SmackDown Championship Situation

[Jack-Hammer]

Since the announcement this past Monday of WWE creating another World Championship, the WWE Universal Championship, for the Raw brand, it has me wondering what WWE is going to do in terms of naming/creating titles for SmackDown as a means of evening things out. After SummerSlam, Raw will have the Universal, United States, Women's, Tag Team and, eventually, Cruiserweight Championships while SmackDown only has the World and Intercontinental Championships. I know that some like the notion of the champions floating between brands, but it's probably not realistic when it comes to programs that last beyond a single match and the point of the brand split is that there be as little crossover as possible; Orton vs. Lesnar looks to be the last crossover bout for some time to come. So, what're your thoughts on what SmackDown's title picture will ultimately look like, or what you think it should look like?

Maybe I'm not running on all cylinders this morning, but I'm a little stymied on what to do in terms of SmackDown having a female and tag team title. Raw has the Women's Championship and SmackDown shouldn't bring back the Divas Championship, so maybe some new buzz word for SmackDown's women's division like Amazon or Goddess as Amazons were mythical female warriors of great beauty and ferocity whereas Goddess is pretty self-explanatory? As for the tag titles, maybe they could simply go the route of creating tag titles that're simply called the WWE World Tag Team Championship. As for a secondary mid-card title, maybe WWE could go the route of having SmackDown exploit a few trivial technicalities; since Raw is exclusively home to the Cruiserweight Division, SmackDown could be the exclusive home of the Light Heavyweight Division. After all, if Raw can just go ahead and create its own "Universal" Championship, why couldn't SmackDown create its own "Light Heavyweight" Championship? I think there's too many potential Cruiserweights to simply have all of them wind up on Raw.

Again, I'm just curious to know what anyone else's thoughts are on the title situation as a whole.

 

[laodaron]

Well, Raw is 3 hours, SD is 2 hours. I think that's the biggest issue with adding Cruiserweights to the SD roster.

But I agree, there needs to be a Tag belt and a Women's belt on SD, because every wrestlers inspiration should be to win a belt. Even if there's a personal feud, once that's been ran through, their inspiration should move back to the belt. The same with the tag teams. Without a title, the division seems pointless.

The problem then becomes, do we really need 8 titles in WWE, and 3 titles in NXT? The top of the card singles and tag should have been used as a cross promotion deal, so the top handful of guys are fighting over a single championship across the brands, while the midcard, women, and Cruiserweights each get their own divisions on each show.

 

[Aquaman6686]

My solution:

Shane McMahon announces that WWE's original World Tag Team Championships will be revived for SmackDown at SummerSlam, in a Fatal Four Way Match between The Usos, American Alpha, The Ascension, and Breezango.

Shane continues by saying that RAW has the brand-new WWE Women's Championship created earlier this year, so Shane counters by reactivating the original Women's Championship held by Luita, Trish Stratus, Wendi Richter, The Fabulous Moolah, etc., renamed the Women's World Championship, for SmackDown's women.

So the title situation would look like:

RAW:

Primary title - WWE Universal Championship

Secondary title - United States Championship

Tag title - WWE Tag Team Championship (2002)

Women's title - WWE Women's Championship (2016)

Specialty title - WWE Cruiserweight Championship


SmackDown:

Primary title - WWE World Championship

Secondary title - Intercontinental Championship

Tag title - World Tag Team Championship (original)

Women's title - Women's World Championship (original)

And SmackDown doesn't have a specialty title, they don't really need one since they're not as long and drawn-out as RAW.

Problem solved.

 

[Navi]

I would have done it this way. Left the women's division and the title on RAW. The division just isn't that deep to warrant two titles, especially on SD. It's pretty clear if they create another title who will hold it, either Becky, Naomi or Nattie. I just can't see Carmella or Alexa Bliss getting a title shot right away.

Also the tag teams and their titles should have been put on SD. Again the division is just recovering finally after years of being an afterthought. It doesn't really need two titles, there just aren't that many teams to fight over it. We'll end up with it being split between the Uso's and American Alpha, that will get tiring in no time.

The cruiserweight title should be the only title that is determined between the two brands, considering there are cruiserweights on each brand. That title could be fought over at the 4 major PPV's and since they split the cruiserweights, the title could be on either show. What they should do is have a tournament on each brand, and the winner of RAW go against the winner of SD for the title at let's say Summerslam. If RAW gets the title then SD has to wait till Survivor Series to have another shot.

So it would end up looking like this.

RAW has the Universal, Women's, US and maybe the cruiserweight.

SD has the WWE title, IC, Tag and maybe the cruiserweight.

There is no need to create another 2 belts and the cruiserweights on each brand will have to be at their best in order to win the title, as they only have one shot at it.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Smackdown definitely needs more titles and they need to limit crossovers between Raw and Smackdown to only The Big 4 (unless Money In The Bank is to become dual branded). So to avoid this.... Smackdown should create a new title for their women and their tag teams. I disagree with having a Cruiserweight equivalent because they are only 2 hours. I am also against them having a Womens Tag Team Championship on Smackdown at this time, at least until they get some more women. Having the same 6 women in 3 potential teams feuding all the time would get old. They should stick with having a second singles title for the women or bring in more to create more teams.

