How The WWE Championship Lost Its Luster
I’m glad Triple H didn’t win the WWE Championship in the Last Man Standing Match against Randy Orton on last Monday’s Raw (and again at The Bash). But in all likelihood, the title could have changed hands just like that.
It seems like these days anything is possible in regards to the WWE Championship. Last month we saw Batista vacate the title due to injury, only 24 hours after winning it. (Orton would then regain it the next week.) Under Mike Adamle’s regime, the belt was subjected to the Championship Scramble at 2008’s Unforgiven pay-per-view. And with the title changing hands a total of eleven times in the past two years, this begs the question, how did the WWE Championship lose its luster?
To use another title as an example of this emerging trend, take the Intercontinental Championship. At this week’s The Bash, Rey Mysterio regained it from Chris Jericho, who had taken it from Mysterio only a month prior. Oh, to return to the days when guys like Orton held it for the majority of the year, as somewhat of an initiation into the league of World Champions.
There was a time in WWE when the title was the most prestigious prize in the business, and changed hands much less often than it does these days. Wrestling greats who’ve lent their legacy to the gold include Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Bret Hart and Ric Flair. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the face of the championship for much of the Attitude era, while more recently it’s John Cena. The Rock and Brock Lesnar are also notable title holders, and were both the youngest to hold it, at 27 and 25 respectively.
But speaking of Cena, it seems that the WWE title lost some of its standing around the time he came on the scene. SmackDown was in need of a facelift when JBL was at the helm, and Cena provided that as the Austin of this era. While JBL represented the old-school traditions of the strap, Cena was new-school cool and remade it into the Spinner belt, as version of which remains today.
That is when it all started to go down hill, in my opinion. I thought the Spinner belt was a passing phase, which would have been something I could stomach, however it’s five years since Cena’s first title win and the ghetto-fabulous design still lingers. It looks ridiculous on someone like Triple H, or even Jeff Hardy, whose personalities and wrestling styles are miles away from Cena’s. And with Cena’s version enduring today, how can it really belong to someone else and allow them to etch their mark into it?
Since then, the title has gone from Cena, to Edge, to Triple H, to Orton and back again, and bar brief stints with Hardy and Rob Van Dam as champion, it hasn’t allowed much movement.
It’s also, once again, hard to take any title holder seriously as “The Champ” when that phrase still undeniably describes Cena.
The high turnover of World Heavyweight Champions due mostly to injury is something I’ve pondered in past articles, but somehow the blinding gold and traditional design of that title still evokes the glory days of professional wrestling, while the WWE Championship reeks of modern commercialism. The World Heavyweight title also seems to be getting a bit of a workout in terms of new talent vying for the title, such as Hardy and CM Punk.
While I’ve said Cena might be responsible for the cheapened look of the championship, there’s no denying that he has had some of the most successful reigns as WWE “Champ”. He does represent a certain reliability and steadfastness as the top star in the business today. His initial run as champion lasted 280 days, followed by 133 and 380 day stints, which is something I think the company should return to. The days when Triple H dominated the Raw scene as champion in 2002/2003, or Diesel’s year-long tenure at the top, are further examples of traditional championship reigns, when the top guy would take on all-comers but were ultimately mainstays as the face of the company.
The WWE is going a different direction these days, with children as their target audience. Now, more than ever, is the time to establish one or two main guys as the champions, and swap titles sporadically throughout the year, rather than having a new champion every month. To keep the attention of the kids, there needs to be a certain familiarity, so that if they miss an episode, a completely different champion won’t be the face of the show.
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I agree. All championship titles should be special. I remember when I first started watching wrestling back in the 80’s, back then title reigns were looong compared to these days. Hogan carried his first title for years and both Randy Savage and Honky Tonk Man held on to their intercontinental titles for long stretches of time.
If the belt changes place from week to week it doesn’t feel so special anymore.
I agree that Cena as champ had a big part of the downturn in the importance of THE Belt. I have to inject though that having a World Championship Belt and also now an ECW Belt, along with the WWE Belt, has completely diluted the whole idea of getting and holding THE top spot. Too many belts to claim or try to claim the top spot in the world. It’s getting out of hand. What’s next? A Superstars belt? A Corpoate Schill Pepsi Tatoo Belt? Or how about a “Puppies” Belt?
Good article, you know the WORLD TITLE isn’t important anymore when you win it and it doesn’t even make you the top guy of the brand let alone the company.
