High Road/Low Road 10.16.09: Teddy Long On Probation
Posted by Chad Nevett on 10.16.2009
This week, we're discussing Smackdown's GM being on probation. We've also got all the Batista feedback you could ever want. If that doesn't tempt you to click the link, nothing will! Come on in, give us your views...
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 Batista to SmackDown:
High Road: 21%
Low Road: 45%
Both Roads: 34%
Teddy Long on Probation
High Road:
Teddy Long has been playing the same character for awhile now and it is nice to see him in a different light. Usually he has been the happy guy who is always trying to keep the fans happy. I think seeing him on the defensive trying to save his job is way better than staying with status quo.
Low Road:
Teddy Long is a great character, who must be in line for a long service medal. However, while it is a departure for him, it is hardly a new storyline. How many times have we seen each of the elements of it? Vicky with a new, younger boyfriend? Yep, seen that. Vince bullying an employee and making him do things he doesn't want to in order to save his job? Yes, done before. Teddy Long may be doing something new but WWE certainly isn't.
High Road:
The Teddy Long on probation thing works because it is not taking a lot of time. I think if it was taking a lot of time out of SmackDown, then we would have a reason to complain, but since it is not detracting from the wrestling, I have no problems with it.
Low Road:
It could be taking up more time and then I'd be complaining considerably louder, believe me. Considering that Smackdown tends to be the show with more of a focus on wrestling, or at least it has in the recent past, I'm not too keen on this taking up time onscreen and feel it is far more suited to the entertainment heavy RAW.
High Road:
The one thing that is interesting is that Teddy Long does not have to stick to being either a baby face or a heel. He can favor both the heels and the baby faces by doing what is best for him to keep his job. I find this way for intriguing than having a general manager play one single character.
Low Road:
It gives the potential for the creation of some interesting matches but again, it moves the focus away from the in ring action and onto the non wrestling characters. With Teddy, Vicky and Vince involved, that's three non wrestlers taking up TV time.
High Road:
The Teddy Long probation has allowed for something interesting and that is that Vince McMahon has been preparing regularly on SmackDown. Vince McMahon has not made regular appearance on SmackDown in a long time and we generally see him on RAW. I think it is interesting to see Vince McMahon on SmackDown because it is something that we have not seen in awhile.
Low Road:
Is WWE trying to show that Smackdown is an equal show to RAW? If so, that's just about the only highlight of this for me. McMahon can be entertaining, but given that he's likely to be on screen until his annual Wrestlemania appearance now, I would have preferred it if they'd held off bringing him back for longer.
High Road:
I like that Vince McMahon brought Eric Escobar and Vickie Guerrero to SmackDown. It adds some realism to the Teddy Long on probation storyline because Vince has a general manager in waiting just in case he needs to fire Teddy Long.
Low Road:
What it adds is a whole lot more soap opera and not a lot in terms of wrestling. I know I always get people saying that I have to accept the soap opera elements in wrestling, that it's not the ‘70s anymore. I can accept a certain amount of storyline as necessary and integral, but when the focus is on the storyline over the wrestling, that's when I complain. I tune in for wrestling, not love triangles and politics around who is, in storyline terms, running the show.
High Road:
The one thing that is interesting about this storyline is that we have no idea where it is going. Generally, we are able to predict where a story is going to head because of spoilers. So far, we have not heard any spoilers for this storyline and I think that this is a good thing because when we finally reach the conclusion, it will be something that we did not see coming.
Low Road:
Is it that we have seen no spoilers because nobody cares enough to release any? To be honest, I had not noticed the lack of spoilers for this storyline which clearly shows how much interest I have in it.
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.
Terry Writes:
If Batista can stay healthy and help put over some of the other wrestlers then I'd say "high road", but if he gets injured again or just rolls over his opponents then it is a "low road". Only time will tell which road will be traveled.
Sat: I just don't see Batista putting over anybody. When you think about, when was the last time Batista put somebody over.
Uncletrunx: Undertaker? Either way, I think I know what the most likely outcome is.
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 Night Pacific Time.
KanyonKreist Writes:
High road.
He's the only certifiable main-event-level babyface on the roster now besides the Undertaker. Aside from 'Taker and Batista, the Smackdown main event scene contains who, exactly? CM Punk (for now), Rey Mysterio (sometimes) and..?
Sat: I'll agree. SmackDown is in bad shape, but I also find it intriguing because it could be used to elevate some new talent.
