Is everyone still mad at the WWE for naming their RAW title as the WWE Universal Championship?

[GD]

Because they renamed Dean Ambrose's title to the WWE World Championship. Considering how fickle they are with their naming scheme, I wouldn't be surprised if they renamed it to something else.

Feel free to post your feelings about the topic at hand

[slik]

oh man I am so 'irl' angry about it I just might explode!!!

[Rammsteinmad]

I don't mind the name, I just don't like the inevitable idea that the WWE World Championship will become "secondary" to the Universal Championship.

[GD]

Yeah! Remember when the WWE Championship was secondary to Hunter's World Heavyweight Championship?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/bf1a1065f36167f14751f6ba7e8bd1d0/tumblr_mj80trR9lZ1s37joxo1_250.gif

[Simple Fan]

I would like it better if all of Raws titles were Universal branded except for the US title. Feel like it needs to be the WWE Universal Heavyweight Championship. Really though Universal Championship sounds like something TNA would name the Legends/ Global/ TV/KotM championship next.

Daniel Bryan refered to Deans title as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship but Shane was just calling it the WWE World Championship so they might have dropped the Heavyweight from the names but with the Cruiserweight division returning you would think they would keep Heavyweight in the name.

[Triple A]

Universe is trillions and trillions of times bigger than the world...

[GD]

Yeah! Remember when the WWE Championship was secondary to Hunter's World Heavyweight Championship?

http://24.media.tumblr.com/bf1a1065f36167f14751f6ba7e8bd1d0/tumblr_mj80trR9lZ1s37joxo1_250.gif

Remember when the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was secondary to Cena's United States Championship?

http://www.lovethisgif.com/uploaded_images/2972-John-Cena-Eyes-Twitching.gif?1

[Simple Fan]

Universe is trillions and trillions of times bigger than the world...

Vince wants Wrestlemania on Mars.

[Cool King]

Names that are better than "WWE Universal Championship":

"WWE Heavyweight Championship"
"WWE World Championship"
"WWE Global Championship"
"WWE Raw Heavyweight Championship"
"WWE Raw World Championship"
"WWE Raw Championship"
"WWE Monday Night Championship"
"WWE #Championship"

[Cool King]

The last one is a joke by the way.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I would have preferred "Global." It's less of a mouthful and doesn't sound as "super duper big guys!" as "Universal" is supposed to sound. You could have had one side have World Championships and the other have Global Championships, but then you are basically talking about the same thing, so the problems with the draft are still apparent philosophically.

That being said, it has forced the WWE to up its creative (on RAW for week one anyway) and try new things. "Universal" also fits them being under the NBC Universal umbrella. That being said, I'd be fine if they renamed it next week.

[Hanso Amore]

With as little a threat they are, they still have a competitor named globa force wrestling, no way they would use that word.

[Droford]

WWE NBC Universal Has Us By the Balls Championship

[Corkscrewed]

WWE Local Galactic Cluster Championship

[Cool King]

WWE Max Moon Championship.

[Simple Fan]

Possible leaked images of the Universal Championship
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoVCWbVUAAApjLI.jpg:small
Looks badass if true but I'm not sure just seen it on Twitter. Kind of looks like a fake though, someone just edited the WWF Championship.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Gotta be fake.

[GD]

That's...that's gotta be fake.

Fixed.

[Frank Drebin]

Just face palmed when I heard that name. Feels like they left it up to Shane's kids what to name it. I expect the belt to look like some kinda mash up between the divas belt and Jeff Hardy ' s TNA belt.

[Mercenary]

http://mrwgifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Tweek-Freaks-Out-Over-The-Pressure-In-Class-On-South-Park.gif

[Mr. Nerfect]

With as little a threat they are, they still have a competitor named globa force wrestling, no way they would use that word.

You'd smoke them out really quickly, not that you'd want to, because they are a non-factor.

[Stickman]

Sounds very childish. Like something you'd see in Saturday morning cartoons

[DAMN iNATOR]

Possible leaked images of the Universal Championship
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoVCWbVUAAApjLI.jpg:small
Looks badass if true but I'm not sure just seen it on Twitter. Kind of looks like a fake though, someone just edited the WWF Championship.

I wonder how much of my precious WWE Shop Cash I'd have to spend for that in SmackDown! vs. RAW..,

[Lock Jaw]

I like it because it opens it up for them to do an angle with aliens coming to RAW to challenge for the title.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Sounds very childish. Like something you'd see in Saturday morning cartoons

Wrestling's bread and butter was Saturday Morning. So, it is perfect. Stickman has done it guys.

Shut it down.

[Rammsteinmad]

I know people who still call it "WWF" and refuse to acknowledge it as "WWE". I wonder what the think of the new title.

[Swiss Ultimate]

I like it because it opens it up for them to do an angle with aliens coming to RAW to challenge for the title.

:lol:

[Lock Jaw]

Or like they reveal that someone like Rusev is not actually Russian, or Bulgarian, but is in fact, Laroovian.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Mark Henry reveals he had surgery as a kid and is actually a Klingon.

[Simple Fan]

I like it because it opens it up for them to do an angle with aliens coming to RAW to challenge for the title.

Could have some luchadors with extraterrestrial gimmicks.

[Frank Drebin]

The Mad Titan, La Parka.

[Lock Jaw]

The Mad Titan, Rollermacka

[Frank Drebin]

I thought the same thing after posting that. We should get a grassroots champaign going for Paul "The Mad" Titan to get a shot at the new Infinity Championship.

[Wishbone]

Should have just changed the two world titles to the RAW Heavyweight Championship and Smackdown Heavyweight Championship respectively. Universal Championship sounds way to cartoony, and it also makes it clear that they're trying to make the RAW title "better" than the Smackdown one. It's just stupid if you ask me. Besides Dean won the triple threat and is now best Shield member for life so the belt he took off with is always going to be the real one as far as I'm concerned.

