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Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Feb 6, 2022 23:03:48 GMT -5
Inspired by reading the debates in that IC Title Being On Lock thread in WWE current.
I’d say…
1. The matches for the championship. The best is consistently great matches where every one feels important. I love a fighting champion (IE Bret Hart, Cena with his US Title Challenges, Etc.), but those have to be booked very carefully and an extent I’d argue sparingly. You don’t want to make it always seems like just anyone can have a title match for any title.
2. The quality of the wrestler holding the title. Not necessarily as an in-ring performer, but just as a memorable performer. People have no shortage of opinions about who the worst IC champ ever is. Warrior is seldom mentioned.
3. The length a champion actively holds a title for. I love great long reigns. Hogan in the 1980’s WWF, Ric Flair in the NWA/WCW, etc. But it is VERY important that the wrestler is active as champion. Things like Shane Douglas holding the ECW titles for months while injured look really lame. Even things that in theory could work like final boss Brock can come off really badly when not booked carefully enough.
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Bo Rida
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Post by Bo Rida on Feb 7, 2022 2:25:58 GMT -5
1. Wrestlers value it. Promos, fueds, betrayals, going the extra mile in title matches. That extends to commentary, authority figures etc treating it with the same respect. Everything should point to it being a valued prize.
2. Exclusivity - Shouldn't feel like wrestlers are just taking turns.
3. Ability of title holders. World titles in particular should be held by the best, not the likes of Jinder. Other titles still need wrestlers that excel at some element of wrestling even if a Honky Tonk Man or Santino style run.
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H-Virus
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Post by H-Virus on Feb 7, 2022 8:10:35 GMT -5
1. Wrestlers value it. Promos, fueds, betrayals, going the extra mile in title matches. That extends to commentary, authority figures etc treating it with the same respect. Everything should point to it being a valued prize. This one here is pretty much the only one that matters to me. If you want people to care about a title, then show us that it’s a title worth having. |
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Feb 7, 2022 8:47:52 GMT -5
1) Wrestlers should be interested in the title, of course. Really, if you’re aiming for believability then the belts should be the basic goal and focus of the roster. Grudge matches are needed to keep things varied and focused, but they’re the easiest way to start the kind of storylines that make wrestling great. And even if you’re trying to do a narrative focused show and don’t want to be that sports centric, it’s good to have some sort of trophy or prize on hand so fans can tell who’s strong and who isn’t as strong. Don’t have characters claim a belt isn’t important, they can be arrogant about their power level but they can’t be ignoring how much money those titles add to their fight purse or the legacy that belt represents.
2) Try to keep the champions strong. This should be adjusted for storyline and character purposes obviously, and they can and should sell for the challenger, but they shouldn’t be consistently dropping non-title matches. Something like maybe one singles loss during a five-month run for an important angle is fine, maybe one multi-tag match to show that the challenger is a threat depending on how the TV time is used. But they shouldn’t be taking L’s week after week, even if they’re a scummy heel they need to successfully cheat to win. If it’s a jobber or low tier guy, that jobber should be doomed, even if it’s a television champ. A face champ can and should take one good beat down from a monster challenger for sympathy, but they can’t be too dumb or getting scrubbed out too often to where it stops becoming sympathetic and looks pathetic.
3) Good champion quality. Being able to consistently have exciting matches is part of that, because even between junior and heavyweight divisions, your champions will have different wrestling styles, but they should all be able to connect with the crowd and keep them engaged during a longer main event match. They should be interesting and unique enough to rep your company well and be marketable, even if they don’t become A-listers on the cover of magazines overnight (because more than likely they won’t, Rock was an exception to everything). They don’t have to be perfect but at the least, they should stay out of trouble or jail, and avoid saying too many insane or dumb stuff online.
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tafkaga
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Post by tafkaga on Feb 7, 2022 12:24:44 GMT -5
Make it so that it goes through belt loops and is actually functional instead of just aesthetic.
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chrom
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Post by chrom on Feb 7, 2022 12:32:31 GMT -5
1. Wrestlers value it. Promos, fueds, betrayals, going the extra mile in title matches. That extends to commentary, authority figures etc treating it with the same respect. Everything should point to it being a valued prize. This one here is pretty much the only one that matters to me. If you want people to care about a title, then show us that it’s a title worth having. As many problems as he has, Austin Aries was right when he blasted Brian Kendrick for claiming the X Division Title didn't mean anything |
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Feb 7, 2022 13:09:10 GMT -5
Make it so that it goes through belt loops and is actually functional instead of just aesthetic. How about a special pair of championship jeans then? The Southern Heavyweight Golden Pants? |
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Allie Kitsune
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Post by Allie Kitsune on Feb 7, 2022 13:16:49 GMT -5
Make it so that it goes through belt loops and is actually functional instead of just aesthetic. How about a special pair of championship jeans then? The Southern Heavyweight Golden Pants? An entire Golden Tuxedo, complete with bowtie and top hat. And the Champion must wear it for their entrances. |
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Post by KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!! on Feb 7, 2022 13:21:10 GMT -5
1. Wrestlers value it. Promos, fueds, betrayals, going the extra mile in title matches. That extends to commentary, authority figures etc treating it with the same respect. Everything should point to it being a valued prize. This one here is pretty much the only one that matters to me. If you want people to care about a title, then show us that it’s a title worth having. It seems like it should be really important and it is, but I’d argue it’s not the end all, be all. Case in point a reason of what made me start this thread was the discussion in the thread mentioned in the OP. Miz talks up the IC title like it’s the greatest thing on earth. That’s great! But then he disappeared to film a movie for two months and a good amount of people didn’t even notice. |
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Feb 7, 2022 14:17:10 GMT -5
This one here is pretty much the only one that matters to me. If you want people to care about a title, then show us that it’s a title worth having. It seems like it should be really important and it is, but I’d argue it’s not the end all, be all. Case in point a reason of what made me start this thread was the discussion in the thread mentioned in the OP. Miz talks up the IC title like it’s the greatest thing on earth. That’s great! But then he disappeared to film a movie for two months and a good amount of people didn’t even notice. That was probably Marine 6, right? Miz has been a pretty good midcard champ IMO, what that was I think is how Vince loves to push Miz into outside appearances a lot like DWTS and the reality show and he probably believed that another movie would help him and the belt. |
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Post by sportatorium on Feb 7, 2022 18:16:47 GMT -5
There's one thing:
Wrestlers who are booked to make the championship the most important thing in their program.
WWE has devalued their belts for the most part because someone can drop the IC (or whatever) belt and barely seem to care. The storylines around the belts have to be about the belts. Otherwise, don't feature champions or championships in them.
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Wardlow on Wardlow 54
Wade Wilson
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Post by Wardlow on Wardlow 54 on Feb 7, 2022 18:58:30 GMT -5
William Regal was great at making the WCW TV Title feel equal to, if not bigger than, the World Title. Especially during the era where Hogan was Champion and would only show up every few months and defend it less than that. Regal took the TV Title and said, "I'm going to defend this title all around the World and make it mean something" and then did. That's what makes a great title reign, is truly believing the title you're holding matters.
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