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CALDWELL'S TAKE
CALDWELL: The importance of the Hvt. Title magnified on Smackdown, ignored on Impact Nov 4, 2007 - 8:40:01 AM
Sorry, Sting is the wrong answer. Yes, duh, Kurt Angle is the world champ, but if you missed last week's title switch and tuned in to this week's show, you would be hard-pressed to find any references to Kurt Angle - TNA champion.
Instead, TNA went ape wild with backstage Angle skits focusing on a mystery partner for Sting. Only Kevin Nash had a significant reference to what's on the line in this big tag match at the PPV. But, 15 more Angle segments later, viewers had pushed Nash's sit-down interview well out of mind.
Throw in the self-pleasing and Internet-focused references to Jake the Snake, Wahoo McDaniel, Powers of Pain, "Pac", Scott Hall, WWE, WCW, Team 3D's promo, and creating a character in Chris Harris whose sole purpose is to complain, as if he's a charter member of a wrestling website, and the TNA Title was effectively pushed way, way, way back in importance. Even Dustin Rhodes and that randomly introduced key had more focus than the TNA Title.
It shouldn't be any surprise, as we know about TNA writer Vince Russo's previous statements on title belts being merely props. The TNA Title might be a prop, but it's the most important prop in the company. It's what sells PPVs and establishes a higher goal that every wrestler on the roster should be striving to achieve.
Say what you will about Jeff Jarrett's on-air character over the years, but he was always focused on that belt. He was troublesome with his goal, but he was always very clear. Now, as Sting said over and over when he was champion, it's not about the belt. And that's where the problem is.
Contrast that with Smackdown, which opened this week's show with a segment focused squarely on that Heavyweight Title belt. Batista has it. Undertaker wants it. Wow, what a simple concept. And WWE executed the basics of turning the chapter on the previous story of their feud and starting a new chapter. Batista finally has that victory over Taker. Now they're even and Taker wants his belt back.
JBL's run-in during the main event tag match to beat up Taker and Batista was a distraction from the issue this week, but it's at least intriguing to see where it goes. Will he be special referee for the Hell in a Cell match? Is he medically cleared to hop back in the ring, and he wants to challenge the winner?
However it shakes out, the focus is still on the World Title belt. We know who the champion is. We know what the challenger wants. No hidden gimmicks. No mystery upon mystery upon mystery to frustrate viewers. At Survivor Series, it's Batista vs. Taker in Hell in a Cell. And the title is the centerpiece of the match. That's the way it should be.
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