anything.
Uncletrunx: I don't see Hurricane masks selling like Mysterio masks do.
Tom Writes:
What was wrong with "Sugar" Shane Helms? It is a testament to Helms' ability that he got the stupid Hurricane gimmick over, but the fact that WWE threw away a VERY marketable gimmick (Helms was one of WCW's only bright spots in the dying days) is something I never truly understood.
Sat: The thing that was wrong with Sugar Shane Helms is that there can only be one Shane in the WWE.
Uncletrunx: How very sad but very true.
Shio Writes:
Low Road. Greg Helms whipping out the swank pretend shining wizard and generally being awesome when he was the longest reigning crusierweight champ had legs. arguably, the character was a pretty generic heel, but he put on wrestling clinics with matt hardy before going on the shelf. his character was no worse than ziggler and that guy is getting an ic title mega push. To me, helms could have been like a modern day D'Lo Brown had he not lost all momentum after he got injured.
Sat: I'll agree. Helms lost all of his steam with the injury and it is a bad thing.
Uncletrunx: The momentum could have been rebuilt without resorting to an outdated comedy gimmick.
KanyonKreist Writes:
High Road.
This appears to be the only way Helms can really get over as a babyface, so why not? Bottom line, the gimmick works.
I just wish he didn't look so much like Delirious now, with all that hair in his face...
Sat: I guess I am the only one that likes the new look.
Uncletrunx: I'm convinced that Helms could get over with a less cartoon like gimmick. That said, I'm being drawn towards the dark superhero the more I think about it. That's probably a very good place to end the column for this week.
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.
Posted By: jd (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 01:17 PM
Low Road: He is all sizzle and no steak. His matches are boring and that corkscrew move he does is the dumbest looking move in wrestling today
Posted By: iomis (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 01:30 PM
high road:think he's got the talent but needs to be nurtured
Posted By: Guest#6107 (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 02:07 PM
Low Road because of how they booked him thus far.The guy could really be a great face upper midcarder, competing for the IC title.Something Smackdown needs more of right now.I just think the case with R-Truth is the same with Gail Kim, Christian and whoever else from TNA goes to WWE.Those following people were big timers in TNA.I would never thought K-Kwik (former alias in WWF-2001) would be a two time NWA/TNA Champion.I guess the E whats to make the point that they have made with anyone else who wasnt WWE homegrown and that is whatever you accomplished in other federations doesn't mean spit to the WWE.
Posted By: The Gold Standard (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Low Road: He should have never left TNA(I know everyone complains about it, but at least TNA does something with the guys they sign from another company 99% of the time.) I wonder if Ron Killings regrets leaving TNA, infact I wonder if Christian and Gail regret leaving. They go from being treated like superstars to being treated like afterthoughts.
Posted By: JWestmoreland (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 02:25 PM
High Road....he deserves Main Event level..however Vine won't let TNA guys reach that.
The only one who has a chance is Christian cuz of his association with Edge, but he will be on the losing side of that eventual feud.
Posted By: Guest#5614 (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Low Road: He has done nothing of note since returning to the WWE.
Posted By: Joel Yeomans (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Low Road. I've never really thought Killings was a great wrestler, and this time around he doesn't have Road Dogg's coattails to ride on.
Posted By: Anonymous Smart Mark (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 02:56 PM
Low Road.
If he'd been used correctly in the first place, he should have been brought in to feud with John Cena.
The "Real" rapper VS The "Wigga"
At the time of his debut, Cryme Tyme were hanging around with Mr Rappadoo.
Now, in storyterms, if R-Truth had convinced Cryme Tyme to turn on Cena and support him in role to prove that Cena wasn't street, we'd have had an interesting feud going on.
Plus, Heel Killings is much, much better than fan appeasing R-Truth and he would ultimately get more over.
Even if the fan reaction had caused them to turn R-Truth face, him and Cena could have put their differences aside having earnt respect for each other to take on the now EVIL Cryme Tyme who had by now teamed up with Mark Henry to gain the upper hand on Cena.
There you go. 18 months worth of interesting main events with NEW match ups. Cena V Killings / Cryme Tyme. Cena & Killings V Cryme Tyme. Cena V Henry. Killings V Henry.
Wow, you've escalated and actually put programmes together and created some new main eventers.
It's too easy. But instead, the WWE took the pathetic stale route, or rather, they took the Low Road.
As usual.
Posted By: TheTheoryofTimeandSpace (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 03:23 PM
High Road
Vince is just too fucking stupid to do anything with this bottomless bag of talent.
Posted By: Pritty Rickay (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 03:36 PM
Low Road: His initial buzz and push fizzled fast. Also seems WWE has tossed the 'Pretty Ricky' thing out the window.
Posted By: Devin (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Both roads. Low, because he isn't a spring chicken in the ring(I think he's 37.), the rap gimmick will only work for so long, and he will turn off a segmant of the fans that don't like rap music.(I've heard the boos in the south.) High road, because while the rap will wear thin, crowds do like to be involved, the guy has some pretty nifty moves that will pop a lot of kids, he is more than able to help put younger talent over, and he has the charisma to still have an on air role after he retires from the ring.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Truth? HIGH ROAD.