Uncletrunx: As mentioned above, it all hinges on whether new talent is elevated or not. For the record I'm not one of those who subscribes to the theory that "they get elevated just by being in the ring with…" so I don't count it as elevating people when they get jobbed out to Batista.
Anonymous Smart Mark Writes:
I have to go with the Middle of the Road here.
While Batista's tendency to get injured and have shitty matches with pretty much everyone who isn't named Undertaker is well-known and won't do anything to help SmackDown, he's still a big name presence in WWE and that'll help draw in viewers to the program.
Ah well. In any event, watching him team up with Rey Mysterio (Masking Agents, anyone?) means he doesn't have to carry the entire workload.
Sat: I think with a reduced schedule Batista will be alright.
Uncletrunx: With Batista and Undertaker on a reduced schedule, I don't see how Smackdown is helped at all.
The Gold Standard Writes:
low road. he will clog the main event scene on sd now and on top that get his world title reigns everytime he bitches for one. until i seem him turn heel put someone over or hell compete for the ic title ill always hate batista on the a show.
Sat: I don't see Batista turning heel anytime soon.
Uncletrunx: I don't either and I do see him being in the title hunt.
Guest #8173 Writes:
"Aside from 'Taker and Batista, the Smackdown main event scene contains who, exactly?"
John Cena in 1 month.
Sat: Yep my bad, completely forgot about John Cena coming to SmackDown.
Uncletrunx: With Cena, Undertaker and Batista, one will surely have to turn heel. They could move Undertaker to Raw I suppose. Incidentally, that seems to address the issue about part time main event faces on Smackdown. Cena being on house shows will keep the kids happy while the smarks won't care if Batista is there or not.
Guest #1422 Writes:
Both roads.
Smackdown needs some star power with so many main event/upper card guys MIA for various reasons. Plus a programme with Taker could spike the sluggish ratings the brand has suffered from in the last few months.
But the guy is a walking injury at this point. Who know what is longevity will be?
Sat: I think he will be better with a short schedule. I don't see the ratings going up any time soon.
Uncletrunx: The trouble with Batista vs Undertaker is that one would have to turn heel and it has been a Wrestlemania match fairly recently. I think the former point is more important than the latter.
NickNitro Writes:
High Road
In my most honest and blunt opinion. I don't like Batista. I respect the good matches he put on, but they were anywhere from 2.5 years ago or longer. His days are over, and the injury after injury after injury thing is just a joke. And like i said im being honest, and the reason why i said High Road for him on Smackdown is because SD is on Friday nights and I dont watch it. If i had a DVR, it would be another thing, but i dont. So keep Batista on SD with Rey, so i don't have to see them on my tv.
Sat: I have no idea what to count this vote as. Technically this is a high road for you because you don't have to see him, but doesn't that make it a low road.
Uncletrunx: Call it both roads and we'll move along…
The Great Captain Smooth Writes:
Both Roads. Honestly, it's a bit too early to really tell. Low, because he doesn't move the way he used to, is almost always getting hurt, and the age factor has to come into effect. High, because he can pop a crowd, can have some angles that are fresh, and if he were to retire from the ring, he could make for the type of GM that you don't fuck with. Just imagine Taker trapping him in a limo, turning around and saying, "Buckle up, Davey!".
Sat: The one thing that I am wondering is how the WWE makes Taker/Batista interesting. They have already met multiple times.
Uncletrunx: I don't think Batista is GM material. Perhaps as GMs hired muscle working 3 matches a year he could be useful but he doesn't come across as a GM to me.
Sly Reference Writes:
I would love to be optimistic, but the low road argument is just so much stronger. I like Dave, but he is injury prone and not always motivated at the best of times. After feuding with Cena, HHH and Orton, I wonder if the audience can see any of the heels on Smackdown as in his league. Jericho may be, but he's giving up a lot of weight and besides, he's spending most of his time on Raw. If Punk had beat Taker, he could be there, but now Batista v. Punk just doesn't do much for me. Why would it happen, anyway? Punk doesn't have the title. And Batista v. Ziggler? Give me a break. Not for a couple of years....
I don't think Smackdown creative can be creative enough to get themselves out of this corner.
Sat: I'll agree that anybody Batista faces will not be a viable opponent, but that does not mean it should not happen.
Uncletrunx: I'd like to see Punk or Jericho vs Batista but not if Batista steamrolled them.
