High Road/Low Road 09.29.06: Kurt Angle Going to TNA
Posted by Sat on 09.29.2006
It was announced this past Sunday at No Surrender that Kurt Angle will be joining TNA. Is this a good hire for TNA or is it a bad hire? You decide in this week's High Road/Low Road
Welcome back to the High Road/Low Road! A brief explanation of the column: Uncle Trunx takes the Low Road (negative view) on angles, gimmicks, and other wrestling related "stuff" while Sat takes the High Road (positive view).
The Results for the Unforgiven 2006:
High Road: 74%
Low Road: 26%
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.
Natedogg Writes:
I am going to go with a big high road for Unforgiven. Call me crazy but this was the best WWE PPV since WrestleMania and if you didn't count WM this was the best PPV I've seen that has been worth the price tag. I wasn't expecting much but I was surprised as to how well each match went. Even the women's championship match was great. I jumped out of my chair just like everyone in the stands when Trish locked in the sharpshooter on Lita for the win.
I'm a sucker for cage matches and Hell In A Cell has always been my second favorite match in the WWE (Royal Rumble being the First) Yes it was DX and The McMahons once again but this was a damn good match despite what many people have said although I didn't really like the "new" HIAC cage itself. The old one just had that aura of mayhem and destruction.
The TLC was just a fantastic and a MOTYC in my opinion. I was really skeptical about how a singles TLC match would work and they made it work really well. Edge and Cena's scary bumps were awesome. Although I have to say that the end sucked and was way too predictable. The FU off the ladder through the tables was awesome but we all knew it was coming. Also why did they have to ruin Edge giving Cena back the title. They couldn't wait until Survivor Series or the Royal Rumble. Of course not they have to help Cena promote his stupid movie. But again that is just my opinion. besides those 2 things. The PPV and matches were great and worth seeing. High Road for Me!
Sat: I felt the same way about Unforgiven. It was one of the best pay per views of the year. I actually liked the new hell in a cell. The TLC match was very good, but not a MOTYC.
Uncle Trunx: It was a good PPV, but didn't live up to its potential. It could've been so much better without screwy finishes, using the show to hype coming events and that naked giant ass.
NCHS08JOHNBRYANT Writes:
I've heard that Ric Flair is a former NWA champion, former World Heavyweight champion and I think at once in his past a WWE/WWF champion, so if he won the ECW title wouldn't that make him the only man ever to hold all 4 major titles? Also: What your thoughts on a possible Petey Williams DVD? and finally...........Who do you think should replace Jeff Jarrett as TNA's number one heel, I mean no offense to TNA fans and all but TNA lacks majorly in #1 heel guys, which is why I'd love Kurt Angle to go to TNA, other than the AJ Styles/Angle or Angle/Joe matches which would rule, because Kurt Angle knew how to be a good main event Heel when needed. other than Jeff Jarrett their really is no Main event heel unless you count the occasional big time push their giving to Christian and I do mean "occasional" since Christian can't cut it as a heel in a main event and That's how I roll. Is their any match between 2 superstars past or present you'd like to make, like for instance Old School Sabu vs Old School Cactus Jack, or The Hardyz vs the Hooliganz aka Kendrick & London or something along those lines.
Sat: Not sure about the answer to your question. Try Ask 411. Not the biggest TNA fan, so it hard for me to comment on the Petey Williams DVD. The lack of heels is a major problem for TNA. Jarrett is the only heel and when they bring in a heel (Scott Steiner); they decide to put him with Jarrett. Angle doesn't have to be a heel; he could just go after everybody just for the challenge. I would love to see Kurt Angle and Bret Hart in their prime.
Uncle Trunx: I think you're right about Flair, but I'm sure someone out there can prove us all wrong; take it as a challenge, folks! I think a DVD for an individual wrestler is best used as a career retrospective, otherwise it feels incomplete; Williams has a few years left in him, so I'd hold fire on it, myself. Funny you should mention Angle going to TNA; I get the feeling he'll be face at first though. I'd push Christian as a top heel, I think he's excellent in that role. As I mentioned last week, I'd also love to see Hart vs Angle in their prime. Good grief, I'm agreeing with Sat, the world will end shortly…
Matt Short Writes:
Great article, I really love the post-PPV High Road/Low Roads.
I can start off saying that I'll give that I don't mind giving Unforgiven a High Road, especially since there was some decent build for the PPV. Granted most of said build went to matches that were low road.
