High Road/Low Road 06.09.06: ECW
Posted by Sat on 06.09.2006
High Road/Low Road goes Extreme!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome back to the High Road/Low Road. In this column we (Sat and Rajah) give the High Road and Low Road of gimmicks and angles which are present in the wonderful world of wrestling. Sat, being the kind lovable one, tries to see the positive aspect of all angles, gimmicks and the like. Whereas Rajah is a jackass and who sees nothing good in anything. Why he doesn't just shoot himself, we have no idea. In any case, Sat takes the High Road and Rajah the Low Road. Here are the results to last week's High Road/Low Road
The Results for the Vince McMahon as GM:
High Road: 22%
Low Road: 78%
E-Mails:
Below are some of the e-mails that we received this week. We read every e-mail that we get, but we are unable to respond to all of them. That being said, keep the e-mails coming. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Uncle Trunx Writes:
Hi guys,
I'm flattered to hear that Rajah is going to name his kid after me! I hope the name also brings him my sunny outlook on life.
Anyway, on to the column: Once again it was a great debate about the pros and cons of Vince as GM and once again, I'm afraid to say, I have to go low road for 3 reasons:
1. Having the boss of WWE based on one brand inevitably weakens the other. It's almost at the point where they might as well acknowledge Raw as the top show and "promote" people from Smackdown.
2. Once again, it's Vince taking a top spot and a large percentage of TV time. It's reached the point where the champion hardly gets any TV time because of it and to make matters worse, Vince brings the Spirit Squad along with him every time. This could even kill the much anticipated reformation of DX: I'd much rather see them facing off against other top level wrestlers like Edge or Cena, rather than having them involved in dull talk based angles with the boss or handicap clusterf*cks with the squad. Even Big Show or Kane would be better opposition.
3. It's yet another let down from WWE where a surprise turns out to be Vince. Every time there's a surprise like this planned, it's Vince that comes out. Yes, I am still bitter about him being the head of the "Ministry" and that was years ago! There are so many talented guys who could play the GM role, but sadly, once more, we get the same guy in the same angle we've had since '97 and contrary to the way it was promoted, it's no surprise at all.
I'll try to go high road next week. Honest!
Sat: I have to disagree with your first point because RAW as been the top show long before Vince became the General Manager of RAW. Your second point is accepted after seeing RAW this week. Vince was on RAW way too much this week. I am willing to accept anybody as the General Manager after seeing this week's RAW. If Vince wants to be General Manager, then he should cut back on his airtime.
Rajah: There's no need to take the high road this week. I completely dominate this column, like VINCENT KENNEDY MCMAHON JR. dominates Candice Michelle.
James Jackson Writes:
I will take the low road cause I'ma low road kind of guy. For me it ties back into my comments about Good Ole J.R. coming back to announcing booth. Let it go. Vince can be entertaining but not as the full-time G.M. I'm tired of the evil GM verses the wrestlers stchick. It's been done to death. For God's sake does anyone have any less recycled ideas to share in creative.
Vince is a caricture of himself and he knows that but even caricatures get old when they are shoved down our throats for half hour a week out of a 2 hour wrestling show. If Vince is going to be the G.M. then let him be truly egomaniacal and let him snap and flip and swerve everyone. Let him turn on the Spirit Squad or let him stab a heel who is sucking up to him in the back. Let him just be untrustable and a real slim bag towards everyone. That way the whole lockerroom doesn't know what to do with him. Let him buddy up with Melina and Nitro only to have him, bang Melina and turn her out, cause she' fresh meat and he's VINCENT KENNEDY MCMAHON.
What I'd rather see is perhaps Ric Flair lose a Retirement Match at SummerSlam and then get hired as the new G.M. for RAW, with the stipulation that any "unprofessional conduct" or "unprovoked physical contact" with wrestlers will result in his dismissal from the WWE and ineligibility in the WWE HALL OF FAME. Now Ric can go face or heel. He can be provoked by wrestlers, valets, DIVAS maybe even announcers. Ric can get other superstars to do his dirty work through the years and then finally be pushed over the edge into getting physical. This allows Ric Flair to keep his clothes on and not subject us to his aging man boobs any longer, but it also lets him use his skills on the microphone to put over matches and feud possibly with wrestlers. He has enough history with most guys in the business the you can use all most anything to set up a story. He can style and profile. He can jet set, limo ride and not have to take big bumps except on special occasions.
Vince as G.M. low road. It's time to move someone like Ric Flair or maybe even Coach into the that spot. Vince can come in as the capstone appearance for feud or big announcement. He can show up before PPVs and throw his weight around backstage making both G.M.s nervous as they wonder why is the Big Boss here.
Sat: Your new character for Vince would be interesting. Let him screw everybody. Now that is something we haven't seen.
