Brock Lesnar is in hibernation for the time being, which means fans won’t see the Universal Heavyweight Title until the Beast Incarnate decides to wake from his slumber. Randy Orton and Bray Wyatt will once again battle over the WWE World Title – with the winner holding the title on the brand they represent. The same goes for Chris Jericho meeting his former BFF Kevin Owens in a grudge match for the United States Title.
Chris’ plan for all of this is to make other titles more important than the Universal Title, to make Lesnar’s strap part of the mid card attraction, or at least that’s part of the plan.
“Here’s a twist. What if you have it backwards and no one is talking about it. What if they are actually building the U.S. title? Here’s how. Every big name on Smackdown was in a #1 contender match for the US title, not the WWE one. AJ, Baron, Sami, etc.
“While Mojo, Jinder and others were in the contender match for the “Big” title? It feels odd. I’m probably way off, but if they do the thing that they haven’t mentioned, Let Bray win, that belt is on Raw leaving the U.S. title as THE title for that show and with AJ and KO fighting for it, both were the “Big” title holders until 3 months ago. How better to build a belt than that? I’m probably wrong. The Jinder part doesn’t fit for my plan but every other part does.”
I love the idea. You can thank John Cena for the beginning of all these shenanigans. When Cena made the United States Title more important than the WWE World Title, an idea was born. The U.S. strap and the Intercontinental Title have toiled in obscurity for some time. No matter who won – while The Miz, Cena, Daniel Bryan and Owens have tried as they might – WWE saw fit to continue to bury them. Cena’s run with the Open Challenge was one of the better angles the company has worked with. Owens could have that same kind of success.
Chris is right. Having Owens and AJ Styles fight over the Red, White and Blue is an awesome concept. Arguably two of the five best performers on the company roster engaged in a feud everyone wants to see finally makes the title worthy. If Wyatt beats Owens and runs back to Monday nights with the WWE World Title, then Owens and Styles get top billing. It’s perfect and brilliant and brings back some of the old-style NWA feel to a promotion that has used the past to build some of the present.
When Lesnar does return, have him face Owens, and drop the title. Bring the Universal Title to Tuesday nights, while Styles, Orton, Cena, Dean Ambrose and Mahal (he is going to be huge!) have their pecking order. It may also makes sense for WWE to shuffle the rosters once again with Baron Corbin moving over to the red team.
WWE has made major changes since WrestleMania 33 that the promotion hopes will make things more interesting. Vince McMahon is the master of the swerve. This – making the United States Title the most important title on Tuesday night – would be the biggest and best yet.
Now, we will see if the company will see the light, and take Chris up on his idea, which is so good, it probably won’t be considered.