High Road/Low Road 08.27.10: TNA World Title Tournament
Posted by Chad Nevett on 08.27.2010
In this week's edition of the High Road/Low Road, we look at the World Title Tournament. Was the tournament the best way to go or should they have done something different? Find out what we think inside...
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).
TNA World Title Tournament
High Road:
The TNA World Title Tournament should lead to an increase in potential buys for No Surrender and Bound for Glory. Eric Bischoff announced that the semi finals will take place at No Surrender and the final would take place at Bound for Glory. This was a smart move because there will be interest in No Surrender because people will want to know who the finalists are and there will also be interest in Bound for Glory because people will want to know who the new champion is. With pay per view buys low for TNA, it makes sense to try to increase the interest for No Surrender and Bound for Glory.
Low Road:
If the finals were happening at No Surrender, I'd agree that that would help that PPV, but it's only the semi-finals, so who cares? And Bound for Glory is the biggest show of the year for TNA, so it shouldn't need the payoff of this tournament. If anything, dragging it out over such a long period of time seems less likely to create interest. By the time we get to Bound for Glory, we'll all just want the damn thing over and done with.
High Road:
Whenever a title is vacated, the interest on what is going to happen next goes up. When Batista and Edge got injured and had to vacate the title, there was a lot of interest in the upcoming SmackDown and who would become the new champion. When John Cena had his injury the week before the pay per view, there was a lot of interest in the upcoming pay per view. TNA should see an interest in their product due to the title being vacated.
Low Road:
This story fails in this regard for two reasons: it's so drawn out that it won't be able to sustain that interest level, and Kurt Angle's story necessitates a win. Put those two things together and all of my interest is gone. An obvious finish is one thing, but a drawn out obvious finish? Kill me now.
High Road:
While the Kurt Angle going through the top ten list to get a title shot was a good idea in theory, but it actually was not that feasible. First, it was going to take too long for him to get through everybody. Second, the rankings were always changing so there was no way he was actually going to go through everybody. Having a tournament to decide the new TNA champion is a good thing because it eliminated the need for Kurt Angle to go through the top ten.
Low Road:
There were still a number of people Angle hadn't taken on that could have been viable options: Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy, Samoa Joe, Jay Lethal, and Abyss, plus Rob Van Dam. Despite the shifting rankings, most of those guys have remained near the top for the past couple of months. With Angle taking them out two at a time (on Impact and then at the PPV), that would only push his quest concluding back a month after Bound for Glory, which isn't unreasonable for this sort of story.
High Road:
While Eric Bischoff did say that the top eight contenders would be in the tournament, we basically knew that was going to be impossible and I don't see how that can be a complaint. Abyss was not going to be in the tournament because you can't get reward for injuring the world champion. AJ Styles was not going to be in the tournament because he had other commitments such as the Television Title. The only guy that we can really complain about where Hernandez was because he was the only guy who was missing who did not have a reason not to be a part of the tournament.
Low Road:
Abyss not being there makes sense since he just lost a title match, but AJ Styles's absence doesn't make sense given X-Division Champion Douglas Williams being in the tournament and the man he defeated twice this past month (and took the title off), Rob Terry being in it. Throw in Styles not even defending the TV Title in his match this past week and I fail to see any argument that makes sense for him not being there. Hernandez not being in the top eight is fine since he hasn't done anything lately. While that's also true for Douglas Williams, Williams is at least the X-Division Champion, which should garner some prestige (though usually doesn't).
High Road:
The main problem that people have with the tournament is the fact that RVD could not drop the title and it had to be just vacated. I think in a perfect world it would have been nice for this to happen, but there was no perfect way to do this. If RVD had lost the title, it was not going to be to Abyss because for whatever reason TNA did not want to give Abyss the title. Losing the title to Abyss would have made sense because he was feuding with him. TNA could have gotten the title on somebody else, but it would have been something that just happened out of nowhere and would not have made sense. I think a tournament makes sense because of these reasons.
