Many people believe the wrestling world is currently overwhelmed with too many championship titles. Between WWE and AEW, there are more than 20 recognized belts, and Jim Ross has expressed a desire to see fewer, particularly regarding WWE’s world championships.
On a recent episode of the “Grill JR” podcast, Ross questioned the need for WWE to have two world champions. He stated, “I don’t see why they need two champions,” and shared that while he understands there might be reasons behind having dual world titles, he personally feels it’s unnecessary to have two top champions simultaneously.
Traditionally, WWE maintained a single world title through the “Golden Era,” “New Generation Era,” and “Attitude Era” until the WCW World Heavyweight Championship was introduced during the 2001 Invasion storyline. This WCW title later became WWE’s World Heavyweight Championship and was primarily featured on “WWE Raw” after the brand split began. Initially, “Raw” and “SmackDown” operated as distinct entities with limited crossover, often competing against each other, especially at events like Survivor Series.
Nowadays, brand separation is less strict, though each brand’s world champion typically continues to appear on their own show. Ross has supported brand splits in the past, believing they brought stability to WWE, but he has also criticized them as the boundaries between brands started to fade.
If using a quote from this content, please credit “Grilling JR” and reference Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: Jim Ross’s comments highlight ongoing debates about championship inflation within wrestling, a topic that resonates strongly with AEW fans who often promote a more streamlined approach to titles. This conversation could influence how both WWE and AEW manage their championships in the future, potentially leading to clearer storylines and elevating the prestige of top titles in the sport.