JLAJRC Writes:
High road.
He's the only certifiable main-event-level babyface on the roster now besides the Undertaker. Aside from 'Taker and Batista, the Smackdown main event scene contains who, exactly? CM Punk (for now), Rey Mysterio (sometimes) and..?
Posted By: KanyonKreist (Guest) on October 09, 2009 at 03:40 PM
I couldn't put it better myself, so I say High Road also. I noticed that all of the praise SD seems to get has to do with it's midcard, not it's main event.
Sat: Though I would say that the main event was holding up for awhile with Hardy and Punk.
Uncletrunx: Plus Cena is due to land soon.
Tim Writes:
Both roads.
High road for Raw, because if DX is tied up in tag team action and Orton/Cena is coming to a close, it means they might actually push someone new on Raw.
Low Road for Smackdown. We already have Undertaker just shitting all over CM Punks heel push, jobbing him out in 10 minutes on consecutive PPV's. Do we really need Batista and possibly Cena interfering with his push, as well?
Sat: We don't need this to happen. Punk is one of the new stars that the WWE has created and if he is going to be a top main eventer, then he needs to get a few wins over big stars.
Uncletrunx: A win or two over Batista could help him. Can anyone see that happening?
Guest #2647 Writes:
Low Road, I can't stand Batista, didn't care when he was stinking up Raw coz I don't watch it but SD! has been great the last few months. As soon as Batista showed up there was a drop in the show, he'll be injured again by the Rumble so why not push someone with talent thats proven they can stay healthy like MVP. From what I've read they haven't done anything to elevate him since he moved to Raw, tagging w/ Mark Henry is hardly a career launcher move him back to SD! and give him the Main Event push!
Sat: It seems like new guys need to be elevated, but the WWE is totally not worried about it.
Uncletrunx: I'd much rather see MVP raised to main event level too; I suppose it could now happen on RAW with a bit of a gap appearing at the top of the card but I'll not hold my breath.
Guest#3611 Writes:
Low Road. For a while smackdown was the best wrestling show in the world and then it took a massive nosedive in quality. Part of that was because of more Vince and stupid storylines but the biggest contributing factor was by far Batista.
He is just one of the worst wrestlers the WWE has ever had and everything he touches turns to pure crap. At least on RAW he would have been sucking the life out of a show which quality wise was already dead in the water, now he's taking up valuable airtime on a show which was previously doing a good job of putting over new stars, something he wouldn't know how to do if his life depended on it. The sooner he retires the better.
Sat: I'm surprised with all of this Batista hate.
Uncletrunx: I'm not. We're writing for an internet site and Batista is not a favourite among online fans.
Guest#3373 Writes:
High Road
After losing to CM Punk on smackdown, I don't see how anyone can claim that Batista is just going to run over people.
Sat: I haven't seen this match yet, but did he not lose to CM Punk by countout.
Uncletrunx: It not always about the result, it's also about how it happens and what happens after. A count out win followed by a humiliation is not beneficial to Punk, it's a token win so that Batista can crush him next time out and it looks like they're all square on paper.
Guest#5380 Writes:
"After losing to CM Punk on smackdown, I don't see how anyone can claim that Batista is just going to run over people."
You mean after Batista lost by count out and then made Punk look like a bitch afterwards? Wow, talk about putting him over.
Seriously Batista is going to do what he always does, bury the vastly more talented so he can keep his spot. The sooner that waste of space retires the better. Low Road.
Sat: Thought so. I think the same thing can be said for the Undertaker, he is injured and he totally beat CM Punk.
Uncletrunx: I think this sums up exactly why Batista is not needed on Smackdown. They already have one part time main event face to bury people, and he's vastly more popular.
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.I get sick of the E giving Teddy Long BS storylines where hes about to lose his position as general manager when clearly hes been the best and most consistent general managar for Smackdown.If they really want to do something new for him, have him turn heel and favorite the heels or something.CM Punk would be a great person.Have Teddys ultimate goal is to get the Undertaker to retire and then at the grandest stage or whenever he does have Taker deliver his last Tombstone to Teddy.
Posted By: The Gold Standard (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Both Roads. Low, because aside from him screwing Taker, they really haven't done anything with the story. High, because a lot of people can relate to him for having a boss that doesn't treat you with any respect.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 12:27 PM
High Road (barely).
