"The only reason they gave the belt to him was because Daniel Bryan won the World title at WrestleMania," shouted some IWC members online. "TNA is ripping off WWE by having an underdog with a beard as their World champion," those same IWC members kept urging.
Sure, TNA President
Dixie Carter did take a shot at WWE proclaiming that she invented the trend of beards being cool--when did she do this?--and that she should be receiving royalty checks, but
Eric Young became champion, not because
Daniel Bryan did, but perhaps due to his star power as the host of Animal Planet's Off the Hook.
Or maybe people just like beards, who knows. It's not like Eric Young grew the beard overnight, he's had that beard for years.
That's neither here nor there. The aspect of EY running with the title that is disconcerting is how strangely everything is proceeding: why have Dixie cut off EY during his big speech just to spew a bunch of drivel? Why not have
Samoa Joe interrupt the new champion with claims that he should have been the World champion?
Samoa Joe was being pushed heavily for the World title, but due to crazy stipulations that favored the former champion
Magnus, Joe never had a fair opportunity like the one afforded to EY. Samoa Joe would have been champion as well, if
Abyss was banned from ringside, and if the champion's advantage of disqualifications was also revoked. With all that said, EY's start to his championship reign would have been more impactful if he was given a strong first opposition that was logical.
Not to say that "The Monster" Abyss wasn't a strong first opposition, but you have to admit that having a Monster's Ball match on the same card that the Knockouts had an anything goes Street Fight--especially with the first weapon of choice in both matches being a cookie sheet pan--is redundant.
Also, why didn't we see or hear from Magnus? The paper champion could have gone out to the ring demanding a rematch, and turned the tables on EY by calling him a paper champion. Then, as he's going on as "this is your champion speaking" spiel, Abyss could have come out from under the ring, or ran in to attack EY, but have EY throw him out of the ring and stand tall with the championship held high towards Magnus. Just saying, there were other ways to kick-off EY's reign as the TNA champion.
All criticism and keyboard booking aside, a deep heartfelt congratulations to Eric Young on becoming the TNA World Heavyweight champion. This is his time to make a name for himself in the world of professional wrestling, and as he promised us, he's a fighting champion and the age of paper champions is now over.
[Video] Emotional Words from EY after winning the championship
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