Titles

[Eelementary]

So in this day and age, where all and sundry know pro wrestling is "fake" (and we all still love it!), why, then, is there a significance attached to titles?

For instance, when discussing whether someone deserves to be considered a legend of the business, we might say, "He won the World Title 23 times - he's a legend for sure!" and leave it at that. But winning a title means squat, really.

 

[Big Pete]

It depends on the championship.

The WWE championship for instance means that the company considers you one of the stars of it's promotion and that's often reflected in the pay cheque and the amount of promotion put behind you.

Of course, the significance has diminished somewhat and you still get reigns where the championship plays second fiddle to whoever the company considers the main star of the company. (eg. Hogan, Austin, Cena)

As for the mind-set of the fans, I think it's this weird complex where fans want to turn a fake piece of entertainment into a real modified sport where wrestlers are judged on their ability in-ring, look, crowd reactions, etc.

I'm guilty of partaking in that discussion, but really it does ruin the enjoyment of the product somewhat.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

On the opposite side of the coin when and why did the IC title become so irrelevant? That's what I hear from older fans who still keep up with WWE today.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Probably after it was brought back after being unified with the WHC. Definitely made the title appear pointless.

 

[Big Pete]

The Intercontinental championship started losing it's value in 95 when they booked Double J as champion and the Kliq kept stuffing around with the belt.

It truly hit rock bottom in '99 with the Ryan Shamrock angle. In order to understand just how bad that angle was and how much times had changed, just compare it to Bret/Bulldog from 92 - it's night and day.

From there the value of the belt has fluctuated. It's just a prop for the mid-carders to feud over but it's been that way for a looong time now.

With that said, Axel's (Perfect Jr) reign would be right up there as one of the worst.

 

[Bobby DIGital]

IC title became irrelevant once Chyna got involved in the title picture.

 

[Big Pete]

I wasn't a fan of Chyna but her feud with Double J and Jericho did more for the belt than anything Val Venis, Road Dogg, Goldust, Godfather etc. did in the build up.

 

[Eelementary]

It's an interesting concept.

Because I have no Foxtel and my Internet sucks, I can't keep up with the WWE these days any longer. But I do try to read what's going on and get involved.

But when you know that it's scripted and they place so much importance on whether you're a title holder or not, it's tricky to know how to react. I mean, some people would say Curtis Axel is a gun because he's a champion - but he's very ordinary IMO.

I know the WWE Championship signals that the holder is the face of the company, but even then it could be argued it is unnecessary - Orton is champ, but Cena is clearly the company's go-to guy, for example.

It's curious.

 

[Bulldog Force]

So now WWE is unifying the WHC and WWE title... another one bites the dust.

You know they might as well merge MiTB with Night of Champions now... I mean they'll already gotten rid of the World Heavyweight Tag-Team titles, Womens champions and now this... give is a few more years and the IC and US titles will merge.

Night of Champions will have 5 matches and then 2 MiTB matches for future WWE titile shots.

 

[Big Pete]

The thing with Axel, Eele, is that even from a kayfabe perspective, he's booked like an undeserving champion who benefited from Paul E's politicking.

The thing with the IC championship and excuse me if I'm speaking out of turn because honestly, a lot of it's history is from when I was even born, was that at one point, it was treated like the glass ceiling for the bulk of the roster. The World Championship was only a title the best of the best could challenge for and it was rarely defended on television.

However, over time they started treating the IC championship as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. This was fine for the likes of Savage, Warrior, Hart etc. because they could do the championship justice but when they'd put it on any flavour of the week like Mero, Ahmed etc. that's when the value of the championship really diminished.

 

[Sparky 74]

Wwe title should be as follows

Wwe world heavyweight title - main title
Intercontinental title - 2nd title upper mid carder guys
Television title or the TV title to take place of the U.S title, this to be defended every raw & smackdown
Cruiser weight title - let's see the likes of mysterio, Bourne , kofi & crew fly
Wwe tag team titles - more true tag teams the better ( a team name , matching ring wear , real team )
Diva title - more Aj lee , Bella twins please

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

You will never see a TV Title in WWE. It wasn't even an important title in WCW, and TNA have quietly dropped theirs. There was talk of a Cruiserweight show when the WWE Network launches, but that hadn't been talked about for a long time, so don't expect a Cruiserweight Title in the WWE anytime soon. For that you will need to watch TNA's X Division.

 

[Valheru]

Why not just the old fashoned World title, IC, European, Tag titles and Womens championship.

The IC title has to be taken seriously though and contested by upper mid carders. The European can be for the mid to lower card.