WWE: Rest in peace United States championship
by Geno Mrosko on Jan 17, 2012 5:30 PM EST
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As a fan of pro wrestling, I do my best to simply watch and enjoy whatever show I may be taking in at that particular time, whether that be Raw, Smackdown, Impact, whatever. But as a writer, I tend to look through a far more critical lens.
That's why it's hard not to feel disappointed in the way WWE continues to treat its United States championship.
Dolph Ziggler held the title for a long while but routinely found himself in tag matches teaming with Jack Swagger where the U.S. title was simply a prop he carried around. It wasn't emphasized and he hardly defended it. Finally, they showed some promise when Zack Ryder came around and started chasing the belt like it would complete him were he to ever win it. And they made it a pretty big deal once he finally did.
The title felt like it mattered again.
That is until last night (Jan. 16) on Raw when Ryder lost the title to Swagger in a glorified squash match with almost no build, save for a few promotional spots throughout the week. Sure, they tried to make up for it later and play it into the John Cena vs. Kane storyline by saying Ryder wasn't physically cleared to compete but he wasn't given the title back. No, it stayed with Swagger.
So later on, Cena gets put into a "match" with Swagger and absolutely beats the hell out of him. He literally slaughters him, snapping and making Swagger look like a complete jobber. You know, even more than he's already been made to look for the past few months.
And this is after Swagger won the U.S. title.
I understand that not everyone can be made to look the best at all times. But what's the point in taking the belt off Ryder to give it to Swagger just to have him get tossed around the arena by Cena? No one came out of this looking any better. Everyone came off worse. It advanced the Cena storyline with Kane but couldn't they have found someone else to have him kill? I get it that Cena would want to beat down Swagger to avenge his buddy Ryder's loss but again, they could have done that without taking the title off him.
By the time all was said and done, Ryder looked weak and pathetic, Swagger looked equally as weak and pathetic, Cena looked like a crazed man and the U.S. title looked like it was worth about as much as the loose change in my pocket.
I think it's time to lay the title down to rest. The best way to do so is to unify it with the Intercontinental belt. All aboard?
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it was stupid booking
even if ryder wasnt gettin the godly ratings the officials dream about, its not like puting the damn belt on swagger is gonna do better, that belt was way better on ryder, at least ryder is over and has a big fanbase and sells merchandise, and yeah, ziggler and ryder gave some meaning to the us title, but now its all gone, then again, this is wwe, what did you expect?
The problem with these belts
aside from the obvious fact that the old-school WCW US belt looked way better, is that the wrestlers themselves don’t make them out to matter. At least Cody Rhodes was willing to give a whole interview about how much being the Intercontinental champ meant to him when they changed the belt back to the old-school look.
I’m all for unifying as many of the belts as they can. Two world titles will never make sense unless the brand extension is a real brand division, and we all know it’s not. However, if they wanted to maybe move Ryder’s character for him you could take him off TV a few weeks to recuperate, and basically have him return and aggressively chase Swagger and the belt like a man possessed — like getting that title back is the only thing that matters to him. Hell, if booked right that could even lead up to a program at Mania. You could not only make the title matter, but if Ryder can get over that way you could actually progress him forward towards bigger things.
That’s assuming such things even interest Vince & Co.
Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook
the us title was gettin some steam
zigler had a good run with it, he made the title felt kinda important, and ryder had one hell of a chase after the thing, the title was gettin better and better, im a broski, and i hate the fact that they took the belt from ryder, but what pisses me off its the way they did it, with no build, to put it on a random guy that has been on a losing streak forever, just stupid
Don't really agree
Ziggler had it for a while, but until Ryder came along a few months into his reign, his U.S. title was hardly defended, and not brought up all that much.
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by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Jan 17, 2012 11:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ryder vs Rhodes for all the mid-card marbles
I’m with you. After Ryder gets the title back from Swagger, he could go on to face Rhodes for a unification match. Then they can get rid of the US Championship. I don’t even associate that belt with the WWE anyway.
by Manolo Has Pizzazz on Jan 17, 2012 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
Good point
I really like the point you brought up towards the end of your comment. The U.S belt was window dressing until Ryder started to go after it. He made it look like it mattered, that it was an award a sign of achievement. He began to get over as he chased it and becuase of the internet campgain he started. I think having Ryder chase it again, have him rehab, cut a few promos about winning it back will put the shine back on the belt.
