A Golden Dilemma

Too many or not enough?

This is an imposed question on many a fan in the WWE right now, with several titles running rampant on both RAW and Smackdown. Of course, with both shows seemingly melding together, the Internet Wrestling Community is split down the middle. Some say keep the titles the way they are, some say unify the titles and create more prestige within the company and turn up the competition.

Let's take a look at what is currently active in the WWE:

WWE Championship: RAW's flagship title, currently held by the Rock
World Heavyweight Championship: Smackdown's flagship title, currently held by Alberto Del Rio
Intercontinental Championship: RAW's secondary, currently held by Wade Barrett
United States Championship: Smackdown's secondary, currently held by Antonio Cesaro
Diva's Championship: Unified with the Women's Championship and contested on both brands, currently held by Kaitlyn
WWE Tag Team Championship: Unified with the World Tag Team Championships and contested on both brands, currently held by Team Hell No!

The Cruiserweight division is suffering
just as much as the Diva's division
without a title

Pretty simple set up here, with two titles on each brand, along with two more allowed to be contested on both brands. Give or take, a "maximum" of four championships can be contested on each show. Fair enough. But I have heard time and time again to unify the remaining titles and contest every one on both shows. I don't think this is necessarily a great idea, considering the vast amount of superstars, and the line to wait to get to any particular title. I do believe that the chase for the titles is completely wrong, but I am not creative in the sense to tell which title should be contested against what superstar.

Keep in mind that at one point in time, the WWE had twelve titles running about, during the WWE/WCW Invasion angle, double the amount of titles there are in the WWE right now. On top of what is still standing, you had the European Championship, the Hardcore Championship, the Cruiserweight, Light Heavyweight, and World Tag Team Championships. It was a ridiculous amount, and the WWE made it work. The WWE should take a piece out of TNA's cake, as they have a main, a secondary, a cruiserweight title, a women's single and tag championship. Women's tag championship really isn't necessary, but maintain the major and minor titles, bring some legitimacy to the up-and-coming cruiserweights, and the women's belt. I would even consider bringing back the Hardcore Championship in time for Extreme Rules, because with Linda McMahon not running for the Connecticut Senate seat, why protect the image any longer?

I don't believe that the titles be unified. I say, add more titles to give more of a variety in the WWE to make things more interesting! My idea would be as follows:

WWE Championship: Keep it on RAW as major
World Heavyweight Championship: Keep it on Smackdown as major
Intercontinental Championship: Put it on Smackdown as minor to build prestige in Smackdown
United States Championship: Put it on RAW as minor to build prestige on RAW
Cruiserweight Championship: Contest it on both shows, with the weight limit at 220 pounds
NXT Championship: Treat it as the "legitimate" Television championship and allow up and coming wrestlers on TV to fight for it
Hardcore Championship: Hardcore only
Diva's Championship: Contest it on both shows
WWE Tag Team Championship: Contest it on both shows

The NXT Championship; the stepping stone into the WWE

This set up would work wonders for WWE Creative, as it can keep every part of the roster busy and keep ideas flowing. There are two titles specific for each brand, which will keep at least eight to ten superstars occupied; all of the WWE Cruiserweights will be building themselves up... look at how Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and Billy Kidman became famous; the NXT Championship will ultimately allow break-out developmental talent on television and build their own success into the minor title picture; and the Hardcore championship will bring out the tough and ruthless. Granted, I doubt the Hardcore Championship will ever be brought back to a WWE ring again, based on the PG environment and the WWE Disclaimer of "Don't Try This at Home", but it would be nice to see contested once in a blue moon.

The Monday Night Wars; WWE should take a look back
and consider what worked and what didn't in terms
of championship caliber superstars

If Triple H was thinking outside the box to work on ratings, as I am sure Vince McMahon and his team have done time and time again, he would go back and look at what gave the WWE the edge in the 8.1 Nielsen ratings back in April 1999. The competition of WCW and ECW has been gone for some time, but examine and run through the compelling elements that maintained such a drastic climb. The WWE kept ratings in the 6's and 7's for over a year. What they did back then was hold a captive audience. The championships, outside of being props, shouldn't be labeled as such a term; Championships should be revered as the next point in a superstar's career, and have them climb the ladder rungs one by one. From NXT to Minors, to versatility in Hardcore, up to the grande queso enchilada.

