So after the indie darling was 'unavailable' for whatever reason, management had to change their plans. As a result, the little guy with the enormous beard (who's been having issues against an evil monster with a mask) won a match to get into title contention at the top of the show, overcoming the odds.
He then had a big match against the corporate champion at the end of the same show, and against the odds, won the title.
There are certainly valid comparisons to the other situation. It also seemed very much like when they gave another loyal employee Chris Sabin a surprise title win last year that everyone knew would only last a few weeks. So they are also ripping themselves off too.
But if the point was to just make fun on TNA, I guess that doesn't matter.
As a very, very casual Impact watcher, Young's win seems more like a reward for a long-tenured performer who carried a slew of gimmicks. That could just be rationalization for the Bryan parallels, but given my total apathy for Magnus, Young also seems like an upgrade. The title picture was drab of late so putting the belt on someone new felt necessary.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
I mean, rationalise away, but that's what they did. And there aren't "parallels" to the Bryan booking - it's a straight lift. Two matches in a night, and a damn arm injury. Young was even using Bryan mannerisms during the gauntlet match.
Originally posted by Amos CochranThey put the belt on Santino.
I mean, rationalise away, but that's what they did. And there aren't "parallels" to the Bryan booking - it's a straight lift. Two matches in a night, and a damn arm injury. Young was even using Bryan mannerisms during the gauntlet match.
You nailed it, this was much more like Santino getting the belt after trying to act serious for a few weeks.
I'm surprised that there's so much negativity here about EY finally winning the title.
The crowds have been hugely into him for ages, when he felt like being serious he brought down the original Main Event Mafia, and he's usually pushed as being able to win titles. His Knockouts Tag Team title run was a joke, of course, but prior to that he had runs with the X, Tag, and every incarnation of the Legends/Global/TV titles.
It feels like Sabin's win in that it seems like a loyalty rewarding move, but unlike Sabin, Eric Young has had enough of a track record of success to make the win feel more real. Also, last year Bully's reign did not feel like it was time for it to be over yet. This time, the glorious Magnus era was ready to transition to a new phase of that story.
Originally posted by CerebusI wonder where Samoa Joe was? Why didn't show up?
He has a suspected concussion.
Young winning the belt isn't the issue - the guy is damn good and could have been so much more than the comedy character he's been for god knows how long if TNA had handled him correctly. The issue is:
1. It's a blatant rip-off of an angle the other (successful) company is running 2. The other company just ran the culmination to their angle 4 days ago at their biggest show of the year (potentially in wrestling history) 3. The other company had 6 months worth of story behind the eventual pay-off
Eric Young winning the belt won't matter one way or the other. The only negative is TNA have thrown away the opportunity to actually tell a story and build to something in favour of trying to piggyback on the Daniel Bryan story.
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Originally posted by DionysusI'm surprised that there's so much negativity here about EY finally winning the title.
The crowds have been hugely into him for ages, when he felt like being serious he brought down the original Main Event Mafia, and he's usually pushed as being able to win titles. His Knockouts Tag Team title run was a joke, of course, but prior to that he had runs with the X, Tag, and every incarnation of the Legends/Global/TV titles.
It feels like Sabin's win in that it seems like a loyalty rewarding move, but unlike Sabin, Eric Young has had enough of a track record of success to make the win feel more real. Also, last year Bully's reign did not feel like it was time for it to be over yet. This time, the glorious Magnus era was ready to transition to a new phase of that story.
The crowds have been into Zack Ryder too but it doesn't mean he should go from being a joke/one note gimmick to being top of the company in one week.
I get the feeling TNA is in the "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" phase.
Santino would have been a better choice than Miz at Mania. Ryder could have been in title contention if it wasn't buried past the point of no return. EY winning is a life time achievement thing for him, but it should have been done with a longer time frame and not ripping off Bryan. Then again, everyone rips off everyone in wrestling. LayCool was obviously the Beautiful People. Sting and Luger were both trying to be Hogan. Flair wasn't the first Nature Boy. It will go on and on. If they were smart, they would have done all of this after the Rumble fiasco and given it to the fans early. Yet, they are TNA and always behind the curve.
Angelina also has a concussion too. Sucks, I was looking forward to heel Beautiful People. Joe's time maybe coming to an end.
If winning two matches in the same night = ripping off, then Brian Danielson's Wrestlemania victories over Hunter and Evolution was a rip off of RVD's Post-Lockdown 2010 victories over Hardy and AJ. I just don't buy it. The only thing that seems similar to me between Brian and Eric is that both have beards and won the title this week.
4/17 show begins with new world heavyweight champion Eric Young coming to the ring for a promo. Young says it's been a good 7 days and the title represents a lifetime of hard work. Crowd chanted "You deserve it". Young said he won it for himself but will be a champion for the fans. Dixie Carter interrupts and comes to the ring. Dixie calls him a court jester for the fans.
MVP brought up Samoa Joe being unavailable last week and says Joe hasn't been returning his calls. MVP says word has gotten back to him that Joe is disgruntled.
Triple H vs. The Undertaker: Screwy finish with Taker winning, leading Shawn begging to come back for a tag match at Crown Royal. The Shield vs. Braun Strowman & Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntyre: The Shield. A.J. Styles vs.