Santino Squashed -- A Concerning Pattern

[The Crock]

Moments ago on Monday Night Raw, Santino Marella lost -- in what could only be classed as a squash -- to Alberto Del Rio. Now, I wouldn't have minded as much, seeing as Alberto Del Rio is a bonafide main eventer and Santino is a midcarder... If Santino wasn't the United States Champion. They chose to have Del Rio run through Santino, so Ricardo could pick the bones and further the feud between he and Santino. Personally, I would have rather wanted a close contest. I understand that Santino is a comedy character, but the WWE chose to out the United States Championship around his waist and as a result, they have to try to make him a believable champion. Instead, they're completely ignoring his status as champion (just like they did at No Way Out, having him face Ricardo in a non-title match) and jobbing him out.

Look, I understand that this was a way for WWE to further the Santino/Ricardo feud and to make Alberto look impressive, but the whole situation just doesn't sit well with me. They're not cultivating talent in the midcard and this only underscores that. You can't have your United States Champion losing in squashes and involved in feuds that don't even concern his championship. I mean, I may be jumping the gun and maybe Santino and Ricardo will be feuding for the US title, but is that really going to be a feud worthy of a champion? I don't see it.

WWE isn't committed to building stars in the traditional sense -- at least not with any level of consistency. We'll see the odd guy like Miz, Bryan, and maybe Rhodes follow that blueprint, but then we'll add someone like Santino, who they've put the belt on, but won't fully get behind him (not that you would expect a major Santino push, which is part of the problem). It's not good for Santino and it's not good for the championship.

Am I the only one who sees this as a problem or do you agree? Was it a bad choice by WWE to job out Santino? Is the feud with Ricardo as pointless as I feel it is? Is this stagnating the midcard? Let me know.

 

[TempestH]

The thing is that WWE chooses to job out their midcard champions in non-title matches all the time. Because Del Rio is a main eventer AND a SmackDown Superstar (Even with a lax Brand Extension, none of the titles have changed hands to a Superstar on the opposite brand), Santino supposedly has "nothing to lose" by losing to Del Rio.

 

[MWRedskins]

i dont think Santino squashed is a concern, but what's a concern is that he's a comedy act and he's holding the United States Championship. Santino isnt a horrible wrestler, but his comedy style isnt good for the US title as that title needs credibility, there are a ton of guys who should hold that title over Santino (including Ryder) and that's my issue with it. give it to someone else soon, someone who can help build up that title.

 

[HBsam31]

I agree that the US champion should not be getting put in squash matches, but I am also starting to wonder if it is time for we as fans to give up on the idea of the US title gaining credibility. I am a fan that wishes all of the titles were as meaningful as they were in the past, but I just don't think it is going to happen anymore. Look how long we have been waiting for the tag division to comeback, and its the same with the US title. I hate that Santino got squashed while he was holding the US belt, and I wish they would get the title off of him despite his ability to be a good wrestler. He doesn't get much of a chance to show it, and that belt should be around the waist of someone who gets to showcase his skills and the belt. In the end though I think the US belt will remain where it is now no matter who holds it.

 

[Aquaman6686]

Santino is a worthless jobber. He's comic relief and nothing else. His getting squashed makes perfect sense. His holding the United States Championship does not.

 

[lil bitch Kid]

The problem I have is that DelRio doesn't even suggest that he wants the US title. If you want to build up superstars, you need to make titles mean something. Only one guy can hold each of the WWE and WHC, and only one, maybe two, can or should feud with each. Use the mid-card titles better. Build tem up to mean something with the supposed main event talents, then use them to build new guys. It's really pretty idiot proof.

 

[berlinbrawler]

From what I've heard the WWE is planning on eliminating the U.S. title anyway. At some point soon it is going to merge with the IC title.

At least that's what I've read on Wrestlezone.com...

But with that in mind it doesn't really matter who is holding that title right now or what he's doing with it. So whether it is Santino, Ricardo or Hornswoggle holding the title- doesn't matter - it's riding into oblivion anyway.

As for Santino looking weak - he is actually looking a lot stronger these days than he used to a year or so ago. He's actually winning matches left and right, some even against big names like Cody Rhodes or Dolph Ziggler.

I think the WWE is in a conundrum, seeing as he had been portrayed as a jobber for such a long time, but he got really over with the fans. They have no choice but to give him a push, while at the same time keeping in mind that he is actually supposed to be a weakling.

