The Fire Ferrets only made it into the tournament because of Future Industries money, someone paid off the refs for the finals, we see a shot o the Saito family before the match but they disappear before Amon shows up with new ground-breaking technology?
I say: The Fire Ferrets could have never won the pro-bending championships.
I’m pretty sure everything we saw this episode went EXACTLY according to Amon’s plan, from dissent in the Council to Tahno’s defeat to the battle between the Lieutenant and Korra/Bi Fong. I said it on the podcast last week: You can’t leave Amon to his own devices for a week while you ship your heart out and not expect severe consequences.