The ressurection of the WWE Lightweight Division

[AK2V8]

I have a great idea for a new title. On Wikipedia I looked up this year's PPV lineup. I couldn't believe that Night Of Champions was still continuing, and knowing that there were only 6 current titles in the WWE and that all titles would be defended on that PPV: I started thinking of a new title. I thought of how lightweight wrestlers like Yoshi Tatsu, Evan Bourne, Primo, Chavo Gurrerro etc had nothing to do except for working Superstar matches (well luckily Evan has gotten some good TV time on Raw). Then it clicked for me, The WWE Lightweight Championship. A silver design, with a red lightning bolt in the centre plate to represent the speed of the lightweight wrestlers. It would be a interbrand title, and not on just Smackdown like the Cruiserweight Championship was contested as. Bringing back Cruiserweight name never sounded realistic for me, so I thought that lighweight would've been better as it is a title in the UFC. But then I also thought up how it would be crowned. Triple H was "given" the World Heavyweight title and JoMo and The Colons unified the title at Wrestlemania 25. But I thought it would be great for it to be crowned via a tournament and then have the "Tournament Final" at Over The Limit. Even have a few title defenses on WWE Superstars, then the show would be given a little bit more meaning.

Is it a dud?
Will it give meaning back to the lightweight division?
What are your thoughts?
You tell me.

 

[Remix]

I have a great idea for a new title.

Judging by your title, it's not exactly "new".

On Wikipedia I looked up this year's PPV lineup. I couldn't believe that Night Of Champions was still continuing, and knowing that there were only 6 current titles in the WWE and that all titles would be defended on that PPV:

If you looked on WWE.com, you'd see that NoC has been axed and your point is nullified.

I started thinking of a new title. I thought of how lightweight wrestlers like Yoshi Tatsu, Evan Bourne, Primo, Chavo Gurrerro etc had nothing to do except for working Superstar matches (well luckily Evan has gotten some good TV time on Raw).

They don't get TV time because they're either jobbers (Chavo) not over (Primo) or awful (Hawkins and Baretta). Yoshi's got a storyline on NXT, btw.

Then it clicked for me, The WWE Lightweight Championship. A silver design, with a red lightning bolt in the centre plate to represent the speed of the lightweight wrestlers.

A horrible belt design for a horrible idea.

It would be a interbrand title, and not on just Smackdown like the Cruiserweight Championship was contested as. Bringing back Cruiserweight name never sounded realistic for me, so I thought that lightweight would've been better as it is a title in the UFC.

So because it works in a different company with a different set of fans with a different buisness model it'll work in WWE? No dice my lobotomised friend. But then I also thought up how it would be crowned. And like I say, there's a reason the Chavos of the world don't get much TV time. It's because nobody gives a rat's ass about them.

Triple H was "given" the World Heavyweight title and JoMo and The Colons unified the title at Wrestlemania 25. But I thought it would be great for it to be crowned via a tournament and then have the "Tournament Final" at Over The Limit. Even have a few title defenses on WWE Superstars, then the show would be given a little bit more meaning.

[YOUTUBE]5hfYJsQAhl0[/YOUTUBE]

Is it a dud?

Yes.

Will it give meaning back to the lightweight division?

No. And besides, there isn't one so how can it have any meaning as is?

What are your thoughts?

See the video.

 

[GenMe]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not actually a new title idea at all. The cruiser weight title was the same idea that you are talking about, and there's a reason why Vince took the title away from the company. The title was a joke back then and I'm pretty sure that the title will be a joke now. So Naw its a total DUD dude.

 

[aman7525]

ouch!!! (tough crowd tonight!!!!)

i honestly like the idea, but i do not think that the lht will be coming back...ever! it is public knowledge that vince likes big guys. and until vince and his crew are gone oor something major changes i dont see anything happening with the cruiserweights. maybe when vince retires/dies(same thing) and trips takes over things'll change.


Is it a dud?- maybe???

Will it give meaning back to the lightweight division?- it certainly couldn't hurt the "careers" of yoshi, primo, chavo, and other smaller guys

What are your thoughts?- if done right it could be big... if done wrong who cares chavo and crew go back to superstars

 

[iwinulose]

Is it a dud?
Will it give meaning back to the lightweight division?
What are your thoughts?
You tell me.

1)this sounds like a really good idea, lets face it, lightweights arent gonna hold world titles, and few will hold the IC or US belts, so having a lightweight belt would be a good idea to give the lightweight guys a chance to shine.
2)i think it would, the lightweights would get used better and would show up more, i think it would be a great idea.
3)i like the way you think and believe that if this was done, it would benifet wrestlers that wont get the big time titles.

