Running The Gauntlet

[Guest Hunter's Torn Quad]

While watching an old Clash Of The Champions for a match review, I came across the Running The Gauntlet series gimmick, and I think it could be interesting to do something like that now, so here is what it entailed, and tell me what you think:

 

On the Friday Power Hour show, a wrestler would be selected from all those eligible to take part.

 

Three random wrestlers would then be drawn, and the previously chosen wrestler would have to wrestling the first opponent on that Friday?s Power Hour, the second opponent the following day on World Championship Wrestling, and the third opponent would be wrestled on Sunday?s NWA Main Event.

 

If the wrestler made it past all three opponents, he would win $15,000

 

If the wrestler lost to any one of his selected opponents, then all three would divide the $15,000 between them

 

All three matches would have a 15-minute time limit, with the winner being decided by the usual means, and, in the event of a draw, the referee would decided the winner.

 

 

They could change it up in that they could have the prize being a title shot of some kind, but if the guy running the gauntlet loses, then one of the three prospective challengers is randomly selected to start the gauntlet himself. This way, it would be a credible storyline reason to give a guy a title shot, because he would have beaten three guys who, theoretically, would be seen as potential challengers, and so he really looks to have earned his title shot. You could even have one of the guys he beat en route to the title shot cost him the title match out of jealousy, and you can start a feud off of that. You could also have more than one of the beaten opponents try and cost the challenger his title match, but have them accidentally hit each other, or have one of them accidentally cost the champion the match, and you can start a feud that way. Maybe even have them both accidentally cost the champion his match, and make it a three-way feud. This could also work for the tag titles, once they have enough meaningful teams

 

So, what do you think ? Could such a concept be workable today ? Which promotion would be best suited to giving it a go ?

[Loss]

If the brand extension wasn't in place, doing Heat/RAW/Smackdown/Velocity would work very well in WWE. I always liked it when this was done, and it would be a great way to generate interest in B-shows if the right guys were used.

[goodhelmet]

Man, I thought this was another idea for the wrestling folders... seeing if the wrestler of our choice could run the gauntlet of being the best guy out of whoever was picked.

[Guest Dazed]

I can't see WWE being able to do it properly.

 

I'd imagine one of two scenarios playing out each time:

 

1) Opponent #3 beats up the guy running the gauntlet and screws him in match #2 (or some other permutation of numbers)

 

2) Whoever runs the gauntlet is screwed by a third party and then beats them the following weak

 

The only exception would be Hunter destroying three people in quick succession.

 

A great idea in principle; I'm a fan of anything that gives people a reason to fight, but sadly it wouldn't work today.