ECW Title's Prestige Discussion

[Kenny Powers]

I'm pretty sure the ECW title was dead and buried long before even RVD won it at One Night Stand. After Taz and Rhyno were the ECW champions before the company folded was the last time it meant anything. Especially after Rhyno burned the ECW title on TNA during a wicked promo. When RVD won the title and WWE title at One Night Stand it was huge until of course Big Show and even Vince McMahon ruined it by becoming ECW Champions. Lashley and CM Punk brought some excitement but it was never seen more then a mid card title. The ECW title now is more like a developmental title for new talent. Maybe Christian and Miz could have a feud if Miz is going there. They have the talent to do something new they just haven't done it yet.

 

[Christian Battlez]

You could argue that the ECW title is more prestigious than either of WWE's other main titles. It consistantly has great matches contested over for it. Its not ****ed around either. Its also the only title on its show so everyone has to go for it making it more esteemed. ECW title > WWE or WHC.

 

[darbare]

aw man i was jus thinkin about this the other day. okay when rvd first brought it back i considered it a world title, like the world heavyweight and wwe title. they even billed him as a two time champ. then big show won it, still making it a world title. bobby lashley wins it and I still considered a major world title. vince wins it, its still a world title cuz vince doesnt want to hold a midcard title. i considered vince a two time champ then. lashley wins it back and becomes a two time champ. the title is vacated and when benoit was supposed to win the title looked good. then once morrison formerly nitro wins it, i dont consider it a legit world title anymore. they even changed the name of it from ecw world title, to ecw title. it makes sense that anyone from rvd up to lashley was considered a world champion.

 

[Kanye South]

You could argue that the ECW title is more prestigious than either of WWE's other main titles. It consistantly has great matches contested over for it. Its not ****ed around either. Its also the only title on its show so everyone has to go for it making it more esteemed. ECW title > WWE or WHC.

I say the ECW Championship is what the Intercontinental Championship was back in the day. While the IC Title had some great matchups, guys like Hogan and Savage were who people paid to watch. I think of ECW as a stepping stone. While the IC/US Titles are for Mid-Carders, the ECW Title is for the people above Mid-Card Status, but below Main Event Status.

 

[Billie Jean]

I think when the title was re introduced in 2006 it was great. It was held as high in hounor as the WWE and WHC. Big Shows reign was one of the best in recent years and it made it seem like a completley diffrent show altogether.

But then one man won it...Vincent Kenedy mcMahon. I think thjis is where the prestege of the title skyrocketed, just the wrong way.How could a 60 year old man be better than a whole roster of fit young guys? It just wasnt beliveble.

But you never know maybe one day it might get its prestege back. But it would take one talented guy!

 

[Nascarman]

I think it is equal to the IC US titlt they tried to make it big but when chris Benit went crazy and it fell to then johny nitro and punk to fight over it was clealy a mid card titel.
however with Christen as ECW Champ it is helping. Christen needs the belt and it needs him. i dont know how many people saw his 2nt NWA title run in TNA or his matches with angle as a face but in my opion he is bigger than the ECW title.

 

[Spunky]

The only thing that REALLY hurts the ECW title, Is that as soon as someone wins it(or comes very close), Then moves to another show, They are usually in the hunt for the midcard title. Look at people like Shelton, Morrison, The Miz, The Big Show, Kane, Jack Swagger, They all went after mid card titles, Or midcard feuds that really made the competition look weak on ECW.

The trio of Jack Swagger, Christian, And Dreamer, Have brought back some prestige in the way they went all out to win it, On several occasions. It also helps if the title is held by someone for a decnt period of time too.

 

[jrichardson25]

The fall of ECW was probably around the time of Vengeance 2007 everyone knows how tainted that night became. I feel in order to add credibility back to ECW and step it up the veterans on the show (Dreamer, Christian, Regal) need to step up their game and possibly the ECW Champion have a Champion vs Champion match against either the WWE or World Champion. That plus another hour might not be a bad thing.

 

[Ambiguous Turd]

When ECW came back under the control of Vince McMahon, the ECW championship was considered almost as important as the WHC and WWE titles. When people like Bobby Lashley (which i no not mant people on this site don't like, but quite honestly, i was a fan), CM punk, and Chavo Gurerro (when he was actually promoted as the great wrestler that he is) and others were holding the title. It was something that alot of people cared about.

