High Road/Low Road 11.21.08: The Bella Twins
Posted by Sat & Chad Nevett on 11.21.2008
Future of the Diva Division or just as irrelevant as the rest of the division? Let us know how you feel.
Welcome back to the High Road/Low Road!
A brief explanation of the column: Uncletrunx 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 Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling:
High Road: 64%
Low Road: 18%
Both Roads: 18%
The Bella Twins
High Road:
I think that the WWE did a good job with how they led to the unveiling and it did not seem like they were dragging this story out. First, they showed the Bella Twins making the switch while they were wrestling for a few weeks. Then, they showed one of the twins asking Maria for two outfits that were actually the same. Then, they showed Carlito and Primo talking to both twins at different times in the same day. And then a few weeks later, they did the unveiling of the Twins. They probably could have done the unveil sooner, but let's remember that the Bella Twins have not been making a weekly appearance. Hence, the reason why it seemed like it took a long time to do unveil the twins
Low Road:
The thing is, I liked this story idea. I thought it was creative, unusual and let's face it, it's not often you get two twins available to do this sort of storyline. That was, until the big reveal; the other twin gets pulled out from under the ring. That was a truly anticlimactic finish to what could've been a great angle.
High Road:
The Bella Twins are a good addition to the WWE because they really help the Divas' division. And the thing that definitely makes it a high road is that it helps the Divas' division in many ways. First, it gives the division some much needed women because this division has been lacking for awhile. Second, it gives the division something different. Maria, Eve, Michelle, Maryse, Victoria, and Natalya are basically all playing the same character except that they are either faces or heels. I will admit that they do not have the world's greatest gimmick, but it is definitely better than all of the WWE divas on SmackDown.
Low Road:
So we have a female tag team? Given the amount of time that the female division gets on Smackdown and the absolute lack of time and effort the tag team ranks get, a female tag team is possibly the worst place to find yourself. I know it's the obvious option for female twin wrestlers but how much future does it have?
High Road:
I will say the Bella Twins have not shown that they are great wrestlers, but I do not think it is that important. The Bella Twins are wrestling just like all of the other WWE divas and that is exactly what the WWE wants. Sure, we could get into the fact that the WWE needs to have better women wrestlers, but you cannot blame the Bella Twins for this. They are wrestling the way the WWE wants them to.
Low Road:
Yes. Here's the heart of it. We have two more roster additions to work two minute matches which look terrible. To quote Michael O's review of the recent Smackdown (7th November) Crap, and worse yet, crap we've seen many times over. From a wrestling perspective, I fail to see what is added by recruiting two more ladies, all be it twins, who don't have good solid wrestling skills. I'm sure there will be those who will respond to this by saying "I don't care how they wrestle, they look hot", or something similar. Well, there are any number of hot looking female wrestlers who can wrestle; why not recruit them? Also, I may be old fashioned but I like wrestling on my wrestling show. If I wanted to watch hot looking women prancing around, there are other things for me to watch.
High Road:
I thought the unveiling of the twins was very cool because it was something different. The usual twin unveilings is that we see the other twin interfering in the match and that is how we find out that they are twins. The Bella Twins' unveiling was different because it happened after the match. Plus, I liked how the Bella Twins were getting pulled from two different angles. This made for a new visual.
Low Road:
That's a very minor difference. One entertaining visual angle doesn't make the whole angle great. Plus, the surprise factor was somewhat ruined by them having been in Florida and it having been all over the internet that they were due to be called up to the roster. I know that not everyone follows wrestling online but enough do to make it a big downer.
High Road:
I thought about this for awhile and I could not think of another example of there being twins that are billed as faces. And because of this, I think that this deserves a high road because of the fact that it is something that we have not seen before. And I would like to say that I know why the WWE is making them faces. It is because the fans are more likely to cheer twin female wrestlers over twin male wrestlers.
Low Road:
Faces, heels, it becomes somewhat irrelevant when their basic purpose is to provide T&A and wrestle in bad 2 minute matches.
High Road:
The WWE has a great back up plan if the Bella Twins do not live up to expectations or the WWE decides to go in another direction. They can easily split them up and put one on RAW and one on SmackDown. This would help both divisions and when they are seen together, it would mean that much more.
Low Road:
So we can have two identical female wrestlers putting on short matches on each brand? I really don't see them becoming the female version of the Hardys.
Simply write "High Road", "Low Road", or "Both Roads" in the comment section.
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.
