Johnson’s Déjà Vu: Title for Title, Thought for Thought by Daniel Johnson

 

            As flocks of ECW fans eagerly await the promotions return under the WWE banner, the WWE’s “Brand Extension” can only be further diversified and perhaps heightened. Along with the return, no doubt a new ECW World Heavyweight Champion will emerge joining the ranks of fellow world champions John Cena, Rey Mysterio, Jr., Christian Cage, and Bryan Danielson. With this reinstated title, loyalists of each organization can form another champion vs. champion scenario in their argument for why their respective company is above all others.

            The idea of matches that place title for title is no new concept. Events from past decades include such memorable encounters as Bob Backlund vs. Nick Bockwinkel and Kerry von Erich vs. Jerry Lawler. What is fresh about such matches in today’s wrestling scene is the likeliness of such meetings to end with definite decisions.

Though not rare throughout the 20^th century, title against title confrontations rarely ended with a clear victor, with Lawler vs. von Erich being one of the few exceptions. The reason for this is that each company did not want to loose face to their supporters and admit inferiority to another promotion. With three of the five most watched world champions under one banner and other champions more likely to face off to gain audiences in the uphill battle with the WWE, this dilemma no longer exists.

When contacted through his website, www.krazy-k.com, AWA star Krazy K commented on the benefits of champion vs. champion matches, “It will open up a lot of opportunities, a lot of untapped market and can spark a lot of new interest when fans can finally get their chance to see some dream matches,” before this statement Krazy K also stated some possible title vs. title matches that he would like to see, “TNA X Division Champion Samoa Joe vs. WWE Smackdown! World Champion Rey Mysterio or WWE Smackdown! World Champion Rey Mysterio vs. AWA Light Heavyweight Champion Krazy K.”

Krazy K’s mentioning of championship matches that involved a world title holder going against competitor holding a title other then a world championship has proven to be a formula for success. Perhaps the best example of this can be seen through looking at the attendances of three separate Wrestlemania events. While Wrestlemania V and Wrestlemania VII had attendances of less then 20,000 fans, Wrestlemania VI had one of the highest attendances of any Wrestlemania up to that time, with more then 67,000 fans. This was due in no small part to that occasion’s main event, which pitted WWF Intercontinental Champion, the Ultimate Warrior against WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan.

One of the performers at Wrestlemania VI, Koko B. Ware when reached through his new website, www.kokobware.net mentioned the champion vs. champion match that he would be most interested in seeing today, “I would love to see like a Harley Race and a Ric Flair be able to go at it and wrestle.”

While able to attract initial interest, championship titles do not wrestle themselves, meaning that in the end a title vs. title confrontation is only as good as the wrestlers competing. If titles are decided between two mediocre or poor performers then their championships become nothing more then gimmicks.

Koko B. Ware commented on the importance of wrestling skills, “There are a lot of good wrestler out there today without the gimmicks, like me if you take away the bird and the feathers and the gimmick I can wrestle; I can get down to business in the ring and that’s what champions today need to be able to do.”

Koko B. Ware is not alone in his enthusiasm for such athletes as Harley Race and Ric Flair as former WWF wrestler Boris Zhukov noted some encounters that he has enjoyed and would like to see, “As far as what champion vs. champion [matches] I would like the best, would be -Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat. I just loved both these guys and their matches were just fantastic. I saw them many times and to me it was just magic. I also loved Terry Funk vs. Jack Brisco. What I wish I could see now would be Terry Funk vs. Chris Benoit, Ricky Steamboat vs. Kurt Angle or Triple H. Also I would just love Shawn Michaels vs. Ricky Steamboat or Jack Brisco or Terry Funk. I also thought a lot of Harley Race vs. any of these guys would be outstanding to me. As far as a super serious wrestling match-Kurt Angle vs. Jack Brisco.”

With four major champions currently viewed as the world title holders, with the number soon to be increased to five, the value of these titles may come into question.

Zhukov, who responded online after being initially e-mailed through his new website, www.boriszhukov.com focused on the importance of companies having one champion specifically referencing the WWE, “I would like to see them have just one world champion. I am not crazy about three ways or any other silly championship matches. I think if you can keep the main focus on the two champions and the struggle for just one winner, you can build and keep the interest of the fans.”

Mounting interest aside, with the likeliness of a champion vs. champion match occurring in the near future, expectations may become more difficult to reach then is theoretically possible.

Krazy K stated regarding the constants and changes in title for title matches, “I think the "what if" fact has always been there throughout the years. People are always thinking and asking what if HBK took on AJ Style or Alex Shelly wrestled RVD (given they are both champions at the time). The main thing I believe that has changed their appeal would be the mainstream change of wrestling to sports entertainment. From real grit to funny skits. That speaks for itself.”

Moving from physically oriented wrestling into sports entertainment a certain amount of athleticism was bound to be sacrificed. What may not have been known however was the affect that this change would often have on the storytelling involved in a wrestling match.

Koko B. Ware said pertaining to the direction professional wrestling has taken in the past few decades, “Wrestling has changed and there is nothing we can do about it. Now it’s all gimmicks and a bunch of high spots instead of story telling and we can either watch what is offered or go to a movie or change the channel it is just totally different now.”

Similarly Zhukov also remarked about experienced in-ring storytellers, “I am still and will always be old school. I love Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, Finlay, [and] Triple H. I also think the world of Shawn Michaels, who I know the best. I think it is time to start going back to the beginning, wrestling I think has come full circle.”

While the direction that professional wrestling takes can never be fully determined, what is known is that there will always be champions in the industry. As long as titles are held champion vs. champion matches will be a point of interest, either solely as gimmicks to help boost an otherwise mediocre match or to enhance great wrestling rivalries.