Rajah: I can see them doing the Ric Flair as GM, but that's expecting too much out of the WWE. But maybe Vince and Lillian Garcia can have a fling, which gives us the long-awaited Vince/Viscera feud. Viscera can come out in his groovy "Don't Diss Big Vis" T-Shirt and can put up his career against Vince's. With some interference by Snitsky and Goldust, Viscera can win. Thus leading to a new General Manager—Viscera. Though it wouldn't be Snitsky's fault.
Virgil Wade Writes:
Hi guys. Good column as always, but I gotta take the low road on Vince as GM. It was cool in the 90s when EVERYONE wanted to kill their boss - we all got to live vicariously through Stone Cold Steve Austin. Those days are over though, and the E/F doesnt seem to want to evolve with everything else on tv. I speak of reality shows.
Most of the E's core audience checks a site SOMEWHERE daily for what they consider to be "news". Vince & Co. seem to be the only program on TV to shun outside media coverage. They should start running with it - start doing more angles based on the real life stuff that happens. At least by changing it up now they can avoid having to pull the "authority vs. rebel face" angle out of shrink wrap every 3 months.
And finally, I have an idea for a high/low column: Should the E change the names of the 3 "brands" to something more "organization/company-like" to create a sense of difference? More specifically, should Raw become "WWF" Raw, SmackDown! become "WCW" SmackDown!, and... well ECW is already there, they just need a show name - and all 3 shows would be different brands/leagues under the WWE banner. SmackDown! is already a booker T title win away from being WCW Thunder anyway, so why not go ahead with the name change?
Sat: Another e-mail that says that we want to see something new. It seems like people are hating Vince as General Manager because he is doing the heel authority figure versus some wrestler. Your idea is a good one about the column, but it would be kind of short. Maybe we could include a lot of short High Road/Low Road into a single column.
Rajah: WCW SmackDown? Glancing at the booking, I would have to say they've taken your advice.
Now, the moment you have all been waiting for. This week's High Road/Low Road featuring...
ECW
High Road:
With the return of ECW, wrestlers that are not on RAW or SmackDown will have a chance to showcase their talents. There are some wrestlers in OVW that are ready to move to one of the three shows (C.M. Punk for example). Let's remember that the WWE had signed a lot of wrestlers and most of them have not been heard of since that time. Sure these guys aren't superstars, but they are decent wrestlers that have probably improved since they were last in the WWE. The WWE understands that by adding ECW, they will need a good amount of wrestlers on each of three shows.
Low Road:
What new talent has been given a push at this ECW pay-per-view? Tazz? Jerry Lawler? Sabu? Terry Funk? And even after One Night Stand, no new talent is going to be given a push just because there are three shows instead of two. We have to remember Vince is still running the show. If you are big (or fucking his daughter or blowing him) then you'll get a push but any "smaller" talent is still going to be considered third-rate. ECW does not change this. I think you have too much faith in Vince McMahon.
High Road:
For ECW to be successful, you need the support the fans. This is not a problem for ECW for two reasons. The first reason is that they have their original hardcore base that will follow the brand no matter what. The second reason is that ECW is drawing new fans. The reason that I have for saying this is that on the June 2nd edition of SmackDown, there were many ECW signs in the crowd. This show was in Portland and this is very far from the origins of ECW, so this to me means that they are drawing new fans. Sure, this could be coincidence, but this means that they are gaining some fans and if this happens in every city then you have a respectable fan base.
Low Road:
Is ECW appealing to new fans? The crowd reaction has been somewhat mild but I might be crazy. But more importantly, how does Vince expect people to buy so much "stuff"? Is demand for wrestling really THAT high? We have to remember they are doing different house shows with all three brands, and all have different pay-per-views at $39.95 a pop. And actually I think ECW might survive—I'm more worried about SmackDown. ECW already has more main event talent that I can buy into than Smack Down. For example, Angle, Rob Van Dam, Big Show, and even Terry Funk, Sabu and Tazz (if they are wrestling full time). SmackDown right now has Rey??, Batista, and Undertaker (part-time). How is anyone willingly going to pay $39.95 for a SmackDown pay-per-view? I just think Vince is oversaturating the market but then again people have bought the Great American Bash for the last two years. I doubt if all three of the brands can be kept afloat. One will be gone in a year and I'm guessing SmackDown.
High Road:
RAW and SmackDown are both guilty of not using wrestlers to their fullest potential. With the arrival of ECW, these wrestlers will get an opportunity. On SmackDown, Matt Hardy has been misused and he would greatly benefit with a move to ECW. On RAW, Carlito has made appearances on Heat. This guy is a legitimate mid-carder and he can barely get on RAW. This problem can easily be fixed by sending a few guys from RAW to ECW and both RAW & ECW will benefit.