 

[Remix]

1)this sounds like a really good idea, lets face it, lightweights arent gonna hold world titles,

I think that's enough to prove my point.

and few will hold the IC or US belts, so having a lightweight belt would be a good idea to give the lightweight guys a chance to shine.

Have you LOOKED ad the most recent US and intercontinental champions. Ziggler, Kofi, DBD and Miz would all qualify as light heavyweights and were US or IC champions in the last 12 months.

2)i think it would, the lightweights would get used better and would show up more, i think it would be a great idea.

They don't get used because nobody gives a fuck about them.

3)i like the way you think and believe that if this was done, it would benifet wrestlers that wont get the big time titles.

Or alternatively the ones worthy of having a title reign will get theirs and the ones that aren't can go rot on superstars or get fired. That's worked pretty well so far.

 

[a7xfan93]

damn, why is everyone hating on this dude. HEY DUDE! you have an awesome idea, the cruiserweight division was very exciting and brought alot of high flyers. i would love to see this happen, give people like BOURNE a title that is well deserved

 

[ECW Sandman]

The Cruiserweight belt was fine until they turned it in to a fucking joke when they gave it to that fucking midget Hornswoggle but after that hell no they should not bring the title back hell if you ask me they should get rid of all the belts they don't mean anything now all they are are props that's it so why should they make a new one have you not seen the WWE Title or the new Tag Team Belts there god awful they have no class to them any more GET RID OF THE BELTS that's what I say.

 

[wushady]

I've seen no less than five threads about this subject in less than six months. I've said it before and I'll say it again the WWE will never bring it back. No matter if it's called the cruiserweight, lightweight or light heavyweight title it doesn't matter. The division was very popular in WCW in the mid to late '90's. However besides a short time period it was never used properly in WWE. The mid card titles in WWE are barely used properly as it is. Adding another title wont help any, if they don't utilize the ones they already have.

Even if they did bring it back they really don't have enough descent guys to make the division exciting. Many of the guys that fit the weight requirements like Bryan, Rey Mysterio, Sin Cara, Morrison, Ziggler, Gabriel, Punk and maybe Christian and The Miz. Are past that level and being put in that division would be a huge demotion. That would leave Primo, Ryder, Chavo, Yoshi, Borne, Hawkins, and maybe a few others to feud for the title. I really don't think many people would care to see them facing each other over and over.

 

[Serious Mozzarella]

Entire divisions dedicated to cruiserweight/lightweight superstars is not a concept that can work anymore.

-There aren't enough small guys that could qualify as a lightweight
-They guys they DO have kind of suck
-Guys flying around the ring is cool for 5 minutes than burns out the audience
-A brawling style doesn't look credible with a lightweight

Also,there just isn't a need for "divisions" anymore, period. There aren't enough guys that can successfully carry entire sections of the show. They're running low on top guys as it is. The system WWE has now is perfectly fine, as the best of every kind of wrestler can be showcased.

 

[Vincent Michaels]

The Cruiserweight belt was fine until they turned it in to a fucking joke when they gave it to that fucking midget Hornswoggle but after that hell no they should not bring the title back hell if you ask me they should get rid of all the belts they don't mean anything now all they are are props that's it so why should they make a new one have you not seen the WWE Title or the new Tag Team Belts there god awful they have no class to them any more GET RID OF THE BELTS that's what I say.

The belt ws a joke before if got to Hornswoggle. The last real Cruiserweight Title storyline that meant something was when Matt Hardy ws trying to lose weight so he could challenge for it back in 03. After that it was really just a prop. Also, who cares what the freaking belts look like? I don't. I care about the 2, 4, or more people that are fighting for it because of its value to them. Also, none of the titles are props as they still have quite a bit of value left.

Yeah, so I say that the division should never return unless the writers actually try to build some interesting storylines around it. And even then I'd be skepticle(sp?) about the idea.

 

[American Steamboat]

While I don't think that there should be a lightweight title as I think the concept has run its course, I think they should introduce one new championship. I really don't have a good answer as to what it should be called, but it should be along the lines of a television title, basically a lower to lower mid-card championship. With the roster the size that it is and with two brands there are just too many guys that are directionless and while there may be some of them who aren't over, let's be fair it isn't easy to get over when your matches are meaningless. Frankly, I think this would also work to restore prestige to the U.S. and Intercontinental championships. For much of the history of these two championships, there was a singles title below them...particularly with the IC title, the prestige that it once had was based on the fact that it was one step down from being world champion, and if it is the only other singles title besides the world championship it just doesn't mean as much. Granted the IC title was the only other singles title besides the WWE Championship until 1997, but at that time many superstars had larger than life characters so they didn't need titles to get over. However, today most superstars have plain names with little substance to their characters. In the 80s and early 90s wrestlers were portrayed as super heroes, now they are portrayed as athletes, and athletes need championships to look legit. For example, Tyler Reks and Chris Masters have wrestled seemingly countless matches against one another on Superstars, but no one cares who wins, and that is because, in my opinion, when one of them wins it
doesn't get them any closer to a championship opportunity.

