High Road/Low Road 01.16.09: The Jeff Hardy Hit and Run Attack

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 Maryse as Divas Champion:

High Road: 79%
Low Road: 17%
Both Roads: 03%

The Jeff Hardy Hit and Run Attack

High Road:
The hit and run attack this past SmackDown helped continue an angle from the Survivor Series. The WWE has done something interesting and that is that most of the major stuff happened at the beginning and at the end. And the WWE did something interesting in the middle parts and that was just mention the angle or have somebody accuse somebody in passing. What this did was that it kept the Survivor Series attack on our minds, but it did not spend too much time reminding us about it.

Low Road:
I’m all for making things interesting, but the problem is that the “blurring of the lines” never seems to work for WWE. This reminds me of the “Vince dies in a limo explosion” angle of a few years ago, which didn’t work either. I know that angle ended up being axed because of outside circumstances, which makes it hard to compare but it’s the same sort of approach and something about trying to make it all look “real” simply makes it seem more fake.

High Road:
I look at the hit and run with Jeff Hardy and I see something that the WWE has not done before. The attack at the hotel room and the hit and run is something that the WWE has not done and they have to be given some credit for doing something different. Add the fact that this angle has been progressing for awhile and the WWE has also listed a few suspects and this is definitely something the WWE has given a lot of thought to.

Low Road:
They’ve done similar angles before; the Vince in the limo angle I mentioned above, and the Survivor Series “Who ran over Stone Cold?” angle were similar. Both also had a list of suspects and while one angle ended early, the other had an anticlimactic ending. My view is that WWE is at its best when making entertaining TV based around the matches; these “whodunit” angles seldom turn out well and thus far, this one is looking exactly the same to me.

High Road:
The hit and run attack has really created some interest for the title match at the Royal Rumble. I was already looking forward to this match because it was bound to be a good match and the fact that the odds are very high that the title is going to change hands. But, with this attack, my interest level for this match has gone up even more because now Jeff Hardy is probably hurt from the attack and the fact that he did not accuse Edge of orchestrating the attack. The WWE could have decided to hold off on the accusation until this Friday, but I found that kind of surprising. Still, this will definitely be the best title match at the Royal Rumble.

Low Road:
Jeff Hardy vs Edge ought to be a great match anyway, and with the Hardys’ very obvious history with Edge, there’s no need to add an overly complex build; they hate each other and can put on a great match. Sometimes, less is more and in this case I think the wrestling is going to be overshadowed by a poor angle which is a great shame as this has the potential to be a classic match.

High Road:
We all have a fairly good idea on how is behind this attack, but let’s assume that we are like those people that just watch the show and do not read up on the storylines or spoilers. You would be intrigued and wondering who is behind the attack. And then there are so many candidates that could have done it. The obvious one is Edge and Vicky. The others that were mentioned were Vladimir Kozlov and Triple H. And add Edge mentioning Matt had something to do with it. I think one of the things that is helping this storyline is the fact that there are so many possible suspects and of course I have forgotten to mention the rumored person.

Low Road:
I’m not intrigued. I’m bored of this angle already and it’s only just starting. I have no doubt that WWE will pull a “shocking” swerve and use “the rumoured person” to be the attacker, potentially setting up “the rumoured reunion” to move to “the rumoured feuds.” In many ways I’d like that, as it would set up some awesome matches but they’re really going to have to improve on this weeks segments, which appeared amateurish and badly done. Also, there’s the very real danger that the matches would be secondary to this stupid storyline.

High Road:
One of the things that I will admit about the hit and run stuff was that the acting was very bad and hard to watch. And when I was watching it live, I did not like the angle. But, when I gave it some thought, I changed my mind. The reason that I changed my mind was that if they had done a good job with the acting, then we would have been saying that this is a work and the WWE did not even try to convince us that it was real. Jeff and Beth’s acting was bad because of the fact that they were in shock because they were side swiped.

Low Road:
The bad acting and poor look of the segments didn’t convince me that they were in shock, it convinced me that they were acting badly, ruining any element of realism that the angle might’ve had. The WWE clearly was going for a real look to this, and failed. Also, by making this look like something happening outside of wrestling storylines, WWE is wrecking any logic behind the matter being settled in the ring. Trying to kill someone with a car would end up with the person who did it in jail. I know this has happened a lot over the years, but that’s not an excuse for doing it again.

High Road:
When I heard that SmackDown was going to tape every two weeks, I did not like that decision. But, I have to give the WWE credit because they have decided to withhold some stuff from the spoiler taping making SmackDown a must watch show. I felt that the two week taping was going to hurt the viewership, but the WWE deserves some credit for doing some stuff that is not shown to the live audience.

Low Road:
Had I been one of those who paid for a ticket for the show, I’d be a bit annoyed that WWE is not giving the whole show to those who turn up in person. I know that they want to be mainstream entertainment and that we’re not going back to the wrestlers being called wrestlers and the focus being on the matches. However, this was just plain rubbish. I do feel that if WWE wants to focus on the “entertainment” side of things then a good start would be to make it entertaining.

Are you taking the High Road or the Low Road?

