So how do title changes get decided on behind the scenes

[dirtyoldman]

Is there a secret meeting of robed figures where Vince (or any owner) appears and says,
"I have decided, after much delibraeration with the others, Wrestler B has been choosen to be gifted the intercontentioal champion...but first..bring wrestler A to me"
Wrestler A is taken into the secret meeting
"I regret to inform you..we have decieded..you must relinquish the title"
"No no no, you cant do this to me..please no no no..i beg you"
"Silence now bring wrestler B before me"
Wrestler B is then told in the secret cermoney that he is to be given a reign of 1 month with possible extension. He leaves, after being made to swear a blood oath not to speak about it, but has tears of joy in his eyes..


OR


Guy in a suit: Hey wreslter A, tell Wrestler B when you see him. he's taking over the IC belt for the next month.
Wreslter A: no worries, he's gone to the john, i'll tell him when he gets back.

wreslter A tells B

Wreslter B: Fair enough. You want McDonalds or Chinese? I'm starving.

wrestler A: Pizza?


Bottom line..how much deliberating goes into it..and is it a big deal to get it or have it taken off you?

[A Platypus Rave]

they shake a special magic 8 ball.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

They ask the Magic Conch

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Accrording to Jericho Vince walked up to him in chartering and said "Ugh, you know business is bad when you're gonna make Jericho the champion". And wandered off.

[Joe Neglia]

The way it works these days, every situation is gonna be a bit different. Kinda been that way forever, really. Some workers are told ahead of time what a program/feud is planned to include, some walk into a show and are told there's been a decision to do a title change. The way things are constantly being written and rewritten up until the time the guys walk out onto the entrance ramp, workers getting injured or falling out of/into favor, etc., even the planned-out ones can change.

One of the more unique old-school ways was Vince Sr., who would not only tell his guys ahead of time they were getting a belt, but would have an exact date lined up already on when they were going to drop it, even if it was 2-3 years in the future. And held to it, for good or ill (See: Graham, Superstar)

[Mozenrath]

I want to say Shelton Benjamin found out he'd be IC champion right before being sent to the ring, for one of the Taboo Tuesdays, since they didn't know who would win the poll.

Nash in the Diesel days didn't have a whole lot of foreknowledge of his title win, I think, but it wasn't quite THAT abrupt.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Jan 4, 2017 17:00:03 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I want to say Shelton Benjamin found out he'd be IC champion right before being sent to the ring, for one of the Taboo Tuesdays, since they didn't know who would win the poll.

Nash in the Diesel days didn't have a whole lot of foreknowledge of his title win, I think, but it wasn't quite THAT abrupt.

Jericho says he told him IN the ring he was winning it.

[Mozenrath]

Jan 4, 2017 18:10:56 GMT -5 Cranjis McBasketball said:

Jan 4, 2017 17:00:03 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I want to say Shelton Benjamin found out he'd be IC champion right before being sent to the ring, for one of the Taboo Tuesdays, since they didn't know who would win the poll.

Nash in the Diesel days didn't have a whole lot of foreknowledge of his title win, I think, but it wasn't quite THAT abrupt.

Jericho says he told him IN the ring he was winning it.

Dang.

[Ted Sheckler]

I used to help out with ring crew at a local independent because I had a friend who did some refereeing occasionally. My favourite moment of being "involved" was a wrestler who had won a midcard independent championship in his hometown the month before and in this new town was told he had to drop the belt. Basically the promoters had got some good press from him in his hometown so had him win the belt for a "feel good moment" but clearly didn't see him as a long term option.

So I happened to be backstage when the wrestler who was to lose found out via the booking sheet on the wall that he was to lose his belt and after having a couple of drinks or whatever said to his sister that he couldn't believe they were doing this to him. He had a talk with the promoter and after being told he still had to drop the belt started to physically cry. Not openly sobbing but teary eyed and definitely emotional.

To the dudes credit he eventually got it together and did the job but that's an example of someone finding out. The promoters obviously assumed he didn't care and always had it in mind for him to drop it the next month, made the decision among themselves and just booked it much to the dismay of the performer. Kind of funny thinking about it to be honest.

[Sparvid]

www.wrestlingclassics.com/mu/mu-st/mu-st-stasiak.html

This was Stan's second or third tour with the WWF. Every time he went to New York it was the same thing. Three weeks of TV matches and a tour around the house show circuit to collect a win to set up the main event for the next card in the town. After that, it was in the main event against Pedro Morales for the title. He wrestled Pedro dozens of times and never won. It didn't bother Stan at all. He was main eventing in one of the Mecca's of pro wrestling, getting paid very well and had no problem doing business.

He was sitting in the dressing room in Philadelphia and the road agent came to discuss the match. Stan considered this a formality as he had been having the same discussion, nearly verbatim, in every major city on the Eastern seaboard for the last two months. In fact, it was the same conversation that Stan had over and over the last couple of times he had wrestled in the territory.

Here is how Stan relayed the conversation:

WWF official: Pedro makes the big comeback and gives you a belly-to-back.
Stan (bored): Uh-huh
WWF official: The referee will go down to make the count.
Stan (paying about half attention while he tied his boots): Right...
WWF official: The referee will count "one, two..."
Stan (matter-of-factly): Of course...
WWF official: At two, you roll your right shoulder...

Stan now looks up to pay attention realizing this must be a false finish leading to another spot after which Morales would hit the top rope splash for the win.

WWF official (matter-of-factly): Pedro's shoulders will still be down and the referee will hit three.

Stan completely stopped what he was doing as he took a long look at the official.
After a long pause that seemed like several minutes, the official offered nothing else so Stan spoke.

Stan (somewhat confused): You mean I win?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
WWF official (matter-of-factly): Yes.
Stan: Is this a title match?
WWF official (matter-of-factly): Uh-huh.

Stan was really confused now as the official just stared at him blankly.

Stan (in disbelief): You mean I win the title?
WWF official (somewhat impatiently): Yes.