Is it automatically a bad thing to not have the champion on the show every week?

[Everlong]

A couple points raised in Prophet's thread about three hour raws got me interested, specifically @prophet's point about Lesnar not being on the show every week and the counterpoint by @axis that Lesnar not being around every week builds up his presence as a big deal.

So the question I'm posing in this thread: is it automatically a bad thing in and of itself to have a champion that only shows up occasionally?

Consider the fact that in previous decades, the champion would only show up/fight on occasional shows, and the same is true in boxing and mixed martial arts. I understand that pro wrestling has evolved greatly since then, especially since the end of the territory days and the era of weekly televised wrestling shows kicked into gear, but there is at least some precedent for a time in which the champion did not regularly appear on shows and the company succeeded in drawing well/putting on good shows anyway.

Now, I understand that context is important here in some cases. Obviously if the rest of the show is struggling and the company is clearly having a difficult time booking well, having the champion around can really give the show an extra boost. BUT in and of itself, is the champion not being around on every show in this day and age inherently bad?

ALSO, consider this: is it WORSE to have the champion not show up every week, or to have the champion show up every week in a poorly booked and executed storyline?

Thought this could lead to some interesting discussion.

[axis]

At the end of the day, I dont think one is better or worse than the other - it ultimately comes down to the booking of the champion.

If Brock was on every week having awesome matches with top caliber opponents, that would be awesome. But we all know that's not how they book Raw, so I'm happy with him coming on to promote a match for a PPV every so often, and having Paul Heyman promote the rest of the time.

Essentially a part time champion can work, if booked correctly. Currently I think Brock is being booked correctly. The Rock last time around was not. They booked him as though he was a full time wrestler, and to be honest, I don't think the Rock could pull off the Prize Fighter persona Brock is portraying right now.

[Westcoastvibes]

It's the same evil no mater how you look at it. Not being there gives the impression that he does not care enough to show up and give a show for the fans. Being there will lead to him being booked poorly and made to look weak after he demolishes everyone and has to start giving a fighting chance.

I think wwe has a golden opportunity to really build the. Importance of the title back up by focusing on guys battling to be the next title contender similar to ambros/cena feuding to be the one to kick Rollins ass. But putting focus on the road to a title shot it makes the payout so much better

[Str8Shooter]

I think not having Brock on can hurt just because he's compelling TV and he has such a presence about him when he and Heyman are there together. That doesn't necessarily mean it's bad that the Champion isn't there though. It does make it seem like a big deal when he is around.

So I guess it's a bit of both.

[Messiah]

It wouldn't be a bad thing if the WWE had a strong roster and the other titles on the show (United States and Intercontinental) mattered at all.

Alas, they don't and that is why Brock Lesnar sparingly appearing hurts the show. It is a good idea in theory, but the WWE doesn't have the brain power and lacks the creativity/effort to make it work.

Same thing when The Rock held the WWE Championship. It wasn't so much The Rock holding the title that was the issue, although I didn't support it because it was only ever to put John Cena over which we all know he doesn't need anymore of. The biggest problem was the feud/story wasn't even acknowledged on the build-up to WrestleMania 29. The Rock and John Cena both missed multiple shows and if I remember correctly, neither even appeared on the go-home episode. It was terrible and the worst build-up to a WrestleMania main event of all-time.

But I'm going on a tangent. Point blank, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion not appearing would/could work if the WWE knew how to make it work. They don't. And now the show is suffering because there are very few people who the audiences find interesting.

[JPG619]

I think if it as a bad thing since Brock is not hurt so he should be on RAW and or SmackDown, plus at house shows since fans pay their hard earn money to see the champion. I for one pay to see the champion and be royally pissed if at my show the champion is not present. I would be ok if he cuts a promo or something but be physically at the arena so the fans can see him and that is not prerecorded.

I be OK if it was Daniel Bryan since he is hurt and did miss the show that i was live at earlier this year. I am fine with that since health is more important this wrestling but if you are physically cleared to wrestle then the champion should be at the show.

[prophet]

I'm not questioning the value of not having Brock Lesnar on the show every week, I fully understand that Brock has more value when they use him sparingly and all his matches have that 'big fight' feel to them, I get and appreciate that. For me though it's different when you're the champion, the champion should appear on the show every week or at least in the case of Brock, should wrestle at every PPV.

I don't even know how to begin typing my point without drifting off on a tangent about how awful the WWE is again so I won't waste my time. I just think that being the World Champion is the very highest honor and we should at least have title feuds all year round otherwise what's the point of anything? Again I understand how focusing on number one contender feuds will make Lesnar's eventual return seem all the more important but they're not even doing that, this whole Ambrose/Rollins/Cena thing has nothing to do with one of them becoming number one contender, so at the end of the day what are these people really fighting for in the long run?

It's a double-edged sword I guess, I suppose to some having no Champion on the show makes it all the more important when he does finally show up but for me it just isn't right. At least when The Rock became Champion, sickening as that was, he actually worked a few more RAW shows before wrestling again at Elimination Chamber and Wrestlemania - he didn't just show up for the go-home show for a two minute tease of physicality each month.

It doesn't help that the show is so awful right now and that the roster only has two people worth giving a fuck about. I miss Bryan