High Road/Low Road 03.30.07: The New Breed vs. The Originals
Posted by Sat & Chad Nevett on 03.30.2007
This Sunday at WrestleMania 23, the New Breed will face the Originals in an eight man tag. Is this match deserve to be at WrestleMania? 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).
Special Note: To those who live in the Banbury area in the UK, check out BAWA at the Wood Green Leisure Centre on April 1st. Doors open at 5.45pm, first bell is at 6pm. It'll undoubtedly be a great pre-WrestleMania warm up for all types of wrestling fan.
The Results for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match:
High Road: 73%
Low Road: 14%
Both Roads: 14%
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.
Padraic O'Connor Writes:
Boys - I read your article and had a brainstorm...
Shelton has been a great part of the MITB match the past two years and it is very strange that they wouldn't include him this year. Check out my idea...
Towards the end of the MITB, we've Booker squaring off against Punk on the floor, Kennedy and Edge plotting against the Hardyz until Edge turns on Kennedy and spears him, leaving Matt and Jeff to race each other up the ladder. As they battling as only brothers can on top of the ladder, the Worlds Greatest Tag Team hits the ring and knocks them off. Haas grounds Jeff while Matt tosses SB to the outside, resets the ladder and starts to climb, as Edge sets up his own ladder and climbs himself. SB on the other hand spring boards in the ring and steals the briefcase.
Next PPV, fatal four way for the MITB - Shelton vs. Edge vs. Hardy vs. Kennedy/Jeff/Punk... either one. This sets up a few angles for the next few months...Hardyz vs. WGTT and Edge vs. Kennedy.
Lemme know what you think!
Sat: That's not a bad idea, but I don't see it happening. The WWE has no intentions of pushing Shelton Benjamin.
Uncle Trunx: I agree with Sat. If WWE had any intention at all of pushing Shelton Benjamin, he'd be in this match.
John Bryant Writes:
I got to go High Road. I mean we've all seen how memorable and amazing Ladder Matches are when you put the right talent it in it. I mean 3 out of 4 of the infamous Triangle Ladder Match and TLC alumni are in this match. Edge & the Hardyz who if you remember are notorious for the sickest moments in Pro Wrestling History. Not to mention we never would of seen that inhuman Running (up a propped ladder) Clothesline Shelton Benjamin did on Chris Jericho. As well as his awesome Swanton he did when it was pressed against the ropes a year later.
Now for my question: Rumor has it that TNA is considering bringing Jeff Jarrett back as the fifth & final member of team Angle. What are your thoughts on a potential Jeff Jarrett face turn? I mean I was skeptical that they couldn't successfully turn AJ heel. But do you think turning AJ Heel is a lot easier than turning Jarrett face. Or do you think that if they can turn Styles heel who was the poster child for faces in TNA that they can turn Jarrett face? What do you guys think about TNA refusing to release VKM from their contract and about the fact that TNA is giving a one-shot deal to the Heartthrobs,the Dicks and giving a rumored full-time job to the Bashams
Sat: I don't see the Jarrett face turn working. I think that's why they want to bring him in as the final member of Team Angle because he will be surrounded by faces. I think would be harder to turn Jarrett face because at Slammiversary last year, the fans threw stuff at him when he became champion. I guess the best approach is to wait and see.
Uncle Trunx: Again, I agree with Sat; Jarrett as a face will not work. Quite why everyone in TNA needs to turn is beyond me; some people work best where they are.
Nathan Carter Writes:
I guess I have written in so much that Uncle Trunx knows what I am going to say even before he reads my email. Six Sense FTW! And I completely forgot about Hemme vs. Fat Oily Dude
Now for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match I went with the High Road. The previous MITB matches have been great and this year should be no acceptation. The road to the MITB matches have been very interesting this year as we saw a lot of good matches and inter brand matches that were nice in my opinion. It was something fresh and different from previous years. I think that this years MITB match has the potential to steal and save the show at the same time. The card for WM23 is looking really weak this year and if the WWE is smart they won't put this match second like they have in previous years. This match should come near end of the show to get them excited for the main events.