Low Road:
Within the context of the past month's booking, vacating the belt was the right decision, but all that shows is that recent booking has been horrible if it could only result in this outcome. Rob Van Dam won the title after being with the company for only a few months and then doesn't even lose it clean? Of course that's going to leave a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. Given the amount of praise heaped on RVD during his reign by Hogan and company, him dropping the belt to someone would have actually meant something, but him vacating it means nothing. It doesn't put anyone over or do anything except protect him. If they didn't want to give the belt to Abyss, fine, but then they shouldn't have put themselves in the position where Abyss or vacating the belt were their only options.
High Road:
One of the things that I have noticed is that the general public is a huge fan of tournaments. When the playoffs come around, people are more interested. Another example of how popular tournaments are is March Madness. While there is no way that TNA's World Title tournament is going to be as popular as the examples I gave above, there is still a chance for them getting some new interest.
Low Road:
Since I took over doing the Impact 4Rs, I've seen three tournaments already with one taking place shortly before I took over in December. That makes this the fifth tournament of some sort in less than a year. Yes, people love tournaments, but they love them because they're rare and special. More than that, they're supposed to matter and, honestly, TNA's tournaments in the past year haven't. Bobby Lashley won a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship in the Thanksgiving tournament, never cashed it in, and has departed the company. ODB won the TNA Knockouts Championship in the New Year's Eve Knockouts tournament and has since left the company. The Pope won the 8-Card Stud tournament and his title shot was scheduled so far into the future that it was lost in a lame Abyss/AJ Styles feud and the aftermath was marred by injuries. The only successful tournament was the recent tag titles tournament where the Motor City Machine Guns won and went on to have that amazing best-of-five series with Beer Money. Frankly, I'm sick of TNA tournaments. Get a new idea already.
High Road:
I look at the four remaining contenders and I really have no idea who is winning. The only thing that I am sure about is that there is no way that The Pope is winning. I think that most people's pick to win this would be Kurt Angle, but I am suspicious of him winning because it just seems too obvious to me. I think the best two options are Mr. Anderson and Jeff Hardy because it gives you a Bound for Glory type moment where they win their first TNA World Title.
Low Road:
Kurt Angle is going to win. While it's possible they'll ‘retire' him and have him return in short order, I don't think he would go along with that idea. No, Kurt Angle is winning the title, because TNA has backed themselves into a corner where he has to win the title.
Simply write "High Road", "Low Road", or "Both Roads" in the comment section.
Results for the TNA Television Title:
High Road: 56%
Low Road: 28%
Both Roads: 15%
Sat: This was a definite high road for me. There were a few comments were about the origins of Intercontinental title which I left out.
Chad Nevett: This was a Low Road for me. I love AJ having the belt, but, so far, nothing has been done with it to make me care. No defenses aside from his rematch with Rob Terry and nothing to show why it needed to be renamed. The booking is the exact same as the Global Championship so far. Thus, Low Road. (And my mention of the Intercontinental Championship's name was because that name means ‘world' or ‘global' and yet no one confuses it with THE world belt(s). But, that's probably more about how it's been booked for its history than its name, which was my point about the Global Championship. If it were booked properly, the name wouldn't be confusing.)
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.
Sat: The only emails we received were for voting purposes. Let's go to the comments...
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.
ROH Commish Writes:
Low Road.
With TNA, you haven't had a tier of competitors for its titles. With the Top 10 rankings, TNA has given some justification for title shots. But who competes for the TV title, those ranked 5-10 or people not ranked at all? What does winning the belt actually prove and what is it worth? AJ isn't competing for the world title and he ain't ranked in the TOP 8.
In TNA lately, you get one title shot and that's it. In this type of booking, TNA ends up burying guys when they lose. It just looks like the flavor of month is picked for a title shot. TNA has gone away from feuds selling title matches and the TV title adds to this problem.
