wrestling / Columns

High Road/Low Road 12.04.09: A TLC Pay Per View

December 4, 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).

Christian as ECW Champion:

High Road: 33%
Low Road: 20%
Both Roads: 47%

Chad Nevett: Since last week’s column was one where I told Sat to pick a side on the issue since I could argue either, I’m not surprised to see both roads winning. The consensus seems to be simply, Christian is great and I don’t disagree. Also, I’ve added my Twitter link to the list at the end of each column, so follow me if you want to read about the random goings on in my life and want links to the other things I write online.

Sat: I was expecting the high roads and low roads to be about the same, with a few both roads.

A TLC Pay Per View

High Road:

I have said this multiple times and it needs to be said again. The WWE needs to give a gimmick to each of their pay per views because the star power is not there right now. I think that making a table, ladders, and chairs pay per view is a good gimmick for a pay per view.

Low Road:

The best gimmick PPVs are one where gimmick matches aren’t forced into feuds that aren’t ready for them. Survivor Series and Royal Rumble are great examples, because they have their own unique matches that exist outside of titles, allowing for both the gimmick and the main feuds to not be forced into a specific type of match whether it fits or not. TLC consists almost exclusively of gimmick matches where the feud is just beginning, leading me to wonder, where do you go after this? Big gimmicks are for ending feuds, showing that both competitors have gone as far as they can go.

High Road:

One initial concern that I had going into this pay per view was that we were going to see all of the main events in a TLC match. If this had happened, another problem that would have arisen is that we had last seen a TLC match only a few months ago. Having a particular match appear multiple times on the same card is definitely a bad thing. The worry I had was that after this pay per view, I was going to feel the same way about the TLC match as I do about the Hell in a Cell match. Thankfully the WWE decided to have only one match contested under TLC rules.

Low Road:

The difference between a TLC match and a ladder match is slim to none, so two of the same matches happen. With the addition of the other matches, what makes this PPV different from Extreme Rules other than being centered on these three objects? It just means that, now, there is a summer extreme rules PPV and a winter one, which isn’t entirely unique.

High Road:

One of the advantages of this pay per view is that it is a lot of variety. We will be seeing a ladder match, a TLC match, and a tables match (and maybe more). I think that this has the potential to get people to pay the match because it is a possibility that somebody only likes a certain kind of match.

Low Road:

Again, what’s the real difference between a ladder match and TLC match beyond the encouragement/”requirement” to use tables and chairs? It’s the same gimmick dressed up with a few superficial touches that could be utilized anyway. As well, table matches are not ideal for the defense of a world belt since falling through a table is not a definitive victory, it’s a cheap stunt, and is often the conclusion to a weak match. If the rumored chairs match happens, I have to ask: what is that? Is that no disqualification or are just chairs legal? While I love ladder/TLC matches, the other elements of this gimmick are not appealing.

High Road:

I think having a pay per view based on ladders is a smart idea because it seems like the fans are interested in seeing ladder matches. I think the odds are good that most people on the fence about buying this pay per view will buy it because of the fact that the pay per view contains two ladder matches.

Low Road:

Two ladder matches cheapens the gimmick, much like three hell in a cell matches cheapened that. Part of the appeal of these matches is that they’re relatively rare and allow us to see different movesets and high spots, and by having more than one on a card, that appeal is diluted as neither match wants to repeat what the other does or step on the other guys’ toes, meaning that no one in either match can give it their all, afraid to ruin it for the other match.

High Road:

You look at the pay per view and there are some interesting matches on the card. The TLC match should be very good because Jericho has shown that he can deliver in this match. Another benefit is that we will get to see Triple H and Shawn Michaels in the TLC match for the first time. Also, we have not seen a TLC tag team match in quite some time. Shelton Benjamin and Christian will be very good because both guys have shown on numerous occasions that they can have some amazing ladder matches. At the time I am writing this, Batista and Undertaker do not have a stipulation to their match, but they are bound to deliver another good match. Finally, I think that you have to give Sheamus a chance to beat John Cena just because of the fact that he has to only put him thru a table.

Low Road:

Does anyone want Sheamus as WWE champ, especially by simply putting John Cena through a table? That match in particular looks weak. As for the others, they all involve talented guys no doubt, but, as I said before, these gimmick matches work best when there’s been a rising feud, a sense that the only way to settle things is by going further than before, but most of these feuds are either new or on-and-off again at best. There’s been no build, which takes away a lot of the tension and drama.

High Road:

An interesting thing that I am not seeing mentioned is that generally the WWE gives the wrestlers a week off after Armageddon because we get the best of shows on RAW, ECW, and SmackDown. This leads me to believe that the TLC pay per view will be a little bit more crazier because the wrestlers will know that they will have the time to heal up with an extra week off.