Matt and Jeff will obviously only be in the match to take the high spots and I have a feeling that with the Armageddon ladder match in the back of everyone's mind's, we might see some crazy stuff in this match. CM Punk will have his time to shine in the match as he will come in hot and keep the crowd on their feet. My prediction is that the match ends when CM is inches away from the title shot before someone else interferes and snakes it away. Finlay is in this match really because MVP and Benoit are doing their thing and he is doing nothing else. I don't think that King Booker will win but it will be interesting to see what he does in this match. Mr. Kennedy is another future champion that will come in strong in this match like Lashley in last years match. He is also my #3 choice to win. That leave Rated RKO and I think that this was the best way to extend this feud is to put both these guys in this match. Edge is undefeated at Wrestle Mania and has countless ladder matches under his belt so he will use this to his advantage. He is my #2 choice. That leaves Randy Orton and with RKO's recent feud with Cena and Michaels, I have a feeling that he will be meeting them down the road soon. #1 choice.
The only problem that I have with MITB is that it's on the wrong PPV in my opinion. Every big PPV has something to make it unique. Royal Rumble has the Royal Rumble match, Survivor Series has the tag team matches, King of the Ring had the tournament and Wrestle Mania is special on its own. That leaves Summer Slam without anything to make it special. I personally would have held off on MITB this year until Summer Slam and would have continued the
tradition every year and SS from then on out.
High road from me and my most anticipated match at WM 23 this year.
Sat: The road to the Money in the Bank Ladder Match was very good in the beginning, but it has slowed down. Kennedy and Orton have become Lashley's whipping boys and Matt Hardy wasn't even on SmackDown. King Booker and Finlay are feuding with Batista and The Undertaker.
Right now, I am leaning towards Orton as my second choice to win. My pick is Kennedy because of his losing streak. The WWE has decided that he is winning, so it doesn't matter how many times he loses. And the Money in the Bank ladder match would be great for SummerSlam. I was hoping that this year they would do a TLC match featuring the Hardys/WGTT/MNM and some other teams.
Uncle Trunx: The trouble with SummerSlam hosting the Money in the Bank match is that logically speaking, it would always be cashed in at Wrestlemania. The special thing about Summerslam is that it's the mid point of the wrestling year and should be sold on the strength of the matches and feuds – not every PPV needs a specific gimmick match to make it worth watching.
Matthew Alan Roberts Writes:
I am sure I will be in the minority on this one, but I go low road with the Money In The Bank Ladder match this year. 8 people are way too many to have in any 1 match and this match is a ridiculous waste of talent. We have no talent pieces of garbage with no heat like MVP and Giant Crappy getting singles matches while Orton and Edge, who have a hot program that deserves a singles match, and other great workers like Punk are wasted in here. This match will be a 3 star spot fest that will be forgotten about in a moment.
As far as the winner goes, it is obviously Edge. Edge is not giving up his undefeated record at WrestleMania to do a job in this mess and he is clearly the most over wrestler in the match. This match will be the formula Edge ladder match where Edge lays around for 15 minutes doing nothing while everyone else takes killer bumps, and then he scurries up the ladder for the cheap win. Since in the storyline Bischoff created this match and he is not on air any more, there is no sense for keeping this match around when guys like London and Kendrick can not even get booked on the show.
Sat: I do think that it is a shame that London/Kendrick and MNM do not have a match. The WWE could easily have built a feud between these teams. Instead, they decide to give Great Khali and Kane a WrestleMania match.
I think that the smart choice is to go with Edge because of his undefeated streak, but I think that Kennedy is winning. As I wrote last week, Kennedy has been on a massive losing streak. Why? Because he is winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, so losses don't matter for him right now.
Also, I think that eight people in this match are good. The first one had seven (counting Tomko) and that came out as great.
Uncle Trunx: I agree entirely about this match being a waste of Orton and Edge. These two should be a highlight of Wrestlemania, not shunted off to the side, lost in the shuffle of an 8 man match which will no doubt be dominated by the Hardys trying to commit suicide by ladder as a million pre pubescent girls scream at them as if they're the latest boyband. The same could be said to be true of many of the competitors in this match; King Booker and Keneddy could have the same arguament made for them. Personally, I'd put Khali in this match, just to see if he can take the briefcase down without needing the ladder.
