Would it hurt a world champion to return to a secondary championship?

[CM Steel]

During WWF/E wrestling for the past 13 years we've seen the crowning of new world champions who would win the title once, then lost it and go for a secondary title where they came from in the mid-card division. So can they be using there secondary title as a stepping stone to get back to the world title, or not just world championship material to begin with? We can look at WWF/E superstar's babyface and heel.

Faces: The Big Show-When Big Show first came the the WWF/E he had a nice juggarnant run towards the WWF/E championship belt. But that would be the last time that we would see Big Show with a world championship (IDK if ya'll include the WWECW title as a WORLD championship?). But from that era in WWF/E wrestling, Big Show would win various secondart belts.

Rey Mysterio-Many people talk how the WWE handed the WWE world heavyweight title to Rey Mysterio due to the death of the late great Eddie Guerrero, but I beg the difer. Rey had to win the IC title two more times before he can hold the WHC once again...Unti'l Kane cashed in his Money in the Bank on Rey seconds after Rey won it.

Kane-Months after Kane made his WWF/E debut/return of Kane when he won the WWF/E title a year later over Stone Cold Steve Austin at that years King of the Ring. And lost back to Stone Cold 24 hours later on RAW. And just last year Kane finally wins the world title back. Does former IC and Hardcore champion ring a bell?

Heels: Sheamus- Sheamus got a Brock Lesnar-like push towards the WWE championship (twice already) for various reason's. Triple H mainly. Now Sheamus is former U.S. champ, enough said.

C.M. Punk-After winning the world heavyweight title via Money in the Bank, C.M. Punk was stripped of the world title due to a punt to the skull from Randy Orton. C.M. Punk had to rebound towards the main event after winning the IC title for a short while.

JBL-After JBL lost his first and only world championship to John Cena, he was put back in the mid-card division a year later after beat the late Chris Benoit for the U.S. strap. That was used as a stepping stone back to the world title.


So, would it hurt a world champion to return to a secondary championship?

 

[rpsulli85]

I think that you may have just answered your own question there. At this point, however, the belts are used as props anyways and for the most part, Vince and Co. don't really care how many times somebody has the top belt vs a second tier championship. Otherwise, John Cena wouldn't be a 10 time champion after having been in the WWE for only 9 years. And no, this is not a Cena bashing thread, this is simply being used to illustrate the point that championships don't mean what they used to and you can't blame them for using the secondary championships to placate some of the previous main eventers before they get a shot at the top title again.

 

[alistahr]

Very unlikely, look at Jericho, he became IC champion probably about what 2 years or a 1 year ago?

 

[orton0384]

Triple h became ic champion and feuded with jeff hardy in 2001 and turned out fine. y2j as well. I believe it helps them stay relevent while helping the championship itself gain prominence.

 

[barclayteo]

i think it all belongs in the calibur of the wrestler i totally agree with what the first responder said winning the highest world tilte isnt nearly what it used to be even though it is in the entainment buisness it used to be they were very selective when it came to who won the world titles while there is still exclusitivty when it comes to winning the big title it doesnt mean what it used to be.

but it depends on the wrestler while it used be only john cena, randy orton, edge etc. if they are that good then switching from main event title to lower title like us title then it may be ok if they are not holding it long but if they hold it for lone then not so much.


but if its someone the experimented with like sheamus, or jack swagger(may be a bad guy but finally a wwe champion from oklahoma) that may not have worked out so well then it may not be so bad because its like like not everyone can be a world champion some people have to be a little lower. so it all depends on how much vkm trusts you. good thread btw message me if you have any other threads and i will be glad to read them.

 

[Spillz3000]

Big Show had more than one WWE title reign. He beat Brock Lesnar I believe for the strap not long after the brand extension when Heyman briefly managed him and then he lost it to Kurt Angle but I get what your saying.

But no it doesn't hurt them at all. I think as other posters have said it gives that main eventer something to do as well as adds luster to the belt while they wait to get shot back up to the Main Event again.

As someone else pointed out Chris Jericho is the best example. Hey is always floating around the Main Event but he isn't too proud to go to the midcard and help put over people or win a secondary championship. When Jericho and Rey were feuding over the IC belt a couple of years back they made that belt look just as important as the World Heavyweight Championship at the time. Their feud and matches made you believe that as much as they didn't like each other they wanted the belt just as bad. Jericho did the same thing when him and Big Show won the tag belts later that year, he brought instant cred to those titles as well. Hell when he returns I wouldn't be surprised if he gets another wwe/whc reign only to later face/feud with some midcarders over the IC/US belt.

But yeah I think it's great when a superstar can put their pride aside and do what's best for the company and their respective divisions.

 

[Joeezy^^]

First off, Big show is a 2 time world champion. He beat HHH for WWE championship in 1999 and Brock Lesnar somewhere in 2002 at MSG (I'm a New Yorker)

Anyways. I think when a former world champion goes after a a lesser title, it is to just keep them relevant or to bring that title some prestige. They will eventually rise back to the top but they have to start somewhere.

 

[xxxdaniel_ariesxxx]

Undertaker - After winning several World Titles won the Tag Team Titles on multiple occasions, and also pursued, won and defended the Hardcore Title over the course of several months. Went on to win more World Titles.

Ric Flair - after being... well, Ric Flair... he won the United States Title, Intercontinental Title and several Tag Team Titles. Went on to win more World Titles.

