Does Becoming a WWE Champion Mean Anything?

Becoming a WWE Champion is a great honor; However, it’s not as great as it used to be. Each year the Championships change hands far to many times. The Championships should only change hands once, twice, maybe three times. The WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship can get away with four title changes, since the Money In The Bank Briefcase almost guarantees a new Champion. After that it starts getting excessive and the Championships become worthless. We are going to take a look at the Champions from 2011. While looking over the list ask yourself “if we should consider Dolph Ziggler as the greatest Champion for a second year in a row, for holding the United States Championship so long?”

The WWE Championship changed hands eight times this year, that is up from six changes in 2010. The Miz carried the Championship into the new year until he was defeated by John Cena back in May. Cena remained Champion for just over two months before losing the Championship to CM Punk. Punk left the company allowing for the Championship to become vacant. A tournament was started to crown a new Champion. That new Champion was Rey Mysterio who ended up losing the Championship later that night to Cena. Cena was Champion for less than a month as Punk defeated him to become the Undisputed Champion, only to lose seconds later when Alberto Del Rio cashed in his Money In The Bank Briefcase. Del Rio was not able to remain Champion for much longer than a month as Cena captured his third Championship of the year. Del Rio kept pursing the Championship and win it back two weeks later. As Del Rio approached the two month mark as Champion he lost it to CM Punk, who carried the Championship into 2012.

The World Heavyweight Championship changed hands nine times this year, that is up from five changes in 2010. Edge carried the Championship into the new year until he was fired and stripped of the Championship in February. Dolph Ziggler was awarded the Championship but his reign only lasted fifteen minutes, as Edge was rehired and given a World Heavyweight Championship Match. Edge took advantage off the opportunity to win back what was rightful his. Edge remained Champion until injured forced him to retire. With a vacant Championship, Christian stepped up to win his first World Heavyweight Championship. Christian was unable to remain Champion for very long as he was defeated by Randy Orton five days later. Orton reigned supreme for two months until Christian was able to regain the Championship. Christian was unable to step up and keep the Championship as he lost it less than a month later to Orton. Orton was able to hold the Championship for a month until dropping it to Mark Henry. Henry reigned supreme for three months until losing to The Big Show. The Big Show had the shortest reign as World Heavyweight Champion in the history of the WWE, as Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money In The Bank Briefcase to become the new Champion and carry the Championship into 2012.

The United States Championship only changed hands four times this year, the Championship also changed hands four times in 2010. Daniel Bryan carried the Championship into 2011. He later lost the Championship to Sheamus. Less than two months later Sheamus lost the Championship to Kofi Kingston. Kingston was Champion for a little more than a month before dropping it to Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler nearly held the Championship for six months until dropping it to Zack Ryder, who carried the Championship into 2012.

The Intercontinental Championship also changed hands four times this year, that is up from two changes in 2010. Ziggler carried the Championship into 2011 before dropping it to Kofi Kingston. Kingston was nearly Champion for three months before being defeated by Wade Barrett. Barrett almost hit the three month mark as well before losing the Championship to Ezekiel Jackson. Less than two months later Jackson lost the Championship to Cody Rhodes, who carried the Championship into 2012.

The WWE Tag Team Championships changed hands six times this year, the Championships also changed hands six times in 2010. Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov carried the Championships into 2011. They lost the Championships to Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater, who were defeated by John Cena and The Miz one night later. Gabriel and Slater won the Championships minutes later by defeating Cena and The Miz. Two months later The Big Show and Kane defeated Gabriel and Slater from the Championships. One month later David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty defeated The Big Show and Kane for the Championships. Just about three months later Otunga and McGillicutty lost the Championships to Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston), who carried the Championships into 2012.

The Divas Championship changed hands four times this year. That was down from the six Championship changes last in 2010. Natalya carried the Championship into 2011 before dropping it to Eve. Eve was Champion for just over two months before losing the Championship to Brie Bella. Bella was Champion for just over two months before losing the Championship to Kelly Kelly. Kelly Kelly remained Champion for more than three months until she was defeated by Beth Phoneix, who carried the Championship into 2012.

Out of all the Championships, winning the WWE Championship meant the least in 2011. The Championship changed hands eight times. Although the World Heavyweight Championship changed hands nine times, not one Superstar held the World Heavyweight Championship for a great period of time. One Superstar held the WWE Championship for a great period of time. That Superstar was “The Must See WWE Champion In History” The Miz. The Miz held the WWE Championship for five out of the twelve months in 2011. That means in the final seven months of the year, the WWE Championship changed hands seven times. That makes the WWE Championship look meaning less. The only good thing about it is that The Miz looked like he had a successful reign as Champion. Hopefully, the WWE will catch on and return the Championships to their glory days when they were only changing hands once or twice a year.

Sources:

WWE Championship History

World Heavyweight Championship History

United States Championship History

Intercontinental Championship History

WWE Tag Team Championship History

Divas Championship History


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