Championship Contender matches are just more lazy rematch booking

Recently on WWE TV we have seen a lot of Championship Contender matches, it has become a large percentage of the matches fans are viewing every week. What is the reason for these match types and is it just more lazy booking?

There’s always been an unofficial rule that if someone pins the champion they’re in line for a title opportunity. They have now taken this to another stage with the championship contender matches meaning superstars are having to pin the champion before they get a title opportunity. This does ensure champions are having matches during the mid-week shows and not just exclusively on PPVs but I’m not a fan of these matches for two reasons.

First, it is meaning our champions are being pinned more often to build storylines. Building credible champions that can reign for a long time with the fans believing in their authority should be the goal. But this is a sure-fire way to prevent fans from being able to invest in the champions.

Second, we’re just filling the shows with constant rematches which is incredibly boring. Rematches should only occur when there is a reason. It is hard for fans, no matter how good a match it, to be invested in something we have seen before. This must put pressure on the superstars to out-perform each time and keep fans excited.

I can understand that the challenger beating the champion once before the title match builds up a believable challenger and can allow the fans to engage with the story more but there are better ways to do that. Cutting promos and backstage altercations can also be another way of making a challenger more credible and unique. In Professional Wrestling we have the ability to use promos and other tools to make the matches more exciting and there’s been a lack of utilization. There are many options available for example, we could go back to the ranking system allowing top-ranked superstars the opportunity to challenge for a title of their choice or fan votes using social media. There are other ways to capture the fans’ interest without damaging the champions and the product.

Creativity has been lacking in the WWE for some time and the use of these rematches are just another example of what seems like laziness from those directing the show backstage.