Should Swagger hold the WHC all summer?

[rnrk supports BLM]

I'm not even a fan of Swagger, but I think this would be the strongest booking decision for the time being.

Unless there's a surprise twist coming and someone else major ends up on the blue brand, Smackdown's main event roster is TERRIBLE. I'm sorry, but it's not elevating anyone to have a bunch of upper-midcarders keep fighting each other the way they've fought each other with years, but with an extra prop in the middle of their feuds. That's just burying the WHC.

At this time last year, Swagger and Christian were feuding over the ECW title. Neither of them have gotten any significant victories or improved their kayfabe standings since then, but now they're fighting over the WHC. That doesn't make it look like they've improved or risen through the ranks, it just makes Smackdown look about as important to WWE as ECW used to be. I will be pleasantly surprised if Swagger vs. Christian WHC matches don't end up being used as ~5-10 minute curtain jerkers for the PPVs.

Who else is there? We've got several longtime veterans who are just a notch below the big main eventers (Rey, Big Show, Kane). It'd be nice to see one of them get one more "world" title reign, sure, but it wouldn't achieve much of anything. We've got the rising stars (Christian, Kofi... does MVP still count?) who've all feuded with and traded wins with Swagger over midcard belts before, and this would just be another chapter in that. And we've got Punk, who falls midway between the two groups, but doesn't stand to gain much by beating Kofi or Christian yet again, or even a babyface Swagger.

So, all things considered, you may as well leave the belt on Swagger. He *did* win a MitB, and did win the title from a real main eventer in Jericho, however unfairly. While the caliber of his opponents will be extremely subpar, getting a long reign at all will at least do something to put him over, and build anticipation for when he finally loses the title. It'll look a lot stronger than hotshotting the belt around to a bunch of guys who "deserve" to hold a world title whilst they've never been booked strong enough to look like they could manage it.

And, of course, Swagger's reign would finally end with a quick, Honky Tonk-like squash from a higher-profile star, right when the roster starts getting beefed up again to hype the move to SyFy. (I'd have Undertaker do the honors, but I expect that idea to go over very badly around these parts.)

Thoughts?

[Big L]

I'd say yea

[Kevin Hamilton]

I'd enjoy it, as he's one of my favorites.

[TheMediocreWarrior]

No. I don't really see what's so special about Swagger. As far as giving a newer guy the title, I preferred Sheamus. I'd rather see the title on Christian, or even Kofi at some point.

[DamnYankee]

SmackDown's roster is pretty weak, so it's their best choice. Similar to how JBL owned a depleted SD roster in 2004.

[Celgress]

No, imho Swagger sucks.

[Deleted]

I've been saying he should have a extremely long title reign since he first won it. I wouldn't be against it if he held the belt till Wrestlemania when he loses it to either Kofi or Christian.

[WorkingInAColeMine]

It is building to something good.

I am liking the new 4.0 GPA thing.

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

Apr 28, 2010 0:05:26 GMT -5 @supersweetbotch said:

I've been saying he should have a extremely long title reign since he first won it. I wouldn't be against it if he held the belt till Wrestlemania when he loses it to either Kofi or Christian.

or undertaker.

i'm just sayin'

[Deleted]

Apr 28, 2010 0:15:36 GMT -5 Gus Richlen Was Wrong said:

Apr 28, 2010 0:05:26 GMT -5 @supersweetbotch said:

I've been saying he should have a extremely long title reign since he first won it. I wouldn't be against it if he held the belt till Wrestlemania when he loses it to either Kofi or Christian.

or undertaker.

i'm just sayin'

I do not like what you are saying

But thats like your opinion man

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

Apr 28, 2010 0:18:20 GMT -5 @supersweetbotch said:

Apr 28, 2010 0:15:36 GMT -5 Gus Richlen Was Wrong said:

or undertaker.

i'm just sayin'

I do not like what you are saying

But thats like your opinion man

relax, it's not like i'm saying swagger's career should be on the line too.

btw, why does everyone scream when i use undertaker and wrestlemania in the same sentence?

[JoDaNa1281]

Apr 27, 2010 19:47:33 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

I'm not even a fan of Swagger, but I think this would be the strongest booking decision for the time being.

