How to introduce the midcard title.

[dstebbins]

New championships are tricky, not because fans may not accept them, but because it's hard to introduce them into the show and it fit into the storylines. In kayfabe, there's no need for a midcard title in TNA, only in reality should there be one, and it has to fit in both worlds before it can fit at all.

So how should TNA introduce a midcard championship for the likes of Robert Roode, James Storm, Kaz, and Eric Young? As an example, the Intercontinental title was introduced in kayfabe by unifying the North American title with a fictional South American title. The European title was introduced because the British Bulldog was proud of his European heritage and he named himself the European champion. The US title was introduced as a way of bringing back the history and prestige of the NWA US title.

TNA doesn't have any of those things going for them, so how are they going to introduce a midcard title and it make sense in kayfabe?

Note: I'm NOT asking what we should call the title. I'm asking how do we introduce it.

 

[EnterTamed]

why is there a need for a midcard title? raw has 4 titles(wwe,intercontinental,tag team, womens) tna has 4 already(heavyweight, x, tag , and knockout), there is no need for another title, in wwe there midcard titles dont mean anything but to the underachieving wrestlers(not knocking on jericho or mvp, but they dont defend the titles hardly and when they do its against people who probably wont main even again or ever)

 

[Montana]

THey should just start using the X division title better. In my opinion, they should combine the hardcore wrestlers along with the cruiser weights. Then you can throw a few grapplers in there too. The X division could be awesome again, they just gotta put more focus on it, and stop the comedy.

 

[dstebbins]

The X Division title isn't truly a midcard title because it's division-specific. Now don't get me wrong, I know the X Division isn't a weight division. It is, however, a style division. You have to be a high flyer to be in the X Division, and guys like

Robert Roode,
James Storm,
Eric Young,
Abyss,

are not high flyers, and therefore are not eligible to win the X Division title. The X Division title has no bearing for these slower wrestlers, yet they deserve a singles title run just as much as Kaz or Black Machismo do, but they aren't ready for the World Heavyweight title yet, so what are they gonna do? Go through meaningless feud through meaningless feud until they get so stale because they're not doing anything new that fans change the channel? I don't think so.

THAT'S why they need a midcard title. And just because Raw has 4 titles doesn't mean anything. Remember in the Monday Night Wars, when WWE had five main titles (WWF, Tag, European, IC, and Hardcore) and two minor ones (Women's and Light Heavyweight)? WWE was much more successful back then. Besides, people want people to stop comparing TNA to WWE, so a good place to start is by not comparing the two yourself.

 

[KroniK 4-2-0]

That's tough, idk of a good way to bring in a Title. Maybe Cornette has a Town Hall Meeting, announcing the new TNA Championship (Primetime Title, or T.V. Title I think) and that there will be a tourny for it. So at Slammiversary maybe, a new Title is introduced to the winner of the Finals. Who should be the very first Midcard TNA Champion you ask? I think AJ Styles, James Storm or Robert Roode. Finals could be Roode vs. Booker, end the fued, and gain a Title.

 

[EnterTamed]

comparisons are inevitable, and wwf had 5 titles with 2 shows!!!, but i was only comparing it by more of the fact that its 2 hour show and 30 minutes goes to angle it seems, and about a half hours of commercials so in an hour they would have to cram storylines for 5 titles without making each other seem like a lesser title, i kinda wish they had another show even if only for an hour

 

[Mike1989]

Well I think thing that needs to be said here is how are TNA going to create the next generation of main eventers?

Because we all know that the likelihood of Jay Lethal ever becoming a main eventer is near none. We all know that currently the x-division doesn't harbour one future world champion except Daniels if he returns to his Christopher Daniels persona. As prior to this you could see Joe would do it, Styles had already done it and Daniels could do it. Now I personally don't see any current x-division wrestler following in Joe's footsteps so the question needs to be asked how can TNA prepared the next generation of main eventers.

For me the answer is simple. They need a TV type title. Reason being Robert Rhoode is not going to become a legit contender unless TNA have him go over Booker, Sting etc. The problem with this method is it could hurt the drawing power of a Booker or Sting. Thus what TNA needs to do, like the WWE do, is build the future main eventers through a mid card title. MVP wouldn't have gotten the same break without the US title, nor would John Cena with the US title. So all in all a mid card title is needed to help develop James Storm, Robert Rhoode and people like that. Because right now the x-division doesn't hold any future TNA world champions, nor does the tag division. Instead they need to add a mid card title to build the next generation up.

