This past Monday night’s episode of Raw featured WWE Champion Dean Ambrose agreeing to defend his title against Seth Rollins in a match that will take place on next week’s episode of Raw. That’s just one night before the draft on the first edition of SmackDown Live on the USA Network. It seemed a curious decision, considering the company already lined up a major segment to promote with both Shane and Stephanie McMahon choosing General Managers for Raw and SmackDown, respectively.
Question: So why bother with booking a title match just days before the same title will be on the line in a triple threat between two of the same participants (and a returning Roman Reigns) at Battleground?
Answer: Because it makes sense to do the title change now.
WWE has yet to specify the role the champion will play following the brand split but various rumors and reports suggest another title will be created for SmackDown. The fact that Ambrose has been referred to on television as simply “WWE champion” instead of “WWE world heavyweight champion” hasn’t been lost on anyone. However, the way it looks now, Ambrose will be the only champion headed into the draft.
Doesn’t that, by default, make him the number one pick?
And doesn’t that sound ludicrous?
Ambrose, for all his talent, absolutely cannot be the number one pick in the draft next Tuesday night. He may be champion now but it’s quite clear he is not the focus of the promotion, as evidenced by the fact that Rollins has carried on a feud with Reigns even while Roman has been out suspended and Ambrose has been something of a supporting player as opposed to the main protagonist.
Rollins, however, absolutely can be the number one pick. He’s gotten over in a big way since his return, and it seems clear the plan is Rollins vs. Reigns for the title at SummerSlam anyway. There’s no reason to wait for Battleground to change the title, and every reason to do it on Raw.
The switch alone acts as added promotion for the draft the next night.
Ambrose has been a fine champion but this reign was always transitional. The time to make that transition is now.