My question is: are any of the belts important anymore? What happened to the Intercontinental Title? The U.S. Title? And don’t even get me started on the Tag Team Titles! Remember the hot feuds over these belts? I probably sound like an old relic right now, but I used to look foward to a good Intercontinental Title match, whether it was between Savage/Steamboat, Hart/Hennig, or Santana/Valentine, you were hanging on every move. And I agree with Scarlett, that the WWE is marketing to kids. But when you do that, all you end up with is a bunch of characters. Since most kids have an attention span of about half a second, they keep changing the Champ to keep the kids interested. And yes, it does devalue the Championship.
for one i have to agree with how there needs to be a solid two guys holding the straps, make it interesting with them of course, mix it up, make it real. and i also have to agree that this spinner belt is way too old now, its gotta go, we need something fresh!
i agree with everything everyone is saying, its not special anymore, its not exciting, and the level of ridiculousness is just out of hand. Its just gotten to a point where as much attention as they pay to the legends theyre not instilling what those legends did for the business, what they meant to those titles and belts and what they meant to that era of wrestling.
As much as vince says hes got grapefruits and all the M-O-N-A-Y hes gotta do something, and fast, i watch tna and i gotta tell ya i like what i see and i like it alot. theres something special going on there.
Instead of these stupid tired story lines, hes gotta come up with something so real, so vivid and just something that will grab your attention!
I ALSO AGREE THE WWE TITLE SHOULD GO BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL STYLE LIKIE OTHERS HAVE SAID WWE GAVE IT HIS OWN TOUCH UP BUT FOR IT TO BE AROUND THE WAIST OF OTHER MEN IT NEEDS TO BNE TRADITIONAL NOT A THUG WANNA BE AND I ALSO MISS THE DAYS OF THE INTERCONTINENTAL AND US CHANPIONSHIP AND THE TAG TITLES HAVING AN IMPORTANCE I HAVE ALSO BEEN A DIE HARD WRESTLING FAN IN MY OPINION THEY NEED TO QUIT THE KIDS INITIATIVE AND GO BACK TO THE STTITUDE ERA WHICH WHAT HELP BEAT WCW DURING THE MONDAY NIGHT WARS WHY QUIT WHAT MADE THE COMPANY FAMOUS AND A RATINGS JUGGERNAUT IG ANY ONE HAS YAHOO MESSENGER justincarman2006 is my screen name just send me a message and let me know ur from wrestling truth and we could discuss whats wrong with wrestling today and also discuss what we thing could make it entertaining again later fellow wrestling fans
there was once a time in wwe when the world title had a massive amount of prestige to it, now all titles are lackluster due to wwe’s problem to elevate and cement top and young superstars in my opinion.
WWE seem to be forgeting that rather than cheapen thier shows and rack thier brains over thier own creative ideas, the basis for a respectable rivalry is simply “You’ve got the championship and I haven’t”.
Remember he days when every title had a seperate fan base; pureley because of who was vying for the championship.
As TNA’s roster grows I hope these instances provide a warning to not fall into this same loop.
It’s good to see that everyone feels so strongly in favour of my argument. Usually my columns draw mixed reviews and not everyone agrees with my opinions. But obviously it’s come to a point where the devaluing of champions has become ridiculous.
Hardware 952: I agree, too many “top” belts devalues the “top” guys, with not enough mid- and lower-card belts to help guys work their way to the top. When the ECW title first came up, it was special, with main event guys like Rob Van Dam and Bobby Lashley holding it, and now I don’t even know who has the belt as I don’t watch ECW anymore.
Manny C.: I feel a bit sorry for CM Punk. After his first dismal title run, I think he’s now viewed as a transitional champion and is not being taken seriously as the top guy on SmackDown! And considering that the World Heavyweight Championship was THE belt when it was on Raw and Triple H held it, it’s really gone downhill.
Booker T: Oh yeah, the Tag Team titles are a major issue amongst fans, judging from some of the comments I’ve recieved when I bring them up in my articles. Next week’s column will focus on them.
I’m another who agrees that the spinner belt has to go. Fair enough bringing it in and having it on Cena when he was the champ to make it “fresh” but when he lost the title it should have gone you didnt see the smoking skull belt (which was a lot lot better) stick around for five years after Austin lost it.
I’m also agreed that the intercontinental title has lost all its prestige and has no meaning anymore its ok to see that people like mysterio and jericho have been holding it for the last couple of months even if the reigns have been pretty short. But when you get an idiot like Santino Marella come into the company and win the title on his first night by beating Umaga (who was pretty big in the company at the time with his whole undefeated streak and all) just completely deminishes the title. Whats the point of a title if absolutley anyone is going to hold it?