Dan from Brooklyn Writes:
Hey guys,
The MITB in my opinion is one of the best concepts the WWE has going for them for many reasons you already pointed out. The match also fills certain very important WrestleMania criteria: #1: It is IMPORTANT. The winner of the match gets an automatic shot at ANY World Title at ANY time. #2: The match has PRECEDENCE and HISTORY. We know Edge and RVD went on to win the World Title from there MITB shots and with Edge he used his MITB shot after the champ had just competed in a 25 minute elimination chamber match, so the winner of it is guaranteed main events, title opportunity and it keeps all World Champs looking over their shoulders. #3: It is a GREAT MATCH. The first two used six wrestlers, this one eight and they are all superstars. Edge, Benoit, Shelton, Jericho, Kane, Flair, Finlay, Booker, Orton, Kennedy, Matt and Jeff...these are top quality main event stars. The first two MITB matches were both 4-star matches featuring insane spots to get and keep the crowd crazy. #4: The match has INTRIGUE. Look at this year. Kennedy is my pick but in there is Edge (winning streak at WM), Orton (former world champ), Booker (former world champ), Finlay & Kennedy (over heels who can use this to grab their first World Titles; think Edge at WM 21), the Hardys (proven spot machines who can deliver and have fan support) and CM Punk (new and super hot to the fans, could use MITB to get off sinking ECW ship). #5: It is a PAYDAY. Get some guys who wouldn't have matches onto the WM card. These are just a few reasons but I love that this has become a WrestleMania tradition. Let's go KENNEDY....KENNEDY!!!
Sat: I have to completely agree with you. As I wrote above, Kennedy is also my pick just because of his losing streak. I think he is losing a lot these past few weeks because the WWE has decided that he is winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match.
Uncle Trunx: History? It has 2 years of history. That's hardly "dawn of time" type stuff. True enough, it is important but I'd rather see it used to elevate midcard talent to main event status rather than seeing it used to keep the main event heels occupied while the main event faces square off against each other.
This week's High Road/Low Road featuring...
New Breed versus the Originals
High Road:
This was one of the matches that we all knew was going to happen. Back when some of the new ECW guys started to appear, everybody knew that it was eventually going to come down to the new guys versus the old guys. This is one of those matches that does not require any thinking. The new guys were going to say that the old guys are hogging the spotlight and that they are past their prime. This is one of those matches that was eventually going to happen.
Low Road:
"This is one of those matches that does not require any thinking."
Herein lies part of the problem. The match is such an obvious choice, it has harmed the buildup. Given that the outcome is also in very little doubt, the whole match has suffered.
High Road:
The buildup for this feud has been awesome. Everybody knew that the end result was going to be an eight man tag. The thing that I have been surprised with is how well the feud has been done on ECW. Each week, we get to see at least one (sometimes two matches) between the two factions. And, it hasn't been one team winning all of the matches. The Originals have also gotten a few wins, which has helped make this feud a little bit better.
Low Road:
I don't think there's any doubt about who will be coming out on top of this situation, is there? The originals are getting a few wins to keep ‘em quiet but if anyone thinks that the original ECW will be seen to win at the expense of Vince's new Frankenstein version of the group, they're sadly deluded. Bear in mind, this is the same situation as the WCW/ECW alliance vs the WWF (as it was then) and we all know how that turned out. Add in the fact that this time, Vince hasn't had to pay a lot of money to get the other promotion and the whole thing becomes so much more one sided.
High Road:
The WWE made a good choice by putting this match at WrestleMania. My reason for saying this is that if this match was not on the card, ECW was really going to look bad because they would have had two competitors at WrestleMania. With this eight man tag, it allows for eight other ECW superstars to get on the card. This feud has been going on for the past few months and it makes sense for it to end at WrestleMania.
Low Road:
Personally, I'd consider that ECW would be far better served by having an ECW title match on the show rather than this one sided non-event of a feud. It would add far more prestige and value to the ECW brand if the title was seen to mean something rather than taking second place behind ego vs ego, and it would mean a far higher profile for one of the competitors in this match.
High Road:
The New Breed versus the Originals has allowed for some of the wrestlers to get valuable air time when they probably wouldn't have gotten it. All of these guys involved in this match are talented, but without this match, these guys would not have been appearing on TV. I can guarantee that the Sandman, Striker and Dreamer would have had no chance in hell of being on TV. Cor Von, Sabu, Thorn and Burke might have made it on TV, but not in a feud. This feud is allowing for all of these guys to get some valuable air time during the WWE's most popular time of the year. This will allow the WWE to see which guys should be a part of the future and which guys should be gone.
