by: the wizard of id

Of all the great pro-wrestling traditions that have been abused (or outright abandoned) in this modern age of ‘sports entertainment’ perhaps none has been more maligned and disrespected than title belts and the championships they represent. Gone are the days when titles were the central theme most storylines and angles revolved around, the ‘Holy Grail’ wrestlers aspired to achieve and the symbol fans understood to be the pinnacle of success. Now reduced to little more than cheap props exchanged for cheap pops, championship belts are just adornments, cheap ‘bling’ traded among workers at the whim of promoters looking to capitalize on the fading allure and excitement title changes once evoked. Got a vacant title?… No need to its protect its credibility with a tournament, (it has none) give it to the winner of a battle royal or just hand it to the ‘top contender.’ Welcome to the New Dark Ages of pro-wrestling, a time when the majority of fans couldn’t care less who holds a title belt and wrestlers themselves publicly scorn championship titles and what they used to represent.

Title belts are of course, props. Everyone knows they’re not actually ‘won’ in an athletic contest. Since the curtain dropped it has become common knowledge that championships, and the belts that represent them, are just tools and devices promoters use to draw money. Wrestlers who used to thirst for the accolades given to champions, now complain about carrying the added weight of a title belt in their bag. They know there is little to gain from wearing a title strap in the modern world of pro-wrestling. There was a time that wrestlers thirsted for titles because being recognized as belt-worthy by one promoter could cause other promoters to feel the same way. A title reign could lead to more bookings, more money and more fame. Now titles change hands so often and in such meaningless ways, that only the most rabid fans can keep track of the multiple changes.

One only has to look at the modern powerhouse of wrestling, the WWE, to see how far the mighty title belt has fallen. The once venerable Tag Titles have been reduced to brand specific tinsel seemingly given at random to makeshift teams on an almost weekly basis. The IC Title, prize of so many great battles and held by such incredible talents like Randy Savage, Greg Valentine and others was actually retired due to lack of interest! It’s since returned but is a mere parody of it’s former glory. The last great IC title match was Steamboat/Savage and the title was elevated almost on par with the world strap because of that singular match. So what happened then? The Honky Tonk Man happened, that’s what. His reign was a comedy show of crappy finishes and comic matches. When he finally dropped the strap to The Ultimate Warrior it was almost worthless in the eyes of fans. Warrior put the cap on it by changing the color of the belt itself to match his outfits! What would have been sacrilege tens years earlier was barely even noticed. This disturbing personal customization of WWE title belts continues to this day, from Austin’s smoking skull to Cena’s spinning bling bling. Add the confusion caused by the absorption of former WCW belts and the WWE title picture becomes even murkier.

Truly, these are dark ages for the wrestling business in general and Championship belts in particular but all is not lost. With proper booking and commitment, Championships and the title belts that represent them, can regain their former glory. A return to the days when a Title itself could draw a card and/or elevate a wrestler’s status is possible if promoters and bookers stop trying for immediate pops and buy rates and concentrate instead on long term gain. Sadly, that change in attitude does not appear to be on the way just yet.

So, given the current state of pro-wrestling, just how do today’s Championship belts measure up? Which titles do fans really follow and what feds use the belts in a manner designed to add drama and excitement to their product? What follows is a purely subjective ranking of Championship belts and their worth to the casual fan. A title by title ranking would be far too massive an undertaking so I decided to rank Federations by their complete title picture. I’ve assigned each ranked fed a letter grade based on their appreciation and use of their respective titles and an overall rank based on fan recognition. Hence it’s possible for a Federation to receive an F as a letter grade yet still get a high rating.

So, without further ado, here is the wizard of id’s Title Belt Ranking….

#1 - The WWE. ( F )

As discussed earlier, the main WWE titles have suffered greatly since the inception of “Sports Entertainment.” WWE Creative continues to tarnish the legacy of the World, IC and Tag Titles with random (almost desperate) title changes and crappy matches. Having the world’s most recognized title contested in 4-way matches or televised battle royals has rendered it almost useless. The former WCW US Title has become a joke and the Cruiserweight strap, like the division it represents, is a creative afterthought. Sad as it is to say, but the now defunct Hardcore Championship provided some of the most exciting title action the WWE has seen in years. And the Woman’s title? That picture is so bad that they may as well bring back Madusa so she can throw the belt in the garbage again. Still, despite all this, the WWE is the recognized leader and top dog in wrestling and as such, their titles mean more to the average fan than anyone else’s. When most people think wrestling, they think WWE. That’s why they’re ranked #1 even though they earn an F for a letter grade.