[Mr. Nerfect]

RAW and SmackDown Championships sound pretty bad too, to be honest. Being champion of a show? It's just...eh. You might as well be the NBC Universal Presents USA Network's Mr. Robot Heavyweight Champion.

Give me a World Heavyweight Champion, please.

[Evil Vito]

Everyone on the Internet is just gonna be calling them the Raw and SD World/Women's/Tag titles anyway. Only the IC and US belts will get unique distinctions after a while.

[Evil Vito]

-wrong thread-

[Wishbone]

RAW and SmackDown Championships sound pretty bad too, to be honest. Being champion of a show? It's just...eh. You might as well be the NBC Universal Presents USA Network's Mr. Robot Heavyweight Champion.

Give me a World Heavyweight Champion, please.

You've got two though. Calling them both the World Heavyweight Champion is just stupid. It's like how you've got a World Heavyweight Champion in every promotion in the world. How can they all be the World Champion? There's only one world. Having more than one just makes them all look cheap. If you're the champion of your promotion then that should be your title, not "champion of the world."

[Mongo Lloyd]

How long until everyone starts asking for them to be united again?

[Simple Fan]

You've got two though Calling them both the World Heavyweight Champion is just stupid. It's like how you've got a World Heavyweight Champion in every promotion in the world. How can they all be the World Champion? There's only one world. Having more than one just makes them all look cheap. If you're the champion of your promotion then that should be your title, not "champion of the world."

To me if a championship is defended around the world than it should be called a World Champioship. With that being said Earth is in the Universe so the name fits and is better than having 2 World Heavyweight Championships.

[Destor]

To me if a championship is defended around the world than it should be called a World Champioship. With that being said Earth is in the Universe so the name fits and is better than having 2 World Heavyweight Championships.
In all fairness it's not "champion of the universe" it's "champion of the WWE universe"

[GD]

Does that mean that anyone from the WWE Universe is eligible to fight for it? Santino Marella debuted way too early :smh:

[Lock Jaw]

Should bring back Planet Stasiak

[Vastardikai]

I still stand by the fact that "Universal Title" sounds like something you win in an E-Fed.

[Black Widow]

I think they change it after it don't catch on.

[Tom Guycott]

Devil's advocacy:

I think it was at least an attempt. Unlike last time, where you had the WWE Heavyweight Champion and "The World" Heavyweight Champion.

Like, they couldn't even think of a name. Or, when Ric Flair first showed up in WWF with his own belt and that gimmick of proclaiming himself as "The REAL World Champion" and photoshopped himself into pictures with Elizabeth.

[Vastardikai]

Devil's advocacy:

I think it was at least an attempt. Unlike last time, where you had the WWE Heavyweight Champion and "The World" Heavyweight Champion.

Like, they couldn't even think of a name. Or, when Ric Flair first showed up in WWF with his own belt and that gimmick of proclaiming himself as "The REAL World Champion" and photoshopped himself into pictures with Elizabeth.

Before Photoshop was invented.

[Nicky Fives]

I don't really mind the name, only I would prefer the simplified WWE Raw Heavyweight Championship and WWE Smackdown Heavyweight Championship, then in a few years when the split is over, unify the titles and bring back the WORLD aspect to the title....

[evanbrown]

I want to touch my penis when Sasha Banks is on tv

[Anybody Thrilla]

Why the fuck does it matter what it's called? If it breeds good matches, you could call it the Dog Shit Championship of Oprah's Buttcrack, and it wouldn't matter. You guys are nitpicky as fuck, considering this is pro wrestling.

Besides, like Destor said, it's named as such because of the WWE UNIVERSE. A brand that clearly isn't going anywhere.

The name is fine.

[Mr. Nerfect]

You've got two though. Calling them both the World Heavyweight Champion is just stupid. It's like how you've got a World Heavyweight Champion in every promotion in the world. How can they all be the World Champion? There's only one world. Having more than one just makes them all look cheap. If you're the champion of your promotion then that should be your title, not "champion of the world."

This is why such a soft brand split is dumb and potentially alienating to new viewers. When they had the WWE Title and World Title, at least you got the sense that one was the company's championship and the other was some sort of externally acquired championship. But then they unified them, produced a stale product and now they have to do something for attention again. This could have all been averted if they had just put focus into making SmackDown not shit.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Why the fuck does it matter what it's called? If it breeds good matches, you could call it the Dog Shit Championship of Oprah's Buttcrack, and it wouldn't matter. You guys are nitpicky as fuck, considering this is pro wrestling.

Besides, like Destor said, it's named as such because of the WWE UNIVERSE. A brand that clearly isn't going anywhere.

The name is fine.

You're right, that's why you get shows titled "Generic Cop Show #134" and "Stage Sitcom #442" dominating the airwaves. Marketing departments were disbanded years ago in business, because what you name something in today's day and age just doesn't matter.

Will you change your name on TPWW to Cunty McGee to prove this point? That would actually be kinda cool given your legendary status and since you have more credibility than this new title has, but I'm suggesting that because I want to see it.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't give a fuck what you want to see. My point is you guys are over-analyzing the name of a title on a fictional fighting show. The first match for it is Seth Rollins v. Finn Balor, so call it whatever you want, because that sounds awesome.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Names are brands, Thrilla.

[Anybody Thrilla]

And we are already fans. So how is this our problem? Are you about to stop watching because of this? The name isn't for us.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Shouldn't things be for us? The people who are actually watching the fuckin' show? Not some dumbshit idea that the Attitude Era bandwagoners will come back after 15 years?

[Anybody Thrilla]

It's just a title name. How is everyone ignoring the Seth Rollins v. Finn Balor part? THAT is for us.