 

[EnterTamed]

could kaz be a future main eventer? he has already had fueds with angle and christian although they were rather small fueds. but now about the mid card title, they dont need one, hell they had a perfect idea with the feast or fired cases when done right, could have been just like money in the bank, now i dont like tna using wwe's ideas but its clear thats what those cases were for. see but if roode were to be put over by booker, that would leave james storm and rhino as the only mid carders that can benefit from a title, why make a title for just 2 wrestlers? rellik,black reign ,eric young, and lance hoyt wont be main eventers, and with joe as champion that opens things up for x division wrestlers in the main event, though unlikely it still leaves that door open.

 

[Mike1989]

Erm there's a slight difference between Samoa Joe and Jay Lethal, a slight difference between AJ Styles and Sonjay Dutt. The difference is Joe and Styles have charisma, can use the mic, and be legitmate when they go into the main event scene. Jay Lethal has only gained some personality since ripping off Randy Savage, Sonjay Dutt talented but nowhere near main event. Who else they got?

Petey Williams? to small.
Consequences Creed? Who knows.
Sharkboy? Should have been fired long since.
Curryman? If they want TNA to become a joke then go rght ahead, but not unless he becomes Daniels again.
Alex Shelly? Maybe but needs to win titles.
Chris Sabin? Pretty much like Lethal, good wrestler but lacks personality and all the things you need to be main event.
Elix Skipper? be lucky if he lasts the year.
Homicide? Too small.
Jimmy Rave? No chance.

I really can't see anyone doing a Joe or a AJ Styles in progressing other than Kaz. He has the potential but he needs to become legit, if they had a mid card title then he could be built up as a heavyweight contender by feuding with Rhoode, Storm, Rhino, Steiner and co. But if he goes back and wins the x-division it will not be progression, after all right now if I was classing the list of how the titles rank in TNA it would go;

1. TNA Heavyweight
2. TNA womens title
3. TNA Tag team titles
4. TNA X-Division

TNA's x-division has gone downhill and that only strengthens the argument that they have become a side show for high spot fans. As lets face facts there's no AJ Styles there, no Samoa Joe, Daniels is there but as a joke of a character. So reality is no one wll progress. They need a mid card title to develop their future main eventers, because the x-division has become a joke.

 

[EnterTamed]

why does size matter for homicide when aj is the same exact size? the only things keeping some of the people down are booking and timing, since christian came into tna in 2005 only 2 tna homegrown stars have been champion(joe and abyss) and only 2 more that are still with the company have had a title shot (aj(kotm) and kaz(against angle) ) so booking is a huge problem and stars from other companies coming in and putting a hold on everyone elses would be chance.

 

[dstebbins]

Because we all know that the likelihood of Jay Lethal ever becoming a main eventer is near none. We all know that currently the x-division doesn't harbour one future world champion except Daniels if he returns to his Christopher Daniels persona. As prior to this you could see Joe would do it, Styles had already done it and Daniels could do it. Now I personally don't see any current x-division wrestler following in Joe's footsteps so the question needs to be asked how can TNA prepared the next generation of main eventers.

Wtf? Ever hear of a guy named Consequences Creed? This guy is the future of the X Division, and if you think otherwise, you obviously know nothing about wrestling. Did you see him at Lockdown? That guy is phenomenal.

 

[TrayBlaylock]

It isn't needed right now but a television title in the far future would be cool.

 

[Qwake]

Yeah, SD and Raw are the brands of WWE. Impact is the only show in TNA so 5 titles could actually work. Consequences Creed isnt too impressive and Petey Williams could main event! I would make impact kinda like SD

World title
Tag titles
X-Div title(there version of CW title)
and a new title, like a Rising star/TV title

that could be good, and change Curryman back to Daniels! Daniels could have been a huge Main eventer! Now hes a dancing Japaneseman!

To introduce a Rising star title they could have Robert Roode talking about how he is the biggest Rising Star in TNA History and from then on could have him not be given a World title shot and then he could decide to bring in a new title and it could be called The Rising Star Championship. thoughts???

 

[gashface]

To introduce a Rising star title they could have Robert Roode talking about how he is the biggest Rising Star in TNA History and from then on could have him not be given a World title shot and then he could decide to bring in a new title and it could be called The Rising Star Championship. thoughts???

Robert Roode a rising star? Let me just laugh my ass off, oh look there's a pig flying over there!

They need a midcard title alright, but rising star is not the right term. Especially to attribute to Roode.

 

[THE Brian Kendrick's Biceps]

^^Technically, Roode is a rising star. He isrising up the card rather quickly. Isn't that a 'Rising Star'.

Anyway, I reckon something like a gauntlet at BFG could be a way to bring it in.

As for name, well they can just use TV Title or something.