High Road/Low Road 01.09.09: Maryse as Diva Champion
Posted by Sat & Chad Nevett on 01.09.2009
Is this a bold move, freshening up the division or another case of WWE pushing looks before ability? Enough stalling, click the link!
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 the Number One Contender Match on RAW:
High Road: 55%
Low Road: 45%
Maryse as Divas Champion
High Road:
All of the high roads below were written last week before we heard about Maryse injury. Since, we did not have enough information about the injury, I decided to switch the topic and wait to see what happens. So now we have discovered that the injury is not that serious and she should not miss some ring time. The WWE can easily work around this injury by keeping her out of the ring until the Royal Rumble and focusing on some of the other divas. By this time, she should be good to go. It does not make sense to remove the title from her just because of a minor injury.
Low Road:
It makes little sense to put the belt on her then focus on other Divas. While I'd never wish an injury on anyone, I can't see having an injured champion as anything other than a low road.
High Road:
I like the title change here because Michelle McCool has been the champion for almost six months now. She has beaten everybody and there really was no other direction to go. By giving the title to Maryse, it allows for new matchups in the entire division and it allows for Michelle to establish herself as a heel without the title.
Low Road:
The problem I have with the situation is not the fact that there was a title change, it was with the Diva they put the belt onto. Why is it WWE insists on pushing the women who have so little wrestling ability it's painful over those that can actually work a decent match? Is it some kind of bloody minded insistence that wrestling is no longer of any importance? Either way, while I have no objection to McCool losing the belt, I fail to see why giving it to a Diva whose wrestling is passable at best is a good move.
High Road:
The title change was a smart move because it gives SmackDown two feuds. The two feuds that I am talking about are the Maria/Michelle feud and of course whoever challenges Maryse for her title (more on this later). The best way to get the Divas division some credibility is to feature it more than they are and the best way to do that is to have two feuds on the show. With the title change, this will definitely happen.
Low Road:
So what we now have are two feuds involving Divas whose wrestling is weak. Maria and Maryse will now both be involved in matches on Smackdown as they are featured in feuds, and as such we'll have to sit through two poor matches. Of course, there are those who say "it doesn't matter what the wrestling is like, as long as they look hot". Well, why not push the hot women who can wrestle, and keep both sides happy?
High Road:
My gut tells me that the WWE is interested in pushing the Bella Twins as the next challenger for Maryse's Divas Title. They have not been doing anything, but they have been appearing weekly on SmackDown with either a tag match or with the Colons. This leads me to believe that the WWE wants them to challenge for the title, but they had to wait for the title switch. So, the best solution that they came up with is to have them make a weekly appearance which will keep them in the eyes of the WWE fans.
Low Road:
I understand that if the twins are being positioned as heels, they need a face with the title. What I fail to see is why it has to be Maryse. Why not use the women who can wrestle? If there isn't one who is face, turn one. I know I'm repeating the point but I truly believe it is a vast flaw in the WWE approach. Why they insist on hiring women who can't wrestle and then trying to teach them on the job is utterly beyond me. I know it worked once with Trish Stratus but it's failed far more often than it has worked. With women like Victoria and Natalya around who can wrestle and who look great, why do they insist on pushing the diva search failures and models?
High Road:
One of the major problems with the SmackDown division is that they do not have any wrestlers that are former champions. First off, we have all heard the rumors about Victoria potentially leaving. That would leave one diva that has been a champion on SmackDown and that would be Michelle McCool. That is really not enough, so I like the idea of making Maryse the Divas champion because it gives you another champion.
Low Road:
Throwing the belt around just to add to the number of former champions isn't going to give the title credibility. When it is defended in great matches between great wrestlers, it will mean something. Switching it just to give it a hint of a legacy will undoubtedly achieve nothing.
High Road:
Something that we do not see that often in the WWE is a person winning the title in their hometown. Now, this was not Maryse's actual hometown, but it was still a hometown crowd reaction for her. While, this should not have the biggest impact on how you vote this week, it was nice to see somebody win the title on their home turf.
Low Road:
It can be a nice little bonus and I actually believe that wrestlers should have an advantage in front of a "home crowd" in the same way sports teams do. That said, it is not nearly enough to justify putting the belt on Maryse, especially when WWE seems to make a rule of jobbing out their main event wrestlers in their home town.