Sat: I agree that they do need to establish who this title is for.
Chad Nevett: TNA is just throwing whatever they can at the wall to see what sticks without thinking things through and coming up with clear guidelines. They had the same problem with the top ten rankings initially and, three months later, they didn't even give us a proper top ten, while the TV title has already become invisible.
Sean Writes:
High road
Although I agree that TNA has EASILY got the ability to screw up how this should be booked, the name TV title is recognizable by any fan who watched wrestling in the 90s. By putting the belt on a guy who can have great TV matches whenever the belt is on the line, and drawing people in based on what they remember a TV title to be, the belt could be a massive attraction.
Obviously this is only if TNA sticks to the basic "this is what you should do with a TV title" definition, which they probably won't, but this column is about the move, not how theyll screw it up, and the move is solid.
Sat: The move is solid; I can't argue with that. My main worry is that they will screw it up.
Chad Nevett: They already have. For me. Not irreparably or anything, but they really turned me against the title right out of the gate with the lake of defenses/clear conception of what this belt is.
The Gold Standard Writes:
High Road. I think the title has found its nitch and might actually get some value. The Legends title made no sense seeing that anyone who wasn't a legend holding it made it seem stupid and the Global title had a great them to it but was more cause of Eric Young(whatever happen to him) storyline. I think the TV title will work and give guys like Jay Lethal, Beer Money, Pope, Morgan etc guys a stepping stone title to see if their ready for the big strap. Styles needs a lengthy reign defending it at every ppv as well as some impacts even main events.
Sat: If the title is the focus of the guys you mentioned, then it can be a success.
Chad Nevett: I don't know what this belt's niche is yet. It could work, but it hasn't yet.
Comment Board Poster Writes:
I've always liked the idea of a TV title. The origins of a TV title is that back in the day, you didn't see title matches on TV. You had to be there live for that. But, TV titles were created so that a championship could be contested for the TV viewing audience. High Road.
Sat: Though the title is going to be defended on the pay per view, so that kind of makes the TV Title somewhat useless.
Chad Nevett: People watch PPVs on their TVs... that's how I always justify it being defended at PPVs. But, it really needs to be defended on the regular TV show first.
ThePants Writes:
Both Roads.
I really like a TV title because of the tradition around it and fully supported the change from the Global title, who's rules never made much sense.
However, right out the gate TNA ignored the purpose of a TV title. With AJ as the holder it may gain prestige, but one guy can't make a title. It'd be better to give it to lower-card guys that can go and let it grow over time. Also, with the X division title around it's really just a title for the sake of a title. Either one needs to go because having so many titles devalues them all (See: WWE). I'd rather see the X Division title go because it's lost it's purpose. I think the TV title has potential, but unless TNA sticks to what can make it unique, it's just a few months away from becoming the TNA Hardcore title.
Sat: The X Division has lost its purpose because they abandoned what the title was about.
Chad Nevett: Beyond the World Championship, none of the belts seem terribly important despite the recent Guns/Beer Money series. TNA doesn't seem to have a clear idea what each of the belts' purpose is.
SHADE Writes:
Low Road
So many people are like "TV Title?! YES THATS AWESOME" but it's the same freaking title that people were bitching and complaining about a month ago just with a different name. It's exactly the same and means no more than it did in the past.
Sat: Hasn't the TV Title been defended more than the Global Title?
Chad Nevett: Rob Terry had a streak for a while there of defending the Global Title on almost every episode of Impact. So far, AJ has defended the TV Title once. So, no.
Guest#8879 Writes:
High Road
Some of the Low Road stuff just is stupid.
The IC title was never treated as if it was important???
The fact TNA is taped hurts the TV title? WCW used to tape their shows and their TV title was great, until they made it a joke.
Sat: The IC Title has been treated like it is not important. The taping argument I do not buy.