What this adds to Smackdown is a little bit of uncertainty. Will Teddy be the face that he's always been when the boss is not around, will he be the suck-up who does exactly what Mr. McMahon wants? Will he be the bumbling idiot who tries to do both things - but accomplishes neither?
While I like that Smackdown is the wrestling focused program for WWE, I wouldn't mind seeing a better mixture of wrestling and storylines between both programs.
Mr. McMahon, in small doses, is acceptable. Same for Vickie the Chipmunk. But if this becomes a central point around which multiple matches and storylines are being driven - this will end up being a low road.
Posted By: BobbyC (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 12:30 PM
High Road
I hope he "fails" and Vickie comes back.
Posted By: BPN (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 12:52 PM
To last weeks question.I think were forgetting about Edge when he and if comes back is a main eventer and the awesome thing about Edge is hes credible and doesnt mind putting people over.
Posted By: Guest#6567 (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Both roads - it allows Long to freshen his character without becoming the overdone and unrealistic "Pure Evil GM" gimmick. My biggest problem is that Long was a good ref, but he is an average actor (at best). Even in pre-taped segments, he's just not that good.
He seems like a good guy and model employee, so I can see wanting to reward his loyalty and experience with this GM position; but there's got to be a position backstage, in Stamford, or Tampa where he can be more useful. This current storyline helps set up his departure, so it's not a total low road for me.
Posted By: The Logical One (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 03:51 PM
Low road. What is the point of this anymore? You have a guy who's doing the figurehead role of SmackDown perfectly well and then Vince has to sabotage it.
SmackDown and ECW are good in that they have actual GM's who do what they're supposed to. Unlike the gimmicky crap of RAW with the special guest hosts.
Posted By: Guest#0431 (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 09:41 PM
low road and high road on this one. teddy long has been one of the best on air general managers in recent years and while it does freshen his character a bit unless there is some big payoff that advances the storyline and his character keeps his job than no I don't see this going anywhere
Posted By: da juice (Guest) on October 16, 2009 at 09:42 PM
High Road
If it leads to Teddy Long being replaced by someone who is actually entertaining (And Vickie Guerrero, god bless her, is just as lame). Let's face it, Long is serviceable as a walking plot device, but he doesn't add anything to SD!. And there will be times that a segment is humming along and he'll show up and bring it to a screeching halt. There are more than a dozen guys on Legends contracts who would be superior to Long in this role like Dusty, Dibiase, Piper etc etc etc. Hell, Flair seems to need money at this point, grab him.
Also, the whole good guy GM thing is just as played out at this point as the bad guy GM was. Between Teddy, the guest hosts on RAW and Tiffany, we've had good guy GM's for a while now. Apparently the E thinks that since heel GM's screw with the faces, that face GM's have to screw with the heels. Its actually making me miss the days of Jack Tunney. Can you imagine how Roger Goodell would look if he so blatantly and intentionally screwed over one team because he didn't like them?
If Teddy Long stays on as GM, or it goes to someone lame like Vickie, then I don't even go down a road because I couldn't care less about the whole thing.
Posted By: black hole of charisma (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 01:54 AM
This is a definite LOW ROAD! I for one am so tired of these super-lame gimmicks that 'the E' has foisted on us lately. For you guys to say you don't know where this angle is going really makes no sense to me. I'm not an online superfan, but I can see this thing coming a mile away. All roads are leading to it unfortunately.
Posted By: Anthony_McMannequin (Registered) on October 17, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Low Road.
We don't need GM-drama on Smackdown. Long should be like Jack Tunney was -- just show up every once in a while and announce a match. That would help differentiate this show from Raw.
Posted By: Guest#8651 (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Low Road.
Since it seems like they're not gonna turn him into a heel, even after the stuff with Taker, there is only two roads for them to go down.
1.) Vince fires Teddy and appoints a new GM.
2.) Teddy gets sick of Vince and punches him, leading to a match between them with Teddy's job on the line. No one wants to see that.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest) on October 17, 2009 at 05:00 PM
I say both roads, because to take a page from Jeremy Thomas's playbook, the whole thing is 'Purgatory'.
"...feel it is far more suited to the entertainment heavy RAW."
I can't remeber seeing anything entertaining on RAW in a long while.
"I tune in for wrestling, not love triangles and politics around who is, in storyline terms, running the show." So the Mega Power's Exploding angle, and Austin vs McMahon didn't enhance the product at all?
Posted By: Odin (Guest) on October 19, 2009 at 11:59 AM
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