Making a top contenders list

[Guest Redhawk]

WWE needs to have a top contenders list for all the titles (except IC, which is more of a Jr. World title and needs a set division before getting a ranking system), and the champion or tag champions can only defend the belts against people at the top of the list. Of course it would be kayfabed or whatever, but I think would help somewhat.

 

Why does Kevin Nash get to come back from a year-long absence -- in which he hadn't beaten anyone before THAT injury anyway -- and automatically get a title shot? Who had Nash beaten in one-on-one matches on WWE TV to deserve that slot? Why did Hulk Hogan get a title shot at Backlash 2002, when all he'd done was lose to Rock at WM? Why did Scott Steiner deserve a shot right away? That's why I liked the "King of the Ring winner gets a title shot" stip, because you actually had to WRESTLE and WIN MATCHES before getting a title shot. The way it is now, all you have to do to get a title shot is either suck up to the boss or piss off the champion.

 

If they had a contender's list, a returning or debuting star (Nash, Goldberg, Rock, Kurt Angle, Road Warriors, whoever) would have to work their way up the list, which would not only build suspense for the match with the No. 1 contenders (a potential money-making PPV event), but also build suspense for the title match (another potential money-maker) AND make title matches seem like more of a big deal. So now you've got at least TWO money matches out of, say, Kevin Nash's return and not the automatic title shot that wasn't built up enough. And when the champion loses, he drops down to 2nd on the list so you don't have the constant "rematch clause" thing. He has to beat the new No. 1 contender before getting another shot. And if the No. 1 contender loses versus the champ, he drops on the list as well. You can only challenge for a spot within two or three spots of your own (i.e., if Nash is No. 8 he can't challenge the No. 3 guy and take over that spot if he wins).

 

 

I don't see how this couldn't help. Now random matches on RAW like Scott Steiner vs. Chris Nowinski or 3MW vs. Dreamer/Spike might mean something instead of just being used for filler. Then they could actually have long-term plans and maybe even announce matches BEFORE Smackdown or RAW comes on. I mean, rankings matter in boxing, and have you ever been to a boxing card where all the matches weren't previously announced? Also, this gives GMs and other on-air authority figures a better reason to be on-screen (signing matchups, listening to lower-ranked guys griping) than just "I'm Vince McMahon dammit, and I want to take a lie detector."

 

Wins and losses would mean something, which they don't now. You can establish Eric Bischoff's heelishness by having him rank Nowinski over Steiner even though we all know Steiner been winning more matches lately and Nowinski's been inactive instead of having Bisch throw up on people. Then, guess what, you might even have people looking forward to a Steiner-Nowinski match to settle the issue.

 

So if they did do this (which they never would, since hotshotting guys to the top when they think it'll draw is how Vince works), what would the lists look like? Remember, wins and losses matter.

 

RAW World title

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Champion: Triple H

1. Booker T

2. Chris Jericho

3. Shawn Michaels

4. Goldberg

5. Kevin Nash

6. Christian (IC champ)

7. Rob Van Dam

8. Kane

9. Rodney Mack (when was the last time he lost?)

10. Scott Steiner

 

Smackdown World title

=================

Champion: Brock Lesnar

1. Chris Benoit

2. Big Show

3. John Cena

4. A-Train

5. Undertaker

6. Eddie Guerrrero

7. Rhyno

8. Mr. America

9. Kurt Angle

10. Matt Hardy (no longer a cruiser)

 

RAW tag titles

===========

Champs: Rob Van Dam and Kane

1. Triple H and Ric Flair

2. Booker T and Goldust

3. Chris Jericho and Christian

4. La Resistance

5. Three-Minute Warning

 

Smackdown tag titles

================

Champs: Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri

1. Big Show and A-Train

2. Team Angle

3. FBI

4. The Basham Brothers

5. Sean O'Haire and Roddy Piper

 

Cruiserweight title (Smackdown)

=======================

Champion: Rey Mysterio

1. Jamie Noble

2. Spanky

3. Billy Kidman

4. Tajiri

5. Chavo Guerrero

6. Nunzio

7. Shannon Moore

8. Crash Holly

[Guest wildpegasus]

I like the idea of a rating system. Stampede had this before. However that would make the WWE appear less entertainment like and well we just can't have that, can we?

[Guest Redhawk]

It wasn't until I tried to put together a top contenders' list that I realized another WWE problem: the "job-for-a-job" style of booking. No one on either roster, with the exception of Brock Lesnar and Triple H, has built a strong winning or losing streak because they're always trading jobs. I wish the bookers would get some balls and just start putting people over consistently. The way it is now, every loses just as much as they win.

[Guest JMA]

I fully support this idea. It's time they put in more sports and less "entertainment."

[Guest croweater]

I doubt that the WWE would have the balls to do anything like this. They should...... but then with their "Main Event" wrestlers really only wrestling once every couple of weeks it wouldn't work and would show the weaknesses of all the non workers. Kevin Nash, Steiner, HBK and HHH barely wrestle anymore so it would expese their inability to work...... which isn't a bad thing in my eyes as it would FORCE the elevation of new talent, but in some circles this idea wouldn't go down well at all.

[Guest Nevermortal]

Good idea. Ring of Honor's works out very well, and I see nothing but positive results if the WWE does it too.

[Guest the r-train]

Redhawk, this is a brilliant idea and a very well thought-out post. I just want you to know that I appreciate your hard work, and I agree that this could only make the WWE better.