10 Awesome Ways Wrestling Champions Elevated Titles
8. Nick Aldis: Embodied His Influences
In Billy Corgan and Dave Lagana's new NWA, Nick Aldis has found the perfect pro-wrestling environment he had been searching for his whole career. Powerrr's modern take on classic studio wrestling couldn't be more him. 'The National Treasure' luxuriates in it, conjuring images of Harley Race, Ric Flair, and other great NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champions whenever he strides onto that shiny floor.
Like Flair and Race, Aldis treats his title with the utmost respect. He understands the importance of making it feel like the biggest prize in the game and every little thing he does, from the way he holds the belt by his side to his uber-confident promo cadence, is designed to do that. How Nick presents himself is a big part of this too. With his impressive physique, perfectly-tailored suits, shiny watches, and fast cars, Aldis looks the part as a top-of-the-line, prestigious franchise player worthy of continuing his championship's glorious lineage.
There isn't a single World Champion in wrestling that couldn't learn from what Aldis is doing in the NWA. He is the classic NWA figurehead updated for modern palettes, a true prizefighter in an oversaturated era, and the best top champion in North America.