Anyway back to the wwe and world titles I dont think it helps with CM Punk the fact that he has won the title twice via money in the bank. I mean its all good and well when someone like Edge wins with it when his opponent is virtually helpless because he’s a heel and heels do that sort of thing but when you have a face do it it just doesnt have the same affect in my opinion. I dont think it also helps with the types of talent that are being pushed towards this title at the moment either. In my opinion both CM Punk and Jeff Hardy are horrible to watch in the ring and terrible on the mic. Especially when there are some decent wrestlers on smackdown like John Morrison and Shelton Benjamin just to name a couple who are good in the ring and arent bad on the mic these are the guys that need to be being moved up the pecking order.
With the WWE title at the moment its nice to see the top guy (in my opinion)Orton with the title they just need to give him a decent run with it. I didnt mind the whole Batista winning it and then losing the day after as it allowed Batista save face whilst out with his injury and increase Ortons heel heat. I also like the idea of legacy as it will help get dibase and rhodes over however what I dont like continually seeing is Legacy helping out Orton all the time. Fair enough have them do it on Raw but not on pay per views as it just makes it seem like Orton cant win on his own and doesnt make him look like as good as a wrestler as he is. And when your trying to promote someone as the top heel in the company whos going to go round kicking people in the skull making it seem as if he cant ever retain the title without his two best mates helping out or getting himself disqualified doesnt make sense.
My final whinge if you like is going to be about Triple H. Now I’ve got nothing against Triple H as a wrestler. Infact I think he’s awesome in the ring and on the mic. From 1999-2005 for example i thought he was great he had good fueds during the attitude era and I thought everything with Evolution was awesome. But and this is a big but, I just dont see the benefit as having him as a face for such a long period of time. He’s been a face now from around the time since they brought DX back which was good. But since about 2007 to me he’s been boring why keep him as a face when he was such a good heel? I cant recall a a interesting fued he’s had in the last year. This years maina build up was somewhat interesting but thats only because of everything Orton did kicking by kicking vince and DDT’ing Steph etc. Plus the fact now that he seems to use the Sledgehammer every week and he finds it everywhere is just ridiculous. Hopefully sooner rather then later they will turn him back heel.
Anyway people thats it for me as this post is getting too long winded but its the first time I’ve put my points across on this site let me know what you think of my views etc
I’m probably gonna show my age again, but what happened to the days when the wrestlers made the titles, and not the other way around? Anyone could be champ, but it takes a good wrestler to bring it that prestige (not to mention good opponents and good feuds).
Ahhh, Im over it hey. What the hell do you expect from the WWE at the moment. They have lost the plot in a very large way and for me to be “really” interested again they are going to have to do something pretty damn special.
Jonh: Congrats on your first post on the site, I agree with your opinions on this topic aswell. Triple H is much better as a heel than a face, he’s probably one of the best heels ever in the business. It’s definitely time for him to turn heel again.
I, perosnally, think that the WWE title (the spinner belt) should go back to a more traditional design. The World Heavyweight Title harkens the likes of Ric Flair, Lex Luger and Sting in my mind… but that kind of tradition has faded in years past… TNA is almost as bad… Mick Foley as World Champ? I think it’s just wrestling in general… the younger generation has definitely left its inpression on wrestling writers, and unfortunately, it’s beginning to turn off the “old timers” like myself… 36 years old… still watching wrestling because I LIKE it… but you’re losing me, Vince…. and Jeff, you’re beginning to lose me, too… at least you have the MEM!
Great column, and Great reading thanks Scarlet for your care in your writing.
I totally agree with everthing you have written.
I personally like the Attitude era belt the most, followed closely by the winged eagle version held by Brett Hart.
The current WWE title belt, is nothing more than a piece of getto styled bling merch to sell to the kids.
Lets hope WWE bring back a more traditional strap design.
But I fear that WWE management, will continue with the current belt design.
im only 12 and ive been watching wwe for 8 years now
and i know you are all saying its changing hands to keep us kids interested
but i have to be honest
its not keeping me interested
its not just the period of time someone is holding the championship for
its who it goes to aswell
wwe gives the title to people who talk a good game
and the superstars who the “kids” are bound to love
but honestly
i hate superstars like batista and john cenaand rey mysterio
i prefer the bad guys like edge and jericho and orton
and i hate the fact that superstars like cena and batista are rising so quickly
within 4 years cena had been u.s and wwe champ
it took jeff hardy 11 years to become champ