The ECW Television Championship

[Damian Rey]

This is my very first post in the forum, so I thought I'd try to pick the brains of the veterans here and see how they would feel about my following question.

I was thinking about mid card titles the other day and how they're rarely defended. Then the ECW TV title came to mind. Would anyone here be opposed to bringing the title back for ECW's midcard? I mean, it would have to be defended every week, and every pay per view. That's 4 to 5 times a month, maybe more. Would it be beneficial for an up and coming mid carder, such as a Kolfi Kingston or John Morrison, to hold the title for an extended period of time, defending the title on a weekly basis, maybe even on both ECW and SmackDown!, in order to build on their credibility and help get them over as a legit champion and possible main eventer?

[Afterlife]

The only problem with an ECW midcard title is the lack of talent and time to build it up. We still need to get a tru separation from SmackDown and a solid legitimacy to the ECW title itself.

[Good Ol JG]

I'm opposed for a couple reasons.

1. It would be better idea if the ECW World Title wasn't treated like a midcard title, but adding a second ECW title would only slightly decrease the value of an already more or less valueless title.

2. There are WAY too many titles as it is. I think adding another one would just confuse people further.

[Indifferent Clox]

I think if ECW ever goes two hours it'd be a great idea. But ECW needs to differentiate itself from the other brands a lot more. I think a TV title would be great, I think it'd be a wonderful Idea for there to be some champion (not necessarily that one) who would have to defend their title at all 3 shows every week. It'd change hands quickly but it'd be a part of the show you'd want to see to see if anyone could hold it for a long period of time. It'd mean people would want to catch all 3 shows. It'd increase ratings easily for the other two shows.

[Afterlife]

Exactly. The show needs to be bigger with a more active roster and the Main Title needs to be more powerful. Give it time, and I think such will come to pass.

[Damian Rey]

Tnaks for the replies. Personally, I loved WCW's TV title, and thought it helped alot of guys get over as a result of frequent tv time and matches invested into them. I agree that ECW needs to become a completely seperate brand. And I would personally love the ECW TV title to be back on. Does ECW ever have a chance at getting 2 hours?

[The Heenan Family]

I'd unify the ECW and WHC and then add a tv title that must be defended on tv each week, on either ecw or smackdown. It would make for good storylines and add the promise of possible title changes.

[mrslackalack]

Didnt they come close to giving ECW a tag team title but that idea was shot down as well so they just gave Morrison/Miz Smackdown Tag Titles?

[Afterlife]

There's just not enough time or talent for more than one ECW title. It's that simple.

[Indifferent Clox]

Well ECW could have a chance at two hours. Frankly I think it often has the best wrestling of either brand and it gets people from both shows quite often even before the talent exchange.

Kane being the champion is gonna do wonders.

They need to embrace the extreme thing a little more, have matches that are easier on the rules such as no count out at least or something. I just think WWE doesn't have a clue how to do hardcore most of the time.

My big plan would be for them to unify all three titles, like originally and have each brand's title (us, TV, and IC, plus there would be another title as mentioned above that would be defended every show or maybe each of those titles should be defended exclusively at their own show every time) be the main title for that show. The main champ's feud would unfold on each show. A month long example:

Orton is the champion and he hasn't got an opponent yet. He has 3 matches this week all non title. Whoever beats him gets a chance at the title at Backlash. But the first week each champion of each show will face an opponent in a non title match to see who gets to face orton the next week.

On Raw they have a singles match between The IC champ Jericho and Triple H. Triple H wins he will face orton the next week in a tag match with Jericho, if he pins Orton he gets a shot at the title at backlash.

On ECW the tv champion Shelton Benjamin faces Tommy Dreamer. Benjamin wins and will face Orton in a ladder match.

ON smackdown the US champion MVP faces Matt Hardy in 15 minute Iron Man. (my view is Smackdown would be seen as the more MMA style/ 'legitimate' style show). MVP somehow pulls out the victory and will Face orton in a regular match.


week 2
Orton goes on Raw and Jericho pins him, but since he isn't the contender he doesn't win neither does Triple H, this leads to them fighting at Backlash for the IC strap.

ECW: Shelton and Orton face off in a ladder match. Shelton pulls of the unthinkable by beating him.

Smackdown: it's a singles match MVP v. Orton. IF MVP wins it becomes a triple threat match at Backlash. So Shelton comes out and tries to get MVP DQed but the ref doesn't see him smack Orton with the chair, MVP takes advantage gets the pin.

week 3:

Orton comes out on Raw and says that MVP didn't really beat him that if it wasn't for Shelton he'd just be US Champ with no greater potential. MVP comes out and says he wants to prove how great he is. Orton says you can't prove anything! Shelton comes out and says he has nothing to prove, he's already beat Orton once and will do it again at Backlash. MVP says "but you've never beat me!" Cue Regal. "I've discussed it with the other gms MVP and Shelton will have a best of 3 series this week! The one who comes out on top will be the number one contender. Orton gets to rest because Damn he had a rough week last week. Benjamin beats MVP clean. 1-2-3

On ECW Benjamin and MVP have a ECW style match. MVP beats shelton at his own game and pulls out the victory!