IC Title Matt Hardy vs. Johnny Nitro: High Road
The match I thought was pretty fun and probably would have been far better had they not have to wrestle the WWE Safety style. Two issues I have with it though: the finish really made no sense, especially if they intend for there to be a rematch. Even doubly so, since on Raw they had the Six Pack. Actually... as I think about the finish on Raw, it did further the Nitro/Hardy feud. Nevermind that then.
But my other problem with the match was the build for it. Yeah, it was there it just wasn't very interesting to me. Hardy wins the number one contender spot. Ok. Nitro is a pompous dick. Ok, typical heel champion thats fine. Then they spend the next few weeks being kind of a background for Cena/Edge. I really do hope they get another chance to wrestle each other again, because its the kind of match that could be a show stealer on a later PPV.
Umaga vs. Kane
I... yeah. I don't know about this feud at all. I'm a huge Kane fan. I think if anyone deserves a big push its him, he's been a loyal company man for the WWE for years now. And now he's being rewarded by jobbing to Umaga. Granted, unlike everyone else who's gone against Umaga he hasn't been jobbed outright on a PPV in less than a minute like Flair was, but still. It doesn't really benefit Kane at all. I hardly think it benefits Kane since at this point Kane is hardly considered a legitimate threat to anyone. Sure he might always be considered a world title contender, but when he gets that title match is he going to win? No, its a forgone conclusion that he's going to lose. I'm right in the middle for this, I'm glad Kane's involved in a storyline but I don't like the implications that the probable ending for this is going to have. I'll definitely be watching this closely to see where they go with this, because it is like a coin toss over how I feel about it.
World Tag Team Titles: Spirit Squad vs. The Highlanders: Low Road
Call me crazy, but The Highlanders have really grown on me. This match had an excellent build I thought, since you had the Spirit Squad handing The Highlanders their first loss, then having them chase for awhile, win a tag battle royal, Roddy Piper adding extra heat to the match. Good build. I dunno, I'm just part of the group that thinks that now is the time to take the tag titles off of the Spirit Squad. If they're going to be broken up, the time to do it would be now. I'm guessing that they're planning to have Cryme Tyme do some wacky black people vs. white people match with the Squad. Which is fine I suppose. Then again, I could be wrong and I'm just being negative about this match because was for the Raw tag team titles and that division is essentially dead in the water. And Sat, I completely agree with you about Haas and Viscera as a tag team. What a crappy, thrown together, waste of time that is. Give me a World's Greatest Tag Team reunion over Team We Got Rejected By Lillian.
Hell in a Cell: DX vs. The MacMahon and Big Show: Low Road
I've never not liked a Hell in a Cell match. That's because I'm one of those who can get into a match with lots of blood and plunder. What can I say, I've got a soft spot for deathmatch style brawls. But this sucked. I mean come on, what kind of a Hell in a Cell match feature a finish involving Big Show's fat ass? Considering how great and memorable past Cell matches have been this really did a disservice to everything before it. But thankfully, the MacMahons are going to be off TV for a bit.
Women's Championship Lita vs. Trish: High Road
I was prepared to say before this that my favorite women's match of all time was Trish vs. Mickie James at New Year's Revolution, only because they stiffed the hell out of each other. But this was superior by leaps and bounds. Not only was it a great match, but the hot crowd made it even better. I can't remember a time where I've seen a crowd go that nuts for a women's match. Plus, the finish. If there's one way to make a Canadian crowd go more insane than it already is would be to have another Canadian win with the Sharpshooter. Good booking on the WWE's part and I'm glad that Trish went out with class and on top, the way she should have.
Randy Orton vs. Carlito: Low Road
I kinda have a lot of issues with this match. And not just Orton being rewarded for failing Wellness. The problem with this match was I think that there wasn't really proper booking for the feud. Carlito is mad at Orton, because Orton disrespected Trish. Ok, that's not a bad start, I can buy that, the match is hopefully going to get some heat from Trish's departure. Sadly it didn't, because as PPV got closer it seemed like the reason these two were fighting was more and more vague. Oh, I believed that they hated each other I just couldn't really understand why. Also, with playing this off of Trish leaving there's no reason for this continue. Unless for the next few weeks Orton is going to come out and run down Trish every night and piss off Carlito more there's no chance to see them go at it again. Which is sad, because the match wasn't half bad and if given more time these two could probably have a better match. But at times it even seemed like that these two even forgot what their motivation for the match was. And hell, with vague reasons for fighting would anyone else be motivated? Plus getting stuck between Trish vs. Lita and the TLC match didn't help get the crowd to act as a motivator. I just want both of these guys to have something to do that was better than this.