They did not bring back the big gold belt instead of the Universal Championship, which is a mistake. Fans love the design and it had prestige. Bring that back on Raw. They can still use that silly Universal Championship name if they want. Revive the World Tag Team Championship for Smackdown's tag teams, and create a new title for the women to be Smackdown's equivalent of the Womens Championship. Use the same design but blue instead of red in the middle plate, it would look awesome! I like Jack-Hammer's idea of calling it the Amazon Championship. It would showcase that the women are more than just attractive, they are strong and talented in the ring too.


Raw
World: Universal Champion (big gold belt design)
Midcard: United States Champion
Women: Womens Champion
Tag Team: WWE Tag Team Champions
Other: Cruiserweight Champion

Smackdown
World: WWE Champion
Midcard: Intercontinental Champion
Women: Amazon Champion
Tag Team: World Tag Team Champions


Imagine seeing a Night Of Champions event under THIS title structure.

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

I don't think Smackdown can hold a Women's Championship due to lack of depth.

With the returns of many past superstars plus some other NXT call-ups, there might be a place for a Tag Team Championship.

I think the Women's Championship should be competed on both brands, with each brand trading the championship every month.

But, if it was for me, I'd have the tag team division be RAW-only. All the tag teams on RAW. As for Smackdown, I'd bring back the 24/7 Championship. Have it defended in every media outlet the WWE has, 24/7. Videos would appear on Fb, Twitter, Live Streams from the wrestler's houses. Matches in the cars of the superstars during the Network programm where wrestlers travel in their cars. And this would be a Smackdown exclusive title. Or maybe give Smackdown a Tag Team division and have RAW have the women.

So it would look like this:
RAW:
WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship
WWE US Championship
WWE Women's Championship*
WWE World Tag Team Championship
WWE Cruiserweight Championship

*women from Smackdown can also compete for the belt, in dual-branded PPVs only.

Smackdown:
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
WWE IC Championship
WWE 24/7 Championship*
WWE Universal Tag Team Championship

*wrestlers from RAW can also compete for this title, during the day the week (Monday to Sunday), the dual braded PPV airs. Due to the 24/7 rule.

 

[OYDK]

Sticking with what we know, we know the Women's title is currently exclusive to Raw. We know the Tag Team titles are currently exclusive to Raw as well. Charlotte (now Sasha) and the New Day were drafted, thus discussing why either of those titles should be defended on both brands is kind of a moot point. It's not going to happen. We also know, if Steph is to be believed, that the Cruiserweight championship will also be exclusive to Raw.

To leave Smackdown with only two championships while Raw has five is a bad idea, especially when neither of those championships includes the Women or Tag Teams. Why even include them on the blue brand if they're not going to give them something to fight over. Wrestling, and all sports in fact, at their most basic roots have been defined by teams or competitors fighting for an ultimate prize, in this case, a championship. You can't have your Women and Tag Team competitors fighting for nothing, you just can't, it makes no sense.

So yeah, I think Smackdown needs to add their own Tag and Women's title. Whether there is depth at this point in time doesn't really matter, there's still going to be a lack of depth whether they implement titles or not. At least with them included, the Tag and Women's division actually mean something. And there are always ways to spruce up the divisions, it's really very simple.

Personally, I think it's a must. That is of course assuming WWE is serious about presenting the brands as equal competition. If they want Smackdown to remain the show that fans randomly tune in for when they have free time, than leave it as is. Somehow, I don't think that's the plan.

 

[lil steroid meat]

The problem with a tag team title on Smackdown is that there are only 4 teams on Smackdown. Does that really deserve a new title?

Personally I think that the Tag Titles should switch between shows. But then how you explain the logic of switching the tag titles but not the WWE Title between shows.

Same for the women's title. How many women are there realistically in Smackdown's division, and how many are you trying to make "contenders"?

The only way I'd agree with them creating new championships would be if they got more talent to fight for those titles, by doing some type of NXT Talent Exchange like they did with ECW a few years ago.

 

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

SmackDown does have a situation. You have tag teams, but no title to fight for plus not really enough teams to make it interesting. You have a handful of Woman Wrestlers, with no woman's belt to fight for.

What can you do? They're going to have to create new titles for these women and tag teams or what's the point of even being there?

IMO the whole split was horribly planned and SmackDown has remained a second rate show that is blackened out by the enormous shadow of Monday Night Raw. The whole - Fighting for ratings- can now be viewed as an obvious farce considering both opening shows.

I've already lost interest in - SmackDown Live- after the lackluster first episode.