#2 - ROH. ( B+ )

Ranking Ring Of Honor #2 is bound to raise some eyebrows but the fact is, they do a lot of things right when it comes to promoting and elevating their title belts. Plus, they are known and followed by wrestling fans around the world. Their World title was greatly appreciated in value by the 18 month reign of Samoa Joe. Wrestlers appeared hungry to dethrone him and the booking surrounding the title picture helped give it an aura of respectability. For many fans, Samoa Joe was the true World Champion of wrestling. While some people criticize the title hot-shotting from one guy to the next after Joe’s eventual loss it was actually booked well as it made sense given the parity and skill level presented by the top ROH wrestlers. Now comfortably settled around American Dragon’s waste, it is still a hotly contested prize and respected by fans everywhere. ROH’s tag title picture has been consistently solid and most reigns have seen the champs giving 6 or 7 defenses before falling. The presence of a solid tag division, comprised of many committed long-term teams makes this not only possible, but expected. And pretty damn exciting for fans as well. The addition of the Pure Wrestling title, if handled well, should develop a hotly contested secondary strap and elevate the World Title even more. Given the way ROH has handled the World and Tag belts there is little reason to believe they won’t do the same with the Pure title.

#3 - TNA. ( C )

Whatever credibility lineage to the former NWA belt gave the TNA World title has been crapped on by so many screw jobs and guitar shots that this title has been rendered practically useless. As long as Jeff Jarrett keeps the strap it is doomed to stay that way. There is no real connection to the undercard booking as far as wrestlers vying for a chance at the title. Title shots are awarded seemingly at random to grab a few extra PPV buys. TNA needs a credible champion in an extended reign to bring luster and glory to their “World” title. The X-Division title, although considered subservient to the World strap, is in fact TNA’s top title in the eyes of many fans. Despite hot-shotting quick changes and virtually no storyline booking among contenders, the X-Division title remains strong. The high risk explosive moves the division is famous for and the incredible skill level of it’s competitors make such short reigns believable but the Division needs a strong champ to emerge and dominate in order to elevate it’s status. (Enter Samoa Joe.) TNA’s Tag Division is a somewhat muddled picture and the titles suffer for it. AMW is the top team but they’re swimming at or near the top of a very shallow talent pool. Questionable booking has them struggle against makeshift teams and the whole tag division seems like a booking crapshoot. (Although very recent developments may bode well for the future.) TNA garners a #3 ranking based solely on the strength of the X-Division and their Spike TV deal. If they can build a strong feud-driven tag division where title shots are the supreme goal and said shots are booked to solid finishes plus do something, anything, to improve the dismal World title picture they could climb to #2. But right now, that’s a long shot.

#4 - JAPW ( B )

JAPW is a fed on the cusp of greatness. Drawing consistent crowds and expanding into new markets, JAPW continues to gain notice and recognition. While their title picture often suffers from the vagaries of indy promoting and the often transient nature of indy wrestlers, JAPW has, with solid booking and storylines, elevated not just the value of their titles, but the company as a whole. (Imagine where they’d be with TNA’s television spot!) JAPW’s heavyweight strap has become a coveted prize and wearing it adds considerably to a wrestlers recognition and marketability among fans and promoters alike. One needs look no further than former champ Jay Lethal for evidence of that. (The man is HOT!) Although no exceptionally long reigns have occurred, almost all who have held JAPW’s main belt have been booked and presented as credible, fighting champions. A steady influx of big name indy grapplers challenging for the title add to it’s status. With indy powerhouse Rhino now wearing the gold, JAPW has a chance to take it to the next level. An extended reign by the ManBeast coupled with a well booked undercard reflecting wrestlers desire to gain the coveted title shots would be a logical step in getting there. The tag division in JAPW is arguably as good or better than ROH’s. Some of the top tag teams in indy wrestling appear in JAPW which makes the titles seem an even greater prize. It looks like teams want to come to JAPW for a chance to wear the gold. In this sense they are ahead of ROH whose teams, while strong, are essentially “home grown.” While JAPW’s tag titles have seen multiple changes they have been booked in a way that makes sense given the tumultuous and changing nature of the fed itself. Just how strong is the booking in JAPW’s tag division? Strong enough that they are the only fed able to convincingly stray from the traditional champs vs. challengers format. Currently, JAPW is the only fed capable of pulling off 3-way and 4-way matches without devaluing the titles. Their cruiserweight division’s biggest strength is that it seems to be the title most of the fed’s cruiserweights want and the bulk of their matches reflect that. Too often, crossover between cruiserweight and heavyweight title aspirations render the “lighter” title a footnote. The JAPW woman’s title is being used as best it can with the talent available.