Look at it now. It is classified as a 'glorified mid card title' by many people, and most of the fans couldn't care less about it. This is just my opinion. Feel free to debate it, just don't bash the thread.

So i have two questions for you. When would you say the downfall of the ECW title was? and How do you think WWE could make it important to the fans again?

I don't want the ECW title to be important, unless Vince makes the ECW Brand important, as a whole. When ECW is actually touring on its own without the help of Raw or Smackdown, and can get to the level where it could actually produce its own PPV's, or get several matches on the multi-branded PPV's, then the title should be more important.

I agreed with you with the concept that I wanted the ECW to be on par with the other two heavyweight titles, however, when everyone was arguing that they liked ECW just the way it is, that being a Developmental Brand, instead of a true product that was on par with Raw or Smackdown, that was when I turned sour with the idea that the title should also be on par with the other two titles. Obviously, those same fans I was arguing with felt otherwise, and felt that even though the Brand was a Developmental Brand, the title should still be considered on par with the WWE AND World titles. I personally think that this is asinine.

Someone justify to the forum why a Developmental Brand's title should carry the same prestige as the two Heavyweight Titles of the company's two most popular brands?

I like the ECW title right where it's at right now. That being behind the Intercontinental Championship and U.S. Title.

No Developmental Brand's title should have more prestige than a title on the Main Brands, unless Vince wants to consider ECW to be on par with Raw and Smackdown. Until he does, things should stay as they are. Which is precisely why I agree with Vince on removing the ECW Title match off of Wrestlemania.

To answer the question, though ... things went downhill for the original WWECW as soon as Big Show won the title. Then, when Bobby Lashley won the title, you could basically consider the first version of WWECW dead and buried. After that, it transitioned into the Developmental Brand you see today, which still has not caught on with the mainstream public.

I personally think Christian is being wasted as ECW Champion, though. I would rather see him as Intercontinental Champion or US Champion on a major brand, as opposed to the Heavyweight Champion on the Developmental Brand.

 

[It's...Baylariat!]

The point of ECW and the title is to not be prestigious, its to produce future superstars. The prestige of that belt is irrelevant unless the WWE decides to put ECW on it's own tour, which it won't due to costs. And the way the belt looks, it simply doesn't look prestigious. It looks like a belt that is simply made to be second tier and is a stepping stone to bigger things.

The old ECW is gone and so is the prestige of holding that belt.

 

[kingdirrtysouth1]

I agree with Lariat about the prestige. They don't take the belt seriously & probably don't intend for us to either. The belt represents the show that people leave(except for Dreamer) after they win it or show themselves to be worthy of winning it like Evan Bourne. It means very little now & probably wont be made to mean much more in the future!

 

[Dave]

Well, those who actually watch ECW certainly don't forget about it. This is more a question for those who actually watch it. To the fans that don't, they still see it defended on every PPV. Think about that. The US title doesn't get defended on every PPV, and that's on the "A" show. People see it, but they forget about it. The ECW Title is the only thing on ECW and if you actually watch it you certainly are't going to forget about it. ECW's a fantastic little show. Try it out sometime.
As for it being on a PPV legitimizing the show and title, isn't that the whole point? It certainly has worked for the IC title recently.

I don't believe it is. Defending a title is not the only way of legitimizing that title you know. The ECW title is only on most of the pay oer views because if it wasn't the general fanbase who watches WWE would forget about it because to be very honest, ECW means very little in the grand scheme of things. Look at everyone here for example, they are baying for Christian to jump to another show. You know why? It's because he is much bigger than that show for one and secondly, they don't want him to be feuding over a belt when he is clearly better than that. The belt is about the people who are holding it, not about how many times it's defended. The fact of the matter is that even WWE fans, don't really care about the ECW belt anymore. I don't anyway.

Nobody cares? The people who watch ECW certainly care. In my opinion it's the best brand around. Just about any member of the ECW roster can jump up a take a shot at the title in a pinch. It shows something in my opinion when every single member is talented enough to make a grab for the gold. And like it or not, the ECW Title is still a title. I'm not trying to say it's a World Heavyweight Championship or a WWE Championship, but it's still a title. The owner of the title can proudly say they've earned it. And adding veterans that really care about the title, along with strong newcomers who care just as much, has raised the title's prestige.