Tim Schmidt Writes:
High Road. Hulk's show isn't about good wrestling but it is some good entertainment. I check it out every week and it isn't terrible but its not great either. Yea the matches do get some time so the focus isn't totally on the judges. Also, I don't think the celebs do bad for knowing nothing about wrestling and only learning 3 moves a week.
Sat: Yeah, I agree. They only know a few moves and they put on some good matches. I think the matches will get better once they learn some more moves and some of the other weaker celebrities are gone.
Uncletrunx: As I said last week, you'll either love it or hate it. I'm no fan of "reality" TV so I was never likely to enjoy it.
Mad Conservative Crimefighter Writes:
I know you missed it along with many others, but there was that one reality show that aired only two weeks on The Learning Channel with the Bussey Bunch...and that wasn't a WWE show.
Sat: I had no clue about this show and the fact that aired only two weeks ago. You would think that one of the wrestling sites would have said something about this. Thanks for the info. And just so you know, this email ended up in spam, but luckily the filter managed to get a label on it, so I was able to spot it.
Uncletrunx: I'll have a look at that after I've written the column. Thanks.
Comments:
Below are the comments for last week's columns and our responses. The comments that will be included will be the ones that pertain to this week's column. Also, your comment will not be included if you are commenting on another reader's comment.
BobbyC Writes:
U-Turn. I don't want to see this show. I don't want to see any show with Hogan or any of his Hoganettes on it. They could promise to show a Britney/X-Tina lesbian sex tape from 2000 on this show and I still wouldn't tune in.
Sat: Taking a U-Turn off the road does sound better than a low road.
Uncletrunx: Is that lower than a low road? Highway to Hell? Either way, I'm not sure I'd want to see the Britney lesbian tape anyway...
Eddie Badd Writes:
High Road. While I agree with almost every point for the low road but the show is highly entertaining. Where else you going to see todd bridges hit handspring elbows and danny bonaduche take crazy bumps?
Sat: The simple way to decide weather you are voting high road or low road is just look at if you are entertained or not.
Uncletrunx: I'm not. Others are. That's why reality TV keeps filling the TV schedules, and I watch less and less TV.
M:-X Writes:
High Road.
Okay, so I'm an optimist-- but I can come up with a ton of reasons:
1- it's on CMT. One hour of Hogan on CMT means one LESS hour of whatever the hell else is on that channel. How is that not a win?
2- I am impressed with Dustin Diamond and Danny Bonaduce for the first time in my life.
3- This entire show seems to be building to a Diamond/Bonaduce main event-- which could be fun (the whole busting on the acting career/ grabbing the goatee I could just SEE Bischoff being like "okay, now we're going to practice something called a 'worked shoot' ").
4- Hogan is a dick, and I do hate him but he does seem to have his own kind of code and he's getting guys like Beefcake SOMETHING to do, so if you love this business I can't imagine why you'd hate these non-hogan guys getting a chance to make some money without further destroying their bodies OR taking up valuable tv time on Raw or Impact.
5- Playing off the above point, this may be the last wrestling show we ever have a VAGUE POSSIBILITY of Savage ever being on again.
6- If one of these idiots gets legit injured doing this, maybe that will knock some sense into them and get them to do less of this reality bullshit in the future.
7- Hogan may have some kind of future plan for this. What if by some (unlikely) possibility he uses this to jumpstart a new promotion? Hell, if Hogan gets a promotion going with a TV deal he'll immediately be on par with ROH in terms of being a contender to the #3 promotion in the country.
7.5 (not really on topic)- I don't think Floyd Mayweather stands as the worst celebrity ever: Wrestling is fake fighting involving "striking", he (Floyd) is a real fighter... it actually makes more sense when they use boxers as opposed to actors, singers and such.
Sat: This is a good comment. This is definitely better than the crap that is on that CMT channel. And if these "celebrities" do get injured, it should lead them away from doing some many reality shows for a living.
Uncletrunx: The one part I agree with is that it might get us another Randy Savage appearance. If, (and it's a huge if) that happened, I'd watch.
The Great Captain Smooth Writes:
Both roads, but leaning low. Low, because I don't really get into reality tv, these aren't actual wannabe wrestlers, the matches STINK, and it becomes kind of sad after a bit. High, because there is a VERY small chance of one of the celebs actually discovering a real love for the business and making a name for themselves, kind of like the Miz.
Sat: These celebs could get a love for the business, but didn't the Miz go thru the indies before he got to the WWE. I can't see any of these celebs doing that.
