WWE Titles: Championships or Belts?

Last night, I submitted a rather controversial suggestion that TNA should drop championship titles from their promotion until they learn how to use them. 

If you happened to have sneezed or take a leak during the time that article was published, you probably missed it. 

Basically, here were my bullet points about the current state of TNA's Championship divisions: 

• Former X-Division Champion Frankie Kazarian never wore the X-Division Championship during his title run.  Douglas Williams ignored authority when he was 'stripped of the belt,' kept the belt, and then beat Kazarian in the ensuing rematch.  The 'title strip' angle, while it could have been used to build heat on the title, just made Frankie Kazarian's X-Division title reign and 'TNA Management' look silly. 
  
• The Knockouts champion was not pinned the last two times this belt switched hands.  One of those times involved the title changing hands in a box. 
  
• The Global Championship has no clearly defined purpose.  Just what is a Global Champion and how is it different from the world championship?  Eric Bischoff doesn't even know the answer to this question. 
  
• The last two holders of the TNA Tag Team Titles were not tag teams.  They were Matt Morgan (one person) and now The Band (three people).  These belts switched hands when Kevin Nash brought out a previously neglected briefcase that granted him an opportunity at the Tag Team Titles.  Could we care about those belts any less now? 
  
• The TNA Heavyweight Championship, while it has some value, recently switched hands on free TV with no build or hype.  Tell me how a major championship is supposed to have value when TNA doesn't feel you need to pay (or prepare) to see it change hands.
  

As bad as TNA has been with their belts, the WWE has made some questionable decisions of their own regarding their championships. 

An aging stroke victim in Bret Hart currently holds the United States Championship. 

The Intercontinental Championship was stripped from incumbent Drew McIntyre, then handed right back to him just one week later. 

There seems to be two women claiming to be Women's Champion, and both have belts.  

Now, I implore you, are these championships or belts?  For those of you who indeed did sneeze, blink, or pee last night, please refer to the following definitions as they will be pertinent to the remainder of this article: 

Championship (\'cham-pee-yon-ship\)- n .  1.  The position or title of a winner.  2.  An ardent defender of a person or cause.  3.  A competition, or series of competitions, held to determine a winner.

Belt (\'belt\)- n.  A flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist.  A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing, and it serves for style and decoration.

For this WWE state of the titles address, I will go down the list of each championship title in which the WWE boasts.

I will then explain whether I think it is considered to be a coveted championship or merely a belt. 

My decision will be based upon recent history as well as its current standing.   

I will also be integrating mentions of comparable TNA Championships, when I feel it is necessary, and how TNA's respective belts stack up against the WWE's Championships/Titles.

This aught to help with those crazy rumors that I've been secretly employed by the WWE to write for the Bleacher Report, despite virtually calling Vince McMahon a racist . 

WWE Championship

This one's easy. 

The last time we saw the WWE Championship change hands was at Wrestlemania, the grandaddy of them all. 

John Cena and Batista once again overachieved in the ring as a fantastically built storyline, that questioned whether or not Cena could beat Batista, was paid off with Cena making Batista tap out in the middle of the ring. 

The WWE Championship hasn't changed hands since, and we are set to witness the final match in the Batista/Cena saga this Sunday on pay per view.  

Not on free TV.  

Verdict

Championship. 

This championship has been known to change hands frequently in the past, but to the WWE's credit, they almost always make you pay for it by booking the switches to happen on pay per view.  

World Championship

The World Championship did in fact change hands on free television when Jack Swagger defeated Chris Jericho on Smackdown. 

However, the Money in the Bank briefcase was used by Swagger to earn an impromptu opportunity at the reigning champion. 

The same Money in the Bank briefcase that Jack Swagger won at Wrestlemania 26. 

With the Smackdown roster chock full of up and coming talent for the time being, all signs point to Jack Swagger leading the class of next generation wrestlers on the rise and enjoying a lengthy run as champion. 

Verdict

Championship. 

Jack Swagger's persona was completely changed to fit the model of a champion. 

He wears suits now. His demeanor has changed. He's constantly reminding us of how much of a winner he is. 

And whether you like it or not (I don't,) all these concerted efforts are being done to make you take Swagger more seriously as a champion. 

This is an example of a championship adding value and or quality to a performer. 

Intercontinental Championship

Many may look towards me complaining about Douglas Williams being stripped of the X-Division Championship and feel that I am a kettle calling the pot black by not mentioning the fact that Drew McIntyre was stripped of his Intercontinental Championship. 

Drew McIntyre was stripped of the Intercontinental Championship. 

But wait — When Drew McIntyre was stripped of his belt, Smackdown GM Teddy Long was the man who stripped him of the title. 

McIntyre was escorted out of the building by WWE Officials following a public firing. 

Then an Intercontinental Championship tournament was held to crown a new champion.  

A big deal was made out of the champion being stripped of the gold. 

Tell me, when Douglas Williams refused to give up his belt after being stripped of the title by TNA Management, who from TNA Management cared enough to take matters into their own hands? 

Nobody. 

No authority figure from TNA Management cared enough to physically strip Williams of the title. 

Because (Brace yourself TNA Diehard Fans) nobody of any importance in that company cares about the X-Division Belt. 