WWE's inability to use Truth for more than two consecutive weeks? LOW ROAD.
I hate to say it, but WWE could really use Vince Russo back on their "creative team." At least Russo put some time into the midcard. Hell, he put a LOT of time into it. Remember when people actually FEUDED over the European Title?
Currently, we've got approximately three ongoing angles on Smackdown, three on Raw, and one on ECW. Yes, that's including the divas. That's seven angles amid six hours of television per WEEK. Do WWE's writers just do this as a hobby or something..? EARN YOUR PAY, YOU LAZY TWATS!!
So, uh... Both Roads.
Posted By: KanyonKreist (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Low Road. Take away his entrance rap and he's nothing special. He has yet to impress me in any way.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 04:52 PM
High Road.
Posted By: Leo (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Low Road. R-Truth just doesn't fit in the WWE IMO. You see the Smackdown roster, where there is many many people who have a higher role then...CM Punk, Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Edge, Chris Jericho, John Morrison, Matt Hardy, Dolph Ziggler, Kane etc...
Yes, also the Pretty Ricky skits are so bad. It ruins the reputation of R-Truth.
And his wrestling skill set. It's a spot fest tbh. I mean, other then the corkscrew elbow, backflips, splits, corkscrew scissors kick etc. what else does he have. A sitout hip toss. Wow, that really is gonna entertain me. If he was back in TNA, he would fit more. He had more entertaining moves and that stuff.
And yes, the word TNA makes Vince McMahon piss his pants. Vince doesn't like giving chances to those TNA peoples, and that's a bad thing for R-Truth after being in that company for 5 years or so.
So that's my opinion.
LOW ROAD
Posted By: High Fly Flow (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 06:24 PM
@Uncletrunx - You are in fact thinking of J.T. Southern, who worked in WCW at the time you mentioned as a musician/wrestler, and also feuded with a young Van Hammer. It's described in Mick Foley's classic book, "Have A Nice Day".
Posted By: Nick M. (Registered) on September 04, 2009 at 06:52 PM
I'm pretty sure that 'Max Payne' was the guy with the guitar.
Posted By: Guest#5485 (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Low Road- The entrance & song are too annoying for a big segment of the crowd for him to get over completely. remember how well Master P's No Limit Soldiers went over in WCW? Swoll and 4X4 aren't hall of fame bound while we've seen a West Texas Redneck inducted!
And if the best alternative they could come up with for him was Pretty Ricky you know he's doomed.
And it was JT Southern who carried a guitar with him to the ring in WCW. But that guy was so untalented in the ring it didn't matter what he did coming down the aisle see also Maxx Payne/Man Mountain Rock's WWF run).
Posted By: Trashy (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 07:21 PM
Oh and don't forget, Shawn Michaels also sings his theme song (if you call it singing).
Posted By: Trashy (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 07:27 PM
High road. He can pop a crowd for a good start, wrestle decently, has mic skills and could earn cash if they developed him.
He's worth his money just for firing up house shows if that's all they wanna do with him.
Posted By: Guest#3803 (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 07:40 PM
I'm optimistic, so I'll take the High Road this week.
R-Truth just needs a good feud to really get over. I think he and Morrison could tear the house down if they're given the chance. There's so much potential on the Smackdown roster, but R-Truth isn't being paired with anyone that matters.
Regarding his entrance -- it might help if he actually rapped about his opponent on the way out.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 07:58 PM
High Road. I am not a big fan of R-Truth but he does get a good reaction when he comes out. His wrestling skills have improved a bit. Given time i think he could be a good wrestler. I do have to mention though that Cena and R-Truth are not the only ones that sing their own theme song. Shawn Micheals has been doing his own theme since forever.
Posted By: Mary Couture (Guest) on September 04, 2009 at 10:08 PM
there was a wrestler in WCW who played the guitar
on his own entrance theme when he came to the ring.
Google says: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JT_Southern
He was in WCW in 92, played the guitar and was
friends with Scotty Flamingo. Fits your criterea.
BTW- this page gave me the clue: http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Entertainment/Wrestling-Gimmicks-14843.htm l
Posted By: gnortimer (Registered) on September 04, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Low Road. Killings is decent but not amazing. His "whats up" entrance seems to get the crowd going (despite being awful) but what else does he have? He has been consistently good in the ring but nothing he's done has ever wowed me. And his few chances on the mike (aside from his theme song) have ranged from underwhelming to boring. I hope he gets a better chance to show his personality somewhere down the line but based on what I've seen I can't see him anywhere near a main event.
Posted By: Justin (Guest) on September 05, 2009 at 12:31 AM
Low Road: I really don't know what else Truth brings apart from energy and crowd interaction...his matches are pretty dull.
Posted By: El Nino (Guest) on September 05, 2009 at 07:49 AM
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