Greetings.
Back in the day, it used to be a really big deal in wrestling circles when there was a major title change. I can still fondly recall all the pre and post-fight buzz when Andre the Giant beat Hulk Hogan in their epic world title clash at WrestleMania III; or when my brother-in-law Davey Boy Smith (the British Bulldog) won the Intercontinental title from my brother Bret in front of 90,000 screaming fans at Wembley at SummerSlam 1992; or later, when Steve Austin overcame the Rock to win the world title for the first time; or when Wendi Richter, accompanied by rock star Cyndi Lauper, defeated Moolah to win the women’s world title at WrestleMania.
On each of those memorable occasions, the crowning of a new champion was front page news in wrestling circles and resulted in all kinds of celebration, conjecture and anticipation. These days, however, a major title change has become such a common, routine (yawn) occurrence that it barely elicits a response.
Case in point, in the past few weeks, we’ve seen the WWE world championship – supposedly the penultimate prize in pro wrestling, being passed around almost like a hot potato – from A. J. Styles, to John Cena, to Bray Wyatt – who’s reportedly slated to drop it back to Randy Orton at the upcoming Wrestlemania. That’s more world title changes in a matter of weeks than the WWF had in nearly two decades, back in the 60’s and 70’s, when Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales proudly held that title.
The diminished value of the titles and the almost frivolous treatment of major belts was never more in evidence than at last week’s Elimination Chamber pay per view when not one, not two, but three championships changed hands on the same card. In addition to Cena’s aforementioned world title loss, WWE women’s champion Charlotte Flair lost her world title to Bayley, while in another women’s title match – SmackDown women’s world champion Alexa Bliss also lost her strap to Naomi.
Beyond that, in the past few months, it’s a foregone conclusion that Kevin Owens will be dropping his Universal title this weekend at the Fast Lane pay per view. As well, we’ve seen damn near every other belt in the WWE, from the Cruiserweight championship, the United States title, the tag team titles (both of them) changed hands lately, some, several times – to the point where most fans, myself included, not only don’t know who the hell the champions are anymore but are almost non-reactive which, correct me if I’m wrong, defeats the whole purpose.
In case the powers that be in Titan Tower think otherwise, the whole point of having championships in any realm – be it in pro wrestling, football, baseball, hockey or whatever else is to make them your proverbial holy grail – the things that hopes and dreams are based upon and, as such, they need to be treated accordingly. As tennis player Andre Agassi used to succinctly point out: “image is everything” and if the image of those once hallowed and iconic titles is routinely compromised, they cease to mean very much.
I can ruefully recall, not that many years ago, when the world heavyweight boxing title – when it was held by iconic champions like Muhammad Ali, Smokin’ Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Mike Tyson and even Larry Holmes, was a really big deal that garnered front page news and captured the imaginations of sports fans the world over.
In recent years though, due to mismanagement, illicit bullshit, such as Tyson biting Holyfield’s ear and Don King’s on-going antics, as well as having an assortment of charismatically and athletically challenged nondescripts, such as Buster Douglas and the Klitschkos wearing the title, boxing’s world title has become a virtually meaningless, inconsequential after-thought. As a result, pro boxing, particularly at the once esteemed heavyweight level, has pretty much gone down the tubes.
I hate to be constantly casting aspersions upon the people pulling the strings in WWE head office, but unless they re-evaluate their approach and start re-evaluating their approach, particularly in regards to their major titles, they could conceivably find themselves in the same boat as boxing.
Far be it for a mere mortal such as myself to be telling the demigods in Titan Tower how to be running their business, but I were they, I’d be cutting back on the number of frivolous title changes, the number of horseshit finishes in those title changes and the number of athletically and charismatically challenged nondescripts, who are wearing those belts.
Raise the bar, my friends!
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