High Road/Low Road 06.01.07: Edge on SmackDown
Posted by Chad Nevett on 06.01.2007
Edge arrived on SmackDown by cashing in Money in the Bank. Was it a good idea for Edge to come to SmackDown? 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 Carlito/Ric Flair feud:
High Road: 39%
Low Road: 45%
Both Roads: 16%
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.
James Jackson Writes:
I'm taking the High Road on this feud. I remember writing in to you guys months ago about the potential in this feud with Flair referencing Carlito's Dad Carlos Colon (hope I got the right name) and how they fought back when Carlito was just a gleam in his dad's eye. Flair could cut promos on how Carlito's mom rode space mountain ALL NIGHT long back in San Juan in the old days. Flair can play up the playboy stuff while cutting his interviews. Carlito of course will be expected to carry the matches in the ring but Flair is still capable of working a good match, particularly if there are gimmicks attached such as: falls count anywhere, street fight, no DQ, or submission match, maybe even first blood to end the feud.
What the E needs to look to do, is to elevate 2-4 wrestlers through this feud. Stay with me here. My high road becomes the EXTREMELY HIGH ROAD if the E introduces Carlito's brother or cousin, who I believe is either under developmental contract or will be soon, into the feud. This will give Flair a chance to introduce another wrestler on his side. The WWE could use a former Horsemen like Chris Benoit or could take someone like Kenny from the Spirit Squad and put him under Flair's wing to fight against the Colon brothers. Of course you can make up some lame storyline like Kenny used to idolize Flair growing up and always wanted to be him and that's why he was so set on beating Flair during their short feud. Now that his idol needs his help he's more than willing to learn from the GREATEST WRESTLER of ALL-TIME something that Carlito was too stupid to do. Now we've got Flair on his way out and into the WWE Hall of Fame (and Flair needs to go into the Hall immediately if you ask me). We now have Carlito elevated, Carlito's brother (Eddie) elevated and Kenny or whoever comes to Flairs aid during the feud elevated.
Flair/Carlito should produce good promos and okay in ring action. I expect Flair to pull out all the stops at least once during the feud and give it more than anyone expects from him. Now we need to wait and see if the Creative Team can take this gold mine and extract real "gold."
Sat: I love your suggestion about extending this feud. This is awesome idea because it allows the WWE to introduce Eddie Colon and it gives Kenny something to do (Nitro and Kenny is not working for me). And if Flair cuts that promo about Carlito's mom that would be amazing.
Uncle Trunx: I think your suggestion has merit; a tag match can play to Flair's strengths and it also means at least one youngster will get elevated by the feud.
This week's High Road/Low Road featuring...
Edge on SmackDown
High Road:
Edge needed to go to SmackDown because he had been on RAW for a long time. Edge joined RAW after WrestleMania 20, which was about three years ago. That is a long time to be on the same show. Edge going to SmackDown will help both brands because SmackDown needed a main eventer and RAW will have the chance to elevate new victims for John Cena.
Low Road:
I think I need to nail my colours to the mast early; I think that the way the Edge title win was booked was pure genius, it was by far the best bit of booking I've seen on WWE in over a year. However, I'm saddened because it leaves Cena wrestling Khali whilst the man who gave him several classic matches in 2006 is now on another brand. I can't see the quality of title matches on Raw going anywhere but down, especially with HBK and HHH out long term.
High Road:
Edge had nobody else to face on RAW. Edge has had an extended feud with John Cena, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels. Edge faced John Cena at the Royal Rumble 2006, SummerSlam 2006, & Unforgiven 2006. Edge had been feuding with Triple H and Shawn Michaels since Cyber Sunday and that feud was winding down when Triple H got injured. Edge could face these guys again and they would be good matches, but it would be the same thing over and over. Edge had one viable option that he could have faced on RAW and that will be discussed in the next High Road.
