wrestling / Columns
High Road/Low Road 03.19.10: Batista vs Cena at WrestleMania 26
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).
Results for Edge/Jericho at WrestleMania 26:
High Road: 63%
Low Road: 15%
Both Roads: 22%
Chad Nevett: Definite High Road. I do agree with some of my points last week, especially Edge’s long-term ability to play the face, but, come on, Edge, Jericho, ‘Mania? High Road all the way.
Sat: This is a both roads for me. The match at Mania will be great, but the build has been poor and I am not a fan of the spear spear spear chant.
Batista versus John Cena at WrestleMania 26
High Road:
The main complaint that can be said about this feud is that it does not feel special because it has already happened at SummerSlam a few years back. I would argue the opposite. The last match that they had was basically thrown together, while this one as had a bit of build to it. The other thing that is different about this match is that it as a heel/face dynamic to it, while the other match was face/face.
Low Road:
Even with Batista as a heel, the actual match itself doesn’t look that different with neither man exactly known for changing up their movesets. Heel Batista is basically face Batista, but a little slower and more prone to trying to kill people rather than going for the pin. That doesn’t scream different to me.
High Road:
The one thing that has not been mentioned is that it can be argued that both guys are at the top of their game. John Cena is definitely the top baby face in the WWE and in the past few months Batista has shown that he is a top level heel. I think both guys at the top of their game facing off at WrestleMania is what it is all about.
Low Road:
Is Batista a top level heel? He hasn’t been that effective since his heel turn except beating Rey Mysterio a couple of times. Otherwise, he’s lost quite a bit thanks to his arrogance. He was a top level face whose heel turn helped his character, but made him far less effective in the ring, particularly when his ego is involved, which it is here.
High Road:
The main focus of WrestleMania 26 has been the streak versus the career and really nothing is going to top that feud. But, I think that this feud with John Cena and Batista has been very interesting and I am looking forward to this match just as much as the Undertaker/Michaels II.
Low Road:
This feud had one interesting week without much else really building it. Batista interferes in matches, but that’s all. That’s fine, but this is a feud resting on one great promo, which isn’t a stunning build.
High Road:
The rumors early were that this match was not going to be for the WWE Title and the Sheamus/Triple H match was going to be for the title. The WWE did the right thing by going with Batista and John Cena for the WWE Title because it raises the stakes even more for this match.
Low Road:
These two guys don’t need the title for it to matter in a similar way that Sheamus/Triple H would have. Batista/Cena sells itself, whereas Sheamus/Trips doesn’t. I think moving the title to this feud has put that match at a big disadvantage.
High Road:
John Cena and Batista have shown in the past that they can have a good match against each other. The one problem that I did have with their last match was that it was a bit short; I expect this match to be longer and this should lead to the match being a lot better. And I think because of this, WrestleMania 26 has the potential to have a bunch of good matches.
Low Road:
I don’t think this match will necessarily be much longer given the rather large card for this WrestleMania. So far, there are nine booked matches with rumors of at least one more, a Divas match, and many of them, like Money in the Bank, the World Heavyweight title match, and the Undertaker/Michaels match look like they could get equal, if not more, time. SummerSlam 2008 had seven matches, but all except the Hell in a Cell match were shorter. The SummerSlam match was just under 14 minutes and I don’t think this match will get a lot more time than that. Neither one of these guys looks like they can carry a match longer without someone a lot better on the other side of the ring.
High Road:
The promo that Batista and John Cena had on RAW a few weeks back was very good. It basically laid everything out there from why Batista wanted a match with John Cena, why he has hated John Cena all these years, the SummerSlam encounter, and also had something new in there about how Cena knows he cannot beat Batista. I think that this promo really covered everything about this feud and it told the fans the main motivation for this feud.
Low Road:
It lacks something on Cena’s end. The promo was good in putting over Batista’s perspective, but, otherwise, it’s a typical John Cena feud where he’s put in harrowing overcome-the-odds matches and has to persevere to win. This feud hasn’t made Cena bring anything new to the table, which only makes it partially a success.
Are you taking the High Road or the Low Road?
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.