 

[IT Factor]

For as long as Santino is stuck being a novelty, PG comedy act he'll be squashed by those more credible than he. Which is a double shame. One, he's the US Champion. A mid-card champion should be a serious contender and a great talent[not a comedy routine]. Second, I believe Santino is talented enough to be a serious in-ring competitor. If they turned him and made him more technical in-ring, I believe he could do wonders for the mid-card. Instead, WWE would rather have "tuxedo" matches between Santino & Ricardo. Which is the entire problem these days with how WWE pushes their talents......

 

[rge2010]

The reason Albert squashed Santino is because of his concussion. Did Santino even get an offence in? If Alberto wasn't medically cleared to wrestle Sheamus Sunday night then how come he could 'wrestle' on Raw?

Truth be told he didnt, he just beat Santino down and pinned him 1-2-3.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

It bothers me to see the United States Championship treated so shabbily. Dolph Ziggler had a strong run with it and Santino has had the weakest I've seen in years, maybe ever. As berlinbrawler said, I think they're moving towards merging the title with the IC title. I read the same story a week or two back in which the idea had some strong support among WWE officials. It's the only logical explanation I can think of. I mean, he's a mid-card champion holding a title with a long & prestigious history and he's feuding with a fucking ring announcer.

Personally, I'm tired of Santino and I'm long since over his schtick. As others have said, he's not a bad wrestler inside the ring at all. He's got some legit technical ability and they've gone as far as they can with this whole comedy routine of his. It's been going on almost from the time he first arrived in WWE. The fact that he's kept the character over for so long is an indicator that he's got real charisma and he can probably go pretty well on the mic.

Vince is a huge fan of Santino's comedy act. Santino can be genuinely funny sometimes, but I'm just fed up with him being shoved in our faces week in & week out either jobbing to someone or facing someone like a Heath Slater or a Ricardo Rodriguez.

 

[MrMojoRisin]

This is the problem with putting a belt on a comedy jobber... then keeping it on him.

Santino started his reign with a nice little underdog gimmick, but that only seems to have lasted a few weeks, and now he's back to his usual role on the show. Unfortunately, everyone on the show seems to have forgotten that he's the United States champion still.

Del Rio's squashed him twice recently, and neither time cared one bit about the title. I honestly cannot remember the last time the title was even defended. It doesn't matter about the prestige of the title at this point, because the only time the US title ever seems to get defended is when it's about to change hands, or immediately after a new champ is crowned. The optics however, just look horrible. The champ only seems capable of beating non-wrestlers (yes I know Rodriguez is a wrestler, but in the WWE universe, he's just a ring announcer). Everyone else, just doesn't seem to care about the title period (then again, I don't know if I'd want to wear the ugliest belt in the WWE either).

The US title is the 4th singles belt though, so I guess it makes sense that the lowest rung of the main show gets to wear it. What they should do though, is make it the title for NXT or something if they're not going to scrap it altogether. I don't watch it, but from what I gather, NXT seems like a self contained show, so having it's own champion works. Run an angle where Santino comes on the show and drops it to whomever... then have the new powers that be make a ruling that the title can only be defended on NXT or PPV. The champion himself can appear on the main shows, but not defend the title on them.

It's a better way to utilize what's become a meaningless title if you ask me.

 

[rerun406]

^ yeah I've gotten pretty sick of Santino too ... I remember him from his early days when he won the IC title over Umaga

Santino does have in ring ability, but with his current gimmick and move set (particularly finishing move) he's stuck in mid card hell

and the longer that belt stays on him the credibility of the title continues to take a hit

and seeing how Ricardo attacked Santino after the Del Rio match, it looks like that feud will unfortunately continue

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I stopped assuming the US Title was a mid-card title when Zack Ryder won it and we went to the Supershow format. I now hold the US Title in the same regard as the extinct European Title once had. So whatever happens to it or the fact that ADR has no interest in it doesn't bother me at all.

Here are some new names they could give the title:
- the Us Weekly Title
- the USA Today Title
- the $15 Trillion of Debt Title
- the Donald Trump Title
- Title #4

 

[Mustang Sally]

You can't have your United States Champion losing in squashes and involved in feuds that don't even concern his championship.