Shawn Michaels - After winning the World Title on two occasions he went on to win the Tag Team Titles several times, as well as the European Title. Went on to win more World Titles.

Triple H - After winning several World Titles he won the Intercontinental title twice and the Tag Team Titles. Went on to win more World Titles.

Bret Hart - after being a five time World Champion he went on to win several United States Titles and Tag Team Titles. Went on to win more World Titles.


Five Legends in the business who won World Titles, went on to win mid-card titles, won more World Titles and are still considered legends today... it doesn't matter at all, as long as the fans and the people in charge still view them as top stars.

 

[SomeAreSet]

It depends on how big the star is.Cena,Orton and CM Punk can hold any title in the company and still look like the top guy,but for guys like Sheamus,Christian or Jack Swagger,it means they're going down the pecking order and have to climb back up again.

For some,giving an ex-world champion a secondary title is a means of giving them relevance while other wrestlers compete for the title.For example,in 2001 Triple H was the IC Champion,but that was because he was teaming up with Austin and Austin was the WWE Champion and he couldn't possibly feud with his own teammate.I can think of other examples like Shawn Michaels holding the European title in 1997 before jumping back into the main event.Kane and Taker teamed up and won the tag team titles when they ran out of people to feud with.

For others,the World Title was just WWE riding the wave of hype surrounding that wrestler,and once the hype died down,the wrestler went back to where he truly belongs,in the mid-card.Rey Mysterio is a prime examples of this.

In my opinion,not holding a title would be better than holding a secondary title.Mainly due to the fact that the title belts are like a tiered system: Tag titles at the bottom,then US and IC titles above them,and the World titles at the top of the pyramid.Winning a secondary title after winning a world title would look like a step down.Not giving ex-World champions the belt could benefit them.Like Cena from June of 2010 to April 2011,or Orton/CM Punk.They went into feuds that were main event worthy without challenging for any titles and once their feuds were over,they went back into the main event without looking like they took a step backwards.

 

[The Suplexer Perfecter]

Its Not WWE But Didnt AJ Go back to the X Division After winning the World Title?

Many times in fact.

I don't see it as an issue, especially if for a story line like Triple H winning the IC title in 2001. If they are really top guy, I don't see them going back. But it wouldn't hurt them either.

But the guys who went back to a mid card title were guys who were never one of the "top guys" in the first place. More guys who could be brought up if needed.

 

[CM Steel]

First off, Big show is a 2 time world champion. He beat HHH for WWE championship in 1999 and Brock Lesnar somewhere in 2002 at MSG (I'm a New Yorker)

Anyways. I think when a former world champion goes after a a lesser title, it is to just keep them relevant or to bring that title some prestige. They will eventually rise back to the top but they have to start somewhere.

My bad about the Big Show's second title reign, he did win the WWE championship a second time. But I guess since he lost it in a month to Kurt Angle. It must have just slipped my mind because it happened so fast.

And that was back in 2002, this is now 2011. So pretty much Big Show hasn't had a WORLD championship in like 8 and a half years. That's sad.

 

[yoshi_doce2006]

Ric Flair did it, Randy Savage did it, Triple H did it, Stone Cold did it, and I think Kurt Angle did it. If you are a great performer it doesnt matter if you go after another belt, you can easily get back into the World Championship hunt if you want to. Basically, it's the performer.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Sheamus got a Brock Lesnar-like push towards the WWE championship (twice already) for various reason's. Triple H mainly. Now Sheamus is former U.S. champ, enough said.

Sheamus is the most recent example of why it's no comedown for a former world champ to win a lesser title. After all, there are a bunch of top stars, yet everyone can't be the world champ at the same time.

After his two world titles, I thought the company treated Sheamus like garbage, surely reaching the bottom of the well when he was forced to job to Evan Bourne. I couldn't help but think he had pissed someone off in a major way to have been demoted so far. So, when he won the U.S. Championship from Daniel Bryan, I felt as if he had ascended to the top again. It seemed as big an achievement as when he beat Triple H.

No, there's no shame in winning a lesser title after having attained the big one. It's still a big accomplishment.

 

[Daniel]

Of course not. Moving up and down the card is part and parcel of a wrestler's career (barring a few special exceptions who will always be in the world title picture).

The best example I can think of as a versatile wrestler is Chris Jericho. He looked equally comfortable carrying the World Heavyweight Championship as he did carrying the Intercontinental Championship. Cena couldn't do that. Nor could Triple H. Or Randy Orton. I can't tell you why. Maybe it's the willingness of the individual (Jericho has always been known as someone wiling to move down the card to put over talent). I'm not saying it would hurt Cena, HHH or Orton. It would just look weird.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I dont see any reason why not. Jericho is the prime example of this, he has moved up and down several times over his career.

However, usually the guys who move up and down are not the BIGGEST stars in the company. They are world championship material, but not the main star in the business. For example, it is very unlikely that JohnCena or Rnady Orton will drop back to fight for the IC title again, but Jericho could do it, someone like Sheamus or The Miz could quite easily do it, as Jeff Hardy did previously. CM Punk is another who could fit in at both levels.

For most wrestlers it wont be a problem, but for the face of the company? No, they will almost always stay at the main event level as the WWE will try and get as many eggs as possible from the golden goose and capitalise on their big names popularity.