Simply put, don't unify. Reinstate.

It Takes One Time To Lose Your Swagger

One can only tell what is going through the mind of
Jack Swagger in his mug shot.
Provided by TMZ.com

The IWC is abuzz of Jack Swagger's inability to maintain and get thrown into the Mississippi slammer for a DUI and speeding. Due to the fact that Swagger had selfishly knocked out five other competitors at the Elimination Chamber and is foolishly booked for possession of marijuana, I had a feeling that somewhere along the line, Swagger was not championship material. WWE company policy states several components in regards to Swagger's situation. Based on a first offense and being tested for marijuana, Swagger will be fined $2,500 and suspended for thirty days.

From WWE Corporate's website:

In the event of any positive test for marijuana, the WWE Talent shall be fined Two Thousand Five Hundred US Dollars ($2,500.00) per positive test, which shall be deducted from the WWE Talent's downside guarantee.

WWE Corporate Company Abuse Policy

However, Swagger was not tested for it--he was arrested and booked in the Mississipi jail. WWE has a much more strict policy when it comes to superstar law-breaking.

From WWE Corporate website:

Any WWE Talent, who is arrested, convicted or who admits to a violation of law relating to use, possession, purchase, sale or distribution of drugs will be in material breach of his/her contract with WWE and subject to immediate dismissal.

In addition to the penalties that may be imposed pursuant to his/her contract with WWE, a violation of this Section 14 may also be treated as a positive test for drugs prohibited by this Policy and therefore, subject to the penalties set forth in Section 15 of this Policy.

WWE Corporate Company Abuse Policy

Will Swagger still walk into Wrestlemania 29
as the #1 Contender?

This right here can affect an entire outcome of not only Swagger's 45 day future, but the future of everyone connected to the World Heavyweight Championship, Wrestlemania 29, and the WWE. The question is posed, the gauntlet thrown; what does the WWE do from here? It doesn't look too good for Swagger's future, as he isn't a big name like Cena, Undertaker, or Orton (who has walked back into the WWE with five known suspensions). If the WWE allows Swagger to walk into Wrestlemania as planned, the Wellness Policy has no merits. The only other case that I can compare this to would be Rob Van Dam's arrest conviction back in 2006, and R-Truth's suspension in 2011. RVD would lose both the WWE and ECW champions, the alliance with Paul Heyman, and suspended for 30 days. R-Truth's suspension was delayed until after Survivor Series. Swagger doesn't have the World title, and if he did, it would complicate things even more. With this said, Swagger will most likely be thrown in a quickie storyline where he places his contendership on the line (similar to Punk/Cena for this upcoming Monday) and lose it to Orton or one of the other Elimination Chamber participants as a form of punishment, or be somehow taken off TV for a while to continue the storyline. That's my guess.

Or, just flat out hand him his pink slip.

This poses a number of questions for me on my end of analyzing this predicament. Many superstars throughout history are faced with a sudden lapse of judgment, but (almost) immediately bounce back and get right back into the title picture after their suspension. Even beyond Wrestlemania, will WWE maintain their composure and allow Swagger to bounce back into the title picture? Other stars such as Orton, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, and even Rey Mysterio were thrust immediately into title pictures coming back from suspensions, so would this honestly take the same pattern? The Wellness Policy violation reprocussions aren't as cutthroat as they should be; it devalues title runs and forces good employees to take a back seat in the thick of things. But... it seems that whatever is good for business will stay that way. I don't think that Swagger is good for business.

Listen to Rowdy Roddy Piper! Just say NO!
Courtesy of Google Search "WWE Wellness Policy"

Just say no to drugs, kids!