Over the years a standard of one World, one Midcard, one Tag Team, and a Women’s Championship has been established in the industry.
For one roster that seems to be more than enough. Every standard division that makes for a balanced and fresh television product has a championship.
That does not eliminate the option to try something new. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, although currently being mistreated, is a great addition.
But you should be aware that the addition of a new championship should come within reason. Otherwise, you risk that all championships lose prestige.
During wrestling’s history, there have been many instances where a title was introduced and became yet another belt. With no direction. Creating little to no moments.
Today we are going to list championships that were either a bad idea from the start or became one down the line.
Let’s hope AEW’s new All-Atlantic Championship is not yet another championship with no point.
WWF European Championship
Probably as a marketing stunt the European championship was won by the British Bulldog in 1997 in the finals of a tournament in Germany.
Since then the title was won only by one other European, which was William Regal. And yes, the title was only rarely defended in Europe.
It became another midcard title that stood in no comparison to the Intercontinental Championship. Often times wrestlers even held both titles simultaneously.
This led WWE to discontinue the championship only 5 years after it was introduced. By July 2002 the championship was unified with the Intercontinental title.
WWE/NXT Cruiserweight Championship/WWF Lightheavyweight Championship/WWWF Junior Heavyweight Championship
WWE really tried this since the 1960s. Regardless of the name, the intention was always the same.
A championship for lighter, smaller athletes. But never was WWE fully able to capitalize on this as their main focus always has been on bigger talent.
A few years after its introduction the title was always rendered pointless. At one point Hornswoggle even won a version of this championship.
Maybe it is time to accept that sadly there is not a home for Cruiserweights in WWE.
WCW Hardcore Championship
The championship was introduced as ECW and later also WWF cashed in on the increased popularity of hardcore wrestling.
But WCW’s version always felt out of place as WCW was simply far from a hardcore promotion.
In addition, the boom had already reached its height when WCW introduced the championship in 1999.
Constantly changing rules did not help, the title was discontinued by 2001.
WCW Television Championship
This championship probably is the best on the bunch.
It lasted from 1974 all the way until April 2000 when the championship received a rather disrespectful ending, as it was thrown into the trash and then claimed by Jim Duggan who found it there.
Since the 1990s there was another midcard title in WCW. The WCW United States Championship carried over from the NWA.
The WCW United States Championship often times became the preferred midcard championship and therefore was more prominently featured.
Having two midcard titles often does not end well.
The spirit of the WCW United States gold lives on in today’s WWE United States Championship, while the television title is buried by the sands of time.
WWF World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship
Probably the oddest idea the WWF had in their early years.
Essentially it was a shoot wrestling title awarded from Vince McMahon Sr. to Antonio Inoki in 1978.
Since shoot wrestling is certainly not what WWF stands for the championship remained on Anoki.
Only Shota Chochishvili was able to take it from Anoki for a brief reign in 1989.
Anoki tried to carry the legacy of the championship in NJPW after the WWF abandoned it that same year but it was ultimately discontinued to make room for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
To make sure you stay updated with all the latest wrestling news, add WrestleTalk.com to your Google Discover feed and follow us on Twitter!
Comments.
Loading comments…