Proper Development

[Blinker]

I was thinking about how the midcard titles are getting less respect lately (although having Swagger and Rhodes holding them is good IMO). This has been a trend in the WWE for some time now. They seem to send guys to the top too quickly. Swagger and Sheamus are two easy examples. Can't forget Del Rio too. All three went on to win major titles before holding on to a midcard title. Then I thought about people all the great wrestlers who held a midcard title before a major. Here's a few:

Stone Cold
The Rock
Ric Flair
Randy Savage
Brett Hart
Shawn Michaels
Sting (I know, not WWE)
Kurt Angle
Triple H
Kane (He technically won the WWF title for one day before holding a midcard title)
Eddie Guerrero
Chris Benoit
Jeff Hardy
Randy Orton
John Cena
Many More

I can only think of two people who debuted in the WWF/E contending for the major title(s) and never looked back [not including prior wrestling organizations]:

Hulk Hogan
The Undertaker

Unless they feel the wrestler truly has "IT" factor, they need to have the wrestler earn their shot at the top by winning the midcard titles.

Our perception plays a factor too, I think. Let's stop thinking of them as midcard titles and start thinking of them as Stepping-Stone titles. When you win the US or Intercontinental title, you're on the path the major titles and not just at a mid-level.

I'm done now. Sorry for the long rant. Feel free to leave your thoughts below. Thanks.

[Dazzaschofield]

I agree, which is why I think money in the bank is a horrible concept. It's basically free reign for a wrestler to skip and form of development and go straight to the top.

There should be a strict progression IMO, the highest anyone should start is the IC champion and then only if they come in as hot stuff from another company IE Jericho, Benoit ect, a wrestler should always spend a good couple of years with the mid card titles before being moved up to main event.

[cloverstone82]

Yall gottaa remember, that this is Entertainment, and sometimes u gotta give the belt to people just cause it makes sense storyline wise... not all the time, but sometimes, IE; heavyweight champs. Diesel, Yokozuna, Vince,

[URATOOL]

I agree, which is why I think money in the bank is a horrible concept. It's basically free reign for a wrestler to skip and form of development and go straight to the top.

There should be a strict progression IMO, the highest anyone should start is the IC champion and then only if they come in as hot stuff from another company IE Jericho, Benoit ect, a wrestler should always spend a good couple of years with the mid card titles before being moved up to main event.

How is it a free reign for a wrestler to skip the mid card belts? You make it sound like it's in the wrestlers hands.

Let looks at two possiblities:

1) Creative decide who wins. So they could just give it to an ex or current mid card champ.

2) It's truly is a real contest on the night, with no creative interference in the outcome. So they could just put only ex or current mid card champs in the match.

[The Brown One]

It's just the way that the titles have been treated for years. For the most part, they've been treated as titles for talent who won't make it anywhere higher than the midcard e.g. Kofi and Ziggler. It's worked well for few though - Ziggler, The Miz, and in future, Cody Rhodes. They ought to continue having guys like Rhodes in main event matches to test the waters, and also have them regularly defend their title against guys who need it.

[Pumpkinhead]

Well they are midcard titles for a reason, to be held by midcarders, if the E' sees someone as a money drawer they are putting the wtorld title belts on him

[LM_StraightEdge]

It's just the way that the titles have been treated for years. For the most part, they've been treated as titles for talent who won't make it anywhere higher than the midcard e.g. Kofiand Ziggler. It's worked well for few though - Ziggler, The Miz, and in future, Cody Rhodes. They ought to continue having guys like Rhodes in main event matches to test the waters, and also have them regularly defend their title against guys who need it.

Is that a typo?! Ziggler is definitely going to make it higher than the midcard, he already is! Apologies if it is just a typo!

But on topic, I agree that Superstars should have to work their way up. Del Rio may be good in the ring but to come in and go straight to the top is ridiculous and fans don't buy it, as evident by his poor reaction from every crowd. Chris Jericho's dream was to become Intercontinental champion, because of the presteige of the title, it doesn't have that now and hasn't for years. Ziggler did well with the US title and Rhodes is doing a good job with the Intercontinental, though i would like to see him defend it more often. Those titles used to be defended regularly on Raw back in the day, they should be again in my opinion.

[Cabers]

Very good actually i always thought you need to build them regardless if there in line for instantmeganotsogoodbutfuckitanyway Del Rio style pushes because in Del Rio's case he can only go back the way.