Should SPW rename the Heavyweight Title?
The world of wrestling is littered with a variety of championships: World, TV, Tag Team, Women’s, Cruiserweight, X-Division…the list goes on! Several local, regional and territorial wrestling groups have named their Heavyweight Title as a “World title” despite little credibility as a true “World” title. After all, should a World title not be defended on a global level? Shouldn’t the title holder be recognized beyond their home promotion or their local circuit and should it not cross national borders to be a true “world title”?
SPW’s top prize is the SPW Heavyweight Title. The championship has been held by three men in the last 2.5 years. Over the course of those 2.5 years the title has been defended beyond SPW’s main regional base in other provinces, countries and for a variety of promoters. In an effort to establish the credibility of the championship, SPW officials worked hard to make the SPW Heavyweight Champion a travelling champion.
So the question I ask is: Should the SPW Heavyweight Title be re-named the SPW North American Heavyweight Title. Why? I’m glad you asked…
As the inaugural champion Matt Fairlane set out to establish the newly created championship defending the title across Manitoba. Over the course of his 370+ days as champion Fairlane would defend the title against WWE prospect Zack Mercury, international star Mentallo, “Really Crazy” Rob Stardom, Canadian legend “Beautiful” Bobby Jay and more in every corner of the province. In early October 2009 he would talk the championship across the border to Chanhassen, Minnesota and defend the title against Pete Huge in Minnesota Independent Wrestling.
A title defence inn the United-States marked the first time the championship was defended outside of Manitoba, let alone be the first time to be defended in another country! Matt Fairlane had set out what he said he would do, he established the Steeltown Pro Wrestling Heavyweight Title. During this time SPW had created working agreements with promotions in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon giving the title recognition throughout the United-States.
Becoming the second SPW Champion most people wondered how Marius could ever follow in the shoes of Matt Fairlane as champion. Marius would not be denied, however. Immediately, Marius began defending the title throughout Manitoba. A week after winning the championship he defended it in Regina, Saskatchewan marking the first time the title was defended in another province. He followed that up with title defence in Gibbons, Alberta and several months later in Northern Manitoba and Northern Ontario. Marius recently defended the championship for the WWA, the sister promotion of South Koreas WWA, whose main star is the legendary Leatherface.
The only other man to be SPW Heavyweight Champion is a legend in his own right, Chi Chi Cruz. Cruz has travelled the world working for the USWA and the WWF, touring South Africa and Germany, and being the main event on a show in Japan. His status in the wrestling industry lends heavy credibility to the championship.
SPW would eventually partner up with the AIWF, an umbrella promotion with more than 20 affiliates through the US and the world. This strategic alliance brought the SPW Heavyweight Title even more recognition throughout the southern United States where the AIWF has a base of operations.
Along with title defences in a variety of territories and recognizition from promotions across the continent, the SPW Heavyweight Title has been regularly featured to a global audience through episodes of SPW iTV that aired on YouTube and Steeltownprowrestling.ca. It now reaches an even bigger audience with weekly episodes of SPW SHOWDOWN on GoFightLive.tv.
So why do I think the SPW Heavyweight Title could be renamed the SPW North American Heavyweight Title? Let’s recap:
-It’s been defended in the United-States
-It’s been defended throughout central and western Canada
-It’s been defended against wrestling legends, WWE prospects and international superstars
-It’s been recognized by promotions throughout the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Southern United-States
-It’s featured internationally every week on SPW SHOWDOWN
I hope SPW President Dale Barnett can make this happen!
STEELTOWN PRO WRESTLING