#5 - FIP ( B+ )

Full Impact Pro is a relative newcomer but so far, have done everything right to make their titles mean something. Their heavyweight belt was first awarded in a tournament stacked with well known indy stars. Homicide walked out the Champion and held the title for 15 months before finally dropping it due to injury. Having one of the most respected indy stars in America carry the title for an extended run very quickly brought credibility and prestige to the championship. Current champ Brian Danielson will certainly elevate the title to further heights if given an extended run. FIP’s tag titles too, were first contested in a tournament but saw a couple quick changes before settling on the waists of The Heartbreak Express. Smart booking saw the champs first have to win a contender’s tournament before gaining their title shot which added to the titles value as well. There’s no reason to think FIP won’t treat the tag titles with the same respect as their heavyweight title. It’s conceivable that soon the titles will elevate wrestlers instead of the other way around. Much like the way the JAPW title gave a boost to Lethal’s care so too could the FIP championships help wrestlers achieve greater heights of stardom.

#6 - IWA-MS ( C+ )

Over Nine years. That’s a long time to stay in business for an indy fed. IWA-MS has only one real drawback… not enough people know who they are. Like most of the feds in “the bottom five” on my list, their titles are highly valued by their loyal fans but relatively unknown to the world at large. IWA-MS is more widely known for it’s legendary hardcore status than it is for it’s ‘regular’ wrestling matches and championships. The annual KOTDM tournament and Ted Petty Invitational get more recognition than any of their title pictures. Which is a shame because their tag division is smoking hot and their Heavyweight title has a long and storied history.

#7 - CZW ( D )

Worldwide notoriety more than anything else is what puts CZW this high in my rankings. Abysmal booking of their World title is offset only by the slightly better offerings of their tag division. Their titles are tarnished by the very thing that has made them world famous - the absolute carnage and blood-letting displayed both in the ring and behind the scenes. Forays to Japan, Italy and England add some weight to their claiming a real “World” title but no one with the exception of their most loyal fans take them seriously.

#8 - IWS ( C+ )

The International Wrestling Syndicate, based in Quebec, is arguably Canada’s best known fed on the international stage. Long a favorite of internet viewers and tape traders, IWS has kept it’s focus on their championships. Their much ballyhooed penchant for hardcore is booked in a fashion far removed from CZW’s haphazard approach with the titles always the main prize. IWS wrestlers are in demand the world over, because they are great wrestlers - not because they bleed buckets. (Although many of them do that too.)

#9 - ECCW ( B )

Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling is perhaps indy wrestlings best kept secret. Based on the rugged West Coast, ECCW has been in business for years. Their titles are hotly contested and champions like Juggernaut who have carried their heavyweight title to extended reigns have added considerably to it’s worth. Their tag division is always hot with solid booking and angles generating a great balance between feuds and title desires. The biggest hurdle facing ECCW right now is too many titles! Their affiliation with NWA and recent takeover of TRW has created a surplus of championships bound to confuse fans and devalue all the titles. (They currently recognize 15 championships.) As good as the ECCW bookers are, even they might be at a loss to handle that many belts in a credible fashion. They could stand to drop a few belts completely and focus their energies (and new television deal) on the ECCW heavyweight and tag titles and the NWA Canadian title. ECCW is also parent company to up and coming woman’s fed, Supergirls. This might be a case of too many irons in the fire and could drop their letter grade considerably if changes aren’t made soon.

#10 - Take your pick.

Arguments can be made for any number of feds deserving the #10 spot on my list. ECWA, PWG, NWA-CS, UXW, CCW, BCW, OVW, NYWC, PWU, PWElite…. The list goes on and on. Some can cite a long history, others a rabid loyal following and still others can claim a certain notoriety among internet followers but one thing they all share is a convoluted title picture. Beset with multiple title changes, revolving rosters, small fan bases, and bad booking the majority of indy feds get a C-minus or lower grade and little name recognition to warrant inclusion to the top ten. Others are mere infants that have yet to survive more than a couple of shows. Some run hardly any shows at all. None of these factors do much to elevate the worth of their championships beyond their own borders. Perhaps the worst fed for titles is Chikara - they have none! (Although they promise tag champs will emerge from this year’s Grand Prix tournament.) Certainly, many of these feds have the potential to be the next big thing but I personally don’t see any of them breaking out of the pack anytime soon.

Naturally, I expect that many will disagree with my rankings. Like I said, they are purely subjective and hardly scientific. Feel free to respond with comments or rankings of your own in the usual fashion - on the message board or email the DOI.

The wizard of id