 

[the_peoples_adam]

If Smackdown wants to get more edgy then Shane should relaunch the Hardcore Championship and get extreme.
Also I would like to see them launch a Womens Tag Team Championship titles exclusive to Smackdown..

 

[P. Nut Butters]

I always thought it was a much cooler concept to have the WWE World Champion universal (excuse the pun) to both shows, like they had at the start of the first draft in 2002. This makes the world title more special, as well as the champion.
Then, I would have the United States and Intercontinental as the leading championship for either show, aimed towards upper-mid-carders. This way, you can more cohesively bring mid-carders up and cycle upper-tier talent down. You could still have main event talent vying for a shot at the World title and have them in storylines, but also make the Intercontinental and U.S titles seem abundantly prestigious in their own right.

But given what we have to work with, I would say that they should run an interpromotional angle at some point (maybe at Survivor Series or Royal Rumble) where SmackDown! steal the Tag Team titles. This could lead to a nice inter-promotional tag team championship payoff at WrestleMania, and the night after, a secondary Tag title could be introduced if necessary.

They could really play on SmackDown having it's back against the wall in-terms of roster and championships, and if they book it smart, it could have huge potential for fans to get more emotionally invested in the new brand split.

 

[Olan]

Create a SMACKDOWN WOMENS and SNACKDOWN TAG TEAM titles. Then once a year NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS/CLASH OF CJAMPIONS or one of the Big 4 PPVs, the SD Champs get to challenge the World Champions.

 

[Spencesc11]

A Women's Championship and Tag Titles are all that are really needed. 2 hour show you don't want to clog with 5-6 championships. I would add Bayley quick and have her become the 1st smackdown Womenn's Champion. As for the Tag Titles I think the first run would be best served by a team like the Uso's who have cred. Maybe have Breezango win the belts in a few months but have credible tag champs start.

 

[justinsayne]

I still think the WWE, Womens, & Tag champs should have had to defend their titles on both shows. Bring back rankings, so win & losses really matter again, & stick to that 30 day title defense rule, if a title isn't being defended on a brand exclusive PPV then they have a #1 contenders match for that title instead. I think this would have made becoming a champion & holding on to that championship feel much more like an accomplishment as it would be harder to get your hands on that belt & then keep it with so many potential challengers coming at you, & challengers would feel more worthy of their championship opportunity since they would have to actually earn it. That to me seems like it would have been the better way to go with all of this than flooding the shows with 5 new belts with no real history or prestige behind them.

 

[nWo2]

I'd bring back the 24/7 Championship. Have it defended in every media outlet the WWE has, 24/7. Videos would appear on Fb, Twitter, Live Streams from the wrestler's houses. Matches in the cars of the superstars during the Network programm where wrestlers travel in their cars. And this would be a Smackdown exclusive title.


*wrestlers from RAW can also compete for this title, during the day the week (Monday to Sunday), the dual braded PPV airs. Due to the 24/7 rule.

This should be happening to some degree in the age of social media for damned sure along with Cyber Sunday concepts.

 

[kadroan]

Since the announcement this past Monday of WWE creating another World Championship, the WWE Universal Championship, for the Raw brand, it has me wondering what WWE is going to do in terms of naming/creating titles for SmackDown as a means of evening things out. After SummerSlam, Raw will have the Universal, United States, Women's, Tag Team and, eventually, Cruiserweight Championships while SmackDown only has the World and Intercontinental Championships. I know that some like the notion of the champions floating between brands, but it's probably not realistic when it comes to programs that last beyond a single match and the point of the brand split is that there be as little crossover as possible; Orton vs. Lesnar looks to be the last crossover bout for some time to come. So, what're your thoughts on what SmackDown's title picture will ultimately look like, or what you think it should look like?

Maybe I'm not running on all cylinders this morning, but I'm a little stymied on what to do in terms of SmackDown having a female and tag team title. Raw has the Women's Championship and SmackDown shouldn't bring back the Divas Championship, so maybe some new buzz word for SmackDown's women's division like Amazon or Goddess as Amazons were mythical female warriors of great beauty and ferocity whereas Goddess is pretty self-explanatory? As for the tag titles, maybe they could simply go the route of creating tag titles that're simply called the WWE World Tag Team Championship. As for a secondary mid-card title, maybe WWE could go the route of having SmackDown exploit a few trivial technicalities; since Raw is exclusively home to the Cruiserweight Division, SmackDown could be the exclusive home of the Light Heavyweight Division. After all, if Raw can just go ahead and create its own "Universal" Championship, why couldn't SmackDown create its own "Light Heavyweight" Championship? I think there's too many potential Cruiserweights to simply have all of them wind up on Raw.

Again, I'm just curious to know what anyone else's thoughts are on the title situation as a whole.

I think Smackdown Live should be fine. I'm hoping they add a Women's Championship. It'll definitely be refreshing to see 2 legitimate women's storylines going involving women fighting over something vs. one feud over the title and the other being over some petty mess while having a bunch of divas like Paige doing nothing.