WWE Title TLC Match: Edge vs. John Cena: High Road
I don't hate Cena as much as I used to. Back around this time last year when he seemingly held the belt forever, I was begging for someone or anyone to put him down. Its true what a lot of people say, Cena is more interesting when he chases the title. I don't know why that actually is, since nothing really changes about his character, but whatever. The match was entertaining, because the amount of plunder involved with a TLC match masks Cena's lack of wrestling ability and this was Edge's signature match. Granted, its not a classic TLC like the tag team wars of the past between The Hardys/Dudleys/E&C but still not bad. Cena winning again doesn't strike me as too terrible a thing, since it just means that whoever beats him for it next is going to be pushed huge, what with Cena's superman push still in effect. Edge as champion provides for more entertaining match-up possibilities, but I also can't wait to see who pins Cena. Don't forget how the crowd exploded when Edge won both the belt both times.
I think that this gets a high road mainly because unlike SummerSlam, it had matches that I cared about. Even if they got the wrong kind of build, at least they got a build. Bad build is better than none at all. And the matches were entertaining, even if the finishes were bad and left a lot of questions as to where the performers go from there. Trish got to go out with a ton of class, and unlike SummerSlam the undercard got a chance to show off that yes, there is something going on other than DX vs. MacMahons.
Sat: I was kind of doubting whether or not to keep doing these post pay per view High Road/Low Road because the response to these have been low. Hopefully, the response will improve.
I thought that Nitro/Hardy match was pretty good. Kane has had no direction for about a year and I think that he would be better off on SmackDown. Kane has been on RAW since brand extension and he definitely needs a change of scenery. SmackDown has no main eventers and he could instantly challenge for the World Title. I have to agree with that the best thing out of the Hell in a Cell was that the McMahons will be off everybody's TV. The Women's Match was the best was to send Trish out. That gets a High High Road from me. Carlito/Randy Orton was a low road from me, but I can see why the WWE had Orton win. Cena had to win as I explained in last week's column, but I am not sure if I mentioned how the TLC match hid Cena's wrestling skills. The main thing for Unforgiven for me was that the WWE can make a successful pay per view, but I don't know why they always don't.
Uncle Trunx: Perhaps we should go with discussing a particular aspect of a PPV, such as one match or angle instead of reviewing the whole show in "yin/yang format". It's a thought…As I said above, I thought Unforgiven had great potential, but they ruined it with screwy finishes, using the show to hype coming events and that naked giant ass.
This week's High Road/Low Road featuring...
Kurt Angle going to TNA
High Road:
With Kurt Angle going to TNA, he will be able to avoid all of the injuries that he has been having. Angle has shown that he is injury prone when he was working with the WWE. Kurt Angle has been known to go 100% during all of his matches and he gets my respect because of that. The problem with going 100% with the WWE is that the schedule is very intense and you are asking for an injury. With TNA, Angle will have to work three dates a week at the most. That will definitely help to keep Kurt Angle in better health.
Low Road:
I wish it could be true. Really, I do. However, I believe Kurt was released from WWE because he was too banged up to wrestle, he refused to listen when this was put to him and they didn't want another Dynamite Kid or another Brian Pillman. However, rather than rest and recover, Kurt has signed with another company to carry on wrestling. He will continue to go at it 100%, as you say; it's the only way he knows. At this point, any wrestling is too much for Kurt. He needs to rest and recover; he is not going to, and I foresee a tragic outcome.
High Road:
TNA made a great move by bringing Kurt Angle to TNA because there will be some exciting matches. Kurt Angle has been with the WWE since the Survivor Series 1999. Now that Kurt Angle has moved to TNA, the matches will all be first time matches. Kurt Angle hasn't faced AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Jeff Jarrett, Sting, the list goes on and on. All of the wrestling fans around the world will be treated to some excellent and new matches that will only be seen on TNA.
Low Road:
Exciting matches require healthy competitors at the top of their game. Kurt is neither. On paper, those matches are all great, must see contests; in current reality, they will fall far short of their potential and we may never get to see all of them, as Angle is one botched move from tragedy. I'm going to repeat it often in this column: Kurt needs to rest and recover. I make no apology for repeating it, because it's the sad reality, and ought to be the end of the discussion.
High Road:
By signing Kurt Angle, TNA has become a legitimate power in the wrestling business. TNA has done a good job so far, but by signing Kurt Angle they have become a major power. Most of the guys that TNA has are excellent wrestlers, but they are not known as much as Kurt Angle. Kurt Angle is an Olympic gold medalist and he was a major star for the WWE. The impact that Kurt Angle will have is the impact that TNA was hoping for from Sting. Sting is a "known name", but when he came to TNA; he came back from a lengthy absence. Kurt Angle is coming to TNA with a few months off. Kurt Angle's impact will be felt because his name is known around the world.