Unless there's a surprise twist coming and someone else major ends up on the blue brand, Smackdown's main event roster is TERRIBLE. I'm sorry, but it's not elevating anyone to have a bunch of upper-midcarders keep fighting each other the way they've fought each other with years, but with an extra prop in the middle of their feuds. That's just burying the WHC.

At this time last year, Swagger and Christian were feuding over the ECW title. Neither of them have gotten any significant victories or improved their kayfabe standings since then, but now they're fighting over the WHC. That doesn't make it look like they've improved or risen through the ranks, it just makes Smackdown look about as important to WWE as ECW used to be. I will be pleasantly surprised if Swagger vs. Christian WHC matches don't end up being used as ~5-10 minute curtain jerkers for the PPVs.

Who else is there? We've got several longtime veterans who are just a notch below the big main eventers (Rey, Big Show, Kane). It'd be nice to see one of them get one more "world" title reign, sure, but it wouldn't achieve much of anything. We've got the rising stars (Christian, Kofi... does MVP still count?) who've all feuded with and traded wins with Swagger over midcard belts before, and this would just be another chapter in that. And we've got Punk, who falls midway between the two groups, but doesn't stand to gain much by beating Kofi or Christian yet again, or even a babyface Swagger.

So, all things considered, you may as well leave the belt on Swagger. He *did* win a MitB, and did win the title from a real main eventer in Jericho, however unfairly. While the caliber of his opponents will be extremely subpar, getting a long reign at all will at least do something to put him over, and build anticipation for when he finally loses the title. It'll look a lot stronger than hotshotting the belt around to a bunch of guys who "deserve" to hold a world title whilst they've never been booked strong enough to look like they could manage it.

And, of course, Swagger's reign would finally end with a quick, Honky Tonk-like squash from a higher-profile star, right when the roster starts getting beefed up again to hype the move to SyFy. (I'd have Undertaker do the honors, but I expect that idea to go over very badly around these parts.)

Thoughts?

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Well, according to spoilers, it looks like Big Show's next in line for a WHC shot, so we'll have to wait on the Swagga/Christian feud.

[vivix]

Pair him with Vickie.
At 4way have him beat Punk/MVP/Taker(also have Show beat Kane, Mercury beat Mysterio)
At MITB have him and the RAW champ take on their top challengers(Swagger/Sheamus vs. Cena/Taker, Morrison wins MITB)
At Summerslam have him beat Taker thanks to Vickie, injure Taker after the match thanx to Show(also for Smackdown! have Rey/MVP/Kofi/JTG/Hardy vs. Punk/Gallows/Mercury/Shad/McIntyre and Christian vs. Show vs. Kane #1 contender)
At NOC have Swagger take down Christian.
-Kane wins battle royal on SD for title match.
At HIAC have him beat Kane but Taker returns and lays him out.
-Morrison announces MITB at Bragging Rights.
At Bragging Rights have Taker/Kane cost him the title against Morrison.
-rematch on SD with Swagger losing via countout b/c he runs from Taker.
At Survivor Series have Team Straight Edge Swagger against Brothers of Destruction(Swagger/Punk/Gallows/Mercury/Show against Taker/Kane/Christian/Rey/Kofi)
-Vickie puts her GM Role against Taker with Swagger/Taker tables match.
AT TLC have him finally lose to Taker in a Tables match, (also have Morrison vs. Christian vs. Punk in a LADDER match)
At RUMBLE let Swagger eliminate Taker and make it to the finals but come up just short to Edge (also have Punk vs. Christian for the title)
AT NWO have Swagger/Taker/Christian/Punk/Morrison/Show for the belt with Taker eliminating Swagger first with Punk winning the whole thing by getting a roll up on Taker.
WM27 Punk vs. Taker, Edge vs. Orton main events(Swagger/Morrison/Kofi/Christian rep SD in MITB)



Presto a Swagger run much like JBL's with Vickie helping him win and having back up like Drew/Shad/Show helping him cheat to win. Swagger becomes main event over the summer by feuding with Taker and coming out ahead for most of the yr with Taker finally winnning at TLC.

