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A frequent complaint about the set-up for WrestleMania's Intercontinental title ladder match is that Creative hasn't provided a reason why these men - most of whom had never mentioned the white and gold belt before two weeks ago - are suddenly obsessed with it just because Dean Ambrose proved you can walk out of an arena with it whether or not the record books list you as the current IC king.
Down in Florida (or, this past weekend, in Ohio), NXT has always made it clear that their championships are what every competitor on the roster is trying to achieve. With that established, all you need to do is give two men a claim to a title, and let them fight it out.
Case in point, the following Twitter exchange between current men's champ Kevin Owens, and Hideo Itami. Itami ended up with the belt in his hands at a live event, sent out a Tweet about it, and - voila! - you've got the basis for a feud. That both men have established voices (Hideo as a slightly goofy guy who will battle to prove he belongs in WWE; Owens as a charming jerk who will bully anyone, anywhere, at any time) only adds to it:
Come true near the future. pic.twitter.com/iZv5FIy8gh
— Hideo Itami / 伊丹英雄 (@HideoItami) March 8, 2015
"@HideoItami: Come true near the future. pic.twitter.com/lsMh4t78pm" Look up "delusional" in your English to Japanese dictionary.
— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) March 8, 2015
"@FightOwensFight: "@HideoItami: Come true near the future. pic.twitter.com/iZv5FIy8gh" My dictionary says "It will come true"
— Hideo Itami / 伊丹英雄 (@HideoItami) March 8, 2015
"@HideoItami: My dictionary says "It will come true"" Dictionaries don't predict the future. You need a new one.
— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) March 8, 2015
"@FightOwensFight: Look in your dictionary for the word "inevitable"
— Hideo Itami / 伊丹英雄 (@HideoItami) March 8, 2015
"@HideoItami: "@FightOwensFight: Look in your dictionary for the word "inevitable"" Look in yours for "Shut your face"
— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) March 8, 2015
Who didn't chuckle, at least a little bit? Who doesn't want to see them fight? When it happens, who will be confused about why it's happening?
These guys did it with social media, but the show sets up these kind of conflicts with one minute backstage segments all the time.
Now why can't the main roster do it with twenty minute promos on a three hour show?