[Anybody Thrilla]

That title isn't named to bring back Attitude viewers, either. No idea why you even said that. I know I didn't.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Don't get what you meant by not being for "us." Who If not viewers? If anything they explicitly said it was for us by naming it after the WWE Universe but chose a dumb name.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'm saying that they probably aren't assuming that the entire fanbase is a bunch of nitpicking blowhards. Like the IWC. Which is us.

[Cool King]

At first, the name sounded terrible, but it was because it was new. To not instantly accept something new is kind of expected with most people. It happens all the time, especially in the world of professional wrestling.

I remember when Dolph Ziggler debuted and his surname was pretty much hated among the IWC. People said it was a stupid surname, it sounded like a Pokémon and so on. Now, eight years later, nobody gives his name a second thought and pretty much everyone loves the guy.

This hating of names business always happens when a new PPV is created. Fastlane, Payback and Battleground are just examples of names that were disliked when they were announced, but now, just like Ziggler's name, they're pretty much accepted and the focus is rightfully on what the name provides and not the name itself.

I'm sure by the end of the year, they'll be no complaining about the championship's name.

So for me, the name "Universal Championship" did sound stupid when it was first announced, but now, meh, I don't care. I've accepted it and hopefully Seth Rollins wins to become the first champion.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Cool King gets it. He's still not invited to Crabfest, though.

[Lock Jaw]

Lock Jaw Fact: Back in the day of ARMCHAIR WARFARE, Lock Jaw ran the fictitious "Universal Carnage Enterprises" (UCE) and strongly considered making the top belt the "Universal Heavyweight Title", before scaling it back to merely representing our own world.

[Cool King]

Cool King gets it. He's still not invited to Crabfest, though.

http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/26400000/CM-Punk-is-sad-wwe-26437851-500-284.png

[Frank Drebin]

I'm saying that they probably aren't assuming that the entire fanbase is a bunch of nitpicking blowhards. Like the IWC. Which is us.

Hardcore Wrestling Fan: "Dude, you used to like wrestling. You're gonna love this match. Finn Balor and Seth Rollins are awesome.:

Casual Wrestling Fan: "Cool, I'll give it a shot."

THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS FOR THE WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP

CWF: *snickers* "Sounds gay as fuck."

HWF: "Whatever, it's about the match and these guys are top notch."

CWF: *chuckles* "Gay ass championship is all I can think about. I remember why it's embarrassing to watch wrestling."

[Lock Jaw]

Lock Jaw Fact: Back in the day of ARMCHAIR WARFARE, Lock Jaw ran the fictitious "Universal Carnage Enterprises" (UCE) and strongly considered making the top belt the "Universal Heavyweight Title", before scaling it back to merely representing our own world.

I also booked an AJ Styles vs. John Cena program years ago (but then also added Alberto Del Rio into the program and then had Alberto go over them and become world champ)

[Cool King]

Hardcore Wrestling Fan: "Dude, you used to like wrestling. You're gonna love this match. Finn Balor and Seth Rollins are awesome.:

Casual Wrestling Fan: "Cool, I'll give it a shot."

THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS FOR THE WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP

CWF: *snickers* "Sounds gay as fuck."

HWF: "Whatever, it's about the match and these guys are top notch."

CWF: *chuckles* "Gay ass championship is all I can think about. I remember why it's embarrassing to watch wrestling."

I've never really understood why wrestling is generally viewed as being "embarrassing" to watch.

You have guys/girls acting and pretending to fight each other, but you also have guys/girls acting and pretending to be wizards and some acting and pretending to talk to dragons or whatever the hell Game of Thrones is about.

But yet, the wizards and dragons stuff is considered "cool" because why?

Who decides these things?

Who decides that watching wrestling is "embarrassing" but watching children wave sticks around and shout made up words is "cool"?

[Lock Jaw]

You know what's cool? Walking around with your cell phone catching imaginary monsters.

[Mr. Nerfect]

And we are already fans. So how is this our problem? Are you about to stop watching because of this? The name isn't for us.

I stopped watching regularly a while ago.

[Mr. Nerfect]

At first, the name sounded terrible, but it was because it was new. To not instantly accept something new is kind of expected with most people. It happens all the time, especially in the world of professional wrestling.

I remember when Dolph Ziggler debuted and his surname was pretty much hated among the IWC. People said it was a stupid surname, it sounded like a Pokémon and so on. Now, eight years later, nobody gives his name a second thought and pretty much everyone loves the guy.

This hating of names business always happens when a new PPV is created. Fastlane, Payback and Battleground are just examples of names that were disliked when they were announced, but now, just like Ziggler's name, they're pretty much accepted and the focus is rightfully on what the name provides and not the name itself.

I'm sure by the end of the year, they'll be no complaining about the championship's name.

So for me, the name "Universal Championship" did sound stupid when it was first announced, but now, meh, I don't care. I've accepted it and hopefully Seth Rollins wins to become the first champion.

People do get numb to atrocities. We have no parallel to compare those examples to. Who is to say that Nick Nemeth wouldn't have been taken more seriously than Dolph Ziggler? It's still a ridiculous name and it could be argued that if he ditched it he'd be better off.

You're absolutely right -- hardcore fans will get used to the name "Universal Title" soon, but it will still be mocked as being objectively bad. Unless they did some sort of market research on this and discovered that people respond positively to the name. Most of the feedback I've seen is "That is fucking stupid" though.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've never really understood why wrestling is generally viewed as being "embarrassing" to watch.

You have guys/girls acting and pretending to fight each other, but you also have guys/girls acting and pretending to be wizards and some acting and pretending to talk to dragons or whatever the hell Game of Thrones is about.

But yet, the wizards and dragons stuff is considered "cool" because why?

Who decides these things?

Who decides that watching wrestling is "embarrassing" but watching children wave sticks around and shout made up words is "cool"?

