Rumours about the US and IC Title

[ShaRpY HaRdY]

TNA has briefcases too (Gunner & Storm are about to rematch for it).. certainly if they do it the way I described than there would be a period of time that the US Title holder or IC Holder would have to hold their belts before they are given the option to cash in (eg: 2 PPV events time). But the belt cash-ins don't work like briefcases, they are just an opportunity for a match at the next PPV or what have you, it's not like you can just beat the person down and then cash in for an instant match..

In Retrospect, I probably wouldn't do IC -> World Champ, probably just US -> IC.
I feel it would make the IC valuable as well as give people a reason to want the US belt for a time and then on Smackdown you can just have a US Championship Tourny after someone cashes in..

 

[seabs]

Cashing in for a midcard belt is dumb IMO.

 

[Lockard 23]

How does that make sense from a kayfab stand point? It doesn't in this day and age in the 80s it worked to an extent as it gave guys a higher standing in the company and often lead to a world title reign so it made sense as the next step up now it doesn't the heritage is too screwed up. This offers a title meaning but apparently it devalues it?

Your objective is to be the best at whatever you do from a kayfab point not be only good enough for part best. How many boyhood dreams have dreamt of the US title?

Jericho has said before (non-kayfabe) that growing up, his dream was to become the WWF Intercontinental Champion. Not because he didn't think he was ever worthy of being the world champion, but because the IC Title was always the belt held by his favorite wrestlers and so many of his favorite matches were contested over it. Marketing the midcard belts like this, as championships that have been held by so many greats and have individual merit and prestige of their own, will make people better understand why a wrestler would find a lot of importance in just holding the IC or US Title without feeling like they're just a mere stepping stone to the world title.

As for whether they'll unify them or not, I hope not but if they do, then it must show how serious they are about improving the IC Title.

 

[DK JAMES]

I'd be really happy about that. Get rid of the US Title, keep the Intercontinental. No need for 2 mid-card titles with the combined brands.

 

[F.R.I.E]

I'd be really happy about that. Get rid of the US Title, keep the Intercontinental. No need for 2 mid-card titles with the combined brands.

Unification city.

 

[HEELKris]

Not going to happen anytime soon. I don't believe this report.

 

[Dolph'sZiggler]

I don't think they are going to unify those two belts. They're needed if they are going to go with one belt for the top guys in the long term.

Needed how? Less will always be more for me as far as belts are concerned. People might think oh well 2 mid card belts so two up and comers have a belt! but to me it just waters down both belts.

If you unify the belts suddenly they have some prestige again. I suggested in the fantasy booking WM thread that Reigns takes the IC off of Langston, Shield splits, Ambrose is still US champ and they have a triple threat Shield unification match at Mania. Reigns becoming the first unified IC champ would instantly boost that belts prestige through the roof, especially after his title defenses that would come later against Rollins and Ambrose

 

[ShaRpY HaRdY]

I suggested in the fantasy booking WM thread that Reigns takes the IC off of Langston, Shield splits, Ambrose is still US champ and they have a triple threat Shield unification match at Mania. Reigns becoming the first unified IC champ would instantly boost that belts prestige through the roof, especially after his title defenses that would come later against Rollins and Ambrose

Your scenario is ideal for the concept of merging the two belts, I don't see them unifying them soon but who knows.. Honestly IMO this it will play out kinda like that with a few tweaks with Reigns keeping on talking about how he's the Best in the World for beating Punk and then Ambrose will get pissed off and be like "You think you're the best why don't you wrestle me for this Belt and prove it.." then Seth Rollins will be like "Woah woah woah, are you both assuming that I am the weak link??" and then boom a Triple Threat Match between the Shield for the US Belt.

Either way the Triple Threat Match between the Shield for a midcard belt should be inevitable and they must realize it would be so entertaining at this point.

 

[Snowman1]

Always great to see the midcard belts go away. Good riddance. Then again this Miz/Kofi feud just shows that WWE doesn't need to have a toy belt on the line to have 2 guys feud over nothing.

But Langston and Ambrose have already had matches that just died on PPV, not sure if they're the right guys for the match, but w/e. Either way this might be a nice chance to save the Intercontinental Championship. They HAVE to immediately establish that as a stepping-stone belt, using either guy is fine (probably better if you use a babyface but Ambrose is more ready despite all the non-stop jobs he's been doing) and he can have a nice reign with that belt (if they can keep his momentum going, which I doubt).

But the thing is no matter how much momentum he has as IC champion, he'll have to job 2-3 times to get the belt off him which should hurt his chances of jumping up to the title picture. Damned rematch clauses.