What makes a World Title a "World Title"?
Jun 5, 2015 13:27:36 GMT -5
TheShowJordanRichards likes this
Post by Shatter Machine on Jun 5, 2015 13:27:36 GMT -5
From the Top 10 thread: What makes a World Title a World Title?
I think there are a few factors, first and foremost is who sees the title defended? Is it defended in large arenas, on TV, and on Pay-Per-View? If it's defended on TV but that TV is the local cable access channel in Bumfuck, Kansas. then no, it's probably not. The same if it's defended on PPV, but it's some rinky-dink internet-only PPV. (not to say that all internet PPV's are rinky dink, just putting it out there.)
Second, are the wrestlers contending for it major stars? I don't mean are they good in the ring, although that usually helps to being a star. If the guys chasing the title are big names, like Cena, Nakamura, Hogan or Flair, then yes, the claim is lent a little more legitimacy.
Third, do the fans recognize it as a World Title? If the fans buy into it, then it probably is a World Title.
As a young fan, I always considered the Big Three North American promotions (WWF, NWA, AWA, and later WCW) that had claims to the "World Championship" to be the only world championships, and that was probably due to the influence of PWI and the other Apter mags. The (W)WWF/E World Title was definitely a World Championship from it's formation, except for the few years that the WWWF was part of the NWA. (They actually dropped their title down a notch and made it less than the NWA World Title.) The NWA World Title was a World Title from the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1948 until WCW withdrew in 1991 or so. The title was defended all over the world, but wasn't really on TV or known about by most fans after WCW just changed the name of the belt and didn't tell anyone what was going on. The NWA Title came back into the forefront a couple of times, first in WCW and NJPW, then with TNA, but it's fallen by the wayside again. The WCW World title falls into the same category as the (W)WWF/E title, in that it was defended in front of a lot of people, contended for by major stars, and recognized by the fans. The AWA World Title was one that was always a conundrum to me. It was supposed to be this prestigious championship, but the guys who held it were either A.) Old or B.) Really gimmicky. Nevertheless, it was defended around the world and was on TV a lot.
Later on, the ECW Title became recognized as a World Title, and I bought it for a bit, mostly because it was on TV, the crowds were great, and it was on PPV. Small problem that they never really defended it outside of North America, so maybe. The TNA title, after the split from the NWA really falls into the same category for me, although there are times it was defended abroad.
I've always thought of the IWGP and Triple Crown as World Titles, as both are perceived as such by the fans and are on TV all the time. Not so much with the GHC. The name sounds like they were trying to manufacture some prestige for it, but virtually nobody outside of Japan could tell you what GHC stands for. I'm not trying to piss of NOAH fans, I just don't think that the GHC is a major championship outside of Japan.
To sum up: , NWA fom 1948-1991, AWA (until about 1990), WCW (1991-2002), IWGP, And Triple Crown are all legitimate World Titles. ECW and TNA are iffy, NWA in the early 90's and 2000's is iffy, and my vote is no on the GHC. Thoughts?
I think there are a few factors, first and foremost is who sees the title defended? Is it defended in large arenas, on TV, and on Pay-Per-View? If it's defended on TV but that TV is the local cable access channel in Bumfuck, Kansas. then no, it's probably not. The same if it's defended on PPV, but it's some rinky-dink internet-only PPV. (not to say that all internet PPV's are rinky dink, just putting it out there.)
Second, are the wrestlers contending for it major stars? I don't mean are they good in the ring, although that usually helps to being a star. If the guys chasing the title are big names, like Cena, Nakamura, Hogan or Flair, then yes, the claim is lent a little more legitimacy.
Third, do the fans recognize it as a World Title? If the fans buy into it, then it probably is a World Title.
As a young fan, I always considered the Big Three North American promotions (WWF, NWA, AWA, and later WCW) that had claims to the "World Championship" to be the only world championships, and that was probably due to the influence of PWI and the other Apter mags. The (W)WWF/E World Title was definitely a World Championship from it's formation, except for the few years that the WWWF was part of the NWA. (They actually dropped their title down a notch and made it less than the NWA World Title.) The NWA World Title was a World Title from the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance in 1948 until WCW withdrew in 1991 or so. The title was defended all over the world, but wasn't really on TV or known about by most fans after WCW just changed the name of the belt and didn't tell anyone what was going on. The NWA Title came back into the forefront a couple of times, first in WCW and NJPW, then with TNA, but it's fallen by the wayside again. The WCW World title falls into the same category as the (W)WWF/E title, in that it was defended in front of a lot of people, contended for by major stars, and recognized by the fans. The AWA World Title was one that was always a conundrum to me. It was supposed to be this prestigious championship, but the guys who held it were either A.) Old or B.) Really gimmicky. Nevertheless, it was defended around the world and was on TV a lot.
Later on, the ECW Title became recognized as a World Title, and I bought it for a bit, mostly because it was on TV, the crowds were great, and it was on PPV. Small problem that they never really defended it outside of North America, so maybe. The TNA title, after the split from the NWA really falls into the same category for me, although there are times it was defended abroad.
I've always thought of the IWGP and Triple Crown as World Titles, as both are perceived as such by the fans and are on TV all the time. Not so much with the GHC. The name sounds like they were trying to manufacture some prestige for it, but virtually nobody outside of Japan could tell you what GHC stands for. I'm not trying to piss of NOAH fans, I just don't think that the GHC is a major championship outside of Japan.
To sum up: , NWA fom 1948-1991, AWA (until about 1990), WCW (1991-2002), IWGP, And Triple Crown are all legitimate World Titles. ECW and TNA are iffy, NWA in the early 90's and 2000's is iffy, and my vote is no on the GHC. Thoughts?
