wrestling / Columns

High Road/Low Road 11.27.09: Christian as ECW Champion

November 27, 2009 | Posted by Sat

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 Chad Nevett takes the Low Road (negative view).

WWE Title Match At Survivor Series:

High Road: 65%
Low Road: 25%
Both Roads: 10%

Chad Nevett: Last week’s topic was a hard one since it really depended on the quality of the match, but the match delivered, I think. So I guess the high roads got it right.

Sat: I think at the end of the day, people wanted to see this match and that is why the high road won out.

Christian As ECW Champion

High Road:

You look at the ECW roster and one thing is obvious. Most of the ECW roster is at the same level, but there is one guy that is not. I am of course talking about Christian. I think Christian is way above everybody else and because of that he should be champion for the foreseeable future.

Low Road:

For that reason, he should be moved to another brand. With Christian standing so far above everyone else, none of his challengers ever look credible and he doesn’t look as good beating obviously subpar opponents. He should be on a show with comparable competition.

High Road:

ECW is one of those shows that you need a reason to watch. I think right now the main reason to watch ECW is because of Christian. And because of this, you have to keep the title on Christian, so he can be the main focus of the show.

Low Road:

The reason should be watching younger wrestlers doing everything they can to prove they deserve to be at this level. ECW should be the most exciting pure wrestling show the WWE has as we watch young wrestlers grow and improve on a weekly basis. The best way for that to happen is to make the title race competitive, which doesn’t happen with Christian as champion.

High Road:

I think one of the reasons that Christian should stay the ECW champion is because of the fact that he has been having good matches against all of his opponents. You would think that Christian would start to not care because of the fact that he does not have some legitimate contenders, but that has not been true. He has been having matches with all kinds of wrestlers from William Regal to Yoshi Tatsu to Zack Ryder.

Low Road:

Christian does deliver consistently good matches, but few of them reach that ‘great’ level and that’s because he’s forced to carry matches far too often. He’s held back at ECW by his opponents’ skill levels where, on another show, he would have the chance to really cut loose and deliver four-star matches. While he makes his opponents better at times, his confidence and skill also doesn’t give them as much of a reason to push themselves because he’s there to carry the load.

High Road:

Christian has been ECW champion for about four months now. I think it is nice to see a long reign like this because you look at the WWE Title and World Heavyweight Champion and those titles are changing hands every other pay per view. I can’t believe people are actually contemplating taking the title off of Christian just because he has had it for too long.

Low Road:

Christian’s reign has been boring with few legitimate contenders. The only person who’s seemed like he could take the title off of Christian is William Regal and even that storyline has been hit or miss. A long reign isn’t good if it’s uninteresting, which is what Christian’s reign has been.

High Road:

I’m a huge fan of Christian and I think the best situation right now is for him to be the ECW champion, where he can be the main man of a show. When Christian is moved to either RAW or SmackDown, I do not see him challenging for the WWE Title or the World Title. I see him basically getting a shot at the midcard titles. He definitely deserves a shot to be the main man on one of these shows, but I don’t think the WWE will give him the chance.

Low Road:

I agree with regards to RAW, but given the lack of main event babyfaces on Smackdown, I think he would have a good chance at being in the title mix at some point, even winning. With Rey Mysterio out injured, the only main event face Smackdown has is the Undertaker and Christian seems perfect to provide competition for the likes of CM Punk, Batista, and Chris Jericho.

High Road:

A minor high road here and that is Christian has been in this situation before where he is the champion of a one hour TV show. I think that having done this before can benefit ECW.

Low Road:

It hasn’t yet to a considerable degree. As I said, the stories surrounding Christian’s reign have been lackluster at best and the ratings haven’t improved with him as champion. His TNA experience as champion doesn’t seem much of a factor.

Are you taking the High Road or the Low Road?

High Road

Low Road

Both Roads

OR

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.

Freddy Neuwendyke Writes:

I have to go low road here. We’ve seen Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and John Cena way too many times. WWE keeps saying we need to make new stars yet they never bother building up anyone. Sure there’s that whole deal with Kofi Kingston going on but that’s more to keep Orton busy while waiting for Cena to drop the title or the writing team to forget all about that stipulation whichever comes first.

Also can we please be done with Triple Threat matches already? I mean sure it was exciting in the old ECW but that was because just about nobody else ever really did them. Nowadays you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting somebody and their mother running a Triple Threat match on the card.

Sat: We’ll know more about Kofi after his feud with Orton. I see him being kept strong while the feud is going. As for the large amounts of triple threat matches, I think the WWE is doing this to get everybody on the card which really is a mistake. Just look at the last few WrestleManias and there is a triple threat match for one of the titles.

