While it should be acknowledged that despite the claims they made to say the ECW title was a World title, they weren't fooling anybody as it was essentially another mid card belt. In all honesty, I felt there were times that it was less prestigious than the IC and US belts, similar to how the European championship was less prestigious than the IC in the 90's.
But I have to completely disagree with your point. Chavo Guerrero is certainly World Championship material in any other world but the WWE and I was very happy that they gave him a chance to hold a title that had the illusion of being important. Chavo has given a lot to both the business and the company. Sure, the way his character has been built in the WWE means he'd never be a credible WWE champion but his time in the Cruiserweight division with fights against Rey Mysterio were some of the best matches I've watched and are part of the reason I miss the Cruiserweight division so much.
The title itself started with plenty of credibility. RVD was a suitable inaugral holder. Big Show managed to step up from the shadows by winning it, which in my opinion has relaunched his floundering career since. Victory over Big Show made Bobby Lashley over and there is no doubt that he would have been one of the main men in the company right now had he not jumped ship to MMA.
The title took it's first hit when Vince got his hands on it. He was clearly stroking his own ego, thrusting it down all the former ECW fans throats that this is his ECW and how better to do that that make it his ECW title. Fortunately he had the good grace not to hold onto it for very long and after Bobby Lashley was stripped of the belt due to being drafted by Raw, John Morrison, by some formation of luck, grace or fortune (at Benoit's familys expense of course), got a ECW title win out of nowhere.
That was a risky move. Morrison, then Nitro, replaced Benoit in the match. We all believed that Punk would win and it was a big shocker and one that could have caused outrage as this kid just hadn't impressed up to that point. But for some reason, everyone took to it. From that point, more so than when Lashley held it, it became a springboard for new guys to step up and grab the brass ring. Most since Morrison have flown.
Punk and Morrison had a great feud which will ensure that ECW will not be forgotten and will be remembered with a small portion of fondness and we all finally got what we wanted. CM Punk as champion. I personally thought this run was a little bland but it definately gave Punk the confidence to run in the big time. He knew he was good. We knew he was good and finally the rest of the fans were starting to see it too. And since then, he's run far!
WWE then decided to have a year of conselation champions. Chavo, Kane, Mark Henry and Matt Hardy, all guys who have been in the business for over ten years, all guys who are good but not World Title material.
Jack Swagger finally broke the run of old timers and made the most of his time in the spotlight. He was great in the ring. Had a fantastic look. Had an annoying but memorable catchphrase. Perfect champion material that has transfered well to the WHC.
Christian was then given his sympathy vote, sandwiched around Tommy Dreamer's. And finally Ezekiel Jackson retired the belt on the day he beat Christian which must launch his career when he returns from injury in my eyes.
The ECW championship was never a true world title despite the claims the WWE will make but that does not remove the fact that it has made plenty of impact. Careers of CM Punk, John Morrison and Jack Swagger have been founded on that belt and likely wouldn't have been in the same state without it. I was very happy with WWE's decision to use the ECW belt to decorate some of those future legends like Matt Hardy or Chavo Guererro who haven't and won't get the chance to properly shine in the big time. You can't begrudge Chavo for that. He's been wrestling since the early 90's. He's closing in on a 20 year career. The WWE has honoured him for that commitment. It hasn't hurt the belt, the brand, the company or the man himself. It was absolutely fine. In fact the only bad thing about the Chavo reign was the 4 second match He and Kane had at Wrestlemania. I personally felt that was a little disrespectful and the should have let him have a real Wrestlemania moment.