Yeah and all 12 pf ypu must be crushed that I said something like that. Come on, man. Are you telling me that ECW is better than Raw and Smackdown? No way. It doesn't impress me that anyone on ECW has a chance at the title. I think it more a case of all the people on there need a rub and Christian and Dreamer are the only ones who can give them it. If they are not in the title picture, against people who actually matter, they will be in another boring feud that no one wants to see and will get nowhere near a PPV.

Exactly, and the casual fans watching it had to have felt something. Say you went out to a competition and the guy who won made the trophy seem like the greatest honor o his life. Wouldn't that make you feel like it was something important, at least to that guy? It's a similar situation. In kayfabe, the ECW Title's prestige has been raised because people are fighting to gain and regain it.

The prestige of the ECW championship is gone. Like it or not. No one is going to happy to win the 3rd or 4th championship in a promotion, especially when they are capable of so much more. Christian and Dreamer could be competing for the World Heavyweight Title but instead, they are feuding over something wwhich is basically worthless in my eyes. I mean, a title reign is a title reign at the end of the day but you certainly wont be respected anymore than you already are if you are wearing that strap. The ECW belt has gone to shit since WWE started putting it on the young guns of the business and raising ECW from the dead.

 

[The Doctor]

I don't believe it is. Defending a title is not the only way of legitimizing that title you know. The ECW title is only on most of the pay oer views because if it wasn't the general fanbase who watches WWE would forget about it because to be very honest, ECW means very little in the grand scheme of things. Look at everyone here for example, they are baying for Christian to jump to another show. You know why? It's because he is much bigger than that show for one and secondly, they don't want him to be feuding over a belt when he is clearly better than that. The belt is about the people who are holding it, not about how many times it's defended. The fact of the matter is that even WWE fans, don't really care about the ECW belt anymore. I don't anyway.

You still haven't grasped the fact that I am not talking about the ECW Title's prestige to the fans. I'm talking about, in kayfabe, is it on the level of the US title or higher? I believe it is. Look at it from a pure kayfabe point of view. Let's say tis was a real sport, and everything was the legit. You would see a consistatly defended title with some big names behind it. Christian, Dreamer, Kane, Mark Henry. Even fantastic up-and-comers like Swagger or Punk. In kayfabe, the ECW title is way more important than the US Title currently.

Yeah and all 12 pf ypu must be crushed that I said something like that.

Low blow, DQ'd.

Come on, man. Are you telling me that ECW is better than Raw and Smackdown?

Raw? Yes. Smackdown? It's close.

I think it more a case of all the people on there need a rub and Christian and Dreamer are the only ones who can give them it.

And Goldust, and Regal.

If they are not in the title picture, against people who actually matter, they will be in another boring feud that no one wants to see

Objection. I'm rather enjoying all the feuds on ECW right now.

and will get nowhere near a PPV.

I'll give you this one.

The prestige of the ECW championship is gone.

Not completely gone. It's still the third or fourth belt.

Like it or not. No one is going to happy to win the 3rd or 4th championship in a promotion,

I bet you'd be ecstatic.

especially when they are capable of so much more.

Matter of opinion. Ricky Ortiz was supposed to be incredible.

Christian and Dreamer could be competing for the World Heavyweight Title

id you just say this? Did you seriously just say this? Dreamer for WHC? I love the guy and all, but...really? As for Christian...it's a possibility, but I'm happier seeing him actually win championships than to be in the running for one. Hardy and Punk seem to be doing just fine and I see no place for Christian in that feud.

but instead, they are feuding over something wwhich is basically worthless in my eyes.

In your eyes, yes.

I mean, a title reign is a title reign at the end of the day but you certainly wont be respected anymore than you already are if you are wearing that strap.

While the ECW belt may be a test belt, you still need some stock in the guy you want to put it on, just like the regular world belts. How would you like it if Yoshi Tatsu won the belt right at this instant? The fact that the ECW champ HAS a belt means that the company has some stock in the guy, and thus makes him more valuable.

The ECW belt has gone to shit since WWE started putting it on the young guns of the business and raising ECW from the dead.

