Mr. Nerfect |
05-09-2009 04:26 AM |
I think it's seen as somewhere between a World Title and a top title. I remember Big Show calling himself a five-time World Champion, which only makes sense if the ECW Title is considered as such. I think they originally intended it to be as such, but as ECW found its niche as a place for veterans to teach rookies, and as a "guily pleasure" brand, it doesn't really have the crossover value to the other brands to be considered a true World Title.
Some of the men who held it don't help its cause: Johnny Nitro got the title in a pinch immediately after teaming with Kenny Dykstra. Chavo Guerrero won the belt, and although he is a tremendous talent, he's not exactly "Mr. Credible." Kane and Mark Henry got the title, and while both have the size to be threats to anybody, their booking and/or general worth on either of the other two brands made it seem like "consolation" at best. Then there was Matt Hardy, who described his career (including winning the ECW Title) as "mediocre" compared to Jeff's.
Plus, I haven't actually heard the ECW Title referred to as a "World Title" on WWE TV for a long time, whereas the WWE Title and World Heavyweight Title are almost treated as interchangeable substitutes for one another.
I think the hierarchy in the WWE looks something like this:
WWE Championship
World Heavyweight Championship
Royal Rumble
ECW Championship
Money in the Bank
King of the Ring
Intercontinental Championship
United States Championship
|