So after my last post, I got to thinking a little more about the "curse" of the World Heavyweight Championship, and I have a confession to make:
I think it might be my fault.
You can trace it back to Survivor Series 2002 and one of my favorite stories from my time at WWE: The night I went home with the World Heavyweight Championship.
I was still on creative at the time (though I was days away from giving my notice), and I was gearing up for my second hometown Pay-Per-View (I'm from Brooklyn, and my first PPV while on creative was SummerSlam at Nassau Coliseum).
The main event in the Garden that night was the first-ever Elimination Chamber match, with Shawn Michaels set to win the World Title from Triple H. As the match started, we on creative settled in to watch the match in Vince's office, and Ric Flair soon joined us.
Towards the beginning of the Elimination Chamber match, Rob Van Dam leapt from the top of the chamber onto Triple H, and Van Dam's knee hit Triple H in the throat, causing him a restricted airway. I, and several others backstage, were of the opinion that it had been Triple H's fault, since he'd moved too much after Van Dam had already committed to a 12-foot jump, which is a big no-no. But of course the popular opinion was that it was Van Dam's fault.
Triple H still finished the match, putting Michaels over for the World Title. You probably remember the scene -- Michaels, midring, his hand raised, tons of confetti falling from the ceiling of the World's Most Famous Arena.
(For the record, I still say that Triple H gutting out the match wasn't heroic -- it was stupid. Michaels was going to win the title anyway, so bow out early, let the fans get excited because now they KNOW they'll see a title change, and you've got a perfect in for a return match. It wouldn't have been that tough to rebook that right in the ring -- so get some help! Your THROAT is CRUSHED!)
After the match, all the concern backstage was for Triple H. (A major concern too was making sure there were camerapeople in the room to tape Triple H being attended to after his "heroic" performance).
Once the craziness died down, Michaels took a shower and then returned to Vince's office to change. He was just about to leave when I pointed out to him that he'd left the World Title belt on a chair. He said he'd rather not carry the thing around and asked if I would bring it to TV for him the next day.
Normally the champions carry their own belts, but I said OK, wanting to help, and I carried it over to where our prop guy, Richie, had his stuff, figuring he'd be the guy to take it. But it was so late already (Triple H's injury had pushed all the scheduling back) that Richie had already left.
Really having no other options, I, Seth Mates, went home from a Pay-Per-View at Madison Square Garden, in my hometown of New York City, with the World Heavyweight Championship. And I didn't have to take one bump.
I mean, what are the odds -- a main event at Survivor Series involving Shawn Michaels, and the World Title going home with someone who didn't actually win the belt .... Wow!
And yes, when I got home, I put it on my shoulder and did a lap around my apartment. Don't even pretend you wouldn't have done the same.
But I can't help but feel at least a twinge of guilt for contributing to the curse of the World Heavyweight Championship. That long night it spent in a red duffel bag on my kitchen counter could very well have spelled the beginning of the end.
Comments (30)
I totally would have done the same! I mean, that was your only chance at it right?
Although you can't say you cursed it, it's like saying the Madden Curse was John Madden's fault for him for putting NFL Player pictures on the cover. You only held the belt; I'd say the curse was giving the belt to Goldberg or Batista or Khali, you know, actual reasons for a curse to keep going
This is one of THE awesomest things I've read online... ever. Not only would I have done laps, I would have held my own private PPV in my hotel room... The Pillow Wrestling Federation Invitational Tournament. It may have been only a pillow, but THE CHAMP would have beaten somebody down that night! Great story, Seth.
That is soooo awesome!! It's like when a NHL team wins the Stanley Cup, and every player gets a chance to take the Cup for a day.
So, tell us about it! Was it heavy? Was it shiny? Did it have heft to it? How does it compare to the $250 replica belts? Had they already removed the Triple H nameplate? I want more details!
You're completely full of it, dude. You can watch the elimination chamber on Youtube... HHH doesn't move in the slightest after RVD jumps to give him the frog splash.
Good job trying to get publicity for your lame blog, though. "Oooh, he critizes HHH! I can't wait to read what he writes next!"
Ignore the idiot above. He'll probably reply to this when he comes back to your 'lame blog' (if it's that lame, why come here at all?!) as he obviously will, to see if you respond to HIS oh-so-clever effort. Are we a big Triple H fan by any chance kiddo, HMMM?
Great story Seth. I agree with the above poster; one lap would have been nothing. I'd have filmed myself cutting promos...the lot!
