ECW Round 3, Match 4: The Latin American XChange vs. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit

[Shocky]

The Following match takes place in an ECW Ring under Extreme Rules.

The Latin American Xchange (Homicide and Hernandez)

vs. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit

​

 

[Uncle Sam]

The look of desire on Benoit's face in that picture is remarkable. You can tell he wants it from Angle. Who can blame him?

But yeah, I'm going with the Xchange. No surprises there. This is the round that all the "thrown together" teams get filtered out. Sure, Angle and Benoit weren't as thrown together or as incohesive (not a word according to Firefox) as the Mega Powers, but neither do they have anywhere near the fluid teamwork of the Xchange.

May as well address the Homicide question that Shocky brought up against, oddly enough, Team Angle. I'm sure Shocky's aware of a lot of this already but I'm going to type out my reasoning in full anyway. The reason Homicide is good as a little man is a lot different to why many other people are good as little men. Think Taz with Lucha skills and even more of a mean streak. Sure, he may not fly about the ring as fluidly as Rey (back in the day, that is), but he knows more than enough to get the job done in that area. The flying Gringo Cutter and Topé Con Hilo are evidence of that. Not to mention that he has the surprising strength and throwing ability reminiscent of the aforementioned Taz and his brutal, New Jack-esque tactics - consisting of cutting people open with eating utensils mostly.

And don't doubt Hernandez. Nobody seems to.

But back to the match itself. Benoit and Angle were good, there's no denying that. You're talking to a guy that lists Angle as his number one wrestler and lobbied to have these two put in this tournament. However, they're not as good as LAX. Sure, they may have LAX beat in the mat game, but wrestling isn't all down to one factor. Hernandez is of the bulk and the ferocity that both would have trouble dealing with, and this is simply Homicide's element. The ECW fans expect blood, they expect lethal moves and they expect death-defying stunts. Much as I hate to say it, LAX are just going to deliver that and Chrangle are not.

In a different setting, perhaps Chris 'N' Kurt may give me some doubt over the winner. But no way are a part time tag team good enough to best the formidable LAX in this environment. Don't mistake them for the overrated shit that the Pitbulls are; LAX are so much more than one dimension.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Four votes and not a single post!? C'mon!

 

[Uncle Sam]

This must be down to me pointing out Kurt Angle's desirability. I apologise. OK, let's break it down to the main factors, most important to least important:

Hardcore...ness:
Unquestionably LAX get this one. Kurt Angle did have the greatest Street Fight of all time with Shane McMahon, granted, but he was facing Shane McMahon. And Benoit was never particularly hardcore. I think Jake will say something he won't regret in response to that. But LAX are all about ECW. They'd have been huge in ECW. They're all about the foreign objects, the blood, the gore, the stunts. They are ECW and this environment knocks them up a notch. BAM!

Versatility/Ability to adapt:
Goes to LAX. I could go into how LAX are the most versatile team in the entire tournament and not just because they're a speed/strength combo but you should know that all by now. I'll just add to it by pointing out that during their time as a tag team Benoit and Angle had matches and often lost to people they were highly familiar with. How will they deal with an entirely new force in an entirely new environment than they're used to? They won't, that's how. And remember kids, this Chrange when they were a team, not when Benoit was in ECW and not when Angle was in TNA.

Success:
I don't believe in this one but apparently other people do. Chrangle held the WWE titles once, for a month. LAX have held the belts on numerous occasions, beating more and better teams and playing a much more important role in their tag division and their company than Chrange ever did as a team. So LAX are the more successful team here, so shove that up your pipe and smoke it.

Anything more you wanna know? Just ask.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Apparently, you all know some great reasons about why Benoit and Angle would beat LAX in this situation. I'd love to hear them. No, seriously. Otherwise you're just sort of undermining the point of this tournament and a forum as a whole by avoiding discussion and just clicking a button.