This is very true. I often think about this. People still seem to latch onto how fake it is as an argument. Do you think hold some sort of cultural grudge over being lied to? Is the presentation anachronistic and too testosterone-driven to be deemed as tasteful in today's day and age?

Trends aren't always logical. Dominant entertainment companies seem to be the ones that respond best to them or find ways to dictate what the trend is going to be. There may not be a logical explanation as to why Game of Thrones is cool but professional wrestling isn't, but you can't argue against the perception. It's how things are.

[Rammsteinmad]

If the internet were around back then, people would have been bitching about how the "Intercontinental Championship" sounds dumb.

Now, it's one of the most revered titles.

[Mr. USA #1]

Not a bad name. I would rather have it been called the Intergalatic Planetary Belt tho. I like my sugar with coffee and cream.

[Frank Drebin]

Well I gotta keep it going
Keep it going full steam

[Anybody Thrilla]

I stopped watching regularly a while ago.

But was it because of a title's name?

[Anybody Thrilla]

You sure as hell haven't stopped posting about it regularly.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Hardcore Wrestling Fan: "Dude, you used to like wrestling. You're gonna love this match. Finn Balor and Seth Rollins are awesome.:

Casual Wrestling Fan: "Cool, I'll give it a shot."

THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS FOR THE WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP

CWF: *snickers* "Sounds gay as fuck."

HWF: "Whatever, it's about the match and these guys are top notch."

CWF: *chuckles* "Gay ass championship is all I can think about. I remember why it's embarrassing to watch wrestling."

Pretty sure this conversation wouldn't ever happen. If so, CWF is a knob.

[Destor]

I mean I get thrillers point that in the grand scheme of things its about the product...but that doesnt make the name good, it's still pretty bad.

[Simple Fan]

I think the name will grow on people and it's not that bad of a name. It does sound TNAish a bit but it fits with the WWE Universe theme so it works. Really my only gripe is the lack of the word Heavyweight.

[Frank Drebin]

It'll grow on people just like the"Divas Division" and the pink butterfly/vagina strap.

[Cool King]

I don't think the design of the championship ever did grow on people.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that design was generally hated from day one, up until the title was retired.

[Frank Drebin]

https://cdn.meme.am/instances/28282272.jpg

[XL]

They better deliver on the design of the title!

[Fox]

Fucking terrible name. Not even 10 year olds think that's a cool name.

RAW Heavyweight Championship would have been just fine. Yes, it suggests the title is lesser than the WWE World Heavyweight championship - it should! It was just invented! It doesn't have any history or prestige! So, it's fitting.

Whatever. Maybe they'll change it later on when they realize people absolutely hate it.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't even love the name. But it seriously doesn't matter. Not even a little bit.

[Fox]

What do you mean it doesn't matter?

[Simple Fan]

I feel like Universal Championship is better than plain old Raw Championship that a lot of people seem to be in favor of.

[Anybody Thrilla]

What do you mean it doesn't matter?

If you are actually interested in my opinion on the matter, click just one page back and read anything there

[Anybody Thrilla]

I feel like Universal Championship is better than plain old Raw Championship that a lot of people seem to be in favor of.

I agree.

[Destor]

But ABT: is it any good? Yes/no?

[Anybody Thrilla]

It's fine.

[Frank Drebin]

In three months I'm still going to cringe everytime I hear "Universal Championship"

[Frank Drebin]

If Stardust came up with that name, it would've made sense.

[Simple Fan]

How does it not make sense though? WWE Universe = WWE Universal Championship. It may be kind of silly but it makes sense.

[Frank Drebin]

Making sense and pro wrestling don't go hand in hand. If that were the case, Big Show would be champ for 15 years because it wouldn't make sense for anyone to be able to really beat a guy that size.

[Tom Guycott]

Before Photoshop was invented.

Used the term generically. You should know what I meant. Got the point across. Nitpicky bastard.

SUPERIMPOSED, then. They glued pictures of Flair's face over pictures of Macho Man with Liz... and we went along with the ride that Mach didn't remember being in those places with her to know those doctor'd pics weren't legit.

[Tom Guycott]

... and I still think the other RAW titles should just follow the "Universal" trend. It would be less ugly if they were a matching set, as it were.

Rebrand them all, except maybe the U.S. "Universal States" is just plain dumb.

[Simple Fan]

I agree. Universal Championship should be with the Universal Tag Team Championships and Universal Women's Championship. While Smackdown has all World Championships.

[Simple Fan]

The tag titles need a redesign so it wouldn't be hard to rebrand them as WWE Universal Tag Team Championships but the Women's Championship would be tough to change after just being created this year.

[Destor]

It's fine.
Dont dodge the question

[Anybody Thrilla]

I'm not. Good is subjective, and I have stated my opinion numerous times in this very thread. If I say it's good and you say it's not...nothing changes at all.

[Destor]

I'm not. Good is subjective, and I have stated my opinion numerous times in this very thread. If I say it's good and you say it's not...nothing changes at all.
So you think it's good. Fair play.


I'm pretty sure you're in a large monority. Most feel its pretty bad. And that is a wholey seperate topic than the quality of the matches that will take place for it.


In most cases I'd think if people were vocal enough about their dislike it would get changed to something less meh but seeing as its the WWE they will champion this bad idea like its the Word of God until we get exhausted from bitching and stop.


This is the cycle.

[Anybody Thrilla]

What's so bad about it, though? WWE Universe. Universal Championship. Seems to make sense to me. I even dug Daniel Bryan poking fun at it as Raw trying to one up SmackDown. Total kayfabe Stephanie McMahon move. They never claimed it was to represent outer space and beyond. That's just marks being nerds. It's not that dire.