Man
I remember when every title was a huge deal… even the womens ti…..ahh scrap that last part. But we need to bring belts back, hardcore and a belt for the smaller guys come to mind so the Evan bourne’s of the world aren’t reduced to the tag team belts.
More belts won't make things any better than they are now.
Better booking is the only thing that will improve the problems even slightly.
Best Way To Retire US Belt
Give it to Chael Sonnen. He HIS the United States Champ
by MMA42 on Jan 17, 2012 5:48 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
It’s bad enough to put the belt on Botch Swagger anyway but the way they did it devalued the belt even further. Bring back the Hardcore Belt.
by DustinH(oo) on Jan 17, 2012 6:19 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
Ya IC belt is pure WWE. Bring it back as the only Mid Card Belt
Its the Macho Belt
The Steamboat Belt
The Chico Santana belt
The Imaginary Won Belt in Brazil by Pat Patterson
The Honky Belt
The Rude Belt
The Ultimate Roider Belt
The Rock’s belt
SCSA Belt
The Pedro Morales Belt
The CHY>>.. moving along
The Y2J Belt
That is WWF/E history the US belt needs to retire
I've got something to say; it better to burn out than to fade away!!!
I'm still waiting for my CM Punk WWE Ice Cream Bar.
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You're an idiot.
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by Luke Thomas on Jan 5, 2012 1:40 PM PST up reply actions
Dustin, I would respond to you but I want to take what you said a step farther...
Don’t bring back the Hardcore belt… but instead, have a unification match at the rumble (or WM) either one is fine… but it has to be built up to…
then, the next day on Raw or Thursday on Smackdown, have someone like Mysterio (more preferably Shane Helms, if he’s healthy enough), Chavo would be the least appealing but have them show up with their own belt… Shane would be the best because he was Cruiserweight Champ the longest… Have him show up holding the belt saying it’s time the WWE start respecting the lightweights again…
I really love the X-Division style matches and the young bucks could fight over the title on all the peripheral shows the WWE has and it will also bring back a division that really gets fans on their feet…
Am I off my rocker here?
In the body of other posts, I am often admittedly high and tend to not want to edit a lot.
by willlinn on Dec 2, 2011 12:01 PM PST
if Wren gets Arenado from Colorado, I’ll give him a BJ.
by Scott Coleman on Dec 19, 2011 9:45 PM PST
You're not addressing what the real problem is.
Unless a belt is won by a non-wrestling celebrity like David Arquette, or a midget like Hornswoggle, it can always get some of its value back if its booked properly. Even belts held by women in the past can look credible again after a few years of distance. Hell, the WWE title was held by Vince McMahon at one point.
But things won’t get any better unless WWE’s booking improves, and more importantly, stays consistent. Any other solution is just a gimmick.
by *Asterisk* on Jan 17, 2012 7:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I agree
To me the IC belt standard is Mr. Perfect circa 1990/91. His reign not only made the belt a big deal, it made challenging him for it a big deal. And when Bret Hart beat him for it at Summerslam ’91, it went a long way in propelling him upward.
Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook
by Billy Gomila on Jan 17, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
I think this article is putting the spotlight on the real reason Cena/Kane fills me with such hatred.
Other than the fact that the matches will suck and the promos are terrible, this whole storyline has been almost custom designed to make Zack Ryder look like the biggest dork alive. Sure, it took three Swagger bombs to put him down, but it’s still Swagger, it’s barely a step above losing to Heath Slater via pinfall.
Then you had Cena annihilate whatever heat Swagger might’ve garnered for putting down Ryder, if any, in that ridiculous beatdown. I hated this storyline enough when it was killing Ryder’s heat, dragging Swagger through the humiliation conga is positively sickening.
I just hope no one else gets dragged into this abomination of a storyline, and Cena and Kane can have their terrible match in peace.
by *Asterisk* on Jan 17, 2012 7:15 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
And I think Ryder's return could redeem himself and the belt
Like I said, bring him back in a few weeks and while he’s still the same guy, just book him to really aggressively go after Swagger for the belt. “You took my belt, it meant so much to me and now I’m going to kill you to get it back.”
If it got over, it could even help propel Ryder up the food chain.
Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook
by Billy Gomila on Jan 17, 2012 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
True.
The problem is, it’s still awful that Ryder has to be put in another angle just to get back over from the damage WWE self inflicted on him, and there’s not a whole lot of guarantee that he’ll be lucky enough to get over again after this awful storyline.
Okay, but at least they could try and fix it
or we could all just pout.