Brian Scala Writes:
Edge/Jericho – Low Road
Here’s the thing. I have no problem with Edge-Jericho. They just went about it all wrong. It’s been basically thrown together at the last minute. Edge has nothing to gain from beating a cowardly heel Jericho because Jericho’s been made to look like a fool who only won the title because of Shawn Michaels.
At the risk of playing fantasy booker, my personal opinion is they should have kept ECW alive until Mania. Run Edge vs. Christian for the ECW Title in the final ECW match on the biggest stage. Have 2 former partners and TLC match “innovators” kill each other in a proper sendoff, then have Edge & Christian do the handshake/hug to establish Edge as a face.
Then, after Jericho has re-established credibility as a champ (by, for example, beating John Morrison clean at Mania), have him and Edge face off at Extreme Rules to “unify” the titles. Have Jericho remind everyone that he once beat The Rock and Stone Cold to unify the belts. Thus, Jericho looks strong and Edge is seen as a guy with an uphill climb, something that the fans can get behind and cheer for.
Thus, you’d have 3 meaningful matches instead of 1: the ECW farewell match, an intriguing Smackdown title match with Morrison getting a crack at the belt, and a strong Smackdown main event for Extreme Rules.
Sat: I think that was never going to happen because the WWE does not think that Christian is a top level star; I think he should win the Money in the Bank ladder match this year, but watch the WWE go in another direction.
Chad Nevett: I like your ideas, but I don’t think this was rushed or that Jericho looks like a weak champion. He, oddly, looks like the sort of champ that Edge always was, giving the feud an extra level of subtext.
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.
Evan Writes:
Both Roads.
While the match should be off the charts the build for it’s been bland. Nothing really awe taking just edge saying SPEAR a lot.
Sat: I’m really hating the spear spear spear thing.
Chad Nevett: I’m SPEAR SPEAR SPEAR liking it. It hasn’t SPEAR SPEAR SPEAR crossed that SPEAR SPEAR SPEAR line yet, thankfully.
ROH Commish Writes:
Low Road. Build has been god awful for this match. Not believable. Edge has not gotten over why he hates Jericho.
The feud should have started with Jerishow vs Edge and Christian.
Look at the tag match with thrown together Morrison and Truth and tell that the mania card would not have benefited with a Jerishow tag match and Morrison, Truth in MITB. Punk would be my champ or even Taker going into mania.
Sat: I’m not feeling the team of R-Truth and John Morrison.
Chad Nevett: Edge hates Jericho because he not only moved on after Edge got hurt, but continually mocked him… and still does. Plus, can’t he hate Jericho for the same reasons everyone does? Before they teamed up to win the tag belts, the two weren’t exactly best buddies and had a few battles of words on Smackdown.
Guest#1850 Writes:
ITA w/ ROH Commish @ March 11, 2010 at 11:07 PM
WM is stacked pretty well, but it could have been better…
Edge could have returned at the Rumble and cost Big Show and Y2J victories. Sets up Edge/Christian v. JeriShow (still Unified Champs @ WM).
Who wins Rumble? CM Punk… who faces champion Rey (who beat Undertaker at Rumble or at Elim Chamber due to HBK-interference.) With the title, the match doesnt need any mask/hair stipulation … which would naturally be added at their SummerSlam rematch.
Sat: I think it would have been cool to go in this direction; I’m kind of hoping this feud picks up a bit in the next few episodes.
Chad Nevett: That would have been good, but I think Jericho and Edge one-on-one is pretty damn good.
Guest#5767 Writes:
High Road.
Positives:
– Both know how to perform “big”
– This is hopefully the launching point of a longer feudNegatives:
– As previously pointed out, there is no clear reason for these guys to hate each other
– Not enough build: the feud didn’t really start until Edge selected Jericho as his opponent (just a few weeks ago)I’m hoping for a good match with Jericho cheating to win. Actually, I’m hoping they both cheat like crazy.
With a “normal match” not being enough to settle the feud, it would be logical for them to start competing in gimmick matches at the upcoming themed PPVs.
Sat: The reason for the feud is a bit weak. If both cheat like crazy in their match, I think that would be the best way to get the crowd involved.