[Destor]

What's so bad about it, though? WWE Universe. Universal Championship. Seems to make sense to me. I even dug Daniel Bryan poking fun at it as Raw trying to one up SmackDown. Total kayfabe Stephanie McMahon move. They never claimed it was to represent outer space and beyond. That's just marks being nerds. It's not that dire.
I get the logic, it just doesnt ring in the ear right. It doesnt have a very good cadence.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Sounds like a lot of people here are upset about more than how it sounds in the ear. Talking about not watching anymore or SmackDown looking inferior because of it. I reiterate...it's really not that dire.

[Lock Jaw]

It's the end of the world as we know it

[Anybody Thrilla]

You would think.

[Anybody Thrilla]

But I feel fine.

[Destor]

Sounds like a lot of people here are upset about more than how it sounds in the ear. Talking about not watching anymore or SmackDown looking inferior because of it. I reiterate...it's really not that dire.
Thats just silly, but to be fair I dont watch either show

[#1-norm-fan]

Meh. The name won't matter in 5 years when they unify it with the other title.

Or in 10 years when they split that unified title and name the second one something else again.

... Or in 15 years when they unify THOSE two titles...

[Frank Drebin]

I get the point that it's much ado about nothing. It is. I also get that new things sound bad. Seth Rollins sounded dumb as fuck at first since Tyler Black sounded cool and we "knew" him. I get it.

It'll always make the eyes roll for the majority of people who aren't 5-11 year old Cena fans. That's all. An eye roll. Then most will go "whatever, fuck it, on with Raw." There will always be an eye roll though, and during that moment the viewer will have removed themselves from the show. Everytime it's said.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I dunno, man. I was reading the Raw thread when they announced the title, and people were for real flipping the fuck out. Also, this thread.

[Frank Drebin]

No one is flipping out. Not that I know of. It's just one large groan or thousands of people face-palming you're hearing everytime it's said.

[Frank Drebin]

I mean, I'm sure a fat guy somewhere made a video of himself "flipping out" but that's not 99.9% of the people.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Nah man. They are flipping out. You may not see it, but it's happening.

Besides, I'm just responding to a thread. I definitely didn't start it.

[Ruien]

I don't even love the name. But it seriously doesn't matter. Not even a little bit.

Exactly.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Destor is completely right about the cadence.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Everyone who thinks names don't matter should change their name to "Asshole Candywipes" and go for a job interview. People respond to the wording of things. I agree that it's not the end of the world, but for fuck's sake, to say that names don't matter? Why do you think Red Bull isn't named "Green Pussy?"

More so than anything, "You-nee-vers-al" Title just sounds cheesy, and frankly, unappealing. That is the point people here seem to be trying to make. That "universal" carries connotations of the universe is a valid point to make, just like pointing out that calling someone the "World Champion of Europe" might sound fucking stupid and annoying.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Mick Foley should have come out and said that because he was Mankind, he's creating a title for all of mankind -- the WWE HUMANITY CHAMPIONSHIP!

[Mr. Nerfect]

The champion will be the CHAMPION OF ALL HUMANITY!

[#1-norm-fan]

Why do you think Red Bull isn't named "Green Pussy?" .

I'd always wondered this myself.

[Cool King]

Why do you think Red Bull isn't named "Green Pussy?"

Because there's already a drink called "Pussy".

http://www.mightysweet.com/mesohungry/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/06-Pussy-Natural-Energy-drink.jpg

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wish them all the best with their reverse marketing strategies.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The WWE should call their belt the WWE Shitcunt Championship.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Because anyone who wins it is a real shitcunt and isn't afraid of being called a shitcunt by shitcunts.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Or brought back the WWE Hardcore Championship as its World Title with classic rules, because being hardcore is what RAW is all about. As long as it has good matches.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Or the "WWE Not Women's Championship" in order to make an ironic statement about gender.

[#1-norm-fan]

More I think about it, "Universal Championship" actually sounds like a regional title in the 80's. Like... I can see Jim Duggan being Universal Champion for some company in the south somewhere before going to WWE.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It sounds like a Puerto Rico title. Or a fantasy league title.

[Simple Fan]

That's because it is. World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico has a Universal Championship

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQE9hU2eI9J072vIbqMXlorbXcwW4p7wJf3MK0BTHA_NwYQpvlE

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, Carlito's won it like 28 times.

[GD]

16

[Mr. Nerfect]

That's exactly what I said. Go back and look.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Everyone who thinks names don't matter should change their name to "Asshole Candywipes" and go for a job interview. People respond to the wording of things. I agree that it's not the end of the world, but for fuck's sake, to say that names don't matter? Why do you think Red Bull isn't named "Green Pussy?"

More so than anything, "You-nee-vers-al" Title just sounds cheesy, and frankly, unappealing. That is the point people here seem to be trying to make. That "universal" carries connotations of the universe is a valid point to make, just like pointing out that calling someone the "World Champion of Europe" might sound fucking stupid and annoying.

It's a fucking title on a fake fighting show. It's not important. It's just NOT.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Answer me this, Noid. Do you think that there is someone who would try watching WWE for the first time and decide it's not for them based solely on the fact that they have a Universal title?

[Anybody Thrilla]

The belt isn't the whole fucking brand. It's just a belt.

[Anybody Thrilla]

"Imaginary brass rings"

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Brass Ring Championship has a ring to it.

[Emeye]

Raw
Universal Heavyweight Championship
United States Championship
Universal Tag Team Championships
WWE Women's Championship

SmackDown Live
World Heavyweight Championship
Intercontinental Championship
World Tag Team Championships
WWE Cruiserweight Championship

I could live would that. I agree, Universal does sound like an E-Fed title, or an old-school territory title. But it's the WWE Universe, so it makes perfect sense to me. The main titles, US and IC titles, and tag team titles would stay on their respected brands, and the Women's and Cruiserweight titles could change hands at the any of the PPVs that feature both brands.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Answer me this, Noid. Do you think that there is someone who would try watching WWE for the first time and decide it's not for them based solely on the fact that they have a Universal title?