High Road:
One of the argument against Maryse as the Divas champion is that anybody would have been a better choice than her because she does not have a lot of experience. I think that Maryse at the champion is not a bad thing because all of the divas wrestle the same style and they have short matches. Natalya could have worked, but for whatever reason the WWE is hesitant in giving her the title. Maryse wrestles the WWE style and she can easily have short matches. It does not make any sense to fault her for something that the WWE has mandated.
Low Road:
It also doesn't make it a good thing just because WWE have mandated it. Keeping her to short matches due to her lack of experience is a good idea at this stage but as I've said many times before, I don't want to watch people learn to wrestle on TV and that can be multiplied by ten when they put a championship on them. To me, this is a decision which has very few positives and a ton of negatives.
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.
Uncletrunx: There seems to be a lack of email this week, so on we go to the comments.
Sat: Yeah, I forgot to add something here when I sent you the template. The only emails we received were from the people that voted.
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.
Brian Writes:
Low Road.
I like that the ending furthered the HBK/JBL storyline, but I thought the whole match was boring. I was disappointed that it wasn't a better match.
Also, while I agree with Sat that JBL challenging Cena at the Rumble saves Orton/Cena for most likely WM25(which is a match I definitely want to see)...
This feels like just a throw away Rumble title match. Which I HATE. I want the title matches at the RR to mean something and give us the feel that either guy can win and go on to defend the title at WM. This year you won't have that as we ALL know that Cena is retaining here. Uncletrunx is right, the title match will be secondary to the JBL/Shawn storyline.
Sat: I look at the throwaway matches at the Rumble as a smart business move. The main reason everybody buys the Royal Rumble is for the rumble match. So, why offer more, when you can offer those matches at one of the ‘b' shows, which need a ton of intrigue to get people to tune in.
Uncletrunx: I feel that the Rumble event should be kept special, and the matches there built up as important especially title matches. I also hate the idea of the title being an afterthought to a soap opera storyline.
The Gold Standard Writes:
Low Road.The match was super boring and the people who I rather have wanted to see win were the first two eliminated (Y2J,Orton) and to top it off JBL vs. Cena now if JBL wins the title somehow and involves with his angle with HBK, it will make me care about their angle.
Sat: The match was boring and when HBK and JBL were the last one left it became a snore fest. And again, you have to save the intriguing matches for another pay per view.
Uncletrunx: Why? Making the Rumble into a "must watch" event should be vital. If that approach was taken to its logical conclusion, Wrestlemania would be full of dull matches, as the Wrestlemania name will make sure it sells, and other events need the interesting matches.
Z-Mc08 Writes:
I think low road, no hating on JBL, he is a good wrestler, but whenever they wrestle, they can't click that good, because john cenas on a different level than jbl. I'm just sayin'
Sat: I agree that they don't click all the time, but when they do it is a good match. The I Quit match and the Parking Lot Brawl come to mind.
Uncletrunx: JBL is sadly not what he once was. He's still got the ability to put on a good match and I really hope he delivers at the Rumble but I can't see them putting the belt on him and having him headline Wrestlemania at this point in his career.
Iron Knee Writes:
A qualified High Road:
It's a High Road if they make the match some sort of no DQ and Michaels helps JBL win. That way the belt's off Cena, yet he loses none of his Hogan-esqueness. It'll also allow Shawn to become remorseful for costing a good man his title. That will give Shawn a real reason to turn on JBL.
Sat: I don't see Cena losing the title; he is going to WrestleMania has the champion. But, what you say is intriguing, but I can't see it happening.
Uncletrunx: It's interesting, but as I said above I don't think JBL is the right choice for a Wrestlemania headliner now.
JLAJRC Writes:
I gotta say high road because I can actually see a few possibilities coming from this angle.
1.) HBK reluctantly helps JBL win the title at the Royal Rumble, ticking Cena off. Then HBK wins the Rumble. This ticks off a a triple threat match at the February PPV between them where Shawn "accidentally" wins the title by pinning Cena. This leads to JBL firing HBK and a match for the title, which HBK wins.
2.) Or how about after Shawn wins the Rumble, they do the old "Will Shawn stay on RAW or leave for Smackdown (because he ain't going to ECW)" story. Shawn elects to go to SD to challenge their champion (who could very well be Taker). But before he goes he has a blowoff match with JBL and maybe Cena.
Sat: I just can't see the WWE taking the title off of Cena. This would be interesting, but I can't see it happening.
Uncletrunx: For option 1, see my comments above! For option 2, I can't see them ending this storyline as quickly as that.
