Hometown Changes: It All Makes Sense Now... - Wrestling Forums : WWE, TNA, ECW, E-Fed, Wrestlemania, Live Wrestling Streams

Y2J The King Of The World · 04-06-2004, 10:12 AM

Maybe I'm reading into this a little too much, but I think I've figured out why half of Raw's Canadian wrestlers have recently changed their hometown billings (Benoit, Jericho, and Kim). It's to pave the way for the return of Team Canada. Now, I don't mean that Benoit, Jericho, and Kim will be part of this - the opposite, actually. And, I don't think it's a coincidence that Lance Storm just recently turned heel (and thank God he did - his face gimmick was awful). Here's how I see this playing out:

- The Raw after Backlash, assuming that the crowd doesn't turn on Benoit and Jericho for their new hometown billings, Lance Storm comes to the ring to question why they are denying their Canadian heritage. That he's proud to be Canadian, etc. He then announces that he, Christian, Trish Stratus, and Test (and possibly Val Venis, under his Sean Morley monicker) are re-forming Team Canada, and that they're targeting Benoit, Jericho, and Gail Kim.

- In addition to this, they can also ask Edge to join the group, only to have him decline their offer (not denying his Canadian heritage, but rather that he doesn't have a problem with the wrestlers who no longer live in Canada being announced from their current hometowns - or something to that effect). Edge can then join their "targeted" group.

- A quick, one night side storyline could be that they invite Sylvain Grenier and Rob Conway to join the group - and they do - only later to announce their separation from Team Canada (teasing at Quebec's desire to split from Canada).

I think that this storyline would be a good, elevating story for the Team Canada members, as all but Christian and Trish are dead on the water right now, with no storyline, heat, etc. I can see Storm getting the biggest push of his career with a feud against the (hopefully still) Champion Benoit, Edge and Christian rekindling their "brotherly" feud, Chris Jericho giving Test (or Venis) a run for his money, and Trish going at it with the recently returned Gail Kim. Do I think that this storyline has legs for Raw's next PPV? Possibly, but it'd have to be booked really well to make Team Canada look viable. Plus, Raw is on PPV hiatus until June after Backlash, so a longer storyline like this would have enough time to develop before an eventual payoff.

Any feedback on this idea?

sPuff · 04-06-2004, 11:41 AM

I like it! I think that would work well if booked right. Highly unlikely it'll happen but I can see how you've come to the conclussion of it being a possibility with Lance Storms heel turn and all.

BackLash · 04-06-2004, 12:56 PM

Reform Team Canada? BRILLANT!!

Danny Diamond · 04-06-2004, 03:57 PM

That is an EXCELLENT idea. None of the guys that you mentioned have been doing much of anything for quite some time now. Plus the addition of Christian and Trish gives them heat with Jericho and Edge right off the bat.

This is a perfect rub for the Canadians wrestlers who have been on the back burner for a long time now.

And even being an American myself, I feel that the WWE needs to focus on the first "W" in WWE. World. It even annoys me that they almost alienate the rest of the world from their product.

I know that the Canadian wrestlers are and have been very respected within the ranks. Maybe its time the audience got to see it.

Mity1 · 04-06-2004, 05:13 PM

Good point adding the W back into the WWE. Just because they have a few people from other countries preforming (minimal amounts) and they have shows in other countries doesn't mean they are really making it World... well, it does and it doesn't.

I was thinking it was to try and get Benoit over with the Americans by saying he's now converted, but then the idea of taxes came up (which is totally viable because even if you are residing in America, being announced constantly as Canadian MAY cause some tax problems) but I really like the idea of Team Canada again. All points are valid but the Team Canada is the most entertaining.

Let's hope they go for it!

Erin · 04-06-2004, 05:23 PM

That would rule

Danny Diamond · 04-07-2004, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mity1

, but then the idea of taxes came up (which is totally viable because even if you are residing in America, being announced constantly as Canadian MAY cause some tax problems)

So if thats the case, what is the tax bracket like in "Parts Unknown". I bet its high. Thats why guys like Kane and Mankind have moved out of the hood.

F'n government, always trying to mess with the stars of the WWE. lol.

Mity1 · 04-07-2004, 08:35 AM

Good point. I wonder what the taxes are on planet Stasiak? lol

Disco Raheem · 04-07-2004, 11:44 AM

Yeah, good idea.

I would make a small change to it though. If it were me booking, I'd call it The UnAmericans, and I'd do it a year or so ago. That's just me.

Y2J The King Of The World · 04-07-2004, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disco Raheem

Yeah, good idea.

I would make a small change to it though. If it were me booking, I'd call it The UnAmericans, and I'd do it a year or so ago. That's just me.

The difference would be that this stable would be pro-Canadian, not anti-American. Besides, the UnAmericans were a rip-off of the original Team Canada gimmick. So, originality isn't exactly abundant.