Absolutely. It's corny as shit. Wrestling already has an uphill battle.

[Simple Fan]

I've actually talked to casual fans that like the name. I don't think it's as bad as everyone seems to think and the more I hear it the more I like it. Hope all of Raws titles take the Universal name.

[#1-norm-fan]

I can actually see someone tuning in for the first time, hearing about the "Universal Title" and being like "LOL wrestling".

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can actually see someone tuning in for the first time, hearing about the "Universal Title" and being like "LOL wrestling".

This. I think he name is less detrimental to the current fans, because we'll accept anything.

[Anybody Thrilla]

You guys are silly as fuck. That title name would most certainly not be the most corny thing they would encounter on a wrestling show. You guys are just wrong on this.

[GD]

Yeah ABT! Hope they rename it to #BROKENMATTHARDY championship of the intergalactic universe.

[Anybody Thrilla]

That wouldn't make a lot of sense in the context of what they're doing (like Universal does), but even a title with that name could still have some quality matches behind it.

[Destor]

It's a fucking title on a fake fighting show. It's not important. It's just NOT.

The title is the show, if you follow his logic too far then its all meaningless. Winning losing means nothing. You might as well not watch at all.

[Anybody Thrilla]

That title name would most certainly not be the most corny thing they would encounter on a wrestling show.

[Ruien]

We literally just had a dude call himself the Demon King and then danced to the ring like he is a male stripper. Everyone loves that right? Anyone turning in and seeing that shit would laugh harder than having the title be called Universal.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Exactly that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

We literally just had a dude call himself the Demon King and then danced to the ring like he is a male stripper. Everyone loves that right? Anyone turning in and seeing that shit would laugh harder than having the title be called Universal.

No, I didn't love that.

[Mr. Nerfect]

You guys are silly as fuck. That title name would most certainly not be the most corny thing they would encounter on a wrestling show. You guys are just wrong on this.

No one is saying that it is? That doesn't mean it's not corny.

[Mr. Nerfect]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqBjEy6W8AA80vQ.jpg

[RP]

We literally just had a dude call himself the Demon King and then danced to the ring like he is a male stripper. Everyone loves that right? Anyone turning in and seeing that shit would laugh harder than having the title be called Universal.

Ya i agree. That was horrible

WTF is wrong with me tonight i'm agreeing with Ruien on lots of posts. This is wrong.

[GD]

That wouldn't make a lot of sense in the context of what they're doing (like Universal does), but even a title with that name could still have some quality matches behind it.

Kane versus Big Show in an "over the top rope" 60-minute Iron Man "Punjabi Prison" Match with "Hardcore Lumberjacks" surrounding the ring.

On a serious note, I haven't been upset about the name except for when it was announced. Like Hunter said, it's the man who makes the title and not the title that makes the man. In my opinion, the NXT Championship looks hideous and is lower down the pecking order when compared to titles on the main roster. But the way it is booked and the talents that hold it, it comes across as "prestigious". I can see the same happening for the Universal title.

[Simple Fan]

That's exactly why Rollins needs to win it. He is a former WWE World HeavyweightChampion and Balor is a newbie that just lost that NXT title.

[Anybody Thrilla]

No one is saying that it is? That doesn't mean it's not corny.

It's not so corny as to be the final straw to someone who doesn't understand wrestling. It's no worse than anything else. It's not important. Do you see?

[Anybody Thrilla]

On a serious note, I haven't been upset about the name except for when it was announced. Like Hunter said, it's the man who makes the title and not the title that makes the man. In my opinion, the NXT Championship looks hideous and is lower down the pecking order when compared to titles on the main roster. But the way it is booked and the talents that hold it, it comes across as "prestigious". I can see the same happening for the Universal title.

That was my point earlier when I said that we should be focusing on the Rollins/Balor aspect, not the name of the fucking belt.

[Frank Drebin]

Noid and #1 fan are in the same boat as I am.

Eye rolls.

The Eye Rolling Championship.

[Frank Drebin]

Eyyyeee maytee. Yargh.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It's not so corny as to be the final straw to someone who doesn't understand wrestling. It's no worse than anything else. It's not important. Do you see?

That's subjective. For some it won't be; for some it will be.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Eyyyeee maytee. Yargh.

That's the Eye Patch Championship.

[Anybody Thrilla]

That's subjective. For some it won't be; for some it will be.

How can you be so sure? I know that I, for even if only one, will not stop watching over it. Until you find someone that does stop over it, my stance is infinitely more valid than yours. Just the facts, ma'am.

[#1-norm-fan]

I stopped watching over it.

I happen to know for a fact that it was the straw that broke the camel's back for former TPWW poster TheCynick as well. I still talk to him. His exact words were. "Universal Title? Forget everything I ever said in defense of WWE. This company is dumb as shit. I'm out."

[Sixx]

yes! exactly why i stopped watching weekly

and not because they don't even show it here

[Anybody Thrilla]

I stopped watching over it.

I happen to know for a fact that it was the straw that broke the camel's back for former TPWW poster TheCynick as well. I still talk to him. His exact words were. "Universal Title? Forget everything I ever said in defense of WWE. This company is dumb as shit. I'm out."

Lies. The CyNick named the title himself.

[Anybody Thrilla]

"Seth Rollins' waist jewelry has a silly name! Waaaaaah! Waaaaaah!"

Pathetic.

[Sixx]

but on a serious note, i agree the name is stupid but 5 pages about this?

shit, wrestlers dying don't get that much attention

[Anybody Thrilla]

It is very important for me to make you all realize how unimportant this really is.

So many forms of entertainment out there that don't piss people off. What is it with the masochistic mind of a professional wrestling enthusiast?