Low Road:
HA! Matt Hardy getting pushed, that's a good one. More wrestlers might be used to their "full" potential. But first they have to learn WWE main event style wrestling like Mark Henry. You put too much faith in Vince McMahon. Let's take a look at the main eventers on each show right now: On RAW, Triple H, John Cena, Edge, Michaels, and now they also have Orton. On SmackDown! there's the Undertaker, Rey, and Batista and ECW I'm guessing Angle, Rob Van Dam and Big Show are going to be topping the card. Wow, Vince is really stepping up and letting Matt Hardy and Carlito into the mix. He isn't just going to throw midcarders on top because of ECW, unless they are big.
High Road:
With the addition of Kurt Angle, it seems like the new ECW will feature some actual wrestling. This will be a welcome attraction because some fans want to see some actual wrestling instead of the Kiss of my Ass Clubs and the like. If the match featuring Rey Mysterio & Kurt Angle is going to be the style that the new ECW is going to feature, then count me in.
Low Road:
ECW had "actual wrestling" (whatever that means) the last time as well, but that was because Vince wasn't booking the shows. This time, however, Vince is running the show, and trust me where Vince goes sports entertainment follows. This ECW is going to be a neutered version of the former ECW. This is because Vince wants to make money. He doesn't give a damn about former ECW fans or what Heyman wants. Vince wants to make money and he saw that ECW has money left in it to exploit and he wants to take advantage of it. So on your point that there won't be any Kiss My Ass Clubs and the like on ECW, I beg to differ. Do you not think Vince will want to force himself on ECW? Does he not see himself as an ultimate heel in ECW? Maybe not right now, but sooner or later Vince will show up and he will feud with Heyman. So yes there will be actual wrestling, just like there is actual wrestling on RAW and SmackDown because ECW is going to end up being just like them.
High Road:
Besides the wrestling style, ECW will also feature the hardcore style. The hardcore style is used by RAW and SmackDown, but not all the time. There is a fan base that wishes to see this style and ECW will cater to these fans because they are sure to feature at least one hardcore match a week. This is what the old ECW was about and this will definitely have some part in the new ECW.
Low Road:
It won't be the old ECW. It's going to be the WWE main event style ECW. They need to make ECW distinct and having the show right before SmackDown isn't making the show distinct. Filling the roster with the old WWE wrestlers like Angle and Big Show isn't making the roster different from anything else we have seen over the years. Does any non-ECW fan truly but Tommy Dreamer as a main event threat after his WWE "run"? The new ECW isn't going to be any different than the other two brands. You say the hardcore style is going to be there, but that seems to conflict with the "global" aspirations of Vince. Since I do remember Vince in the Rise and Fall of ECW DVD remarking that the ECW was catering towards a small rabid fanbase and thus were going to fail when they tried to get bigger. Hardcore style, to Vince, doesn't make financial sense. And Vince wants the money, he doesn't care about living up to ECW's past.
High Road:
One of the arguments against ECW is that they will not be in smaller arenas that they used to run in. Sure, if the old ECW was returning then you would want to be in smaller arenas, but this ECW is going to be global and therefore it must be run in larger arenas. One problem that I do have with the current plan is that the new ECW will be taped before SmackDown. This will definitely hurt ECW, but I do have an idea on how to fix this. This might not be a possible solution, but I would move the taping of the show to either Saturday or Sunday during one of their house shows and replay that on Tuesday.
Low Road:
Yes, this ECW is global, businesslike and thus its sports entertainment. It is not what it used to be and it can't be what it was. My problem is that Vince is using the name ECW and trying to exploit it. That bothers me. Why can't he just let ECW go? The fact that ECW going to recorded on SmackDown is pathetic. But then again, I still think SmackDown is going to be merged with RAW soon, so maybe ECW can get its own look. But is it smart to let SmackDown flounder while creating a neutered version of ECW? It seems a bit dumb to me.
The Final Take
Sat: ECW will be successful because by the looks of it, it will feature two different styles of wrestling. Both of these styles will draw in two types of fans. There are wrestlers that are not on RAW or SmackDown that will greatly benefit from ECW. There are wrestlers that are on RAW and SmackDown that are currently being misused and they will also benefit from ECW. Another thing that will greatly benefit ECW is the support of the fans. ECW will be hurt by the fact that they will perform before SmackDown, but they will not be hurt by the fact that they are not in smaller venue.
Rajah: ECW might be successful but at the expense of SmackDown and though Vince might call his new endeavor "ECW" it is going to end up being like RAW and SmackDown, because this ECW is going global, and thus is has to be sports entertainment.
Are you taking the High Road or the Low Road?
Plugs
We are taking the high road on these articles so you should read them...