Low Road:

That leads me to think that it will be a pay per view that’s nothing more than an endless series of high spots for the sake of high spots. While those have their place, they don’t guarantee quality matches. Also, for some, the appeal of wrestlers doing crazy high risk moves is marginal because of health concerns or just wanting to see good wrestling matches that don’t rely on gimmicks. Overloading on gimmick matches turns those fans off, especially when you learn that there’s a better chance of guys nearly killing themselves just to get over. Ultimately, the truth is, gimmicks do not ensure quality.

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:

Low road but not because Christian is a bad champion but rather because it’s time for him to move on to bigger and better things. In ECW he just seems like a big fish in a small pond.

Sat: I agree with this, but I don’t see him challenging for the world titles on RAW or SmackDown.

Chad Nevett: Depending on who the champ is, I could see him in contention. If, say, Chris Jericho were the World Heavyweight Champion, I think they’d be far more likely to have Christian challenge him than, say, the Undertaker, Randy Orton, or Triple H. Now, if/when Edge is champ again, they’d be foolish not to pull the trigger on that feud.

John Rockhold Writes:

I enjoy Christian’s work as champion, although I would have preferred that slot got to Jack Swagger. He isn’t jobbed out, and gets to be a true veteran presence. On RAW he would be battling Cena/HHH/HBK for top face status, so he would be #4 on the brand, possibly #5 with Kofi getting his push. On SmackDown it would be easier, with Undertaker as #1 and Mysterio injured he would probably fit in as #2/#3 with Morrison. However, when he is moved, I think being the longest reigning ECW Champion in awhile will help him. Plus add in whoever defeats him gets a decent push out of it, and when they eventually move to another show as well if Christian has a belt he has a feud just waiting for him.

In the end, Christian in ECW has a few negatives. But I don’t have to watch him get the Matt Hardy treatment on SmackDown. He gets to look like a star week in and week out, and while his title reign hasn’t had the greatest moment he has made me care about Yoshi/Regal/Ryder. Now that is impressive.

Sat: The one thing that is really impressed me about Christian is the matches he had with Yoshi and Ryder. He is definitely making the people around him better.

Chad Nevett: I loved his match with Yoshi Tatsu and have really enjoyed his work on ECW. But, the matches featuring Jericho and CM Punk have made me long for him to be in the mix with some veterans that can really go. Hopefully, his match with Shelton Benjamin at TLC will deliver on that front.

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 Gold Standard Writes:

Both Roads. Christian holding the ECW title gives it some prestige as Christian is perceived by most fans as an amazing performer. So the person who defeats him for the belt will get instant credibility. Look at Zack Ryder when he almost beat Christian, he looked like he could hang for a minute. Now the downside is Christian could be better utilized on SmackDown as a main event face, something their lacking and theres tons of feuds Edge, Punk, Y2J, Taker, Mysterio etc he could have and lets not forget a chase at the World Heavyweight Championship. Being ECW champ prevents this seeing that the belt is equivalent to an IC/US belt if even that. Really in all fairness Christian being ECW Champ is better than Christian being jobbed on Raw or SmackDown cause we all know McMahon isn’t to keen on pushing ex TNAers especially ones who achieved success (see Gail Kim=Knockouts Champ, R-Truth=2 Time NWA/TNA Champ)

Sat: The one good point you make here is that with Christian stuck on ECW we are losing out on some interesting feuds that he could have.

Chad Nevett: As I said, the Christian/Jericho match just made me want a feud between them more.

Tom Writes:

I’m actually taking the high road here. I love Christian, and I truly believe that he should be main eventing on RAW/Smackdown right now, but the truth is, Vince has never viewed Christian as a legit main event option. There was a time in 2005 when Christian was THE hottest act in the company, getting louder pops than Cena & Batista (I remember one particular match against Batista, who has RED HOT at that time, and Christian, who was being booked as a chickenshit heel, STILL had a majority of the fan support). If Vince didn’t push him at that point, then he’s never going to give Christian the push that he deserves. I’d rather Christian be “the man” on ECW than watch him job to Sheamus on RAW.

Sat: That moment was when I knew Christian was not going to be pushed. I remember Christian calling out John Cena for a long time and when Cena finally showed up to RAW, we should have seen Christian versus John Cena, but instead we got John Cena, Christian, and Chris Jericho. That right there shows what the WWE thinks of Christian.

Chad Nevett: Fair point. It seems with tag teams that split, the WWE does pick one guy as a favourite no matter how over both guys are and, in this case, they chose Edge. That’s not to take away from Edge who is one of my favourites, but it has meant Christian gets the short end of the stick a bit.

The Hamster Runs In The Ball Writes:

Both roads:

Low road for Christian, he can be much better utilized and showcased on Smackdown, as mentioned.

High road for ECW – ECW’s role is to train up the newer/less exposed guys. In order to do that, they need to work with the more experienced/over. And that’s not just in the ring, but on the mic as well, and we all know how good Christian is in that department.