[Big Vic]

Universal Champion is gay

Should be called "Uranus Champion"

[Sixx]

Universal Champion is gay

Should be called "Uranus Champion"

i want that belt

[#1-norm-fan]

"Seth Rollins' waist jewelry has a silly name! Waaaaaah! Waaaaaah!"

Pathetic.

Well now, wait... If you consider it just waist jewelry then it's pretty pathetic to even wanna watch two dudes fight over it, isn't it?

[#1-norm-fan]

Better question... If the title were actually called "Seth Rollins' waist jewelry" would you be more, less or as excited about watching two grown men fight over it?

[Cool King]

We literally just had a dude call himself the Demon King and then danced to the ring like he is a male stripper. Everyone loves that right? Anyone turning in and seeing that shit would laugh harder than having the title be called Universal.

A millions times yes.

[Mr. Nerfect]

How can you be so sure? I know that I, for even if only one, will not stop watching over it. Until you find someone that does stop over it, my stance is infinitely more valid than yours. Just the facts, ma'am.

The fuck? This is nonsense.

[Mr. Nerfect]

A millions times yes.

I addressed that. The Demon King thing is stupid. Stop acting like it proves any semblance of a point.

[Mr. Nerfect]

#fan is continuously the best poster on these boards. Nailing it in here.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Well now, wait... If you consider it just waist jewelry then it's pretty pathetic to even wanna watch two dudes fight over it, isn't it?

Better question... If the title were actually called "Seth Rollins' waist jewelry" would you be more, less or as excited about watching two grown men fight over it?

There's no shame in my game. It's entertaining. It has been to me my whole life. I'm not going to stop being entertained because the waist jewelry has a different name.

I feel like I'm saying the same thing over and over here.

[Anybody Thrilla]

The fuck? This is nonsense.

Show me one person who has stopped watching because of the name of the title. We'll start there with step one.

[drave]

The Gilded Cummerbund

[Cool King]

I addressed that. The Demon King thing is stupid. Stop acting like it proves any semblance of a point.

What?

I wasn't aware I was acting a certain way.

[Anybody Thrilla]

If you guys don't like wrestling, that's fine, but don't get mad at me because I do.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Show me one person who has stopped watching because of the name of the title. We'll start there with step one.

Me. I stopped watching RAW after week one. I caught a few clips last week to feel the general vibe of the show. I've been on the wind-down for some time.

If you guys don't like wrestling, that's fine, but don't get mad at me because I do.

Let's be honest -- that's not what happened here.

[ron the dial]

is this still a thing? calm down, guys. it'll be ok.

[drave]

TBF Noid - you were not happy with various factors in WWE long before they named their new title.

[Mr. USA #1]

It really should be called the Raw Rasslin Champion. That sounds better than University Champion or whatevs.

[drave]

The Rasslin Champion belt is reserved for the Bobby Jaggers invitational.

[Mr. USA #1]

RIP Bobby Jaggers, he was American as fuck

[Mr. Nerfect]

TBF Noid - you were not happy with various factors in WWE long before they named their new title.

Very true.

[Tom Guycott]

You know even after the reveal, the name doesn't bother me.

The abundance of red doesn't bother me as much as it seems like it should. Yeah, it is cartoonishly red, and has more red than gold to be a "legit" title, but, okay.

No, my problem with this thing is that it is exactly the same as the "original/real/first/any other adjective" WWE World Championship with a player 2 palette swap. You telling me they couldn't get someone to design another fucking look? The US and IC straps are visually distinctive, but your main belt looks like they just took a Krylon coat to a spare they had laying around.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Any title that gets a crowd to chant DELETE at it is a-ok by me.

[Maluco]

Maybe a point that I haven't seen made, but I think, a valid one.

Maybe the fact that they look the same, only a different colour is a good thing? In that it gives them equal footing and prestige because they are on the same level? (WWE, Universal, Woman's)

In fact, having a woman's title on Smackdown and having it be blue, would be just fine with me.

[Tom Guycott]

Seriously, though. It looks like it was supposed to be Daniel Bryan's custom belt.

It is about as dumb to me as the spinner... and I don't mean as in "I hate Cena"; on him, it made sense. No, I mean when it was adopted as thd actual championship, that made it stupid. And this is like when Edge got "his" Rated R championship... which was just the spinner with a sticker over the logo. It was still Cena's toy belt. Didn't fit Edge. Same with Miz, just taking the spinner and making sure it didn't spin so the logo stayed upside down on purpose instead of because of uneven weight distribution. Again, still Cena's toy belt with a cosmetic alteration.

They could have been more creative. Bring back the wings. Make it look like the "Undisputed". Something besides just different leather.

[drave]

Perhaps just a testament to the lack of creative across the board?

[Tom Guycott]

Maybe a point that I haven't seen made, but I think, a valid one.

Maybe the fact that they look the same, only a different colour is a good thing? In that it gives them equal footing and prestige because they are on the same level? (WWE, Universal, Woman's)

In fact, having a woman's title on Smackdown and having it be blue, would be just fine with me.

See your point, but would make more sense if the world title were blue.

But more to the point, making the damn thing look kinda different might have offset the name hate. Instead, it just looks lazy. Like they didn't want to take the effort to be bothered to design something else. To just take half of the stock of premade replicas and just paint them and sell them anyway instead of making new replicas of a new design.

[Frank Drebin]

Just another situation where wwe has options and has somehow chosen the wrong one at every turn.

As predicted, the dumb ass name (and look) of the new title overshadowed a Tyler Black/Prince Devitt match that we would never have dreamed of seeing 5 years ago. Takes the viewer so far out of the show that they turned their attention away from the match to a certain degree just to jeer the idea that this thing exists. Not saying it's right or even rational, but that's what happened and it's not like they couldn't have seen it coming.