An understandable sentiment, but doesn't it just accent how unimportant the U.S. Championship is? Compare it with Zack Ryder's reign: he attained the title by playing a clown, having gotten noticed with an outside-WWE effort on the Internet......his in-ring activities did nothing to get him noticed. So, what's his reward?......the U.S. Championship. Whoop de doo.

Now, there's Santino. He's been a clown character since entering WWE several years ago. He was squashed constantly in his "march" to the top, gaining more success in the ring being hosed down by Stone Cold Steve Austin than by anything he did in a wrestling match. People say he's technically proficient.....but so what? That's not what he's here for.

Okay, Santino's push seems to be over. The company apparently wanted to reward him for long service by giving him a decent boost. Now, he'll go back to what he was doing his first couple of years here......getting laughs.

It's not so bad. He still has a unique place in the company.....and the U.S. Championship will still be here to give some recognition to guys who aren't really regarded as champions by the organization.

 

[Chadmw]

I would have a problem with the US Champ being squashed regularly, if it wasn't Santino, but unfortunately this is how Santino has been used ever since he showed up and won the IC belt of off Umaga. He never had any offence against Umaga and only kept on winning because of flukes or outside interference.

As talented as some may say Santino is (I never saw any of his FCW matches), ever since he came to the WWE he has been getting squashed wether he has a belt or not

 

[Workrate]

I was really hoping that match was for the title so Alberto could take it away from Santino. I love Santino too, but I don't think there's any good reason for him to hold a title given his current persona. It undercuts part of his charm, which is being the underdog. You aren't an underdog if you have a title, even if you are constantly beaten and stuck in feuds with announcers.

He should have lost the title a week or two after he won it. There would have been value in that. It gives the fans a big pay-off (after Elimination Chamber, you can't tell me Santino didn't deserve "a moment") and doesn't cause any real long-term problems. But keeping the belt on him this long has been a mistake. Honestly, they just need to book a title match for Raw or Smackdown and have him drop the gold, no muss no fuss.

 

[lazeric]

I don't have much problem with Santino get squashed either. Face if he won this would be a thread about him going over Del Rio and Del Rio getting the Miz treatment. As for the US title, its a Raw Brand title and who currently on Raw could benefit by holding it? Dolph should be moving up soon so he has no need for it, Swagger is soon to be in a feud with Dolph so again no need there, it would be stupid to put it on Cena or Show right now. The only 2 on Raw who I could even remotely see carrying the strap would be Ryder(another comedy act IMO) or Otunga (still involved in the Big Johnny angle). Yes u could argue that the title could be used to elevate guys like McIntyre but I think eventually the Draft comes around and Vince's new favorite toy Ryback moves to Raw and takes the title... just a thought

 

[vampireblade]

Like so many others on here my concern is Santino getting squashed by ADR but, rather the fact that he has the US title around his waist.Now i get that Vince may not think too highly of the US championship seeing as it was a WCW creation. However, it was HIS idea to keep it on television so the least he could do is make it mean something and putting it on Santino is not the way to do it especially when you haven't even made mention on TV lately that he is the US champion but rather throw him in a feud with an onscreen ring announcer. maybe to make things interesting last night they could have had ADR stare at the championship or something instead of Ricardo doing what he did. But yes i see where you are coming from it is a bit concerning that the US champion jobs out so quickly even if it was to a main eventer. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there a time when the midcard title was considered just as important as the WWE title?

 

[sdelfin]

Those quick squashes don't even do anything useful for Del Rio. I remember about a month ago they had him squash Santino as well. I couldn't stand it anymore and turned the show off. The US belt shouldn't be on santino. Certainly shouldn't be on Otunga as well, to reply to an above post.

Back in the days of Jim Crockett promotions and WCW, the US title was so prestigious that the top guys who weren't Flair(once he was the guy) held the US title. Guys who were in the world title picture would move to the US title after. Guys who were former champs like Steamboat would go after the US title and even the TV title. Barry Windham won the TV title after the US title. Just because the TV title is a secondary title doesn't mean it should be put on bottom feeders like Otunga. Ziggler being the US champ would be great as it would give the belt some value. And it wouldn't have to keep Ziggler out of the main event scene. It's all about how it is booked, which is the core problem of WWE right now.

 

[Kliq69]

I have no problem with Santino as champ. The reaction he got at EC was amazing, and I've yet to see many instances where the live crowd hates on him. (NWO was a rare example, and I blame it on ricardo and the match type).