Uncletrunx: I remember in the early days of this column, I really ripped into The Miz. I'd like to go on record and say that The Miz has really impressed me in the last few months; he's worked hard and is now an entertaining wrestler. Credit to him. Now I've used up my weeks supply of positivity, let's move on.
technicalwrestlersrule Writes:
I was watching the first episode of this show, and then Hogan said that Brian Knobbs and Brutus Beefcake were two of the best wrestlers of all time, that alone had me cracking up. I don't remember if it was Danny Bonaduce or Dustin Diamond who said that who better than Hulk Hogan to teach them how to wrestle. I mean come on these guys don't even know Hogan sucks in the ring compared to the Kurt Angles and the Chris Benoits of this business. I think it is good that we're having a different kind of show on CMT but these people are completely lost. I forgot to mention that the only good thing about the show is the fact that we are going to get to se "the whole F'n show" aka Mr. Money in the Bank RVD. Hopefully he'll teach them something good.
Sat: The fact that he said Knobbs and Beefcake were the two best wrestlers of all time had me busting up, but Hogan is going to help his friends out, so it isn't surprising.
Uncletrunx: I know they were never likely to pander to the workrate freaks on this show, but that description of Knobbs and Beefcake is a bit too much of a stretch even for the most optimistic viewer.
KanyonKreist Writes:
Neither road; my all-encompassing apathy toward this show prevents me from even forming a fundamental opinion, one way or another. It's the Surreal Life with a ring... Actually, there's one significant difference: the Surreal Life had a couple wrestlers.
Sat: Can't argue with you that we don't have wrestlers in this show, but some of the celebrities are doing a good job.
Uncletrunx: May the Lord bless the apathetic. If he can be bothered…
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.
Low Road - after the "shocking" reveal that they were twins - we now have - well - two generic Divas that look alike. For twins to be successful - Brie and Cheddar (or whatever the others name is) will need to be heels because heels are cheaters (and the twin switcheroo is cheating).
Posted By: BobbyC (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 01:31 PM
"Maria, Eve, Michelle, Maryse, Victoria, and Natalya are basically all playing the same character except that they are either faces or heels.
Out of those names, only Maria and Eve are playing similar roles. Michelle is a tweener, Natalya is a really good technical wrestler heel, Victoria is the goofball and comic relief, and Maryse is the arrogant heel with a mean streak.
My vote for the Bellas is High Road. It's really not their fault that their matches are so short, and I don't know too many veteran wrestlers who can display everything they have in 90 second and 2 minute matches let alone two people who have been wrestling for about 1 year.
Posted By: Guest#1995 (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 01:35 PM
High Road for me, they should be good wrestlers, they've trained in FCW
Posted By: William (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Low Road - WWE needs to stop hiring girls with limited wrestling skills, or how about keeping them down in developmentals until they are really ready? Yeah, WWE isnt that smart.
Posted By: Rocky (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Low Road.While their hot and stuff I don't see them going anywhere.Maybe if their were a Diva's tag title I'd think otherwise but just thinking of the Divas title let alone a Divas Tag Title makes my head hurt...
Posted By: The Gold Standard (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 02:58 PM
"Low Road - WWE needs to stop hiring girls with limited wrestling skills, or how about keeping them down in developmentals until they are really ready? Yeah, WWE isnt that smart."
The Bellas working with Victoria and Natalya for a couple months will do more for them than wrestling rookies in FCW for another year.
Posted By: Guest#2493 (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 03:17 PM
High Road.
They have an act no Divas have ever had, and they've shown promise in the ring.
Plus, there seems to be interest in them as the were the #1 searched term on Yahoo.com on Thursday and even receieved some coverage on Sports Illustrated's website today.
Posted By: Guest#2241 (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Low road. They've shown very little in the ring thus far and their hire means that Nattie and Victoria will keep on jobbing to less skilled wrestlers. The WWE needs to merge the women's divisions. Then, they ought to cut everyone except: Beth, Nattie, Victoria, Michelle, and Mickie. That gives you two faces and three heels, for the time being.
Posted By: Iron Knee (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 06:29 PM
"The Bellas working with Victoria and Natalya for a couple months will do more for them than wrestling rookies in FCW for another year."
True, but why must i have to sit and watch a mediocre match because the girls are still "learning"? Shouldnt they already know how to wrestle? I think WWE is messing themselves up by bringing up girls who arent ready, and are only learning on the road, they won't learn anything that way.