Writer (and a handsome one at that),
And the Valley Shook
by Billy Gomila on Jan 18, 2012 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
Agree 100%, Geno
I was absolutely disgusted to watch Swagger squash Ryder only to have Cena squash Swagger later in the show. It’s awful booking on so many levels that I can’t believe I didn’t see it coming. If they needed a mid-to-high level heel for Cena to squash, why didn’t they have him run down and do it to The Miz after that pointless 4-way rumble? Even Jinder Mahal or Drew McIntyre could’ve been thrown out there for Cena to beat on.
Put it out to pasture
Once upon a time that was a big deal. Ric Flair made it feel like a big deal when he won it from Konnan way back when.
Now it’s like the other lower tier belts, not so much a goal, as it is a symbol that you’re in the midcard.
A bit premature
I think its a bit over the top to start shovelling dirt on the U.S championship. A hurt Ryder lost it after he gaved a valiant defense of it. Him defending it hurt showed how much it meant to him and that it does indeed have value. Swagger winning like he did cements his heel affiliation and further shows that Vickies stable is strictly heel and by association should put more heel heat on Ziggler.
Ryder chasing the belt again will draw attention to it, much like he put the spotlight on it the first time. It will help grow the mid card by having other people chase it as well and it gives Swagger one more chance to show he can do something besides botch moves and do pushups.
I know Cena came out and destroyed Swagger later but it fed into the Cena/Ryder friendship angle and the main Kane/Cena story. It merged two storyline together in a way that made sense. It has the potential to push Ryder as he goes to regain his tittle and to make the U.S tittle important again. It also deepens the hatred between Cena and Kane. It moves two stories forward and has the potential to push not only Ryder but maybe a few of the other mid carders.
Of course if creative fouls it up and no progress in the mid card is made and the U.S belt goes back to being a prop then this article will serve as a good eulogy for the belt.
The US title hasn't meant anything in a long time.
Need I remind you that this is the belt that was specifically given to Sheamus as a punishment, and that Miz lost the title to Bret Hart via submission in less than two minutes.
Sure, Ryder took three Swagger bombs to be put down, but Jack Swagger is one of the lowliest jobbers on the roster, it’d be like if Mr. Perfect lost the IC title to Koko B. Ware.
I know Cena came out and destroyed Swagger later but it fed into the Cena/Ryder friendship angle and the main Kane/Cena story. It merged two storyline together in a way that made sense.
How?
If Swagger’s so lowly on the totem pole that he can’t even mount a punch against Cena, what does that make Ryder?
Not to mention, if the US Champion gets so easily beaten in both cases, how low does that put the title?
Also, if Ryder needs another push after the way WWE just handled his storyline, how much heat do you think he lost in the past month?
Finally, the only time Cena ever pushed another guy ahead of himself, with the exception of those guys who were established before him, was CM Punk, every other time he has made the new guy look worse. And while I support making guys like the Miz look like crap, why do you think new midcarders will get pushed with that track record?
Of course if creative fouls it up and no progress in the mid card is made and the U.S belt goes back to being a prop then this article will serve as a good eulogy for the belt.
WWE’s track record with the US title has been so awful for basically its entire existence that the “if” defense is no longer valid for this anymore. Having faith that WWE will get things right with the U.S. title is tantamount to that episode of the Simpsons where Bart continuously reaches for those cupcakes despite them being electrocuted.
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WWE uses Ryders popularity to push interest in the U.S belt. If people follow Ryder they will follow what he does, if he’s chasing the U.S tittle they will start to care about it, especially if he sells it as hard as he did his first run.
Secondly Ryder wasn’t medically cleared to wrestle, which means he was beyond hurt or injured he was posing a serious threat to his health while competing*in story* So basically it was Ace rewarding his lackey Swagger with an easy target. The RAW Interim General Manager feeds Ryder to Swagger and it gets both Swagger and The R.I.G.M over as heels and sets up Ryders herioc comeback. It wasn’t Ryder being jobbed out to Swagger, it was Swagger being jackal and swooping in on an injured opponent. It sells how much the belt means to Ryder and that he won’t back down from a fight and shows Swagger to be somewhat cowardly and an unredeemable heel.
Cena crushes the coward Swagger. Its basic good vs evil and goes to show Cena is good which means Kane is evil, again we get it but the the angle is mainly for the younger viewers, Cenas demographic. While righting a wrong Cena goes overboard and shows just how easy it is to give into hate etc etc etc moving the Cena/Kane story line along.