The Great Captain Smooth Writes:
High Road. Considering the talent involved, you have to hold out some hope. Each person involved brings something different to the table. We have potential turns from all people involved. Everybody is involved in another storyline, except for Y2J, so there are other people who can get involved and perhaps get a rub. Also, Uncletrunx, you are not old, because I remember the DiBiase/Virgil angle too and I'm still in my twenties.
Sat: I remember it too, but ten years is a long time for a angle to be reused.
Uncletrunx: Ten? Eighteen is closer! I'm glad you remember it too, and are younger than me. It makes me feel a little less old. J
Mikey MiGo Writes:
High Road.
While the obvious route is to tease this along for awhile until HBK finally has enough, turns on him, and they have their blow off they could EASILY make this something different.
HBK continues to help JBL. JBL eventually starts to show empathy for Shawn and tries to become his friend. They can run a whole "JBL is lonely and has no friends" type of thing. HBK feels sorry for him and becomes friends with him and tries to get him to be more face-like. Maybe they even take the Title Titles. This leads to a 3 Hour Special, where it's a DX reunion(like they won't do it anyway). JBL is jealous of Triple H's friendship with Michaels and attacks. Michaels stops him and ends up getting hurt in the brawl. This leads to whatever. This strays from the norm, gives JBL's character more depth/less cartoony, and evolves it into a different feud all together. I know it's a crazy and lame way to go with it, but it's at least different.
Or how about HBK win the Rumble after Taker eliminates JBL. JBL is pissed at Taker so in Feb they face off and Taker wins. JBL then forces Michaels to give him his title shot and instead end Taker's streak at Mania. We all get the HBK/Taker match we want and JBL goes on to face Jeff and put him over clean. The last part is what's iffy on that idea.
I'd like to give the benefit of the doubt to Michael and JBL. Just because the storyline has a perceived "paint-by-numbers" result doesn't mean it will.
Sat: I like your first idea because it is something different. Plus, we have not seen JBL has a face, so it would be interesting to see how that works.
Uncletrunx: Idea 1 at least makes the characters a bit more three dimensional. However, if I were a gambling man I'd bet money that we see the "paint by numbers" ending.
JD Writes:
High road .
The right man [ JBL ] won , leaving Randy Orton free to win the rumble. Also , they continued the storyline perfectly . HBK wants to steal the show at WM , an easy way to do that is go in as champion . He could have been champ had he gotten a title match at RR , but he had to give it up to JBL. Now , how ELSE can he steal the show at WM ? Either he wins the rumble match or he challenges taker.
Whichever way it goes , it is intriguing.
HBK at WM Silver
will either be in a title match.,
vs JBL .
Vs taker .
I would pay to see any of those 3 .[ yes , even JBL , because i would love to see Shawn annihilate him like he did to Vince.]
It's an interesting idea as it has brought a lot of freshness to both HBK and JBL .
And it has made people talk.
Seriously , in the past few months , before this angle started , i forgot that JBL was even wrestling. It has made him significant again.
And if you don't agree , when was the last time you did an entire column about JBL [ or one in which he was majorly involved ?]
Sat: I agree. JBL has been irrelevant for awhile. The last time we talked about him was when he went from announcer to wrestler and that was awhile ago.
Uncletrunx: The one thing I like about all of this is that the Rumble is wide open for the first time in a long time. I really have no idea who could win it this year and the list of potential candidates is pretty big, any of which would make sense.
ASRM Writes:
HIgh road.
It's HBK , come on.
If anyone in the world knows how to sell an angle and make it convincing , it is him.
If this does not turn out well , it won't be due to lack of trying on either one's part.
And this is the best way to get him into a major WM match.
People are discussing the possibility of him winning the rumble , imagine that .
personally , i hope it leads to a title win at mania for shawn.
HHH has held it 12 times , why can't HBK have one more reign .
He might not need it , but all his fans do.
Sat: I don't think Shawn can make this angle work. If what he did this Monday was the best he can do, then I don't see it working. And it seems like the WWE is heading towards Orton/Cena so I don't see Shawn getting another shot.
Uncletrunx: HBK can turn most things to gold. He's got his work cut out here, but he'll bring everything he has to Wrestlemania, I know that.
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.
Maryse may not be the best female "wrestler" in the E, but you know-- who is the "best" RARELY changes enough to make that your sole reason for moving a belt. If you're the best today, you probably still will be in a month.
Pro-wrestling is, thankfully, about more than just in ring skill and Maryse has the character part down perfectly.