Posted By: Rocky (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 06:50 PM
It's too early for any road. They haven't had enough time for people to properly judge them. They don't come off as very impressive yet, but they have a novelty due to them being twins. TWINS!!! That's it, high road all the way! :-)
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 07:06 PM
Both roads; on one hand, it's a sexed-up new twist on the old "twins act", a recurring gimmick in wrestling for the past, what, century? Yeah, the Bellas look better in tights than the Harris Bros. ever did. On the other hand, don't the Divas all look enough alike already? I've also got enmity toward anybody who takes part in the continual burial of my favorite WWE Dive of all time, Victoria.
Also, your Divas tag team argument got me thinking, and now I've come... to the conclusion that there should be one Women's Champion and also a resurrected Women's Tag Team Championship. They've got way more Divas than male tag teams already; wouldn't that make everybody happy?
Posted By: KanyonKreist (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 07:43 PM
"True, but why must i have to sit and watch a mediocre match because the girls are still "learning"? Shouldnt they already know how to wrestle? I think WWE is messing themselves up by bringing up girls who arent ready, and are only learning on the road, they won't learn anything that way."
Working with Victoria and Natalya, even though it's only once a week right now, can do nothing but speed up their progress. They are still in FCW, but are getting a peek of what is in store for them, which is good.
Posted By: Guest#7254 (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 09:06 PM
"Low road. They've shown very little in the ring thus far and their hire means that Nattie and Victoria will keep on jobbing to less skilled wrestlers."
How much can they show in 2 minutes?
"The WWE needs to merge the women's divisions. Then, they ought to cut everyone except: Beth, Nattie, Victoria, Michelle, and Mickie. That gives you two faces and three heels, for the time being."
They did something similar in 2004, and everybody thought it was stupid.
Posted By: Guest#7089 (Guest) on November 21, 2008 at 09:13 PM
high road.
They're hot.
Posted By: Guest#1115 (Guest) on November 22, 2008 at 12:20 PM
High road...
but just a suggestion, why do you guys pick out stupid topics for this particular column? I mean, we just heard about Christian ready to return to the WWE yet you choose The Bella Twins as the topic.
FAIL
Posted By: Guest#1098 (Guest) on November 22, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Low Road:
No offense to the twins themselves, because I'm sure they'll improve in-ring in time (if Candace could like she did last year, I'll give the benefit of the doubt). At the end of the day, though, there simply isn't interest given to the Divas division (or women's wrestling in the 'E period) to amke me wanna care.
Of course, I'll watch their matches for the time being regardless, since they are tag team right now, and I'm curious to see how well their run is done compared to the last few sets of twin teams that have come along: Gymini, who no one cared about, and the Bashams, who aren't actually twins and didn't quite look like it either, but were decent workers and had enough charisma to have heat for a while.
Posted By: B.W.G. (Guest) on November 22, 2008 at 05:15 PM
High Road!
Hot, Twins, can wrestle, hot and twins. I really think that argument is suffice.
Posted By: Brad (Guest) on November 22, 2008 at 07:43 PM
High Road. I like the Bella Twins. For the little time they have spent in the ring, they are pretty damn good. They play likable characters and the storylines that can come of this are pretty awesome (A Bella vs. Nikki feud? Could be interesting).
Posted By: Matt Eli (Guest) on November 22, 2008 at 09:57 PM
Very low road. They're boring, repetitive and invinsible. Their 'gimmick' is pretty lame and much more suited to a heel pair. And they're pretty ugly if you ask me, in a lot of their photoshoots and live appearences they can both look extremely latin-tranny-trash.
Posted By: Michelle (Guest) on November 23, 2008 at 03:02 AM
Low Road-
They are cutting guys left and right and they add two talentless divas and a facepaint wearing fairy? Jeeze what next, we bring back Piper for an old school Goldust Piper reunion?
Posted By: Maticus (Guest) on November 24, 2008 at 01:21 PM
High Road for the Bellas.
Posted By: Guest#6166 (Guest) on November 26, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Low Road, they are both very limited in the ring and seem to have only been called up because they are twins. Also, if I had to summon them up in one word it would be annoying. Their attitude is annoying, their music is annoying, and seeing them go over Victoria and Natalya is very, very annoying. I don't care how bad they've made Victoria look in the past she deserves better and could easily do the divas division a thousand times more good than these twins if she was only pushed seriously. And Natalya's demotion to jobber to these clowns is a crime.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on November 27, 2008 at 06:18 AM