Chad Nevett: I think overloading on triple threats is a problem, too. I would have liked to see the triple threats at Survivor Series at least altered to elimination-style ones to go with the theme of the PPV and making the idea that both world belts were defend in triple threats make a bit more sense.

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.

The Gold Standard Writes:

High Road if HBK wins cause its been awhile since he had a run with the belt can a least probably start new feuds and of course one with HHH. Also I dislike him the least out of the other two participants

Sat: I was not surprised with the outcome at the Survivor Series. I went in expecting not a whole lot and that is what happened.

Chad Nevett: I was a little disappointed that Michaels didn’t walk away with the strap, but the superkick was a great moment.

M:-X Writes:

High Road.
1- We could see Shawn Michaels as WWE champion for the first time in forever.

2- We could see Shawn Michaels as a Heel for the first time in forever.

3- Like with Orton, after this one the odds are we won’t see HHH/Cena again (unless HHH wins and Cena gets the Rumble shot, which… ugh)

4- We could see DX turn heel as unit, which would be interesting

That’s quite a few potential awesome things that “could” happen. That builds interest in the show and that’s a good thing.

Only downside? WWE will inevitably go the predictable, boring route (Cena wins, getting his recent loss to HHH back and moves on to a short 2 month mini-feud w/Sheamus (sort of like Orton/Hardy, Cena/Edge, Cena/Umaga, HHH/Hardy etc etc etc… hmmmm), DX goes heel as a unit (via sqoggle-squash) and feuds with every guest host to come on the show after new years

Sat: I would find it interesting to see DX as heels, but I just do not see it happening if they keep selling the merchandise.

Chad Nevett: It’s hard enough to get Michaels or Triple H over as heels at this point in their careers, and it would be damn near impossible to turn them heel as DX.

Guest #3329 Writes:

Low Road.

– Same old main event players.
– DX is too popular to split or turn heel right now (one or both members).
– No real build.
– Probably end up with a screwy finish just to set up a Triple Threat ladder match at TLC, where Cena loses and DX starts to fall apart.

Sat: I was not thinking about a triple threat match at TLC, but after reading this, I feel that this is definitely going to happen. How they go about doing that should be interesting because of the fact that Cena won straight up.

Chad Nevett: I’m rather curious about what comes next with both world belts since there isn’t a clear plan yet. Some suggested that both triple threat matches were delaying tactics, but delaying for what?

The Great Captain Smooth Writes:

Both Roads. Low, because we have seen these guys in the title mix for too long and where is the build? High, because all three bring it, when it counts, there are plenty of twists and turns that could come out of the match, and while there has been comedy used to build the match up, they all have played their part perfectly. Cena is great at being the “slow to catch on” muscle. HHH is made for being a smartass. Finally, HBK does fake outrage better than anybody. I call it “pulling an Ann Coulter”.

Sat: I think you make some fair points; the key for me is that we are going to get a great match out it

Chad Nevett: The match was very good, so I was happy… even if I would have preferred a different outcome.

Of course Writes:

High Road.

This is a dream match of sorts. We never got to see Austin, Rock, and Triple H in a triple threat match. Those were the three biggest stars in 1999. But we do get to see the three biggest stars of 2009 compete for the WWE Championship.

It will be fun. I look forward to it.

Sat: I thought it was very good match, but definitely not a match that you would expect of a dream match.

Chad Nevett: Yeah. Very good, but with a lot of flaws like Triple H and Michaels being taken out for too long at various points. Not a dream match, at least not in 2009.

ThePants Writes:

Low Road. The main event scene is boring, and that stigma will follow into this match. I think it’s silly to think it will be great just because all three can go if the right elements are in place (these aren’t the elements, FYI). Storyline twists is all it has, as the match itself won’t be anything we haven’t seen before. But even a good story can’t be expected; the foil for the whole build-up was Hornswoggle. HORNSWOGGLE. Maybe Linda’s Senate bid is further reaching than we all thought…

But the catch is that if HBK turns heel, real heel, not “I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and decided to wrestle Hogan” heel, things will be delicious.

Sat: I just do not see HBK turning heel for an extended period of time; if he does turn it will be for a feud.

Chad Nevett: Well, they got the big twist out of the way immediately and the match was still very good. How they follow it up will probably alter it a bit in retrospect.

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Your reasons for taking the High Road, Low Road, or Both Roads and suggestions for future High Road/Low Road are welcome at [email protected] or in the comment section. Your reply will be included in next week’s column.

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