Multiman Matches at WrestleMania Reduce Meaning of Championships

WWE's move toward socialistic booking during WrestleMania season is rendering the one-on-one feud an endangered species. At WrestleMania 30, just three of the eight matches were singles contests. For WrestleMania 31, WWE is moving toward a similar path.

The WrestleMania empire was built on singles matches. Hulk Hogan's slam on Andre the Giant, Randy Savage's instant classic with Ricky Steamboat and a host of one-on-one clashes added meaning to championships.

Ahead of WrestleMania 31, it looks like two of WWE's four men's championships will be defended in multiman matches.

In recent weeks, WWE's intercontinental and tag team champions lost to unproven challengers who came out of the woodwork. While no Tag Team Championship match is currently booked, Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, Los Matadores, The New Day and The Usos continue to exchange wins on television.

Much like the crowded Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match, the parade of nonchampionship victories will likely give way to a group match. These crowded showdowns are haphazard excuses to include as many individuals and teams on the WrestleMania card as possible.

The more WWE Superstars contend for a championship in one match, the less that championship means. With so many eligible competitors, how important could these titles possibly be?

Air Date	Event	Opponent	Win/Loss
February 23, 2015	Raw	Dolph Ziggler	Loss
February 26, 2015	SmackDown	Daniel Bryan	Loss
March 2, 2015	Raw	Dean Ambrose	Loss
March 5, 2015	SmackDown	Dean Ambrose and Dolph Ziggler (teamed with Luke Harper)	Loss
March 9, 2015	Raw	Daniel Bryan	Loss
March 12, 2015	SmackDown	Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler and Dean Ambrose (teamed with Luke Harper and Stardust)	Loss

There's no real drama and backstory. The plot simply revolves around the champions looking so weak that any journeyman traveler who wins a match is named a contender.

There's no path or journey to the Intercontinental Championship that makes the title seem special. Simply steal the championship from an oblivious champion on a losing streak and punch a ticket to WrestleMania. The same goes for the Tag Team Championship, although to Kidd and Cesaro's credit, they've managed to keep the titles in their possession.

The abundance of WWE Superstars vying for one championship makes it sound coveted on paper. In fact, there's nothing wrong with multiple WWE Superstars clamoring for any given championship. But once they all receive a shot simultaneously, the standards are diminished. If half of the potential suitors for the Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships were deemed ineligible, the titles would develop prestige.

Unfortunately, just about every tag team who appears on television—and every midcarder not already booked in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal—will be allowed to compete for a title.

Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose have gone out of their way to mention what the Intercontinental Championship meant to them growing up. Both stated they have every intention of restoring honor to this once-meaningful title.

If six other contenders in that same match have the same message, it doesn't matter who wins. The question won't revolve around who will win.

The question becomes, quite simply, who cares?

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @ThisIsNasty and listen to his weekly wrestling podcast.