10 Awesome Ways Wrestling Promotions Made Titles Prestigious
8. John Cena Proves The Old Adage
The belt doesn't make the man; the man makes the belt.
For years, in a hopeless pursuit driven by apathy and incompetence, WWE has treated so many of its titles as if they are magical properties able to transfer prestige to the holder. As best exemplified by John Cena's incredible Open Challenge of 2015, the exact opposite is true.
The United States Title has rarely meant a damn thing in WWE. Passed around a parade of midcard experiments and stalwarts alike, with very little sense of identity beyond "It is this man's turn to go eight minutes on the Kickoff," the lineage acts as neat shorthand for WWE's chaotic and short-term 21st century creative vision. It's all so forgettable.
Can you imagine ever tracing that lineage chronologically?
When John Cena held it, the US Title meant so much. It was the last frontier beyond purgatory and into stardom that ultimately launched the career of Kevin Owens, much like it functioned in 2004. His series of defences ranged from the very good to the incredible - Cesaro has only ever resonated as a major singles star when in Cena's orbit - and the mystery factor somehow contrived to make WWE's episodic TV must-see in what was an ultra-rare modern development.
Memorable, excellent, intriguing: Cena resuscitated a moribund title to prove definitively his star power.