I have no problem with his comedy routine either. Mick Foley reached the highest point of his career on cheesy comedy. My problem is that when the bell rings, they treat him like a joke. Had he had a 10-12 minute match, maybe losing to ADR when he reverses the cobra into the armbar, then it wouldn't have been bad at all. He's done more with a craptasic gimmick than other guys do with good gimmicks (drew, ted jr, come to mind) Hell I'd say in a lot of respects, he's more over with the casual fan than ADR himself is.

I think the biggest issue with Santino is the same as the biggest issue WWE has period. Great in concept, horrible in execution. WWE's execution the last few years has been horrible even on the best of angles (summer of punk, nexus, lesnar, etc). Hell they even found a way to botch Rock's return to the ring last fall.

 

[Workrate]

Back in the days of Jim Crockett promotions and WCW, the US title was so prestigious that the top guys who weren't Flair(once he was the guy) held the US title. Guys who were in the world title picture would move to the US title after. Guys who were former champs like Steamboat would go after the US title and even the TV title. Barry Windham won the TV title after the US title. Just because the TV title is a secondary title doesn't mean it should be put on bottom feeders like Otunga. Ziggler being the US champ would be great as it would give the belt some value. And it wouldn't have to keep Ziggler out of the main event scene. It's all about how it is booked, which is the core problem of WWE right now.

Nail on the head.

The champions and reigns you mentioned were important because they were made to feel important. But in Santino's "run" as United States Champion, he's yet to have anyone gun for the title. The same could be said of Dolph's reign before that and of Cody Rhodes' reign as Intercontinental Champion. And to your point, it's the booking that is the problem, not the champion or the belt itself.

A while back on here I read someone talking about the IC/US titles and they said "no one cares about them." The person was referring to the fan's point of view, but I think the more concerning problem is that the way things are booked, it genuinely seems like none of the wrestlers care about these titles. If the wrestlers don't care, the fans won't care. If you work hard enough to have challengers legitimately WANT to hold the United States title, then eventually the belt will be worth something again. Currently, they don't really even acknowledge that Santino is the champion. He just wears the belt to the ring like it's a part of his ensemble. And that's your disconnect: Santino isn't actually doing a disservice to the belt, but the bookers are doing a disservice to Santino (and, consequently, the title).

 

[SinCityBlitz]

Those quick squashes don't even do anything useful for Del Rio. I remember about a month ago they had him squash Santino as well. I couldn't stand it anymore and turned the show off. The US belt shouldn't be on santino. Certainly shouldn't be on Otunga as well, to reply to an above post.

Back in the days of Jim Crockett promotions and WCW, the US title was so prestigious that the top guys who weren't Flair(once he was the guy) held the US title. Guys who were in the world title picture would move to the US title after. Guys who were former champs like Steamboat would go after the US title and even the TV title. Barry Windham won the TV title after the US title. Just because the TV title is a secondary title doesn't mean it should be put on bottom feeders like Otunga. Ziggler being the US champ would be great as it would give the belt some value. And it wouldn't have to keep Ziggler out of the main event scene. It's all about how it is booked, which is the core problem of WWE right now.

As someone who grew up on WWF/NWA, that was a whole different era. Secondary belts became useless during the Monday Night Wars. Fans today wouldn't buy those titles like they did back in the 80's/90's.

The NWA used to put on hour long matches and fans today can barely sit still for 10 minutes.

The problem is not so much Santino as US champ, it's the way he is being booked. I don't know why Vince has this infatuation with making someone a complete goof.

 

[themick]

I agree with what guys like Workrate said, but IMO the issue is that they have too much TV/PPV time to fill nowadays and they have to fill it with quality matches. Back in the day, weekly programming was basically a parade of squashes and promos, which none of us would have the patience for anymore. Back then you could have all of your "A" wrestlers holding/feuding for all of the titles because they could drag out feuds longer. Think of all the times we've seen Punk v. Bryan in some form or fashion over the last three months. If this was 1987, we wouldn't have seen that many matches between two stars in a year's worth of TV.

Basically we have to take the good with the bad. For the most part, we get quality matches every week on Raw/Smackdown/Impact. What we sacrifice is some secondary titles becoming devalued. Plus, if Orton, Cena, etc. were given IC/US title runs, we'd all complain that nobody else ever got a chance at the spotlight. So at least some other guys are being thrown a bone to some extent.