She comes off like an uber bitch, who wouldn't even care if she broke kayfabe (in terms of no-selling opponents or whatever) just as long as she gets the spotlight. She seems to "get" that aspect of the business, more than McCool at least, and I think that there is reason enough for her to get a chance.
Posted By: M:-X (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 12:33 PM
High Road, easily.
Posted By: mike (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 12:38 PM
High Road
Posted By: chris (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Low Road, remember when she first debuted in the ring six months ago and she couldn't do one move without falling on her ass? And now that she can stand on her own two feet people suddenly thik she's great? Well in that case if the Lions win one game next year they might be eligible to make the playoffs.
Posted By: Michael (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 12:41 PM
high road
The problem I see is a lack of good challengers.
But this title win will only make her character more conceited and thus, it will be more satisfying when some babyface comes along and finally shuts her down by taking the title.
Posted By: john (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 12:52 PM
High Road
I like this move. She has great charisma, and I am honestly more interested in the Smackdown's women division right now that I probably would be if anyone else was champion.
Posted By: Jack (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Possible High Road:
For Maryse to really work as a champ she needs to have flunkies do the dirty work for her. Have Victoria and Nattie work for Maryse. They beat on people and/or wear them down. She gets easy pins. If she's ever in danger of losing the belt, they run in and save her. Make her the ultimate weasally heel champ who cheerfully acknowledges that she cannot wrestle. You could even go so far as to pilfer some of Gorgeous George's old schtick and make her entrance a long, drawn out affair where she primps and preens before deigning to wrestle.
Posted By: Iron Knee (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 01:09 PM
High Road.
I feel you guys are underrating Maryse. She has been consistantly improving in the ring, and more importantly, has developed into a very watchable heel persona. She has a lot of personality in the ring, and is more than just "random hot girl #3549". She doesn't deserve to be lumped in the same group as the Bellas or Maria, the way I see it. She's a good heel who seems to be taking her development seriously, so I see nothing wrong with pushing her.
Posted By: Wade (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 01:18 PM
High road
I'd like to see Gail Kim come in as Maryse's protector/back-up. Then after awhile, have Gail get tired of Maryse's ego and attitude, turning Gail face. After a good chase, have Gail defeat Maryse for the title.
Posted By: Guest#5410 (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Both Roads:
On the High side, her character should works very well in the position of champion. Putting her above everyone else in such a way is definitely playing to her strengths as a performer/bitch.
On the other hand, now that McCool's gone heel, who the hell will challenge Maryse for this title? It seems like the only answer is Maria; that's why I can't possibly go High Road for this one.
Posted By: KanyonKreist (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 01:37 PM
High Road - when Gail Kim comes in she will be the formidable challenger thereby setting up the two feuds and when Gail wins the title then Michelle McCool is the next challenger...
Posted By: Charlie (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 01:54 PM
I'm going High Road 100%
Maryse is seriously underrated. She did well in her matches with Michelle and held her own quite solidly with Beth at SS. Sure she's not the wrestler Natalya or Victoria is, but when deoes the WWE ever push their legit wrestlers? Rarely. But Maryse has got her character DOWN. I love her mannerisms and heel moves she does in the ring. She's learned to mask her wrestling with her character, which is very effective. She's also a wayyy better wrestler than Maria who's been there longer and much more interesting as a character than McCool. Frankly almost anybody other than McCool as champion works for me. she was the most worthless and boring champion in my recent memory. The title is a joke anyway, but it looks good on Maryse.
Frankly I believe Natalya will be moved to RAW. I'd personally rather not see her with that thing around her waste; she'll be competing for the women's title like she deserves.
Maryse fits the WWE mold perfectly. I gotta say how she's risen in the span of less than a year is quite an achievement, and obviously has got alot of support behind her.
Posted By: Nikki (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 02:00 PM
High Road
Shes by far the best female character/performer on the brand.
Posted By: sms (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 02:11 PM
If you all see a glut of heel divas on Smackdown, it probably means Gail Kim is coming in on Smackdown as a face. She'll rattle off a few wins, become #1 contender, and win at 'Mania. Then, she'll have a laundry list of heel opponents to fend off for a while.
McCool had gotten stale, and WWE felt that they needed to make a switch. Personally, I would've had McCool turn heel with the belt. Anyway, WWE needed a transitional champ between McCool and Gail Kim, and this potentially short run gives Maryse much-needed credibility. Natalya would've been more credible, but WWE probably didn't want to give her such an abbreviated run from January to March. I can see a Gail-Natalya feud having some decent matches that will restore any cred the title loses (if any) during Maryse's reign.