Low Road:
I think the decision about who will be involved in the future and who is there for the short term has likely already been made. I can't help that feel the TV exposure isn't going to do some of these guys a lot of good, longer term, which is a great shame. Had this whole thing not been such a painfully obvious promotion of the new at the expense of the old, I might've agreed.
High Road:
It makes sense to have this match because the Originals have been having some problems, some that they caused themselves. Sabu has been the worst of the Originals, from the marijuana with RVD to "losing his luggage". The Sandman and Tommy Dreamer are not what they used to be, so they are at the end of the road. RVD hasn't helped matter with the marijuana to questions about his contract. With all of these problems, it makes sense for the WWE to look to the future and the best way for that to happen is to have the New Breed (the younger guys) get a huge win over the Originals
Low Road:
Indeed. The fact that it's all so obvious and unsubtle is what disappoints me. We're seeing the squashing of a whole group of performers in an extremely unsophisticated manner. That it's being done as part of the resurrected ECW is only harming the legacy of these performers.
High Road:
As I wrote above, Tommy Dreamer and the Sandman are at the end of the road. There bodies are broken down and their matches are becoming hard to watch. That's why it is important for them to be involved in an eight man tag match. This allows for them to wrestle a short period of time (which they can do) and then tag back out. This eight man tag is an excellent idea because it keeps two popular ECW guys in the limelight and it keeps their in wrestling to a minimum.
Low Road:
I appreciate that with older guys, you have to limit their involvement and keep them to short bursts where they can be productive. However, the situation saddens me – these guys are ECW legends, they've given blood and sweat for those 3 initials and here they are, set up for an almighty fall on the biggest stage of all.
High Road:
I was looking at some of the competitors in this match and I came up with this idea. Kevin Thorn, Elijah Burke, and Marcus Cor Von were just a bunch of characters before this feud. When these guys made their initial appearances on ECW, they were just a bunch of wrestlers. But, since the beginning of this feud, they have made a huge step forward in my eyes. All of these guys were fighting no names and weren't really in a feud. As this feud with the Originals has progressed forward, I have begun to feel more and more that these guys have the potential and they could easily go to RAW and SmackDown and make an impact. I did not feel that way before the feud. Maybe, I am going crazy, but I think that Kevin Thorn, Elijah Burke, and Marcus Cor Von have really benefited from this feud.
Low Road:
The key thing here is your statement that "they could easily go to RAW and SmackDown and make an impact". I think this clearly shows exactly how ECW is perceived, will be perceived into the future and how its so called stars are viewed. In short, the ECW originals are being sacrificed in order to make stars who can go on to WWE's "bigger" brands. ECW doesn't benefit long term at all and the squashing of the old guard serves only to give us the message in the most unsophisticated manner that things which Vince creates are best and will always win.
High Road:
The CM Punk dynamic has also helped this feud. This feud has been going on for the past few months, so it makes sense to add a wild card. That's what the CM Punk dynamic has done. Nobody knows what side he is going to take. Is CM Punk going to join the New Breed because technical he is a new addition to ECW? Or is CM Punk going to join the Originals because like them, he is also a fan favorite? My guess is that we will find out at WrestleMania.
Low Road:
My guess is that CM Punk isn't going to be involved very much at all because he's too "big" for this feud, and too "big" for ECW. I honestly doubt he'll be there much longer.
In summary, what we're seeing in this match is an absolute foregone conclusion; things which Vince McMahon creates will always beat things which he didn't create. It's an extremely unsubtle message, a storyline which is hardly setting the world on fire and which smacks of the type of booking which made the alliance angle so frustrating a few years ago.
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...
The 411 staff is having a special look at the 2007 baseball season in a roundtable. Here are the links.
There are other articles that we didn't list, so check them out as well.
Special Note: To those who live in the Banbury area in the UK, check out BAWA at the Wood Green Leisure Centre on April 1st. Doors open at 5.45pm, first bell is at 6pm. It'll undoubtedly be a great pre-WrestleMania warm up for all types of wrestling fan.
E-mail us your reasons for taking the High Road or the Low Road and suggestions for future High Road/Low Road at satuncletrunx@gmail.com. Your reply will be included in next week's column.
