When Undertaker chose his WM 23 opponent

[Kev The Omniscient]

They brought out all three champions at that time, WWE, World, and ECW, to see who the Undertaker would face at WM because he won the Royal Rumble. The title holders were Cena, Batista, and Lashley, respectively. Cena and Batista had titles that you could imagine the Undertaker going after.

But, seeing all three champs in a row in the ring in front of the Undertaker, did ANY fan believe for one second that the Undertaker would challenge anybody for the ECW championship?

I just found Lashley being out there as weird but, I suppose they were trying to value the ECW championship as highly as the World and WWE titles. Am I overthinking this or what?

[Cronant]

I remember them trying to spend it a certain way.

That same segment had Orton,HBK, and Edge all show up to go after Cena's belt, while Taker chose Batista's.

So Vince tried to play it off as "Maybe they're all scared of Lashley!!" lol.

[Chiral]

And Lashley didn't even defend the belt at Wrestlemania 23.

[Perpetual Nirvana]

I find it funny they actually treated the Rumble winner going after the ECW title as a viable option, then the next year ECW champion Chavo Guerrero actually enters the Royal Rumble match.

[Starshine]

The great, BAHBEE LASHLEE!

[fw91]

yeah, hard to imagine that the ecw championship was actually treated like a world title for a few months

[basicxdugganomix]

ERA OF TEH MUSCLES

[-Lithium-]

Alberto Del Rio should challenge for the NXT World Title, and promptly lose his WM shot when hes informed there is no such title. Cena goes to WM in his place, and wins...

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Don't forget that Christian seemed miffed that Edge never gave a second thought to challenging the ECW title at Wrestlemania 26. At least until he found out that the ECW brand would not exist by Wrestlemania 26.

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

The best thing about teasing Taker going after Lashley was Taker appearing in the ring at the end of one episode of ECW, and the ref bailed.

[M. Dirrty]

Feb 3, 2011 0:33:29 GMT -5 Jedi-El of Tomorrow said:

The best thing about teasing Taker going after Lashley was Taker appearing in the ring at the end of one episode of ECW, and the ref bailed.

I was at that taping here in Houston. They taped SD first and did the ECW Live.

So we are thinking Taker chose his opponent earlier and was still going after Lashley after that. We had to sit back and think about it for a second.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Feb 2, 2011 22:13:24 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

Alberto Del Rio should challenge for the NXT World Title, and promptly lose his WM shot when hes informed there is no such title. Cena goes to WM in his place, and wins...

How about he challenges Zeke for the ECW title. And Zeke looks confused at what he is even talking about.

[YellowJacketY2J]

I still wish he would have challenged Lashley for the ECW Championship, solely for the reaction(s).

[skulldouggory]

This always reminds me of the 2009 rumble, during the time they were building that Tommy Dreamer wanted the ECW title, but he never was in contention. I Thought since it does'nt matter who wins the rumble these days, since most of the time they go after the smackdown title, and its in the middle of the card anyway. I thought they should of had Tommy win the rumble, and really cement how much ECW ment to him, and he chooses to face Jack Swagger at WM.

1. It makes the belt worth something.
2. WWE is free to make Triple H, Cena or Orton the main event anyway.
3. Finally an ECW title match at Mania that would last more than 8 seconds.
4. Pushes Tommy Dreamer for one last run.

[YellowJacketY2J]

Feb 3, 2011 2:15:07 GMT -5 skulldouggory said:

This always reminds me of the 2009 rumble, during the time they were building that Tommy Dreamer wanted the ECW title, but he never was in contention. I Thought since it does'nt matter who wins the rumble these days, since most of the time they go after the smackdown title, and its in the middle of the card anyway. I thought they should of had Tommy win the rumble, and really cement how much ECW ment to him, and he chooses to face Jack Swagger at WM.

1. It makes the belt worth something.
2. WWE is free to make Triple H, Cena or Orton the main event anyway.
3. Finally an ECW title match at Mania that would last more than 8 seconds.
4. Pushes Tommy Dreamer for one last run.

The sad thing is, the ECW Championship wasn't even defended at Wrestlemania 25.

[vajayajayava]

They didn't value the ECW title. They valued Lashley, Big Show, Kane, and to a small extent Matt Hardy & Mark Henry.

If it had been RVD or an original holding the title at the time, they'd be nowhere near Undertaker, Trips, or HBK in any contention for a WM main event title match.

[TheDieselTrain]

Feb 2, 2011 21:11:04 GMT -5 Cronant said:

So Vince tried to play it off as "Maybe they're all scared of Lashley!!" lol.

lol I remember that bathrurds dont wanna mess wit bob-bay!!!!!!

[H-Fist]

Feb 3, 2011 0:54:48 GMT -5 Drillbit Taylor said:

Feb 2, 2011 22:13:24 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

Alberto Del Rio should challenge for the NXT World Title, and promptly lose his WM shot when hes informed there is no such title. Cena goes to WM in his place, and wins...

How about he challenges Zeke for the ECW title. And Zeke looks confused at what he is even talking about.

Alberto's quirky English and Zeke's quirky English? Dear Lord Alfred, help us to understand the promos...

[Deleted]

I'm still trying to understand in the Night of Champions 2007 WWE title match why Lashley qualified as a former world champion but Sandman didn't.

[YellowJacketY2J]

Feb 3, 2011 2:53:20 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

I'm still trying to understand in the Night of Champions 2007 WWE title match why Lashley qualified as a former world champion but Sandman didn't.

I think he was inserted into the mix because he was stripped of the ECW title thanks to the brand split.