Chad Nevett: I think you misinterpreted my comments on the IC belt, while my comments on the taped nature of the show related to the High Road I was responding to. Sometimes, I'm put into a corner by what Sat says and have to present the only argument available to me. He argued that the title being defended every week could increase interest in a title change, so I responded that the taped nature could hurt that interest since people would know if the belt was retained/lost ahead of time. What would your counterargument have been?
HBK's Smile Writes:
Both Roads (though neither road would be more appropriate). The name change does no harm, but not really any good either. Maybe it will be defended more often on TV, but I won't hold my breath, as the weekly stip has already gone out the window. And I like the sound of Global more than TV, but that's a minor point.
Really, no disrespect, but this question is much ado about nothing.
Sat: I think if the title is defended regularly, then this would be a definite high road.
Chad Nevett: I never had a problem with the Global Championship's name. If I recall correctly, when Eric Young changed it from the Legends Championship last year, people were just as excited about that as this name change. Sadly, terrible booking killed that enthusiasm and, so far, that's what's been happening here for me.
The Logical One Writes:
LOW ROAD
I'm not against TV titles in general, but definitely against one in TNA. The TV title doesn't add much financial value to (a struggling) company because it doesn't get defended at house shows. For a company with a history of allowing talent who don't even wrestle at house shows to hold the world title, why have another title that doesn't get defended at house shows?
TNA should never have called the title "Legends," "Global," or "Television." Fans know that anything other than a world title is second-best (except for niche stuff like Hardcore, Pure, X, etc... which can be more justifiable based on a wrestler's weight class/style/strengths). Maybe TNA should've revisited a hardcore title to coincide with the EV2.0 storyline, or allowed Doug Williams to have a belt which truly reflected his technical style. A TV Title just doesn't do that much.
Sat: I don't know about a Hardcore Title. At the end of its run, it was a complete disaster.
Chad Nevett: God no. No Hardcore Title.
Hyde Hill Writes:
High Road.
Global was a ridiculous name and concept. Television title is not. Most of the low roads mentioned are what if scenarios. Names and concepts for titles are important. Both Legend and Global as names and concepts sucked. Yes TNA put themselves in a corner by not having it defended in the early going but expect that to change.
Sat: TNA definitely screwed up with the first two names.
Chad Nevett: The Legends Title shouldn't have continued really after Booker T lost it. It was a vanity belt and should have disappeared when the story was over ala the Million Dollar Championship. Brought back from time to time for story purposes, but not a REAL belt. That's where TNA went wrong.
The Great Captain Smooth Writes:
High road. I like the fact that people breaking into the main event scene can use it as a trophy. It let's the fans know that this person will not be a pushover.(It must be booked that way.)
Sat: The one thing is that the TV Title should not be a cursor to the main event scene. Personally, I have always looked at the TV Title as less than the I.C. Title and the U.S. Title.
Chad Nevett: Would that make it less than the X-Division belt? Or the automatic #11 contender?
Gypsy Writes:
Low Road.
The TV title is an antiquity of the territory system, when you needed to build up local talent so they were a credible threat when the NWA champ came to town.
TNA just gave us a World Title match on TV...in fact RVD won the championship on free TV.
TNA needs to establish rules for this belt. First off, it shouldn't be defended every week...the 30 day rule can still be in effect to establish feuds and build challengers. The belt should never be defended on PPV. Defeats the very essence of a TV title.
Lastly, I think the belt's legacy is very bland. "Legends" signifies nothing. "Global" at least references the GHC in name if not spirit. "Television" is equally bland. If TNA is going to do this, they should go all the way and officially name this the "SpikeTV" Championship. (Wrestling for Men!) I'm sure Spike wouldn't mind at all.
Incidentally, this belt is the only TNA title to change hands outside the US.
Sat: The SpikeTV title does not sound good at all, but I am sure that Spike TV would be happy with that name.
Chad Nevett: You're right about the concept being antiquated, especially given how TNA operates. I could see a TV Title working better in the WWE as a Superstars-only title to give that show a little more excitement, but Impact doesn't need it.
