Will The WWE World Title Change Overseas?

The second installment of WWE’s Crown Jewel promises to bring the worlds of pro wrestling, boxing, and MMA together.  However, there are two matches that truly interest me.

Newly-crowned WWE World heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar will defend against Cain Velasquez.  WWE’s other world championship will be on the line as Seth Rollins defends his Universal championship against “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt.  Both are very intriguing matches and have many opinions floating around.  Although Cain did defeat Lesnar for the UFC title, WWE is a much different beast.  His chances of walking away with the victory is anyone’s guess.  As for Wyatt, he has a very legitimate chance at capturing his second WWE World title.
    

These matches beg the question:  how likely are we to see another WWE World title change outside of North America?  Chances are very slim.  To understand this, you must revisit the history of the championship itself.


WWE’s oldest championship has changed hands a total of eight times outside of the United States   The first time it changed outside the U.S. was when The Ultimate Warrior ended Hulk Hogan’s second WWE title reign at WrestleMania VI in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on April 1^st 1990.  Since then only five more of the championships total 128 title changes have happened ion Canada.  The most famous of those changes was the infamous Montreal Screwjob in 1997.   The first official WWE World title reign outside of America was a couple of years ago when A.J. Styles defeated Jinder Mahal to win his second WWE title in Manchester, England.  However, the first title change remain one of the few unrecognized title changes in the belt’s history.
with only seven of those changes being recognized.

On November 30, 1979, the legendary Antonio Inoki defeated Bob Backlund to capture the WWE championship in Tokyo, Japan.  Backlund would receive a rematch for the title a week later but the match would be ruled a no-contest after Tiger Jeet Singh interfered.  Inoki would immediately vacate the championship.  Backlund would recapture the vacant title in a match against Bobby Duncum 11 days later in New York City.  To this day, WWE doesn’t acknowledge any other three matches.


The world of wrestling has changed dramatically in 40 years.  WWE is recognized as the world leader in sports-entertainment.  Decades ago, there were many organizations that attempted to further their world title claims with defenses and a few title changes overseas.  The AWA and World Class come to mind almost instantly.  WWE really doesn’t need that as they are instantly equated to pro wrestling the world over.  Still, WWE is continuing to further its global dominance of the industry.  They are bringing their larger-than-life shows to Saudi Arabia -  a country that is beginning to change its ways politically, socially, and economically.  Saudi Arabia is just like any other country.  They want to see one of their own succeed.  Personally, I could see Monsoor capturing a lower-tier WWE title in Saudi Arabia before seeing either World title change hands at Crown Jewel.  Despite my opinions, I know the world will be glued to the WWE Network on Halloween.


WWE’s Crown Jewel PPV takes place on October 31^st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.  

UNITL NEXT TIME:  Peace from the Planet


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Trained by former WWE head trainer Bill DeMott, Anthony Velvet Hall is a retired multi-time, championship pro wrestler.  Now a professional actor, Anthony Hall has multiple television and film credits to his name