That's subjective, as underground rock bands who could be amazingly popular and yet refuse to go main stream. So they may value being in the smaller more personable crowds rather than in front of 80,000 fans that you only interact with maybe 2,000 of them.
Yeah, but what you're saying would be the equivalent of Current TNA champ Angle saying the TNA world title is more prestigeous that the WWE... The kind of staunch ethics you alude to are EXTREMELY rare - Most of it's hot air from peeps who are striving to make it 'big' and hope talking underground jive is indeed their road credibility and, in turn, success in terms of audience and sales. The only ones you can truly take seriously are those that actually had the chance to sell out and chose not too(*). (It's all too convenient and cozy to just 'lurk' in your underground 'lair' claiming to be against the mainstream whilst waiting for your big break). Whilst, not necessarily being so artisticaly credible, it's certainly not easy appealing to and retaining a huge mainstream audience.
(*Brief example: 100% independently run and distributed, Detroit record label, Underground Resistance were hunted down and offered a multimillion dollar distribution deal via Sony Japan in the early 90's. They told them where to go because they wanted to retain 100% control of all aspects of their musical output. Nearly 20 years later, they've yet to receive a dollar of funding from an external source.)
Back on topic (phew!)...
Due to the kayfaybe nature of wrestling it's the AUDIENCES perception which is of ultimate importance when measuring the prestige of a title. It's only as prestigeous as it's made to look and bottom line is that a title which is defended regularly in front of crowds of 20k+ is always gonna look more prestigeous than one with the size of audience that TNA attract.
In all aspects of business and history you really can't compare any set of titles with the WWE realistically.
And why not? ....You CAN but it's just a no-contest from the start.
I was simply trying to compare modern day prestige.
I know.... I still stand by my comments that there is no comparison between the two even if you judge purely by 2002 - 2009.
Have TNA had a champ that has drawn for them yet (let alone carried the company)?
That, my good man, (and regretably, these days, merchandise sales) is how
the business side of things ultimately judges prestige for a champ & his belt regardless of the era.
And I said suck it smarks because its become the cool thing to hate TNA on the internet, which is primarily a smark community.
Likewise, I know. No disrespect whatsoever, but whether you like it or not, your considering a 'behind the scenes' perception of the titles is FAR more
'smart'/smark (you choose) than you seem to realise.
You think a ten year old Jeff Hardy fan considers the things you are when perceiving the strap that his hero holds?