When's the last time you even heard the Hulkster say the words "X-Division Championship," BROTHER?! 

The finals in the Intercontinental tournament saw Christian and Kofi Kingston wage war in a very good match. 

And while Kofi had obviously deserved to be crown champion that night, the IC title was subsequently given right back to Drew McIntyre. 

Overbooked much? Yes. 

But wait. 

Now the Intercontinental title will be defended at the ensuing pay per view. 

Many will be behind Kofi in that match as feel that Drew McIntyre doesn't deserve the IC Title, implying that the title now has meaning. That, my friends, qualifies said belt as a championship.

Verdict

Championship. 

The Intercontinental Championship has been overbooked as of late, but it has also been one of the central focuses of the entire Smackdown show. 

When's the last time the X-Division Championship was the focus of anything other than a curtain jerker to get the crowd nice and wet for an Abyssamania comeback in the main event?

United States Championship

The United States Championship is currently being held by an aging stroke victim in the legendary Bret Hart. 

I guess that answers our question right there. 

But wait.

Bret Hart won the championship in his own home country on a special edition of RAW.  There was a loud pop to accompany the title switch, implying people were emotionally invested in seeing Bret win a championship. 

I remember when Rob Terry won the fraudulent Global title in his home country. 

At a house show. 

Way to pump the value in to that piece of tin. I'd be more excited to wear a condom.

The United States title now has instantaneous heat, as the next champion will either win it in a tournament or receive it from the legendary hands of Bret the Hitman Hart. 

But wait. 

The Miz, the previous United States Champion, seemed to have gone longer than a month without defending the title.  He was basically holding the thing hostage and may have violated the age old 'thirty day rule' for a champion. 

Although that rule seems to exist only when an injury or sudden departure occurs.

Sure the belt has value now, but The Miz didn't really even have a run as champion. 

I could probably name some UFC Champions who defended their belts more often than the Miz. 

Verdict

Belt — For now. 

Bret Hart as United States Champion makes that belt more interesting than it has ever been, however, I need to take a wait and see approach as it regards to that belt's future before I christen it a championship. 

Diva's Championship

Your current Diva's Champion is a woman who gets about as much heat as a meat locker in Eve Torres. 

But ever since Eve (for whatever reason) won the championship from Maryse, the two have been engaged in an impressive feud that now has some serious momentum. 

This past week on RAW, you may have noticed the Diva's working extra hard in a match where Maryse and Eve didn't touch each other as the tension between the two grew. 

Don't look now but the Diva's division should be getting some much needed attention during Wrestlemania hangover season.   

Now, the Diva's Championship will be defended at the Over the Limit pay per view. 

Bonus points. 

Verdict

Championship. 

Many felt that the Diva's division was left for dead because of how poorly the Diva's were booked during Wrestlemania season, but this happens to the Diva's that time every year. 

Wrestlemania is about the bigger stars headlining, and the Diva's unfortunately tend to get the short end of the stick. 

The Diva's division seems to be undergoing a revamping of sorts, and a Diva's title match on a pay per view doesn't hurt. 

Women's Championship

Two women are now walking around with the Women's Title as Laycool defeated Beth Phoenix in a handicap match. 

Cute.

However if you go to WWE.com, Layla El is solely recognized as the Women's Champion. 

This leads me to believe that the two will eventually become embroiled in a jealous feud for the undisputed Women's Championship. 

If done correctly, value can be added to the Women's Championship without the help of the talented Beth Phoenix who will be out of action with a torn ACL.  

If done correctly.

Verdict

Belt(s). 

There may be some questionable booking involved here, but the WWE is at least keeping it interesting. 

This is another wait and see situation where the two belts angle could very well become a complete disaster. 

Undisputed Tag Team Championships

Four belts between two wrestlers is a little much for my taste, however the tag team titles were once an afterthought in the WWE. 

Since the Jerishow era, an era that saw a tag team championship match main event a pay per view for the first time since 1998 , the Undisputed Tag Team Championships have gained value. 

With future Hall of Famer Chris Jericho back in the tag team picture with the WWE's fastest rising star Miz, Miz and Jericho will take on The Hart Dynasty for Undisputed Tag Team Titles. 

The Hart Dynasty won the Tag Team Titles with help from the legendary Bret Hart. 

Now that's how you use veteran talent to put the young guys over. 

Verdict

Championships. 

Say what you want to say about the lack of classic tag teams in the WWE, but in the last year or so they've done a good job of putting some emphasis on the Undisputed tag team Championships as these titles are routinely defended at pay per views. 

The WWE has done a solid job of getting heat on its Championships as most of its current championship situations seem to add value to the beltholder, which is what a championship is designed to do. 

Champions are only helped when the titles they hold carry meaning stemming from previous events as well as meaningful future encounters. 

Championships shuoldn't change hands in a box. They should change hands in the ring.  When an aging veteran holds a belt, he should use it to distinctly put over a young talent as opposed to attempt to defend the belts despite obvious physical limitations (the Band.) 

It doesn't hurt when a championship is changed under special circumstances, a la it one's home country, but it's even more special when a national television audience can witness it as well. 

There is an art form in making a belt more than simply a belt but a championship. Pristine booking, simplicity, and common sense all play a large parts.