10 DUMB WWE Title Changes (We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS!)
Some of the most unwanted WWE Championship changes in history were sheer genius.
World Champions in real sports function without split focus. If you're champ, then you're the centrepiece of boxing, UFC, football etc. Wrestling is different. Being predetermined allows for creative manoeuvrability and foresight. Promoters don't always look one or two steps beyond the here and now, but they have the chance to without fear of plans being shredded.
Injuries or backstage drama are the only real wobbles facing wrestling writers. Otherwise, they're free to map out plans for the next 12-18 months if they wish, and know there's little standing in the way of turning on paper dreams into on camera reality. That's a blessing, and it's why some seemingly-stupid WWE Title changes turned out to be genius moves.
Fans just didn't see it at the time. How could they? They were in the moment.
Vince McMahon has palmed off a lot criticism over the years for failing to plan things properly, especially towards the end of his run as WWE patriarch. Some of that was fair, but not all of it. The old boss was rarely shy about backing a new horse to see what might happen, or sneakily irking his fanbase knowing what'd be coming later on.
For example...
10. JBL (2004)
Jaws were agape when JBL beat Eddie Guerrero to become WWE Champ at the Great American Bash 2004. How could that happen?! The ex-APA brawler was a tag-team guy and that was it. Surely he wouldn't have the chops to work out as the main man. Anyone thinking that would be shown up throughout '04 and into '05.
People were p*ssed when Layfield beat the popular Guerrero and ended his run, but it was the right move for SmackDown. That show now had a linchpin heel to centre itself around, and WWE knew they could build the easy-to-despise JBL up then tear him down when the time called for that.
That's exactly what the company did with John Cena at WrestleMania 21.
Bradshaw was a necessary evil in the heel champion role, and he had to hold the strap for a long time so fans would beg to see him fall. Giving him a lengthy reign, then using JBL's disconnect with the fanbase as a means to elevate Cena to the top of cards was sensational work from all involved.