[Frank Drebin]

It's been one day and it's already at the point where all that needs to happen is the Rock coming out and going "Universal....? Championship?? The hell is that??" and it means less than King of the Ring.

[DAMN iNATOR]

So glad to see they're not taking their SECOND MOST IMPORTANT title belt seriously and giving it the "All Red Everything" treatment, à la Eva, who 8h yeah, is SUSPENDED right now, btw. :y:

[Emperor Smeat]

Maybe its just the way the leather looks but really does look like the joke going around online of them taking one of Nakamura's spare pair of pants to make it.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

All Red Everything.

[Cool King]

The championship is pretty ugly, but it's because of the colour of the strap.

Change it to black but keep the area behind the WWE logo red and it'll be fine.

[#1-norm-fan]

Any title that gets a crowd to chant DELETE at it is a-ok by me.

My thoughts exactly. I'm on board strictly for the comedy factor now.

[Anybody Thrilla]

"I don't watch wrestling, but I definitely bitch about it on the internet"

How do these people exist?

[Destor]

Well after the PPV we can definitely say that the belt design does indeed effect the show.

[Anybody Thrilla]

How do you mean?

[Destor]

How do you mean?Did you see the match? The crowd spent half the time shitting on the belt instead of marking for the top of the line porduct.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I actually haven't watched the match. I'm on Ambrose/Ziggler right now. Watched Raw against my will and had most of it spoiled for me.

[Destor]

I actually haven't watched the match. I'm on Ambrose/Ziggler right now. Watched Raw against my will and had most of it spoiled for me.
Well the crowd basically shits on the belt istead of watching the match.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Super smark crowd in Brooklyn, though. Let's tour with it a tad.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Also, with the pre-show, that was...what? 5 and a half hours of wrestling they were sitting through? Some of them were probably at NXT the night before too? They were probably going loopy.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Just finished that match. It was really good. Too bad people were focusing on the belt and not the great wrestling match for it.

[Destor]

Just finished that match. It was really good. Too bad people were focusing on the belt and not the great wrestling match for it.
Agreed, but the belt did without question hurt the product.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Still don't think so.

[Mr. Nerfect]

"I don't watch wrestling, but I definitely bitch about it on the internet"

How do these people exist?

I still follow wrestling and keep coming back to see if it can make me fall in love with it again. Don't twist my lack of weekly viewership into a lack of attention and research.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Still don't think so.

You're going full CyNick aren't you? :(

[RP]

I think the womans belt should actually be the Men's belt lol. It looks way better.

[Destor]

Still don't think so.
We'll agree to disagree on that one.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Shit belt and shitty name. Great match tho.

[Frank Drebin]

The ridiculous name and look of the title distract from the product. It happened. That's bad.

I'm willing to go along with ABT for now and say the crowd was "out of it" at that point.....for now. Let's see if jeering the very name becomes the next "thing to do" going forward. If so, its bad business.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Still can't get over the crowd booing it when Foley and Steph unveiled it. :lol:

[Mr. Nerfect]

If Coca-Cola unveiled a new logo and people's response was that, people would be fired. Because this is the WWE, and for some reason people accept its excuse that it uses its own metrics, they will stubbornly hold onto that design for longer than the design for the WWE Title is used -- just like how the spinner belt was around for like 8 years, until The Rock said "I don't want to hold that piece of shit."

[Mr. Nerfect]

It'll be interesting to see how replica belts sell, given that they are going with two sets of the same titles. I thought the reason that the WWE's belts got shitty was for merchandising reasons, and Mattel or whoever makes the toys wanted each one to look extremely different from the other. I guess they're now going with a "get it in red or blue!" approach. I can't imagine the WWE doing this without some sort of market research, but it just feels dumb.

[Simple Fan]

Universal sounds a whole lot better than the new Smackdown Tag and Womens Championships. I'm not suggesting they be Universal as well but just calling them Smackdown championships isn't creative at all and also makes SD seem like less of a show. Should have just went with World Womens and Tag titles to match the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It's just a mouthful to say a lot of that. They clearly just want to say "Women's Champ" and "Tag Champs" as much as they can. "SmackDown" will be said a lot to remind people that they are watching SmackDown.

[Ruien]

It'll be interesting to see how replica belts sell, given that they are going with two sets of the same titles. I thought the reason that the WWE's belts got shitty was for merchandising reasons, and Mattel or whoever makes the toys wanted each one to look extremely different from the other. I guess they're now going with a "get it in red or blue!" approach. I can't imagine the WWE doing this without some sort of market research, but it just feels dumb.

Worked for Pokémon! Same colors too. Blue ftw!

[Destor]

If Coca-Cola unveiled a new logo and people's response was that, people would be fired. Because this is the WWE, and for some reason people accept its excuse that it uses its own metrics, they will stubbornly hold onto that design for longer than the design for the WWE Title is used -- just like how the spinner belt was around for like 8 years, until The Rock said "I don't want to hold that piece of shit."

This is an excellent point

[Simple Fan]

Just need this version of the US title and all the titles will pretty much match.
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSF-cuyeeNM9CDom3QHWR_TvgmM4vlCoKkOfIE1jFAvr-tK0wLldw

[Anybody Thrilla]

What was taken away from the product, though? Muffled chants ruined nothing for me?

[Frank Drebin]

Attention was taken away. Rather then paying attention to the match, they're thinking about this stupid shit that's totally inconsequential to what they're trying to sell.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Like Chicago chanting CM Punk after he left? Or Bray Wyatt's debut being met with "HUSKY HARRIS" chants?

It was just smarks trying to put themselves over. Not a dime was effected. Everyone chanting had already paid to be there. Nothing was taken away. Raw ratings were even UP the next night.

[Destor]

You just under sold the one thing thats truely unique aboit wrestling: the audiences ability to effect the product. Might as well be watching a soap with out it

[GD]

There are merits to both sides of the argument.