Okay, so Reks and Masters aren't movie stars, but what about guys like Tatsu and Bourne? They are both quite popular with the fans and yet there isn't anything for them do to since they don't fit in to the US title picture.

Basically what I'm saying is that there should be a championship for up and comers to fight over, and it should be about putting on solid wrestling contests and allowing them to showcase there in-ring skills and athleticism. It should not, however, be limited to a weight class.

 

[ocekit]

I'm sorry, but the way it's being pitched by the OP and others makes it sound more like a consolation prize than a championship.

Let's be honest: the WWE doesn't even place much value in the belts they've got. Just because there's a title for a division doesn't mean the people in said divsion are used better or show up more. Just look at the Divas and Tag Team divisions.

And as Remixie Steamboat said, there are plenty of "smaller" guys in the midcard earning championships. If you are not being featured on TV much, it's because the brass either don't know what to do with you or you're missing something.

 

[The Universal Re-monster]

God damn the hate in this thread is ridiculuos... chill the fuck out. A Lightweight/Cruiserweight title would be a great idea. Why not? You have Boune, Kofi, Bryan, Yoshi, Ryder, Sin Cara and a grip of others who could make the division worth something. Have the division mean something. These guys are great athletes who can also work. If the lightweight title can main event UFC PPV then it should be the same in WWE.

 

[Remix]

Entire divisions dedicated to cruiserweight/lightweight superstars is not a concept that can work anymore.

Agreed

-There aren't enough small guys that could qualify as a lightweight
-They guys they DO have kind of suck[/quote]

Actually, both of those statements are wrong. Gabriel, Morrison, DBD, Kidd, Punk, Bourne, Ziggler and Sin Cara are all criuserweights and none of them suck.

-Guys flying around the ring is cool for 5 minutes than burns out the audience

Agreed. Also, what's stopping midgets having a spotfest ofer the US title

-A brawling style doesn't look credible with a lightweight

Kaval would like a word with you.

Also,there just isn't a need for "divisions" anymore, period. There aren't enough guys that can successfully carry entire sections of the show. They're running low on top guys as it is. The system WWE has now is perfectly fine, as the best of every kind of wrestler can be showcased.

I agree with you here. There's no need to segment the smaller guys into a light heavyweight division when there are more possibilities for them if they aren't while still being able to have the fast paced high flying insanity that made WCW's criuserweight division good.

God damn the hate in this thread is ridiculuos... chill the fuck out.

No.

A Lightweight/Cruiserweight title would be a great idea.

If by "great idea" you mean "absolutely retsrded idea" then you're right.

Why not? You have Boune, Kofi, Bryan, Yoshi, Ryder, Sin Cara and a grip of others who could make the division worth something. Have the division mean something.

Or alternatively they could make the US/IC title mean something while also being able to wrestle larger opponents.

These guys are great athletes who can also work. If the lightweight title can main event UFC PPV then it should be the same in WWE.

No. Just no.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

From a general standpoint, Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight Divisions have never been a big deal among American wrestling fans. You simply have to look at the perception of an average wrestling fan. A lot of them look at something labeled Light Heavyweight or Cruiserweight or Junior Heavyweight and see a bunch of wrestlers that aren't good enough to hang with the bigger guys. Is that necessarily how it is? Not at all, but that's how it looks & sounds to many average fans. Otherwise, why would they have to compete within a special division against wrestlers of a certain weight range?

In TNA, you've got the X Division. The motto of the X Division has always been "It's not about weight limits, it's about no limits". Now that's all well and good but the truth of the matter is that the X Division, for the most part, is a glorified Light Heavyweight Division. With the exception of Samoa Joe, I can't think of one X Division wrestler over the 225 pound mark and most weigh less. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that to slam the X Division, it's just the way it is. However, in the minds of some fans, the X Division isn't a Light Heavyweight Division for the simple fact that TNA doesn't call it that. I know that doesn't make a shred of sense once you take the time to actually look at the vast majority of wrestlers that've competed in the X Division, but a lot of fans don't try to look beneath the surface. I guess my point is that TNA was clever enough not to use the terms Cruiserweight or Light Heavyweight or Junior Heavyweight because there's a stygma attached to them in the eyes of a lot of American fans.