[allenfan69]

I'm not big on Swagger, but it looks like they're doing an angle where he's "growing into" the title. He had a rocky start, showed improvement against the Taker, got his breakthrough win on Orton. Now if he rattles off an impressive streak of title defenses, it'll demonstrate something that WWE has struggled with: growth of a character.

On the other hand, they may just blow the whole thing up and have him lose next week, who knows.

[Gus Richlen Was Wrong]

Apr 28, 2010 4:35:03 GMT -5 vivix said:

Pair him with Vickie.
At 4way have him beat Punk/MVP/Taker(also have Show beat Kane, Mercury beat Mysterio)
At MITB have him and the RAW champ take on their top challengers(Swagger/Sheamus vs. Cena/Taker, Morrison wins MITB)
At Summerslam have him beat Taker thanks to Vickie, injure Taker after the match thanx to Show(also for Smackdown! have Rey/MVP/Kofi/JTG/Hardy vs. Punk/Gallows/Mercury/Shad/McIntyre and Christian vs. Show vs. Kane #1 contender)
At NOC have Swagger take down Christian.
-Kane wins battle royal on SD for title match.
At HIAC have him beat Kane but Taker returns and lays him out.
-Morrison announces MITB at Bragging Rights.
At Bragging Rights have Taker/Kane cost him the title against Morrison.
-rematch on SD with Swagger losing via countout b/c he runs from Taker.
At Survivor Series have Team Straight Edge Swagger against Brothers of Destruction(Swagger/Punk/Gallows/Mercury/Show against Taker/Kane/Christian/Rey/Kofi)
-Vickie puts her GM Role against Taker with Swagger/Taker tables match.
AT TLC have him finally lose to Taker in a Tables match, (also have Morrison vs. Christian vs. Punk in a LADDER match)
At RUMBLE let Swagger eliminate Taker and make it to the finals but come up just short to Edge (also have Punk vs. Christian for the title)
AT NWO have Swagger/Taker/Christian/Punk/Morrison/Show for the belt with Taker eliminating Swagger first with Punk winning the whole thing by getting a roll up on Taker.
WM27 Punk vs. Taker, Edge vs. Orton main events(Swagger/Morrison/Kofi/Christian rep SD in MITB)



Presto a Swagger run much like JBL's with Vickie helping him win and having back up like Drew/Shad/Show helping him cheat to win. Swagger becomes main event over the summer by feuding with Taker and coming out ahead for most of the yr with Taker finally winnning at TLC.

so this means that in the end, taker beats punk for the belt, which i still say should have happened at wm26?

oh well, if it happens i'll be happy anyway. this sounds really good.

[ryan]

Yeah, I'd definitely let him keep it until SummerSlam at least. Christian ending his reign would be nice. Swagger winning feuds with Show, Rey, and Taker first would build up a pretty awesome reign.

[christiancage]

No, have him drop it at the Fatal 4 way ppv.

[husti]

Only if he starts to smile soon.......

[Tapout]

I'm a big supporter of Swagger but hate the SERIOUS BORING HEEL gimmick.

However, keeping the strap on him is the best thing to do right now, especially now that the Smackdown roster has been totally pillaged. They NEED people with some kind of star power and whatever scraps of credibility they can give him, they should, because there's hardly anyone else left to help carry the show.

[clifford]

Apr 28, 2010 6:52:28 GMT -5 allenfan69 said:

I'm not big on Swagger, but it looks like they're doing an angle where he's "growing into" the title. He had a rocky start, showed improvement against the Taker, got his breakthrough win on Orton. Now if he rattles off an impressive streak of title defenses, it'll demonstrate something that WWE has struggled with: growth of a character.

On the other hand, they may just blow the whole thing up and have him lose next week, who knows.

Yeah, absolutely. It'd be great to see him grow more confident and cocky with each successful defence.

I really do hope Swagger holds onto the title for a considerable amount of time, because there is no need to put the belt on anyone else on Smckdown at the moment. All the other contenders are either over enough not to need the belt (Taker, Rey, Punk, Show) or need to be bulit up a bit first (Christian, MVP, Kofi).