On Smackdown: Shelton and MVP fight in a cage because Orton comes out and asks Vicky to make it so. Vicky agrees but under one condition. Next week he has to face Edge two days before Backlash and if he loses, Edge becomes number one contender for the next PPV! Orton reluctantly agrees. The cage match is going great. Both men really putting it on the line when all of a sudden out comes triple H with a sledgehammer and something in a bag. He says he was never beat. He didn't get a fair shot like they did, and he knows he can't do much about it, but he can do this" he pulls out lock and puts it on the cage door. then climbs in and beats both men with a sledgehammer. Out comes Jericho with boltcutters and comes in to beat up Triple H. Orton watches with amusement.

week 4: Vince comes out to make a decision about Backlash. He says it will be a NO DQ Triple Threat, Orton will face Edge on smackdown. But tonight MVP and Shelton must team up to take on Jericho and Triple H! During the tag match Orton comes out as announcer. Triple H keeps glaring at him all throughout the match. The finish is Triple H pinning Benjamin. After the match Triple H destroys everyone. And Orton comes in the ring. They stare each other down as Raw goes off the air.

ECW Benjamin defends the TV title against CM Punk. MVP comes in and costs him the match and his title!

Smackdown MVP as reprucussion must defend his title against... THE UNDERTAKER who is in a program with Edge. Taker and MVP is an amazing match and when Benjamin rushes down but gets speared by Edge who is lurking just off stage. Edge then goes in and spears taker Causing a DQ. Orton rushes out and demands the match start right then. Orton and Edge duke it out and Taker does his stand up thing during a ref bump. HE chokeslams Edge and this allows Orton to get the win.

PPV: BackLash

There would be several subsequent Lower card/ tag team matches but the three matches I've discussed would go as follows:

Undertaker V. Edge
Edge is still pretty beat from the other night, the match is great quality and Edge cheats to win.

Triple H v. Jericho for the IC title
Triple H and Jericho is a classic back and forth contest match of the year quality and Triple H gets the victory, but Jericho looks really good in this match. So it puts jericho over since he did pin the champ this month.

Orton v. Shelton v. MVP for the Undisputed title
the match is going great. everything is as planned when Triple H comes out. He goes in and BOOM Pedigree to.....

BENJAMIN

MVP is shocked leaving orton open to hit the RKO.

Triple H and Orton Shake hands and hold their titles above their heads as Backlash goes off.

I think that'd be a pretty great storyline.

[KYR]

I don't know how you would have a "TV" title defended at a PPV.

It's hard enough as well for the IC and US championships to get a look-in at PPV's these days let alone any ECW title.

[Mr. Nerfect]

There's just not enough time or talent for more than one ECW title. It's that simple.

I normally agree with you, man, but I couldn't be on a more opposite end of the spectrum here.

Didn't RAW only have one hour a week at one stage? One hour for three titles? Or was it five, I can't remember. Looking at RAW, you have four titles for two hours. That roughly evens out to two titles per hour, which is what ECW has.

I think what a big problem with the new ECW has been, is that it hasn't got a hierarchy. Everyone is after the ECW Title, because it's the only thing on the show. There is no line saying "so and so is not good enough for the ECW Title yet," so it looks less impressive when someone holds it.

For example, if Stevie Richards was ECW TV Champion, and Chavo Guerrero was ECW World Champion, Chavo automatically looks better. Whereas, Chavo as ECW Champion on a show without anyone else to put his talent into perspective, makes it look like Velocity.

The brand feels really unformed, and I feel a lot of that is because professional wrestling companies (or "brands") have not had a sole singles championship in years. ROH has had the Pure Title or FIP Title; TNA has the X-Division Title, etc.

I think ECW could really use a Television Championship just to really put some perspective into what the ECW World Championship actually means.

[Afterlife]

Sure, except they're still leeching off of SMackDown all the while. THat mishmash only adds to the confusing mess at ECW. I see your point about hierarchy, and I think it's brilliant. But I also think ECW needs to stand on its own feet before even the ECW title looks like it has any meaning.

[Indifferent Clox]

I don't know how you would have a "TV" title defended at a PPV.

It's hard enough as well for the IC and US championships to get a look-in at PPV's these days let alone any ECW title.