So, you need someone who is decent all round. If you remove Christian, the ONLY option is Regal. Goldust really just doesn’t hack it anymore. Same applies to Dreamer. If you want to take Christian out of the picture, you need a backup plan. Bare in mind that Matt Hardy, Finlay, even Chavo etc. have been on ECW in that role already. Who’s left that hasn’t done their time already and isn’t needed elsewhere right now? Until you have a suitable replacement, Christian needs to stay where he is, much as it saddens me, for the good of the ECW roster.

Sat: Christian had a run on SmackDown and that did not turn out well at all. And you make a good point, if Christian is moved, who takes his place? The only guy I can come up with is Booker T.

Chad Nevett: I would have no problem with the ECW title being held almost exclusively by the younger, new guys. Let them prove themselves against one another. Having vets like Goldust and Regal there to help them improve is good, but do they need established names to be seen as legitimate? I don’t think so.

Swashy Writes:

High Road, I think ECW has the right balance right now… a lot of younger guys honing their craft, and Christian gives them a “Top Guy” to aim for. Winning the ECW will do a lot more for a Yoshi or Zack if it’s off of a credible main eventer like Christian.

Sat: If the person beats Christian cleanly, then yes it will mean a lot.

Chad Nevett: By this point, it will mean a lot. However, I do wonder if they keep going the way they’re going, the feeling will be more of relief as Christian finally drops the strap. Not because it’s been a long run, but because it’s been a relatively boring one.

The Great Captain Smooth Writes:

Both roads, leaning high. Low, because he really should be on RAW or SD. High, because he brings a certain amount of cred to the ECW title, has been a fighting champion, is able to have a good match with just about anyone, and the person who beats him for it will look like a million bucks.

Sat: After reading most of the comments, I think you guys believe that Christian will be okay on RAW and SmackDown. I just don’t see him being pushed at all.

Chad Nevett: I think Christian would do well on Smackdown, but not as well on RAW since he’s suited much more to the wrestling-oriented show than the variety/spectacle show. Which of course means that he’ll be moved to RAW mostly likely.

PK Writes:

High Road on this one. The simple fact is that ECW is for the younger talent to get air time and exposure before bringing them onto the bigger stage of Smackdown or Raw.

Christian was brought into ECW to help develop and hone these next superstars. “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.”

I agree that Christian has to carry some opponents but that’s because these stars aren’t ready to put on a TV caliber performance yet. He helps bring them along. And if a superstar cannot carry themself after a while, then they just need to be cut. A person needs a lot of time put into their craft to become better. If you look at Christian now versus when he first came on to the scene as part of the Brood, he is infinitely better and more charismatic. He is simply providing this kind of tutelage to the newest stars.

The other item to keep in mind is that by keeping the title on Christian, you create legitimacy. If some unknown is holding the title, then people would really not care about the brand. In which case, you would not need the airtime. Christian doesn’t just carry the wrestlers, he carries the show and the ratings for the show. Velocity and Heat were shows for younger or more inexperienced wrestlers and they did not draw enough to keep a TV time slot. The WWE has to balance between a show for developing superstars and keeping a legit main eventer to draw in enough viewership.

In fact, while some may view his time as punishment for jumping to TNA, I think that it’s an amazing opportunity. He has to carry an entire brand. And while holding one of the big two titles would be more prestigious, the fact that he is being relied upon to maintain ratings on the third show is a big deal.

Sat: Christian as definitely brought legitimacy to the ECW Title. Hopefully, the WWE is doing the same thing now with the World and WWE Titles.

Chad Nevett: I was speaking to Christian specifically. I understand the needs of ECW, but seeing him in matches where he can let loose and have an opponent on more equal footing would be great, which is why I’m looking forward to him taking on Shelton.

High Road. The high road made a good point when stating that this is a show where Christian can be on top without a clusterfucked title picture. If WWE management actually want people to give a damn about ECW and it’s title, then they should treat the ECW championship more like a world championship. Christian is a wrestler that is bringing lost prestige back to the title. If Christian were to go to Smackdown and compete for the WHchampionship, the ECW championship would look better, similar to the way it did when CM Punk became WHchampion after holding the ECW title.

Also it’s always good when the ECW championship is included in matches made for a world title, let’s not forget about the promos clearly stating the it was a world title, for example when it was one of the three scramble matches. or when it was included in world title three way matched(booker vs show vs cena or hardy vs hhh vs jericho). or when it had it’s own elimination chamber match. more recently it will be competed for in a ladder match, while the wwe title will be competed for in a tables. I’m assuming the world heavyweight championship will be a chairs match.

Sat: I think it is better that the ECW Title is not considered a world title just because of the fact that the competitors on RAW and SmackDown are way better. ECW is what it is, and there is no sense trying to make it RAW or SmackDown. I kind of prefer ECW the way it is.

Chad Nevett: I agree with Sat. Two world belts and three secondary belts makes more sense than three world belts and two secondary belts.

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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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