American fans have always, mostly, just wanted to see two guys put into the ring together and simply see who the better man is regardless of size differences. The Light Heavyweight/Cruiserweight Division in the WWE is dead and that's probably the way it should say.

 

[Reddog1146]

I think it would be a great idea but i do not , they see it happening, for that to happen, they would need to make air time for feuds for the division, promos, and storyllines. Before they make a new division they should fix their tag and womens division first and then we will talk about a lig.htweight division

 

[darbare]

I have been screaming for the past few months that they need a light heavyweight title. It would also bring back prestige to the midcard belts because you wouldnt have guys like Primo and Kidd who occasionally vie for those belts which is ridiculous because they havent proven themselves yet. The division easily would look like:

Chavo Guerrero
Curt Hawkins
Daniel Bryan
Evan Bourne
JTG
John Morrison- only to give the belt credibility
Justin Gabriel
Kofi Kingston- to give the belt credibility ONLY
Primo
Rey Mysterio- ONLY to give the belt cred
Sin Cara
Santino Marella
Trent Barreta
Tyson Kidd
Yoshi Tatsu
Zack Ryder
Heath Slater


most of those guys arent even doing anything so why not WWE?

 

[klunderbunker]

This has been argued time after time after time and the same answer always comes up: there is no point to it. It's the epitome of a glass ceiling as very few people buy into the concept of a small guy being able to contend for major titles. It locks them into a division that they can't get out of which is never a good thing at all. They need to allows these people to do something other than being Cruiserweights which is rather annoying as they're never given any thought at all, making the matches boring beyond belief.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Not this again. The Cruiserweight division is never coming back. Smaller guys have held the world titles before. If the cruiserweights get over enough, they can compete past the midcard. The guys who were competing for the Cruiserweight Championship when it was still in its last year or two were all basically jobbers. Why have a jobber title? They can just as easily compete for the midcard titles or be used to build up new monster heels. Some of them will get over enough to move up the card, and some won't. It's unfortunate, but that's how it works right now and I don't see it changing anytime soon unless they bring in at least a dozen guys over enough to bring interest to that division returning.

 

[EastCoastFan]

I would not mind seeing WWE revivie the light heavyweight division. They've got enough guys who could make it work.

The problem is that Vince has never liked light heavyweights. Vince is a bodybuilding nut and wants all of his guys to be muscleheads. In his eyes, every guy in WWE should be at least 6 foot 6 and 300 pounds of chiseled muscle.

 

[Morpheus101]

The cruiserweight / light heavyweight titles are relics of a time when smaller guys were buried and pushed towards those belts only. Gladly, those times are over and anyone over 150lbs can credibly win a world title, given the right attributes. However and with that being said, I crave for the exciting cruiserweight matches that you used to see in WCW in the mid/late 90's. I wish that could be somehow brought back, only without the belts for the smaller guys, where the smaller guys continued to compete against the bigger guys and against one another for the IC/US/WWE/World titles.

 

[Morpheus101]

I would not mind seeing WWE revivie the light heavyweight division. They've got enough guys who could make it work.

The problem is that Vince has never liked light heavyweights. Vince is a bodybuilding nut and wants all of his guys to be muscleheads. In his eyes, every guy in WWE should be at least 6 foot 6 and 300 pounds of chiseled muscle.

Maybe in the past, but if that were true, Rey Mysterio would never have been champion.

 

[Xemmy]

As it's been said already- no.

It's not that I wouldn't enjoy a proper Cruiser-weight Division, It's simply that the formula doesn't work in WWE. Vince doesn't like 'em that much, and he made a joke out of the division. Just look at the longest reigning Light Heavyweight Champion in history. Gillberg. He held the title for more than a year, and he was nothing more than a parody of Goldberg, and in all those months as the champion of the cruiser-weight division, he won a single match. Then, let's look at the last Cruiser-Weight Champion- Hornswoggle and his later feud with Chavo Guerrero who is perhaps one of the most misused talents in WWE history. That's really all I've got to say. Rey Mysterio is the only little-man to ever pull a career out of Vince's ass, and that's why a Cruiser division will never work in WWE.

 

[Spidey Revivey]

Hornswoggle was the last to hold the Cruiserwieght Championship. Freaking Hornswoggle. That within itself is enough reason not to ever bring back that piece of shit championship back. WWE made it a joke, yes Rey Mysterio held it a couple of times, but many credited superstars held the Hardcore Championship too. And that's not coming back anytime soon.

WWE's Cruiserweight division was a novelty, and you're just kidding yourself if you think Americans are dying to see it come back. A few IWC fellars may, but the standard WWE viewer most likely doesn't.

I repeat, Hornswoggle.