TV title was always defended at ppvs

Living dangerously 99 Jerry Lynn v. RVD for the tv title is one of the greatest matches of all time.

[Indifferent Clox]

I normally agree with you, man, but I couldn't be on a more opposite end of the spectrum here.

Didn't RAW only have one hour a week at one stage? One hour for three titles? Or was it five, I can't remember. Looking at RAW, you have four titles for two hours. That roughly evens out to two titles per hour, which is what ECW has.

I think what a big problem with the new ECW has been, is that it hasn't got a hierarchy. Everyone is after the ECW Title, because it's the only thing on the show. There is no line saying "so and so is not good enough for the ECW Title yet," so it looks less impressive when someone holds it.

For example, if Stevie Richards was ECW TV Champion, and Chavo Guerrero was ECW World Champion, Chavo automatically looks better. Whereas, Chavo as ECW Champion on a show without anyone else to put his talent into perspective, makes it look like Velocity.

The brand feels really unformed, and I feel a lot of that is because professional wrestling companies (or "brands") have not had a sole singles championship in years. ROH has had the Pure Title or FIP Title; TNA has the X-Division Title, etc.

I think ECW could really use a Television Championship just to really put some perspective into what the ECW World Championship actually means.

You have to have some fucking amazing rivalries to not have a midcard belt.

[Jordan]

First of all I don't think ECW should go to, or will go to two hours. One, WWE isn't going to book seven hours of wrestling each week two nights in a row. And WWE isn't going to tape ECW without Smackdown!.

And also, WWE has nine titles right now, thats a lot. In 1997 WWE had three titles, in by 2003 we had I think 10, now 9. No just no, another title wouldn't mean anything. The tag title is sufficient enough.

[thedamndest]

I would like to see some angle where the IC or US champ pisses off their gm so the gm makes it so they a seven day window in which they can defend their belt on any show. I guess this would effectively make the title interbrand for awhile. Not at all related to the tv title, but it would get some defenses going.

[Damian Rey]

First of all I don't think ECW should go to, or will go to two hours. One, WWE isn't going to book seven hours of wrestling each week two nights in a row. And WWE isn't going to tape ECW without Smackdown!.

And also, WWE has nine titles right now, thats a lot. In 1997 WWE had three titles, in by 2003 we had I think 10, now 9. No just no, another title wouldn't mean anything. The tag title is sufficient enough.

There wasn't a brand split in 1997. The entire roster set up has changed and with three different brands going, it's almost impossible not to have more than a combined hand full of titles. And while I think a 2 hour taping would do ECW wonders, I still firmly believe that a TV title could work with only one hour of programming. With only 3 matches per night, the TV title could be the 2nd match on the card. Also, with the talent exchange between SmackDown! and ECW, the challenger to the title doesn't necessarily have to be from ECW.


Also, I strongly agree about Noid's idea of the heirarchy. It definately would help show how good the ECW champ may be and how far the TV champ would be from reaching that status. Also, if an ECW TV title were to be introduced, and defended ONLY on ECW, it would give the brand something unique to itself. ECW being the only brand to have a mid card title defended every week could help give the brand an identity all its own, and maybe a stronger following, possibly leading to more useable talent beng drafted their way.

[El Fangel]

I honestly cant deny that a second ECW title wouldn't help, I mean is everyone on the rosters only aspirations the ECW title, well since there is nothing else to vie for in ECW I guess so.

Not counting getting off the brand.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Sure, except they're still leeching off of SMackDown all the while. THat mishmash only adds to the confusing mess at ECW. I see your point about hierarchy, and I think it's brilliant. But I also think ECW needs to stand on its own feet before even the ECW title looks like it has any meaning.

I agree with you, ECW needs to get some guys shipped over that actually mean something to the brand. I'd suggest moving Kane there permanently, as well as drafting over Umaga and Rey Mysterio.

Hardcore Holly isn't exactly a main eventer, but he is over and has been positioned as such by the WWE, so I would not be opposed to seeing him return there as an upper mid-card when his World Tag Team Title run with Cody Rhodes is over. Speaking of Rhodes, he could get lost in the shuffle on RAW without Holly. They could move over both Holly and Rhodes, and have them stay buddies, or pit them against each other in another rivalry. A face Mark Henry on ECW would be alright, too.

Back to the TV Title, right now, I think there are far more guys in ECW befitting of a mid-card title than a main event one. Someone like Elijah Burke or The Miz could really use a run with a TV Title to establish themselves and build up a resume before they become a "former World Champion" with the ECW Title. It wasn't so bad when Johnny Nitro did it, because he had three WWE Tag Team Championships and two Intercontinental Championships behind him. CM Punk and Chavo Guerrero really could have used some mid-card runs to them before they became "World Champions," though.