Lastly, yeah I do have hope creative gets better and starts producing better storylines. If I didn’t I would stop watching. I would stop reading about it, I would stop engaging people in conversations about wrestling. If I thought it was hopeless I would just step away from wrestling. If all I do is moan and complain about the product and yet still watch then it becomes a me problem and not the shows problem. There has to be a reason to watch the show, for me I enjoy the product and hope that it gets better. Call me an optimist or delusional but I think things are getting better in the WWE.
It wasn’t Ryder being jobbed out to Swagger, it was Swagger being jackal and swooping in on an injured opponent. It sells how much the belt means to Ryder and that he won’t back down from a fight and shows Swagger to be somewhat cowardly and an unredeemable heel.
Other than the fact that “unredeemable” isn’t a word, the problem here is that the audience just doesn’t buy it like that.
It shouldn’t matter how hurt a wrestler is, or how many distractions get in there way. If they lose the title via pinfall or submission to a lowly jobber (Jack Swagger, Orlando Jordon) or an old guy so banged up he can’t even take a bump (Bret Hart) the title doesn’t mean anything, and more importantly, the guy who lost the match doesn’t mean anything. Cowardly heels who can’t back up their game don’t get over anymore because the audience doesn’t take their threats seriously, and more importantly, if guys who are actually seen as legitimate in the eyes of the audience like John Cena can easily annihilate guys like Swagger, it even further belittles the place that guys like Ryder are seen at in the eyes of the audience.
Cena crushes the coward Swagger. Its basic good vs evil and goes to show Cena is good which means Kane is evil, again we get it but the the angle is mainly for the younger viewers, Cenas demographic. While righting a wrong Cena goes overboard and shows just how easy it is to give into hate etc etc etc moving the Cena/Kane story line along.
This isn’t an excuse for shitty storytelling.
First off, if Swagger had already wrestled a match not two hours ago, it doesn’t make sense for the good guy to extract revenge on him.
Second, if the good guy who’s kicking the ass of the bad guy doesn’t even care enough to challenge for the title, the title itself has no value.
Thirdly, and more importantly, if Swagger can’t even muster the faintest of offense against Cena, that places him at the level of lowly jobber in the eyes of the audience even further so than he already is.
Call me an optimist or delusional but I think things are getting better in the WWE.
It’s one thing to be optimistic about the intangibles of society, but when the general direction of a person, conglomerate, government leaders, or corporations decisions is downward, it is delusional to expect thing to get better.
Expecting things to get better in today’s WWE is tantamount to expecting Hu Jintao to shut down the Great Firewall of China because it’s a gross encroachment on the liberties of his people.
I am still annoyed that they had Job Swagger wrestle a very competitive 2-segment match against Punk last week on Raw. And the ref botch that Punk needed to win, while perhaps unplanned, made Punk look even worse.
The fact that Punk struggled so much to defeat Swagger made Punk seem small-time, especially since Sheamus has effortlessly squashed Swagger at will for months now and Cena just steamrolled Swagger the other night without any resistance.
I can’t remember the last time Swagger wasn’t a jobber. Putting the US Title on him makes the title even less meaningful than it already was and makes Ryder look like a nobody as well.
The US Title was already pretty meaningless prior to this past Monday’s Raw. But they buried it even further into the ground because the Kane/Cena storyline is more important to them than that title is.
Can you imagine Swagger actually getting a one-on-one PPV match defending that title? I can’t see that because he’s a jobber. That title isn’t even worthy of making it to PPV anymore.
Classic Cena booking everyone looks pathetic but him, I work nights and I am limited with what I can dvr, I havent saved a show in forever. Stuff like this is why I have a hard time carrying about daniel’s title reign, he will just lose it to big show in a week.
by MVP Raiders on Jan 18, 2012 7:10 AM EST via Android app reply actions
the US/IC titles have stopped being of value alongside the tag titles and diva title for a while
what wwe should be looking to do is give them much serious matches, tournaments to decide next contender, etc. they could from time to time have IC/US/tag/diva belt matches as the main event on sd.
every now and then the US/IC gets a good champion but in the long run it is a prop.
its lazy booking by wwe. cos their creative clearly dont see the point to anything else than the main event, the top 2 titles.
Bring back Scott Hall.
Have him win it. Then he can simply throw it in the trash.
PROBLEM SOLVED.
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Get rid of the WCW titles
They’ll never respect them enough.
There also aren’t enough credible wrestlers to warrant having all these titles. Look at WCW’s roster in the mid-late 90’s and look at the guys in WWE – I could give a shit about 90% of WWE’s current roster.
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