Chad Nevett: I’m liking Edge as a face against Jericho, if only to see him struggle and learn how to be a face. I also think these two are good enough in the ring that they don’t need anything else.
The Gold Standard Writes:
High Road. To great wrestlers and something new and fresh.I just hope Jericho retains as I think they could drag the feud maybe a month or so and blow it off in a TLC match. Plus it would prevent Jericho from seeming as a transitional champ.
Sat: I just can’t see Jericho winning; if Edge does not win that would be the second year in a row that the Royal Rumble winner as not won the championship.
Chad Nevett: I think Edge needs to win here. Jericho tends to be a transitional champion and Edge as a face champ leads to the next logical contender of CM Punk.
Guest#4704 Writes:
High Road
I think this weeks High Road/Low Road is REDICULOUS.
When you put WWEs 2 most creative wrestlers and main eventers in the same ring for the years biggest PPV, how can anything go wrong?
Sat: The thing that has gone wrong is that the buildup to the match has been a bit weak.
Chad Nevett: Why was the column ridiculous? There are things that can go wrong, as others have pointed out. But, yeah, I think this feud is pretty damn good.
Jbardo Writes:
High Road.
The build up hasn’t been great but its still Jericho v Edge & it should be a good match, i really hope Jericho wins somehow because its a nice change when a Rumble winner comes up short & i think the fued should continue till Backlash where Edge could then win.
Sat: Looks like a lot of people have forgotten that last year’s Rumble winner did not win at Mania.
Chad Nevett: Again, I see Edge taking it.
Eboney Writes:
Er… Low Road.
As talented as they may be, there’s just something about Jericho and Edge that doesn’t scream “main eventers”. It is kind of hard to explain. The main eventers of the WWE have that special IT factor that makes them stand out. They don’t need a far-fetched gimmick and they don’t need to do a bazillion wrestling moves. And you can build a brand around them.
Sat: I’ll buy the fact that both guys do not have the IT factor as a baby face, but they are definitely have it as a heel.
Chad Nevett: They have that special IT factor with me. Batista and Cena have it and, yet, I’m looking forward to this match a whole lot more.
s1rude Writes:
Both roads, leaning low because of how much I hate Edge as a face. But I can’t vote low on anything that puts the strap on the Ayatollah and ensures him more screen time.
I disagree that “spear, spear, spear” is getting over – the crowd seemed pretty indifferent to it last Friday night – he’s selling it so hard that it’s embarrassing, and the move itself looks pretty weak and is used by a couple of other guys on the main event scene! This and some lame bad breath jokes and I see a heel turn by the end of summer.
Plus, they’re spending all of their time on getting pop for Edge and not telling the story of why these guys are feuding. I guess the belt explains it, but the suggestions by other posters of JeriShow v a reunited Edge & Christian and Punk v Rey Rey for the WHC have me mourning for what might have been.
Regardless, this Jericoholic is expecting some good-to-great matches featuring a sneaky victory by the heel at ‘mania that leads to longer chase. It’s not all bad…
Sat: I definitely see Edge turning heel pretty quickly; he’s not doing very good as a baby face.
Chad Nevett: I think they’ll give him a little bit of time. He’s getting decent pops when he comes out and just needs to grow into the role more.
ThePants Writes:
Both Roads, for sure. This has a lot of parallels to the HBK/Taker match. If Edge isn’t on his game (a valid question), then Jericho could definitely make this a 4 star match by sheer force of will; he’s really that good. I feel Jericho needs to win, though, precisely because Edge hasn’t clicked that well as a face and the reaming he’s given Jericho this whole feud (I don’t like the idea of chants equally success otherwise Morrison would be huge for his Mr. Ziggles stupidity). If Edge wins in a mostly one-sided affair, then I’m afraid we’ll see more face Edge which doesn’t seem like a good use of his talents. But if Jericho wins, maybe we can get a slow burn on Edge cracking and becoming his normal self again. I think WWE loves it’s producing faces because they make more money than anything else, but Edge is not that guy. I had this idea that, to screw Edge but keep Jericho his cowardly self, they would have ShowMiz lose the belts and have Show interfere for Jericho for the win. Hopefully, interference like that doesn’t happen (I like tag-team wrestling), but the best bet to me seems like giving Jericho the Flair treatment and having him just barely win matches and keep the belt. BTW, I have NO confidence in my booking skills.
