#16
May 23rd and time for the latest edition of the best damn column there ever was, The People's Column. This time I want to write about titles- how they are used and misused by the feds. There are so many issues concerning titles that they provide me with enough fodder to fill an entire column.
First of all, which is the true Heavyweight Championship of the World? Currently the WWF, WCW, NWA and the Japanese Triple Crown are the top contenders. All other feds claims of possesing a 'world' title are clearly wrong because they are too localized for the title to have international recongnition. For example, an indy limited to one particular state cannot claim to posses a world title, it only posseses a 'Heavyweight' title. So among the contenders I listed above, whose is the real World's title? IMHO, it has to be the WWF. True, the WCW title is the successor of the NWA title which was once very widely recongnized as the only 'world' title. The NWA title also holds some legitamacy becuase it is, after all, the NWA. And wrestlers from all over the world do compete for the Triple Crown. But the fact of the matter is that the WWF is the only truly global wrestling fed, watched by half a billion people around the world, with a roster of wrestlers more diverse than any fed. It's fan following is undisputedly the biggest. On the other hand, the WCW title and the Triple Crown can, at best, be described as 'National' titles, one limited to the US and the other to Japan. The NWA, for all practical reasons, is a has-been.
Today titles change hands at an incredible speed. Already in 1999, we have had 3 WWF World (changing hands 5 times) and 6 Intercontinental champions. In WCW, it is no better. Nash, Hogan, Flair, DDP, Sting, and (once again) DDP and Nash have held the Heavyweight title while countless others have held the TV and US titles. It's time both WWF and WCW slow down with these title changes. Both the Rock and Steve Austin are 3-time WWF champs, but it is clear that Austin has been the greater champ. He has the title for a combined 10 months while the Rock's tally is hardly 2 or 3 months. Every title in this sport is losing it's sheen. It's time the champions were given more legitimacy by giving them longer reigns. This will not only ensure that past greats' acheivements (like Bob Backlund's 3 reigns) are still respected, but also current wrestlers are given more time to establish themselves.
Finally, there is the matter of the WWF and the number of titles it's been introducing and wasting. The Light-Heavyweight, European and Hardcore titles have little value. Gillberg and Shane McMahon can hardly be called credible champions and the Hardcore title is an endless saga of a pointless battle between Al Snow and Harcore (???) Holly. Now the WWF Women's title is a joke with someone like Debra winning it after an Evening Gown match!
And now, it's time for some random thoughts-
Sable is stale! Frankly, I'm tired of her. Overkill is the keyword here. I've seen all I wanted to see of her and now we read reports of hated she has become in the locker room and how arrogant she has become, esp bringing that lawyer with her.
There was a time when I respected Kevin Nash. Not anymore. Ever since he's taken over as head-booker WCW is sinking and everybody there (except for Nash's cronies) is unhappy. And now he wants to hold the title till December! Hey, Eric, it's time to wake up!!!
One match I never ever want to see again is Hardcore Holly vs. Al Snow. I don't see why it has any more potential than Sparky "Thermus" Plugg vs. "The Portugese Man-O-War" Aldo Montaya. At least Al Snow's funny and talented, but when I look at Holly, all I can do is shake my head slowly and sadly and hope never to see him again. Just look at the names he's used- Sparky Plugg, Bob "Spark Plugg" Holly, "Bombastic" Bob the NWA tag champ and now Hardcore Holly????
When Bigelow, Sandman, Douglas and co. left ECW, I thought it was finished. Now, looking at people like Sid, Cyrus and Sabu, I think a resurgence is bound to happen.
Not yet another wrestling show! WWF Smackdown may manage to kill the recent popularity that the WWF has gained. Maybe people bored with too much WWF programming will switch to Thunder (which is on at the same time) and presto, WCW is on top again!
This is the part I sign off, that's all for this time. If you have any questions or comments, send me mail at vishakh@vsnl.com.