Jack-Hammer
YOU WILL RESPECT MY AUTHORITAH!!!!
I'm not sure if this is a discussion that's been had before or recently, but what is it that makes a world title a world title? I've talked to a number of people about this in the past and I've generally gotten three common responses:
1. A title is a "world" title simply if the promotion that controls it simply declares it to be so.
2. A title is a "world" title if it is has been defended in at least two countries other than the country it's based in.
3. A title is a "world" title only if it's been designated as so by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
I'm curious to know what everybody's take is. For me personally, it's simply #1. There is no "official" or universally accepted means of granting "world" status to a championship. The truth is, I've never found ay sort of official or universally accepted means of declaring what's a "world" title in any sport. In professional boxing, there are about half a dozen major governing bodies and each one recognizes it's own world champion in all the various weight divisions. Nobody got together and sat around and said "This belt should be a world title because......" The head honchos of the bodies simply granted status to these titles.
How many times have we heard the winners of the World Series referred to as "world champions" in one media form or another? But are they really since every professional baseball team in every country that plays baseball professionally doesn't compete in the series? It's all a matter of perspective and, even though wrestling isn't a real sport, the same general principle of perception applies.
1. A title is a "world" title simply if the promotion that controls it simply declares it to be so.
2. A title is a "world" title if it is has been defended in at least two countries other than the country it's based in.
3. A title is a "world" title only if it's been designated as so by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
I'm curious to know what everybody's take is. For me personally, it's simply #1. There is no "official" or universally accepted means of granting "world" status to a championship. The truth is, I've never found ay sort of official or universally accepted means of declaring what's a "world" title in any sport. In professional boxing, there are about half a dozen major governing bodies and each one recognizes it's own world champion in all the various weight divisions. Nobody got together and sat around and said "This belt should be a world title because......" The head honchos of the bodies simply granted status to these titles.
How many times have we heard the winners of the World Series referred to as "world champions" in one media form or another? But are they really since every professional baseball team in every country that plays baseball professionally doesn't compete in the series? It's all a matter of perspective and, even though wrestling isn't a real sport, the same general principle of perception applies.