High Road
Low Road
Both Roads
OR

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.

Sat: For the third straight week, the only emails we received were from those who were voting.

Uncletrunx: Then let’s look at some comments!

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. Short comments may also be excluded.

M:-X Writes:

High Road

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.

Sat: The thing that I will comment on here is Michelle McCool. The more I see her wrestle or attack somebody, the more I question where she understands the business or not. She has been stealing move left and right (the Styles clash, the push ups ala Scott Steiner, and something else) and it just making me not want to watch anything she is involved in.

Uncletrunx: Maryse is better than McCool, I’ll give her that.

Michael Writes:

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.

Sat: Maryse is not that great in the ring, I will give you that. But, she can easily do what the WWE expects from the Divas.

Uncletrunx: That in itself is pretty damning. If mediocrity is the expected standard, the product will come across as mediocre.

John Writes:

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.

Sat: I think there are plenty of challengers. The Bellas and the Gail Kim.

Uncletrunx: If the whole thing is a way to set Gail Kim up, it might just redeem the situation.

Jack Writes:

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.

Sat: I agree. I was very high on the SmackDown’s Divas division, but Michelle McCool has dragged that whole division down. She had some problems with Natalya and she has disappeared of the face of the Earth when she could have been a major asset to the division.

Uncletrunx: I’d rather see Natalya pushed myself. If Vince is interested in pushing “pedigree” performers, she fits the bill perfectly.

Iron Knee Writes:

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.

Sat: That would be interesting. I hope the WWE does this.

Uncletrunx: I’m torn on that idea. Done well, it could be brilliant and we could see some decent matches with Natalya doing the in ring work for Maryse. However, done badly it’d just kill TV time.

Wade Writes:

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.

Sat: I agree with you. Lately, I have been souring on Michelle McCool.

Uncletrunx: I think she’s improving in many ways, but I feel it’s too soon to put the belt on her.

Guest #5410 Writes:

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.

Sat: I don’t see this happening. Gail Kim is coming in as a face. The McCool turn pretty much sealed that.

Uncletrunx: I agree with Sat. Having written that, I’m off for a lie down…

KanyonKreist Writes:

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.

Sat: I guess nobody else see the Bella Twins being the first challengers. Am I the only one that see this?

Uncletrunx: I hope they bring in Gail Kim as the challenger. Months of Maryse vs Maria or the Bellas would not be high on my list of things to watch.

Charlie Writes:

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…

Sat: And Michelle better not win that feud or I am going to be mad.

Uncletrunx: I’d rather see Natalya as the next challenger. Natalya vs Gail Kim would be great.

Nikki Writes:

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 does 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.

Sat: I agree. Maryse is way more interesting than McCool and Maria. I think I am alone in this opinion, but I think that Michelle killed this entire division.

Uncletrunx: “Frankly almost anybody other than McCool as champion works for me.” This is the bright spot in this situation!

The Logical One Writes:

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.

Sat: I think that Gail winning the title at Mania would be a good idea, but how would the WWE accomplish this. Perhaps a multiple divas match at Mania?

Uncletrunx: I’d rather see a one on one divas match, Gail Kim vs Maryse with Gail Kim winning. There’s enough time to build it and make it great. Gail vs Natalya as the feud that runs into the summer and ends at Summerslam would also be great but I doubt they’d draw it out that long.

The Gold Standard Writes:

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???

Sat: The key right now is that she should get healthy. I think that if she does, then she will be in great shape.

Uncletrunx: Agreed. I’d not wish injury on anyone and hope she can get back to 100% ASAP.

The Great Captian Smooth WritesL

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.

Sat: I would agree with that. If they had given her the title a few months down the road, it would have been better, but the reason might be because of Gail Kim.

Uncletrunx: I’m hoping that this is all a way to bring Gail Kim in and put on a decent show for Wrestlemania. I still feel Natalya would’ve been a better choice but they might be saving that. I hope so.

C2 Writes:

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.

Sat: Even in the tag team matches when she is on the apron, she still finds a way to do something.

Uncletrunx: Her character development is good. I still think she needs more work on the in ring elements.

Kinaj Writes:

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.

Sat: Good point about people growing into the title.

Uncletrunx: I hope she manages to “do a Trish” and become a great wrestler. However, for every Trish there seem to be several who don’t manage to improve to that extent; I’d still prefer the title to be on those whose in ring performances are better.

Bryce Writes:

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.

Sat: This is directed at Uncletrunx, but the thing I will say is that it is nice to have somebody agree with me about McCool.

Uncletrunx: To be fair, in a column discussing Maryse winning the title where I’m writing the Low Road part, I’m hardly likely to be spending the whole time praising her and saying how great she is, am I?

17 Writes:

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.

Sat: I would disagree with you. She is able to do what the WWE wants. Let’s not fault her for that.

Uncletrunx: As I said before, if WWE wants mediocrity in the ring, then it’s a sad situation.

Your reasons for taking the High Road, Low Road, or Both Roads and suggestions for future High Road/Low Road are welcome at [email protected] or in the comment section. Your reply will be included in next week’s column.