Low Road:
Raw without Edge is a brand severely depleted. The main event now consists of Cena, Khali (needs carrying to anything watchable), Umaga (No longer a serious threat since Cena's got about 1,000 wins over him) and Orton (a problem child). Whilst Edge vs any number of people on SmackDown could be entertaining, I feel Raw also needs the help. SmackDown has Regal, Benoit and Finlay, any of whom could, with a quick run of victories, be elevated into contention and work good matches at main event level. The same is just not true on Raw, where, I feel, Edge is needed more right now.
High Road:
The one match up that Edge could have had was with Randy Orton. Both guys had been tag team champions as Rated RKO and the dissention between the two had been ongoing. However, I am happy that Edge was moved to SmackDown because we do not have to see this match. The reason I don't want this match to happen is if this match happen, one of these competitors is going to get turned into a baby face and that would be a huge mistake. Randy Orton had a short run as a baby face and for the most part it was a huge failure. Edge has shown that he is one of the best heels in the business and for him to turn baby face would also be a huge disaster. If these guys had meet in a match, then one of them would have turned into a baby face and that would have been a huge mistake because both guys have shown that they are better as a heel than they are as a baby face.
Low Road:
I agree that neither man should be a pure Face, however I feel there was more to be gained by having them as reluctant partners, working towards a common goal. Eventually, I think a face turn for Edge is an inevitability, and having him team with Orton somewhat reluctantly could have been a marvelous "slow burn" storyline, lasting a year or more, until they eventually split in dramatic fashion. Sadly, that long term slow buildup is now gone.
High Road:
On SmackDown, Edge has a lot more viable opponents that he could face. The possible opponents that Edge can face on SmackDown are Batista, the Undertaker, Mr. Kennedy, and Rey Mysterio. Two of these matches are going to be red hot. Edge's future matches with Mr. Kennedy should be great because of the fact that Edge took the Money in the Bank contract from Mr. Kennedy. His matches with The Undertaker will be red hot because he defeated a beaten The Undertaker to win the title. The four competitors are great lineup for Edge to face. This lineup of opponents and the fact that Edge had no fresh matches on RAW showed that Edge needed to go to SmackDown.
Low Road:
If we're looking so long term as to include matches with Undertaker and Mysterio, then we should also acknowledge that Orton and Edge have a lot of unfinished business with DX. Whilst it's always good to see new and exciting matches, the DX vs Rated RKO feud was one I'd like to have seen pay off properly, and now that won't happen.
High Road:
Edge managed to get a run as champion on RAW, but my feeling was that he was not going to be getting a title shot at the title because John Cena was the champion. Edge had already had a run against John Cena and I feel that the WWE was not going to do this feud again. John Cena is the face of the WWE and he is going to be the baby face champion on RAW. Plus, like it or not, Edge is the fourth in line to become champion on RAW behind John Cena, Triple H and Shawn Michaels. He might have gotten a run because two of those guys are injured, but the long term scenario for Edge was that he was not going to be champion on RAW.
Low Road:
Looking at the bigger picture here, I can't help but see Edge as a long term opponent for Cena, a sort of Ric Flair to his Dusty Rhodes, if you will. One man may have more than his share of the belt but in the end both would come out of it as legends. This will not be true of Cena vs Khali or Cena vs Umaga. It's a short term gain for Edge but in the long run, we don't get to see what would've been a potentially legendary feud develop over a long time.
High Road:
On SmackDown, Edge can get a lengthy run as World Champion. Edge was not going to get an extended run because of the reason stated above, but he can definitely get an extended run on SmackDown. Edge can face Batista, The Undertaker, Mr. Kennedy, Rey Mysterio, Kane, & Matt Hardy. With this many opponents, I think that Edge could easily make it to the Survivor Series as the World Champion. Plus, I am a huge fan of extended title runs for a heel because we have seen the baby face have extended runs over and over (John Cena and Hulk Hogan). Edge is very deserving of an extended run and I think that he will get this run on SmackDown.
Low Road:
SmackDown had other men they could've elevated. A temporary title run for someone like Kane or even Finlay could've been good until Undertaker, Mysterio and Kennedy came back; as it is, we once again see one brand with a far greater depth of talent than the other. I hope the draft lottery shakes things up a bit, because otherwise Raw will suffer.
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...
There are other articles that we didn't list, so check them out as well.
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.