Ignore the idiot above. He'll probably reply to this when he comes back to your 'lame blog' (if it's that lame, why come here at all?!) as he obviously will, to see if you respond to HIS oh-so-clever effort. Are we a big Triple H fan by any chance kiddo, HMMM?
Great story Seth. I agree with the above poster; one lap would have been nothing. I'd have filmed myself cutting promos...the lot!
The following month, RVD was watching the PPV from "The World" in NYC. Always figured they botched a potential edge to RVD (he literally crushed Hunter's throat)...but it doesn't take a genius to that out.
DUDE!!!
Thats too F-ing cool. I remember when I first got my REPLICA belt and how cool that was, but you got the REAL DEAL!!!
THATS FREAKING AWESOME!!!
Good story.
Personally, I would have been walking around with the belt on my shoulders. Airport, hotel, bar, etc. I'd have the belt on me.
That had to be the coolest thing ever!Bring the real belt home! I would have walked arround,cut promos and yes,even slept with the belt arround my waist.YOURE ONE LUCKY GUY!
Nice Story.... But come on Dude Triple H bashing has been out of style since early 2005 !! If you cant put anyone over dont put anyone down just because you and some others guys backstage has an "opinion" !!
But nice stories, dude keep it up
So Hunter, with his throat crushed, yelled out,"HAVE CAMERAPEOPLE IN HERE, FOLKS"? What an egomaniac!
I don't think its necessarily HHH bashing. Finishing that match, while serving as a testament to HHH commitment to the company and his friend, was also a very stupid move, as it could have had some serious repercussions and the match could have worked with such capable performers in there.
Anyways, if i had the belt for one night i would call all my peeps and charge them to taka their pictures with it.
Man, that's a great story.
I would have gone EVERYWHERE with the title on my shoulder, although the Pillow Wrestling Invitation was admittedly a better idea!
It's a shame that Rob Van Dam never really got the monster push he so deserved. But, meh, that argument is way too old.
Man, you are one lucky mofo!!! I would've called up all my friends, no matter what time of the night it was, just to say "Dude, I have the World Heavyweight title belt!!! Woohoo!!!"
You are definitely not to blame for the curse. Maybe it's not even about the champions. Maybe, it's about the challengers. Just a thought. Mark Henry, JBL, Great Khali. I mean c'mon. JBL is just lucky he's on Vinnie's good side. Khali only won cause it was a battle royale. There was no way he would've gotten the title from a one-on-one match.
Anyway, great blog bro. Keep'em coming. I need more stuff to read at work while I'm bored.
Not really Triple H bashing. Hunter might have not moved, but he was too far away. I remember thinking when watching it live that he was a little too far away for Van Dam, considering RVD had no room to leap. He just sort of had to fall to the ground.
And I thought David Arquette cursed it. Ha.
Good stuff. Keep giving us stories like this.
That is just too frickin cool! I personally would have called everyone I know to show it off.
MOAR!!!!11
Duffel bag my ass, you slept in your underwear with the belt around your waist...
http://meteorfreaks.com
Great story Seth! I'm a complete mark for the belts. Strutting around with the real deal must have been sweet! You should post some pics if you have some.
I have a friend who's room mate won the c.z.w belt and the room mate walked up and down the street with the czw belt on his shoulders all day. Granted that's no where as dope as rockin the wwe world strap for a day.... but I know the feeling
I have a friend who's room mate won the c.z.w belt and the room mate walked up and down the street with the czw belt on his shoulders all day. Granted that's no where as dope as rockin the wwe world strap for a day.... but I know the feeling
I have a friend who's room mate won the c.z.w belt and the room mate walked up and down the street with the czw belt on his shoulders all day. Granted that's no where as dope as rockin the wwe world strap for a day.... but I know the feeling
I have a friend who's room mate won the c.z.w belt and the room mate walked up and down the street with the czw belt on his shoulders all day. Granted that's no where as dope as rockin the wwe world strap for a day.... but I know the feeling
Dude, I would have went home and had sex with my girlfriend while I had the belt over my shoulder, but maybe I'm just weird. Nah... ... .... ...
I would plow my girlfriend while wearing the belt also.
I wouldn't blame you - remember, you had the old WCW Title belt, before they introduced the redesign in 2003. You didn't curse it at all mate.
Awesome story - you're one very lucky man!
My friend knows Gail Kim, so when she was the Women's Champ and visiting him in Toronto, he asked her about the belt. She said she had it in the trunk of her car and went and got it for him. He was pretty proud that he was able to wear an actual WWE title... even if it is the Woman's strap, and he's a guy. I started to make fun of him for that fact, and then he asked me how many official WWE titles I've worn around my waist. That shut me up.