SeanTNA Writes:
Chad makes a good argument bringing up the Intercontinental Title. This is my first time reading this column and I've been on this website since the beginning of the year and I want to punch myself in the face for not reading this column sooner. Both roads.
Sat: Good to know that we picked up a new reader. I hope you continue to enjoy the columns.
Chad Nevett: Welcome to the column. Continue to praise me and you'll soon be my favorite reader.
ScottishDave Writes:
High Road:
There's a lot of talent in TNA who aren't main eventers & cant wrestle the X-Division style so it gives them something to compete for plus a strong mid-card belt can help elevate some young talent like the IC title did for guys like Macho, Bret, HBK & Austin
A guy like Jay Lethal isn't ready for Main Events yet but give him a 4-6 month run with a TV belt taking on all comers and going over strong then he's gonna look a lot more credible when u put him in with a guy like Angle, Jarrett or Sting.
Sat: The X-Division style does not really exist any more.
Chad Nevett: If this belt replaced the X-Division Championship, I think it would work a lot better the more I think about it.
Guest#6948 Writes:
High road.
BTW I don't remember AJ saying that hes gonna defend it every week. And dont remember it happening in WCW
Sat: I thought he did say it, but I could be wrong. Though if we had been wrong, we would have had a lot of people pointing it out.
Chad Nevett: What AJ Styles said on the July 29, 2010 episode of Impact: "So, starting next week and every week after that on every TV and every pay-per-view, I will honor this title and it starts with you, Rob Terry." That sounds like he said he'd be defending it every 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.
Save this for when a World Champ actually is hurt and can't defend the title!
Posted By: SilentOx (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Low Road: TNA has too many tournaments for vacant straps, and then they have more tournaments for no. 1 contenders. RVD was an excellent champion with exciting potential match-ups, instead we have a tournament final that will probably be a rehashed match-up from the TNA past instead of RVD vs Kurt Angle (fresh to TNA). Add to that two PPV's to do the tournament (relegating No Surrender to a transitional event rather than a serious attempt to get buys). Finally I really don't look forward to a BFG headlined by Mr. Anderson, the John 'Super' Cena of TNA.
Posted By: JAK (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 10:39 AM
Low Road - I'm sick of the tournament format in TNA. It shows a lack of imagination on the part of the writing team as this is really just a filler role for most of the people in the tournament. I've spent more time watching Masked Warriors because at least they have developing storylines and side subplots that keep things interesting.
Posted By: PK (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Low Road, because TNA sucks
Posted By: Guest#6868 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Sat: Though the title is going to be defended on the pay per view, so that kind of makes the TV Title somewhat useless.
Well, you have to hope TNA uses the title correctly. Besides, TV titles have been defended on PPVs for some time. So, that has always taken away a bit from what a true TV title is supposed to be.
Posted By: Comment Board Poster (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 12:08 PM
Low Road.
They've spent months building up Angle going through the top 10 challengers for nothing now that's he's in the tournament on equal terms with the other guys. He should have worked his way through the top 10 then it should have culminated with him v RVD at Bound For Glory.
We all know the likes of RVD, Jeff Hardy and many others are not committed to TNA and are only there for the light work schedule but for your World Champion to take time off 2 months before your biggest show of the year shows you what kind of operation TNA is. WWE would never allow this (unless they were injured, which RVD is not), and rightfully so.
Posted By: Guest#6148 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Low Road.
Fact is, RVD should have never won the belt. But he did and you can't have him wasted as champ when you put his title win over huge. RVD should still be champ and TNA should have paid him extra for a few months to avoid this no buys tournament.
TNA is gonna head into their biggest PPV of the year without a title feud. There is no heat and intensity in the world title picture. The idea that the spirit of competition and being the best is what the wrestlers are wrestling for does not work. It is predetermined and everyone knows.
