Does Everyone Want To Be A Champion/Main Eventer?

[Nadeem Ahmad]

Originally Posted by Chicago1989

These other mid-carders seem to just not care about ascending and become too comfortable in their comfort zone.

These are the guys that need to be released to stop taking space. In my opinion - David Otunga, Yoshi Tatsu, Hunico and Camacho, Curt Hawkins, Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal, Mason Ryan, Tensai, and Ted Dibiase are guys that show lack of passion and look like they're only there for a paycheck. I don't like that attitude.

I do like that attitude, and I like it a lot, because I view professional wrestling as a stupid business in general, despite being a fan of the art, but keep in mind that it's the industry which I feel a problem with. For that reason, I'm happy to see a lot of "regular" workers in that field trying to take advantage of a system that shouldn't exist according to what I see as morality, and "going there for a paycheck", like Chris Jericho, who is perceived as being able to come and go as he pleases, even though that may not be the case.

Edit: To think of it in less serious terms and less political views, use the example of the era with attitude as an analogy. At first, when not following wrestling, I was upset that Steve Austin was beating up the boss of the company, for what seemed like no justified reason, but when I saw how cruel bosses and people at the top of industries are, I couldn't get enough of it! I then LOVED how people like Triple H too would abuse the boss, even though I was wrong to feel that way, but yeah it was a "storyline".

[MCMG]

Of course everyone wants to be a champ. A wrestler would be crazy otherwise. I'm sure the first target is making to WWE/TNA. After that the sky is the limit. Some wrestlers will be content to collect their paycheck but their ultimate goal will be a belt. I get they could be doing simply as another job but why wouldn't you like to be a champion as well.

I'll take the Miz as an example. At one point it looked very bleak for him. He worked hard and won the tag-titles. Eventually he beat John Cena in the Wresltmania main event to keep the WWE title. Just think about that. Can you imagine if Justin Gabriel was beating CM punk in the main event of WM32.

[King Kong Bundy]

In the end it really depends on the wrestler you are talking about. I have to imagine that every wrestler wants to one day be able to have the world title around his waist but the dangers of being champion can easily outweigh the benefits. You have to be prepared to take risks and go to places you haven't gone before. But if you are already making enough to keep you and your family steady than what is the harm in waiting? I have a hard time believing people are trying to avoid matches but I don't have a hard time believing that there are a good handful who are happy to wait for the limelight because chances are it will eventually dawn on them.

[One to Remember]

Not wanting to be WWE or WHC champion or on Cena/Trips/Rock/Orton level doesn't mean necessarily that someone is wasting a spot or not grateful or is undermining the charm of pro wrestling or whatever critical point some of you were trying to make.

You got 3 hours of Raw, you need certain levels of wrestlers for the 1st hour, a slightly higher echelon for the 2nd then main eventers for the last 45 minutes. I wouldnt be able to stomach Raw if the 10:45 pm calibers were going hard at 8pm, and 9pm and a bunch of other viewers would feel that over load too.

I like the segments provided by Santino, I like the antics of Prime Time Players, I loved how Otunga quoted legal statutes even though that happened more often then him wrestling. I like seeing Khali engage in specialty matches or defend his friends more then him holding the World title. WWE just gets more value out of him being involved in drama or chivalry. That tickles my intrigue.

Wrestlers can be on the roster for the sake of making cash. Professional wrestling is apart of entertainment, its a division of Hollywood.. You need to accept some guys or gals are on the roster just to be seen, to build a name, to help them be on a dancing show or in a movie or sitcom. Thats why Jericho can host for most of VH1s shows, hes already a celebrity in the entertainment universe. If he were an collegiate wrestler he could easily use that to get an ESPN commentator gig or the sports anchor on Good Morning America. Most industries keep it in the family, the issue is some of you guys here dont know what family rasslin is in..

Another thing, guys like Jeff Hardy, Nash, and Hall didn't care about titles or the mainevent but they got them anyways. The WWF/WWE and WCW still benefited off of their placement even when it wasn't deserved. Matt worked harder and in theory deserved the accolades Jeff was bestowed. Lance Storm deserved to hold thE WCW World title along side the other 3 titles he held and was a very hard worker yet Nash was still being given multiple WCW title runs. The risks of Storm at the helm vs Nash or Hollywood Hogan with the strap undermined the whole principle of "deservability" anyway..

[8thwotwATG]

Having never set foot in the ring, I'd be lying if I said I knew the exact answer to this question. Certainly, it would seem to me that anyone who deigns to set foot into the ring is possessing of enough ego and pride that once they complete their training and are ready to start to earn a living as a professional wrestler, they must have SOME aspirations to be the top talent in the business.
Professional wrestlers are not unlike other professional athletes in that there are those whose natural ability and other personal gifts(i.e. understanding of their craft, and adaptability to the rigors of their chosen sport among others)may find themselves heading to the upper echelons of the business faster than others who got their start at the same time, or even before. Also like other professional athletes, making it to the professional ranks certainly doesn't guarantee superstardom, or even notoriety. Many, many individuals are driven, even if for no other reason than love of the game, to pursue a career in sports, or sports entertainment, only to find out that, like any other pursuit of this nature, only the very best of the best make it to the top.
I suspect that anyone who manages to make it into wrestling at a relatively high level(i.e., TNA or WWE), probably still holds aspirations of achieving the very top of the pecking order in their company, even if they know deep down that it will most likely never happen.

[Leakee]

I would imagine a wrestler, working in the indie promotions would aspire to be the top champion of that particular promotion, but once called up to the WWE its a completely different lifestyle. The midcard wrestlers have to travel far enough without appearing on talkshows, or posing for magazines or getting memorabilia created for them. I'm sure for the main event guys like John Cena or The Rock, even people like Rey Mysterio who is a recognisable face probably has a difficult work schedule due to most people being able to recognise his face, even if they're not a fan of the WWE or wrestling as a whole. For me its not only guys who are in the main event, its the Kane's, the Rey Mysterio's who have a recognisable face (Or Mask) who are going to have the most difficult time with life in the WWE. The reason being they are recognised outside of wrestling.

[WrestleLegend]

Trent Barreta once said "I am not here to be WWE champion.I am here because I love wrestling...."
On the other hand The Rock once said in one of his DVDs "If you are not here to win the WWE Championship,you should'nt be here".
This can't be said that some superstars are not given opportunity because there is Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank that can be said if they are not even given opportunities in those matches.

[Blaze]

I think everyone WANTS to be a main-eventer, just does what they are told. Tyson Kidd, great worker, not a main eventer. I bet that he'd love to have a World Championship around his waist. Same thing for Kofi Kingston, he's never gotten a main event push, and he does so much work for the company. These guys don't come to the WWE to be comedic relief, or to be a career mid-carder or tag team partner. They want a World Title.