I haven't even voted yet. If your reasoning is that good - I suppose someone's been spreading it around the PM system - then Chrangle may well get my vote. Notice how I'm not automatically assuming that you're voting for Benoit and Angle just because they're bigger names or something equally silly. So c'mon people, talk to me.

 

[Richard]

This must be down to me pointing out Kurt Angle's desirability. I apologise. OK, let's break it down to the main factors, most important to least important:

Since nobody else has bothered to post something here, thought I might aswell. I don't watch Impact but I have seen a few things of TNA on youtube so I might aswell have a go at something with TNA.

Hardcore...ness:
Unquestionably LAX get this one. Kurt Angle did have the greatest Street Fight of all time with Shane McMahon, granted, but he was facing Shane McMahon. And Benoit was never particularly hardcore. I think Jake will say something he won't regret in response to that. But LAX are all about ECW. They'd have been huge in ECW. They're all about the foreign objects, the blood, the gore, the stunts. They are ECW and this environment knocks them up a notch. BAM!

As a unit, LAX definately has more of a hardcore element than Angle/Benoit. The hardcoreness of LAX is much higher than the tag team of Angle/Benoit. I don't remember anything that hardcore from the team of Angle/Benoit, I think they were a more technical wrestling team than a team who was hardcore orientated like LAX.

Versatility/Ability to adapt:
Goes to LAX. I could go into how LAX are the most versatile team in the entire tournament and not just because they're a speed/strength combo but you should know that all by now. I'll just add to it by pointing out that during their time as a tag team Benoit and Angle had matches and often lost to people they were highly familiar with. How will they deal with an entirely new force in an entirely new environment than they're used to? They won't, that's how. And remember kids, this Chrange when they were a team, not when Benoit was in ECW and not when Angle was in TNA.

I agree with that, I can't really add anything else, pretty much right there.

Success:
I don't believe in this one but apparently other people do. Chrangle held the WWE titles once, for a month. LAX have held the belts on numerous occasions, beating more and better teams and playing a much more important role in their tag division and their company than Chrange ever did as a team. So LAX are the more successful team here, so shove that up your pipe and smoke it.

Indeed. We have to look at their success as a tag team and nothing else they have done because we are judging them as a team and nothing they have done outside of the tag team. Homicide and Hernandez have 2 NWA Tag Titles and 1 TNA Tag Titles compared to the 1 championship reign with Kurt Angle and Mr. Benoit. Better success on the part of LAX.

Also, I think they are better because the LAX has a theme (Yes, one could say Angle/Benoit had the theme of being a technical team) but I'm talking about an actual theme, or stereotype if you will, I just enjoy tag teams like that, you know what I mean.

And as for you [regular members that are ignoring the tournament completely] I expected better from you.

So let's get some fucking debate going!

There we go Sam, I took up the initiative. I like this tournament, makes you think about the tag teams in depth.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Success:
I don't believe in this one but apparently other people do. Chrangle held the WWE titles once, for a month. LAX have held the belts on numerous occasions, beating more and better teams and playing a much more important role in their tag division and their company than Chrange ever did as a team. So LAX are the more successful team here, so shove that up your pipe and smoke it.

When you make a new title, you need wrestlers that can get the championship going, make it look legit, and give fans a reason to believe it's something important. WWE gave the first WWE Tag Title reign to a team that they knew would be able to deliver, and who they knew would make the most of the belt, before they have the blet where it's supposed to be, at the foot of the card.

TNA did the same, but they chose Team 3D instead of LAX.

Anything more you wanna know? Just ask.

When did you become a more amusing version of slyfox?

 

[IrishCanadian25]

I am in Sam's corner here. LAX should get the win, once again, as a legit tag team with a strong history of contending for top titles and participating in impressive feuds. I don't even remember what Angle and Benoit did as a team together - I don't think they accomplished a damn thing. LAX has accomplished a lot, and heir tag team wars with Daniels / Styles helped put tag team wrestling back on the map during a time when it was weak in the WWE.