I think Angle vs Anderson is the likely title match at BFG so they can play off of their history earlier this year. Angle will win with another ankle lock grapevine and no one will be elevated.
Posted By: ROH Commish (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 12:25 PM
(Leaning) Low Road
Single elimination tournaments feel very standard these days. With TNA's great workers and timeframe, a round robin or double elimination tourney would have been nice.
Another criticism: Since this is for TNA's top prize, I think all men with gold should have been entered automatically, including the Guns.
Just imagine the fervor in the different divisions as guys compete for championships as well as entrance to the big tournament.
Posted By: Guest#5860 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 12:43 PM
"Chad Nevett: If this belt replaced the X-Division Championship, I think it would work a lot better the more I think about it."
Unification time!
Less belts is more.
Posted By: Rye Bread (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 12:49 PM
low road.only cause it ruins angles storyline
Posted By: tgs (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 01:19 PM
Low Road. Not even a contest.
Posted By: Frie (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 01:55 PM
Guest#8879 Writes:
High Road
Some of the Low Road stuff just is stupid.
The IC title was never treated as if it was important???
The fact TNA is taped hurts the TV title? WCW used to tape their shows and their TV title was great, until they made it a joke.
Sat: The IC Title has been treated like it is not important. The taping argument I do not buy.
Chad Nevett: I think you misinterpreted my comments on the IC belt, while my comments on the taped nature of the show related to the High Road I was responding to. Sometimes, I'm put into a corner by what Sat says and have to present the only argument available to me. He argued that the title being defended every week could increase interest in a tite change, so I responded that the taped nature could hurt that interest since people would know if the belt was retained/lost ahead of time. What would your counterargument have been?
I wouldn't have a counterargument. I believe that a TV title is a great idea to have on your shows. I think TNA needs to get the belt off of AJ and make it a title that people like Kaz, Rob Terry, Jay Lethal, Eric Young, Orlando Jordan, Raven, Rhino, Shannon Moore and the like could compete for.
Use it to build midcarders and treat it like it is a stepping stone to the X Division title.
It really could work to get TNA to have great matches with some of the lower card guys week in and week out.
They need to define the World title division as well. They have the roster to make this work.
Imagine having all the titles mean what the tag titles mean since Beer Money and MCMG's have elevated it.
Posted By: Guest#6337 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 02:09 PM
I'm going to say Both Roads.
I'm leaning more towards the low road though. The preliminary matches were far too short, and TNA didn't make it seem very meaningful. The outcome is quite predictable with Angle's "lose and I retire" statement. But predictable isn't always a bad thing. The fact that it's playing second fiddle to EV2.0 vs. Fortune and whatever the old guys are arguing about...and the non-stop ass kissing for Dixie Carter (what's up with that?!) - also brings it down a notch. Add all this to the fact that there are no heels, and all 4 guys made their name in WWE - not TNA - makes this a low road.
However, Angle and Dinero are quite good in the ring, and Hardy and Anderson (...Anderson) are no slouches either. So there is the potential for some great wrestling matches. And I can't give it solely a low road due to potential alone.
Posted By: Rick (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 02:59 PM
High road
Posted By: Guest#4102 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 03:59 PM
High road.
Posted By: Guest#6373 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 03:59 PM
Low Road
Wrestling tournaments have always been one of those things that seem good in theory and on paper, but for some reason watching them is kind of a chore. Wrestlemania 4, anyone? Also, while some memorable stuff did happen at the various King of the Ring PPV's, can you honestly say they were good? There's a reason the WWE got rid of them.
Posted By: JLAJRC (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 04:24 PM
High road.
Posted By: Bo (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 04:43 PM
Both roads. Low, because I doubt it'll lead to anything stable in the company. High, because TNA's talent pool is pretty deep, so there are plenty of chances for a good match.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 05:41 PM
Low road.