Oh God, Dave, please don't talk about how New ECW is raping Old ECW. I expected better of you. At least sit down and watch New ECW regularly before you do so. It's really not a bad show at all.

 

[Nascarman]

What would it take to bring the ecw title up to the leavel of World title.
I think it is crap that you can win the ECW title and then struggle to get IC/US title. if WWE wanted to bring it up could they do it?
I think so ,but they wont, I would like to see HBK and Edge sent over and atleast 30 min longer show. Send the Unified tag champs overe every now and then, and you got a good show with a respable title. maby some time down the road they will try to get ECW up to par.
any thought??

 

[jsm]

Recently the ECW championship has become less important. The match for the title at SummerSlam lasted only 8 seconds. The title wasn't on the line at WrestleMania 25. The only time it's been on the line at WrestleMania was WM XXIV, and that match lasted what-7 seconds? It would help if ECW had bigger names, because the only people on ECW who could really challenge for the title are Christian, Dreamer, Reagal, Kozlov, and Jackson. Maybe Benjamin, Sheamus, and Goldust. The other superstars on the roster aren't ready.

 

[Spunky]

Until ECW treated better in the eye's of Vinnie Mac' Nothing will be done.

The best way to elevate titles is to have big feuds for the title. I'm sure the title would be more pretigious if ECW had a Hardy vs Punk style of feud, A heated, Competitive, Personal feud, In which the championship is the main cause of.

Throwing a few more established star's on the show wouldn't help either, Having bigger names fighting over the strap is always a bonus too.

 

[Uncle Phatso]

The ecw title is ment to be the big title on ecw thats it, fuck what old ecw fans think is vinces thinking. If they wanted it to be a big title they would of brought back all of the old ecw titles and made it more than just a title belt.

Jack swagger is a perfect example, look at him a huge dude with a major amount of tallent. Had the ecw title, moved to raw and now he went from main event on ecw to midcard on raw.

The ecw title to people is just another title in the wwe it has the stage presence of the usa title and the intercontential title. Basically if they keep up the garbage wrestlers holding it it will mean pretty much nothing soon.

 

["Cool Guy" Jensen]

This first thing that came to my mind would be extending the time. From one hour, I'd make it an hour and a half instead. No need for two hours, as there aren't many stars. But adding 30 minutes will allow more time for feuds to develop, more time to gain shine, and more time to get used to what you are seeing.

All that needs to happen with the ECW Championship is that it needs to have more challengers. With this being the only title on the brand, WWE might want to make it seem like everyone wants to get their hands on that sole title. This would give the champion credibility, the title credibility, and the challenger who later wins the title. The Christian/Jack Swagger/Tommy Dreamer fued was a perfect example.

With Christian as the ECW Champion, you have a chance to get that. There is a pool of superstars, both heel and face who would make great opponents for the ECW Title. Get as many of them involved, like William Regal, Tommy Dreamer, Sheamus, The Hurricane, Goldust, etc. Then you have a great multi-man hunt for the ECW Championship. I always felt that the more people vying to win a title, the better.

 

[ztwhite]

Nothing.

No matter who holds that belt, it will never reach the status of the World Title or the WWE Championship.

You're dealing with dozens of years of history and legacy with the World and WWE Championships. Guys like Flair, Hogan, Austin, Rock, etc... have toted those belts around their waists. With the ECW title (current or original version), the biggest name to hold the belt was probably RVD or Christian.

It wouldn't matter if Edge, Cena or even HHH went to ECW and won the belt, it just wouldn't attain the same level as the World or WWE Championships.

 

[JBK2008]

Christian and Regal could be gold if it stays this way and just keeps getting better. The title is the focus of the feud here and Regal has his allies in Kozlov and Jackson, while Christian has his buddy Tommy Dreamer. Throw Shelton onto Christians side and we could have a war for that title on ECW. Christian and Regal could just keep having more intense matches as the feud goes on and the gimmick matches could get better and better and more dangerous as they go, eventually ending in a ladder match or something.

Big names can help, but if the feud continues to get more and more intense, that will work too.

 

[Alex]

well seeing as how christian seems to go to great lengths to want to keep the belt it seems the prestige is improving but probably will still stay beneath the WWE and WHC belts