Time for a Canadian World Champion?

[Uncle Sam]

The Canadian, oddly enough, brought this up a while back in the Hernandez thread. He said one of the reasons Hernandez wasn't a suitable world champion was because he was from a south American background, and TNA were trying to break into Canada. Therefore, TNA should have a Canadian champion. But, if TNA were to have a Canadian world champion, who would it be?

Unfortunately, the so-obvious-it-doesn't-even-require-thought option has recently departed the company. Then again, TNA could just be making us wait for the surprise return of the century. But what matters if that Christian Cage ain't here, leaving us with only a handful of athletes to pick from.

Eric Young
I once called Eric a world title prospect. I believe he could be. Make him ever so slightly more serious and I think you've got a decent enough contender. Still, even if you smarten him up, he might be a bit too silly. Nor would it make sense for you to hang the belt off him for a long period of time.

Petey Williams
Will wrote as if he was genuinely excited about Petey's return on the most recent iMPACT!. I was decidedly less so. Petey's a unique cruiserweight and he's sound now he's got some character put into him. I reckon he's too small to be champion, and has spent too much time jobbing out.

And then, rather obviously, we have...

Robert Roode
The man recently declared "not as likely to make it as James Storm" by you, the WrestleZone posters. Still, you all seemed to be enthusiastic about him, sure that he could make it but Storm would just make a slightly better fit. But if it's a Canadian champion you be wantin', look no further. He's serious, he's strong, he's technically sound and he's good on the mic. I think the Canadians would lap him up - while the Americans boo him, the Canadians would cheer him. It'd be Bret Hart all over again.

Are they any Canadians I missed? Probably. But how would making any of these fine young gents the world champion work?

 

[My$terio_Fan]

I think it's stupid to have someone become champion just because they are trying to "break" into Canada. None of the guys you mention(yes including Roode)needs to be champion now regardless if they are trying to break into Canada.

I'm from Canada, and I know that us Canadian mark the hell out for anyone Canadian(even if there heel)but to put the belt on someone just because they are trying to break here is useless. We are going to watch and go to events regardless if Young or Petey were champions. So unless the storyline comes up and there is a suitable Canadian champion(like Christian was)I don't see this as nessecary. On the other hand I think if Hernandez was champion it would get more latino viewers for whatever reason.

 

[OffTheRopRope]

The canadian champ gimmick only worked for bret hart and 'that' hart foundation since Bret was a main eventer, and Lance Storm when he turned the US title into the Canadian title. If this were to happen, since it's been done bad in the past, would need a main event guy, who ALSO has another angle being worked.

Take jericho....he could be the current douche baggy heel, while at the same time, push the pro canada thing. It could work simply because most main event heels work a single angle, and never branch out. Orton has a similar thing where he is pushing Legacy, as well as his own title hunt.

Otherwise, I just don't think another us-canada war type scenario over a belt would fly for long these days. They need broad storylines, not those that center around a geographical area...how many shows per year does wwe run in canada? Maybe 30 at best? Just like if there was a performer representing a US state...it would be mega over in that state, but most people wouldn't care otherwise.

 

[I_Like_All_Wrestling]

Is this really even an issue? Are Canadian wrestling fans going to start watching TNA because someone from Canada becomes champion? I don't really think so. Personally I could really care less if a champion is American, Canadian, Mexican, Japanese, whatever, it makes no difference to me as long as they are entertaining and can deliver. Sure it might help draw if they go on a Canadian tour and promote "insert wrestler here" as a home town hero, but unless someone is in the position to take the title I think it would be a mistake. Right now, I would by Young, Williams or Roode as a champ...and I don't think I ever will. Maybe Roode is he continues to grow.

 

[hman V1]

The only Canadian worthy enough or even good enough to hold the World Title is Petey Williams, this guy is young, fast, and powerful...Hes like the TNA version of Bobby Lashley, Although he's the best bet to win the TNA world title, he'd probably lose it in a month to Steiner, Booker, AJ, Joe, Nash, Angle, or Sting