Posted By: Guest#5623 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 05:53 PM
High Road
I don't get the hatred of this idea. Yes, I know people would have liked someone to go clean over RVD, but it's not like they did this for no reason. They have used up RVD's dates, so they had to do something(would you have rather had them put the belt on Abyss?)
That being said, I think that maybe this tournament is a little too spread out. Maybe they should have teased an announcement at No Surrender(Have Abyss think they are going to award him the title) and then do the tournament where the new champ would have to win two matches in one night at BFG. But,I think the tournament is a good idea.
Posted By: JWestmoreland (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 06:22 PM
The only High Roads I see are clearly from the same person, thus those votes should not count.
For me, it is a Low Road.
Not only is Angle's storyline now a waste (as I suspected from the beginning-TNA long term booking? Ha!).
TNA didn't even select the "Top 8". Aj was 4th or 5th last. Nowhere to be seen. Joe-nowhere. Doug involved? Please.
Finally, look who is in the semi-finals. Angle, Hardy, Pope, and Anderson. Yep, not a single TNA original to be potentially elevated here, with the rumored final to be Angle vs. Anderson. Yawn.....
Posted By: Respond to THIS!!! (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 07:14 PM
Low Road. TNA has backed themselves into a corner with Angle's "Win or retire" stipulation. Also, the fact that the final four in this tournament are known more for their WWE success than in TNA speaks volumes. No homegrown stars are left.
Finally, where are the dominant heels gunning for the World Title?
Posted By: JR (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 07:31 PM
both roads
whilst I am sick of seeing tournaments in TNA what else could they do without it looking half assed on the road to bound for glory?
Posted By: scooter (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 07:46 PM
whilst I am sick of seeing tournaments in TNA what else could they do without it looking half assed on the road to bound for glory?
Posted By: scooter (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 07:46 PM
Maybe they could have, you know, paid attention to RVD's contract and not let it run out of dates a month before their biggest show of the year and while he was the current WORLD CHAMPION!
TNA management is beyond Bush League. Can you imagine WWE putting a World title on someone in the run up to Wrestlemania when there's a chance he might not be contactually obligated to even wrestle on the card?
Posted By: Guest#6759 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 09:12 PM
Low road.
Couldn't they just sign RVD to a contract guaranteeing he'll be at Bound For Glory to drop the title and then you wouldn't have to go through all this? You could even call it a one shot deal.
Posted By: Guest#6031 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 09:14 PM
Low road.
If they had done a huge tournament Survivor Series 98 style it might have worked, but I'm not feeling the way they're going about it. Angle is obviously taking the title and even if he doesn't, he's not retiring, at best he'll take a break for a few months.
And the next time TNA tries to hype Bound For Glory as the big event that every wrestler aspires to compete at just remember that their World Champion had so little commitment to the company that he would rather vacate the title and go home than sign a short term extension to make it through to the show.
Posted By: Guest#9052 (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 09:18 PM
Low Road
Matt Morgan and Mr. Anderson have been jobbed to holy hell and have no place in the tournament.
AJ should have been in...why would Fortune help take out RVD if they don't get a shot at the title?
Abyss should have been included, if only for Dreamer to cost him the win "for Rob." Speaking of ECW, I would have included Dreamer, Sabu, Stevie and Rhyno in a four-way to get into the tournament, kind of like the NCAAs 16-17 game. Have Abyss cost THEM a win and there's your feud.
Angle over Terry (Angle can drag him to a good 5 minute match. The problem with Angle going through everyone is there is no fresh matchups...until the finals)
Williams over Lethal (continuing an Xplosion feud)
Hardy over Abyss (Rhyno gores Abyss)
AJ over Dreamer (Who wins the 4 way after Abyss takes out Rhyno)
Semifinals
Angle over Williams
Hardy over AJ
Finals
Hardy vs Angle: First time in TNA (Hopefully on PPV)...whoever wins, Fortune with the beat-down.