Posted By: The Logical One (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 02:19 PM
High Road.While shes still improving and super gorgeous I feel it's the right step.I hope she gets even more tv time and a decent reign also a feud maybe a returning Gail Kim???
Posted By: The Gold Standard (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Low Road. It's a bit too early to give her the belt. She needs to improve a little bit more, get her character pegged down, and be over with casual fans. I know the IWC is in love with her, mostly because she's a heel, but she really needs to hone her character some more. I would say around a month or two would be enough time. She has TONS of potential and when the time is right, she could be something really special.
Posted By: The Great Capt. Smooth (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 04:49 PM
100% High Road
Shes the best female heel in the WWE besides Beth.
Posted By: Marcus (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 05:12 PM
High road
Best female heel in WWE today. Only Beth comes close, and they play two totally different kinds of heels.
One thing I like about Maryse is that she finds a way to "heel it up" in just about any circumstance. Even when applying a chinlock, she'll smile, laugh at the other girl, or say something bad about her opponent. When you can make a chinlock entertaining, that speaks very highly of you as a performer.
Posted By: c2 (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 07:08 PM
High Road
Seems to me like she has her character down, and this title run could just be the thing to get her over with the casual fan. Sometimes people grow into the championship they have, and this could be her shot to excell, not just become another after thought and well wished on her future endevours for a lot longer.
Posted By: Kinaj (Guest) on January 09, 2009 at 07:28 PM
High road, all the way. Maryse is the most improved diva in the WWE in 2008. Reward that shit...it doesn't have to be a long reign, just until Kim is ready to take the belt.
Posted By: The Glide (Guest) on January 10, 2009 at 01:58 AM
This article has WAY too much Maryse bashing. She outwrestled Michelle McCool at Unforgiven. Where is your crititque and whining about that? She stole the show during the Diva's elimination match at Survivor Series. Did you compliment for that? And where was this whining during Michelle McCool's horrible title reign..a push that began with her going over the ENTIRE Diva roster on Smackdown including the royal Hart blooded Natayla, who is pretty much the best female WRESTLER in the company by the week. Maryse is very entertaining, very fun to watch, and I will be cheering her the next time I see her in person, just like I did last September.
Posted By: Bryce (Guest) on January 10, 2009 at 03:48 AM
Low, low road.
Posted By: Guest#3724 (Guest) on January 10, 2009 at 10:39 AM
High Road
My favorite Diva right now. And after watching McCool's heel push on TV the last two weeks, she is sorely missed.
Posted By: Guest#4389 (Guest) on January 10, 2009 at 01:00 PM
Low Road. Maryse is one of, if not the, worst female wrestler in the WWE and is the worst heel except for maybe Layla. To put a title on her is an absolute joke. It's incredibly sad that so many people seem to have deluded themselves into believing she is worthy of her push just because she is hot. Upon returning she needs to drop the title immediately to someone who can actually wrestle because even though the divas title is pretty much worthless it's insulting for such a waste of space to have any title when much more deserving people don't.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 08:07 AM
My Nattie's not champion! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
High road for Maryse.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Hey, that 15.5 guy didn't drink Clorox after Natalya jobbed to Eve Torres this weekend. Shocking.
Posted By: Guest#6325 (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 11:50 AM
high road
This girl could end up being an absolutely huge star for WWE, and I think she will be.
Posted By: Jason (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 11:59 AM
high road, 100%
Glad to see all the love Maryse is getting here. Hope she is back soon as she's my favorite Diva to come along since Beth Phoenix.
Posted By: Rich (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 12:26 PM
"My Nattie's not champion! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
High road for Maryse."
Are good it's the retard pretending to be me again.
Posted By: 17 (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 04:27 PM
High Road, big time
Hopefully, Maryse gets to have a decent title reign instead of putting it back on McCool since they are pushing her even harder now.
Posted By: Guest#0562 (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 05:31 PM
"Eve Torres defeated Natalya by rolling her up into a pinfall as Natalya was trying to place her in the Sharpshooter."
17, it's going to be okay. Don't do anything drastic.
Posted By: Guest#1120 (Guest) on January 11, 2009 at 05:36 PM
high road all the way
maryse has the potential to be an awesome heel champion.
Posted By: jerry (Guest) on January 12, 2009 at 02:59 PM
