Post by Sinclair Promotions on Jul 5, 2014 0:56:32 GMT -5
This subject came up on another message board I visit and I thought I would get all of your opinions on the subject. I posted the following thoughts to get us all started:
I look at this way. Back when Flair was in his heyday World Championships were rarely defended on Television for Free, and big events only happened every few months so angles took longer to come to fruition. Since the mid 90's and the Monday Night Wars the Television product and PPV's have only accelerated. The WWE now has about 8 hours of programming a week and a PPV on average every 4 weeks, and gives away Championship matches on free television all the time.
If Flair held the title in today's WWE/Pro Wrestling environment he would have WAY more than 16 championship reigns. Flair would probably be closer to 30 or 40 reigns if he started in the early 90's and was active today in the main event scene. It is the same reason we will never see another 8 or 9 year championship reign like Bruno's first run. Do I wish things were still the same as they were before the Monday Night Wars? Your damn right, but I do understand that the business is constantly changing (mind you not always for the better) and the Championship is ultimately the greatest prop the business has. I still love the angle Cena and Edge had after Edge first cashed in Money in the Bank. Each and everyone of their matches was unpredictable which added to the mystic of the matches. Sure the Title seemed to change hands every single time they fought, but it is what it is.
Another thing that added to Flair's record being beat, was the TWO "World" Championships that the WWE had during the Brand Extension. If they just kept the Undisputed Championship you could eliminate all the World Heavyweight Championship reigns from guys records. Which sadly only drops Cena down to 11 reigns. The brand extension was the perfect time and place to elevate both the IC & US championships. They could have been the "Brand Only" Championships during that era.
I look at this way. Back when Flair was in his heyday World Championships were rarely defended on Television for Free, and big events only happened every few months so angles took longer to come to fruition. Since the mid 90's and the Monday Night Wars the Television product and PPV's have only accelerated. The WWE now has about 8 hours of programming a week and a PPV on average every 4 weeks, and gives away Championship matches on free television all the time.
If Flair held the title in today's WWE/Pro Wrestling environment he would have WAY more than 16 championship reigns. Flair would probably be closer to 30 or 40 reigns if he started in the early 90's and was active today in the main event scene. It is the same reason we will never see another 8 or 9 year championship reign like Bruno's first run. Do I wish things were still the same as they were before the Monday Night Wars? Your damn right, but I do understand that the business is constantly changing (mind you not always for the better) and the Championship is ultimately the greatest prop the business has. I still love the angle Cena and Edge had after Edge first cashed in Money in the Bank. Each and everyone of their matches was unpredictable which added to the mystic of the matches. Sure the Title seemed to change hands every single time they fought, but it is what it is.
Another thing that added to Flair's record being beat, was the TWO "World" Championships that the WWE had during the Brand Extension. If they just kept the Undisputed Championship you could eliminate all the World Heavyweight Championship reigns from guys records. Which sadly only drops Cena down to 11 reigns. The brand extension was the perfect time and place to elevate both the IC & US championships. They could have been the "Brand Only" Championships during that era.