Posted By: Gyspsy (Guest) on August 27, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Also, I'd like to know how many people on here saying "low road" have actually watched any part of this, or better yet, have EVER watched TNA. Most of them probably read the Impact reviews on this site, and get their opinions based on the review(which I wouldn't be surprised if they are written by WWE-Tards, like most of the writers on this site seem to be.)
Posted By: JWestmoreland (Guest) on August 28, 2010 at 12:34 AM
The reason for the tournament is low road. Apparently TNA just used up RVD's contracted dates. Knowing that, they should have booked themselves a way out. Since TNA's audience leans more IWC, I think this is a real detriment.
Low road again for not using a title change to put somebody over directly. It didn't have to be Abyss, but they talked up RVD and had him win, so make all that worth something.
Potentially high road because a properly built and hyped tournament can really build up the eventual winner. Done right, he looks like he had to beat the best of the best. Then again, taking on all comers after winning would have done that too.
Posted By: Guest#4700 (Guest) on August 28, 2010 at 01:13 AM
Low Road - as with most thinks in TNA that don't involve just letting guys under 40 wrestle, this tournament is a result of booking themselves into a corner and not any kind of long or mid-range planning. It will also most likely lead to another feud or angle that is nonsensical, an abrupt change of pace or directly contradicts some of what has come before. Oh, and that incorporates a "shocking" turn. Pass.
Posted By: s1rude (Guest) on August 28, 2010 at 10:03 AM
LOW ROAD
Number 1: If RVD's number of matches to his contract was coming due, they should have booked him to drop the title. Stripping RVD of the title does nothing to elevated anybody not to mention does damage to the credibility of the title.
Number 2: The guys who advanced are all former WWE wrestlers. This is one of many things TNA has been criticized for. Favoring former WWE talent over their own stars/
Number 3: One of the former WWE guys to advance was Jeff Hardy. I know he sell merchandise wherever he goes, but the man is still facing a court case and possibly jail time after being arrested for 5 different drug felonies. I have said this before and I will say this again, TNA NEVER should have signed Hardy knowing of his legal problems and the fact that TNA not only signed him but are pushing him should say something about TNA. And the fact that they are pushing a possibly soon to be jail bird over their own more deserving talent should also say something about TNA.
However it could be worse. This tournament could have been like WCW's 32 man World Title tournament. What a farce that tournament was. And don't get me started on WCW's Lethal Lottery Tag Team Title tournament which was just as bad and confusing at the WCW World Title tournament.
Posted By: Guest#9849 (Guest) on August 28, 2010 at 12:29 PM
remember when wwe did the deadly games tournament it was in one night and it worked why didn't tna just do that its not like a one night tournament would hurt them hell if anything it would help them
Posted By: Guest#0416 (Guest) on August 28, 2010 at 02:37 PM
low road tna throws logic out the window just to make there plan go the way they want even if they have more then one road to go down they come up with the worst one possible
Posted By: Guest#1450 (Guest) on August 28, 2010 at 02:45 PM
Low Road
While his reign was lacklustre RVD was picking up steam as he continued to win. The same could definitely be said for Kurt Angle as he went through the top 10. A clash between these two could have at least felt like long-term booking with a payoff. It would have even worked with Abyss taking the title from RVD as he's been consistently pushed. As it is it just seems like TNA is panicking and grasping at straws.
Posted By: Guest#0773 (Guest) on August 29, 2010 at 03:05 PM
I love tna... i guess ill go both roads... the tournament was a good idea... but... it should have had more participants and and had matches every week not all in 1 week...
I am alittle upset about the whole thing... RVD had a decent reign and angles climb was interesting... i really think tna best move would be to have had rvd keep the title till bound 4 glory and have angle face him for the strap in a **** 1/2 main event!!!
it felt like thats where it was going... and i dont really remember angle vs rvd so it could have been fresh...
oh well... maybe well get it after bound 4 glory when rvd comes back for his rematch...
Posted By: Guest#6935 (Guest) on August 29, 2010 at 07:21 PM
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