10 Awesome Ways Wrestling Promotions Made Titles Prestigious

3. Mr. McMahon's Desperation

Steve Austin Corporate Champion
WWE

Often lost amid the praise for Austin Vs. McMahon - the apex of modern episodic wrestling TV - is how much the programme did for the prestige of a World Title that had never been booked less traditionally.

The old values, of prestige through competition, had been subverted as Mr. McMahon relentlessly campaigned to wrest the title away from this dangerous redneck. The TV mechanisms interfered with the sanctity of pay-per-view, at Over The Edge '98, in a twisting heat-drenched thrill-ride. Austin's main antagonist wasn't even a professional wrestler.

The WWF revolutionised the game, but never lost sight of that which drives it: the World Title was still the pinnacle of accomplishment, and McMahon could not sanction Austin holding it. It remained the most potent symbol of the company because in this crazed new world, Vince perceived the title and his company as one and the same. It was of the utmost importance to the promoter - not just to the talent - that the top prize was well-represented, and Vince uprooted everything to take it from Austin.

The prestige of the title can even act as a head-canon explanation of the plot hole: he didn't want to fire Austin because the history of the title wouldn't allow him to.

If he hated the man, he had to respect what he'd won, at least.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!