LAX is a team, we should see more from in the future. I am hoping that TNA doesn't split them just for the sake of trying to market a new mid-card contender. As a team, these two are dominant. ANd they deserve to move on in this tournament.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I don't even remember what Angle and Benoit did as a team together - I don't think they accomplished a damn thing.

Err, holders of the ultra-prestigious WWE tag team titles.

They also helped solidify Los Guerreros as a legit tag team, and made Rey Mysterio & Edge look their equal.

LAX has accomplished a lot,

In TNA, in the tag division made up of three legit teams.

and heir tag team wars with Daniels / Styles helped put tag team wrestling back on the map during a time when it was weak in the WWE.

Didn't really though. One good feud wouldn't put tag wrestling back on the map.

LAX is a team, we should see more from in the future.

So TNA can have them feud with Beer Money & Team 3D again?

As a team, these two are dominant.

Less dominant than all the other teams in TNA.

ANd they deserve to move on in this tournament.

I agree, I have no idea why I've wasted our time replying to this.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Err, holders of the ultra-prestigious WWE tag team titles.

Sarcasm?

They also helped solidify Los Guerreros as a legit tag team, and made Rey Mysterio & Edge look their equal.

One thrown together team equal to another thrown together team. Don't see what's so hard. Granted, they had some great matches.

In TNA, in the tag division made up of three legit teams.

Compared to a division where they were just putting random wrestlers together in the wrestling equivalent of throwing everything at it and seeing what sticks. No, I don't know what "it" is either.

Didn't really though. One good feud wouldn't put tag wrestling back on the map.

What is "the map"? Really?

So TNA can have them feud with Beer Money & Team 3D again?

Well Chrangle don't even exist any more. So there.

Less dominant than all the other teams in TNA.

They broke up AMW, they broke up Staniels, they destroyed the Guns and Rock 'N' Rave and beat 3D for months on end in "random words" street fights.

I agree, I have no idea why I've wasted our time replying to this.

Oh. Shit. Edit: Did you mean to vote for Chrangle? Or did I just misinterpret this remark?

TNA did the same, but they chose Team 3D instead of LAX.

You speak like TNA make rational decisions Jake. Who were the champions about 2 days after 3D? Samoa Joe. On his own.

When did you become a more amusing version of slyfox?

Dunno. Probably at the start of the tourney.

But anyway, here are the facts, plain and simple. All that Chrangle have in their list of "pros" is success, and that's heavily, heavily disputable. Even if LAX weren't plain and simple better than Chrangle, which they are, the hardcore, ECW environment easily tips it in their favour. As much as Demolition was all about strength, Chrangle were all about technique. Completely useless against a team as versatile as LAX. Not to mention they couldn't even go five minutes without going for each other.

 

[I.R.S was ace]

Not a fan of TNA and like Angle and Benoit as singles wrestlers but as a team I have to go with LAX in this match.
The envoronment favours LAX as they have had several street fights as a tag team, where as Angle and Benoit would not be used to working as a team in a no rules environment despite both having been strong and successful as singles wrestlers in different era's of ECW.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

I'm going with LAX over Benoit & Angle. Without a doubt Benoit & Angle were amazing singles wrestlers, and Angle is one of the most charismatic guys were great mic skills. Both have accomplished so much as singles wrestlers and put on some great matches, but with that being said they are two singles wrestlers not a full tag team. They were good but lacked the chemistry and cohesivenis that LAX has. While this will probably be the end of the road for LAX, I just feel if your looking at what each tag team has accomplished and their impact(instead of Benoit & Angle as singles wrestlers)LAX are the better team.

 

[Father:_Polley]

LAX take this for me. The infighting of Angle and Benoit wasn't exactly conducive to teamwork and LAX would destroy that. People will say how can a tag team beat two outstanding champions. The same way Edge and Mysterio beat them... they try to outdo each other. Hernandez and Homicide work as a team, not as rivals and that clinches it for me