10 Awful Championships WWE Doesn't Want You To Remember
3. Canadian Championship
WWE would never introduce a new championship just to help put another company out of business would they...
It's time for a story.
When Vince McMahon was bulldozing his way through the North American wrestling scene, he came across Lutte International in Montreal. Having already gobbled up Maple Leaf Wrestling in Toronto and Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, the Genetic Jackhammer had his sights set on Quebec. First, WWE tried running shows at the same time as Lutte; it didn't work. Next, they tried to take the Montreal company's TV slot; they failed again.
Eventually, the two brands decided to work together. It's at this point that Lutte co-owner Dino Bravo, reigning Canadian International Heavyweight Champion, started to be recognised by WWE as their Canadian Champion.
It was all a big ploy. WWE was just cozying up to Lutte so when the two companies worked together, fans in Quebec would get to see what the WWE wrestlers could do. Eventually, with a planned match between World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan and Canadian Champion Dino Bravo cancelled, Bravo walked away.
WWE still recognised Bravo as their Canadian Champion, but the belt was quietly retired when he returned a year later. Meanwhile, the Montreal Forum signed an exclusive deal to only host WWE events and Lutte closed shortly after. McMahon had achieved his goal of taking over Quebec. What did the fans get to show for it? The Montreal Screwjob a decade later. Goody...
The Canadian strap was just a tool used by WWE to help conquer another fledgling company.