Low Road:
How long will they have him is my question. How much impact and mainstream attention can you get from a man who is unable to continue due to crippling injury? I'm sure you can get a great deal, but I doubt it's the type of attention TNA will want.
There are also two other factors here; the cost of Kurt and the long term sustainability of the interest. Sting, Steiner, Christian and Nash have all failed to make noticeable leaps up to "the next level" for TNA and whilst I have no idea what they cost the company, I'll bet it wasn't peanuts. Will Kurt Angle be able to push them "mainstream"? I'm not sure. Other than a big week of headlines, I'm not sure he'll be able to boost them that much, if the other guys I mentioned couldn't do so. It's all about the booking, and TNA haven't used the huge names they have well enough to make them a mainstream competitor to WWE. I expect to see Angle vs Jarrett in TNA, until everyone is tired of it or Kurt can't carry on.
High Road:
Kurt Angle arrival in TNA will help to draw fans away from WWE. Kurt Angle is one of the best wrestlers in the business and is respected by all of the fans for his dedication. Fans will definitely want to see Kurt Angle and they will start to watch TNA to see Kurt Angle. I usually keep up with TNA by reading the TV reports on 411mania and downloading an occasional match. With the arrival of Kurt Angle, I am definitely interested in TNA. This is what the arrival of Kurt Angle is going to do; it is going to draw more fans to TNA. Kurt Angle also had an amazing following in the WWE and these fans will also start to watch TNA to see Kurt Angle.
Low Road:
Signing Kurt Angle may draw a few casual fans to TNA but not enough to make them a huge force as you seem to think. The hard core of wrestling fans probably already watch at least some TNA; you yourself download some matches. How long those fans keep watching will depend on how much Kurt can do, and I fear that won't be a lot, long term. This is doubly true if he is not booked well, and as I said above, TNA have no track record for getting the most out of big name stars.
High Road:
This hasn't been announced, but I feel that TNA got a primetime spot on Spike TV because of the arrival of Kurt Angle. I believe that it is not a coincidence that both announcements happened on the same show. Hopefully, the arrival of Kurt Angle can also help TNA get the second hour that they desperately need.
Low Road:
They must have been negotiating a better timeslot long before Kurt angle signed. One such signing isn't going to get them a new TV deal. I hope they do get a second hour and I hope that they can use it to build up to being a true competitor to WWE. However, I don't think that Angle in his current condition will be any guarantee of that.
High Road:
Kurt Angle has put the wrestling business first and his family second. This should not be the case in any situation, but now Kurt Angle can make the wrestling business and his family his top priority. Sting chose TNA over the WWE because the schedule was lighter and he would be able to spend more time with his family. TNA is the best situation for Kurt Angle because he can do what he loves and spend more time with his family.
Low Road:
Kurt Angle has made a mistake, which I truly hope doesn't cost him and his family a serious price long term. This is not by any means the best situation for Kurt Angle; the best situation for Kurt Angle would be for him to rest up and heal himself, rather than work any type of schedule in the immediate future.
High Road:
A major ramification of Kurt Angle going to TNA is that it really heats up WWE versus TNA. When Christian Cage left it was a big deal, but with Angle going to TNA it is a big big big deal. Kurt Angle is a four time WWE champion and a World Heavyweight Champion. He has held every major belt that the WWE has to offer. He was in the main event at this year's WrestleMania. He was one of the WWE's biggest stars and now he belongs to TNA. This will really force the WWE to start paying attention to TNA and it will also force them to start fixing their product. The signing of Kurt Angle will lead to a revival in the wrestling business.
Low Road:
Kevin Nash held almost as many titles as Kurt Angle, main evented WrestleMania and was arguably as big a star. WWE already pay attention to TNA, but they aren't going to change their product too much. WWE provide sports entertainment, TNA are focusing more on wrestling. How this can be good for Kurt Angle, who is so beaten up, is beyond me. Now he will be involved in fewer backstage skits and more actual matches. Yes, the schedule is lighter but the matches are longer and no less intense.
I'd love to see a fit and healthy Kurt Angle in TNA, making them into a genuine competitor to WWE, based on wrestling. However, the reality is that we have Kurt Angle at far less than 100% failing to heed the warnings. I really hope I'm wrong, but I can only see this ending in tragedy.
Are you taking the High Road or the Low Road?
High Road/Low Road Plugs
We are taking the high road on these articles so you should read them...
Ari Berenstein has the results from Glory of Honor V Night Two and he also has an editorial on why Jim Cornette should step down as ROH commissioner in the Column of Honor