Sat: I’m kind of hoping that Jericho wins and Edge slowly turns into more of a heel.
Chad Nevett: I don’t know why, but even though I’m worried about how well he can sustain it, I kind of want Edge to have a decent run as a face. His character was such a heel that it will take time for him to turn completely face and be comfortable in the role. People are expecting too much of the turn immediately.
Jake Fury Writes:
High and low.
High points: The match should be really good and it’s got the big time feel of a “very first time encounter.” Both guys, while not on the absolute main event level of HBK, HHH or Undertaker (mostly due to Edge’s injuries and Jericho’s sabbatical) are capable of easily putting on the match of the night.
Low Point: The build hasn’t really been there. I realize they were tag champs, Edge got injured and Jericho took on a new partner. But why does Edge despise Jericho? The SPEAR thing hasn’t really made it to WHAT levels just yet.
Sat: I don’t know, but I am not getting the big time feel from this feud.
Chad Nevett: I’m getting a big time feel. This is the match I’m looking forward to the most.
Observer Writes:
High Road.
No reason for these guys to hate each other? Guys, Jericho named Edge his partner to be Tag Team champions and then Edge got injured and bailed on Jericho. Jericho even cut a promo on Edge when he got injured calling him weak unlike Big Show.
The seeds for this fued were sown when Edge got injured.
While I think this match will deliver big time, the recent build up has been really underwhelming. They have failed to even mention Jericho and Edge were Tag Champs, and so far Jericho has looked like a big chicken despite being the champion. Oh, and that SPEARSPEARSPEAR chant is god awful.
Nevertheless, Jericho is world champ and that’s a huge plus. I just hope he doesn’t get speared and lose the title to Edge, that would be lame. I hope both men go all out and put on a 4 star match like we all know they can/will.
If Edge wins at WM I expect him to fued with Christian after he wins MITB. If not, I expect Edge to beat Jericho for the belt at the following PPV.
Sat: The WWE should be disappointed with the build; the promo last week for Punk/Mysterio did more of that feud than the entire build for this one.
Chad Nevett: I’ve liked the build for this feud. It’s lacked that one big promo, but has been consistently good otherwise.
Guest#1633 Writes:
“It is kind of funny how the one guy the IWC as a whole accepts is Taker.. And bad health or not, he is still busting out great matches.”
I dont know about the IWC as a whole. I find his matches to be better than average but not amazing, get tired of his backstage politics, and hate the fact that one match every year at WM is a foregone conclusion.
Yes the wrestling and story is important, but watching a match where the winner is 100% set in stone is annoying. Also, he never puts people over clean.
Also, anyone claiming Y2J/Edge as Low Road is a moron. This will be MOTN.
Sat: I think the last claim is a bit much; I see this as a low road just because the build has been so bad.
Chad Nevett: Yeah, I can see people not liking it. I don’t agree. Definitely a potential MOTN.
SpearSpearSpear Writes:
I get the feeling that the whole spear thing is to set up Jericho actually kicking out of the move, throwing Edge off his game, leading to a loss. Then yes, a slow burn to a heel return.
Sat: I’m hoping this spear chant does lead to what you are saying. That would make it worthwhile.
Chad Nevett: I keep waiting for Jericho to just spear Edge…
Guest#9661 Writes:
Middle road. If it’s used to put Jericho over and further this feud into the summer it’ll have been worthwhile. If Edge wins, it’s a bit of a dead end.
Match quality is definitely up for question. I find Edge so underwhelming and these two didn’t have particularly good matches back in 2004.If Jericho wins, and say Christin wins MITB then post-Mania, Smackdown has a good chase for the title. You could have Edge, Christian, Morrison, R-Truth, Punk all with credible challenges to the champion.
Sat: I see Edge winning being a bit of a dead end to, but I don’t see that stopping the WWE.
Chad Nevett: I don’t think Edge winning ends things at all. How is Punk a challenger for Jericho, but not Edge?
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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.
