5 Reasons championships don't matter anymore in wrestling, and 5 they still do

"Wrestling is a sport where two men without pants fight over a belt."

The above statement is an old joke about pro wrestling, but it has a legitimate point. In a sport where you have undead warriors like Undertaker, Evil entrepreneurs such as Million Dollar Man, and even cyborg warriors like John Cena's Prototype character, does a championship belt even have enough meaning to bother with?

Let's be clear; title belts in pro wrestling aren't going anywhere soon, but are they still as significant as they were in times past? Here are five reasons titles don't matter anymore in wrestling, and five that they still do.

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Do not Matter: It's all scripted anyway.

Many consider David Arquette's WCW championship reign to be the company's lowest point.

Wrestling fans who believe that champions like Carmella and Brock Lesnar 'cheapen' the title belts they carry is kind of silly, given that the belt isn't truly earned but is instead placed by management on whoever they please.

David Arquette winning the WCW world title led to many fans tuning out, but in reality, it was a brilliant move to promote the film Ready to Rumble and added to the 'anything can happen' feel of Monday Nitro. Simply put, titles don't matter because they aren't earned.

Definitely, do matter: Even though wrestling is scripted, champions still earn their gold.

John Cena has

double digit

WWE big belt reigns to his credit.

While some may believe that wrestling companies simply put the belt on whomever they wish, the reality is more complicated than that.

In order to be considered for world champion status, a wrestler has to have an outstanding work ethic, be willing to help younger less experienced wrestlers in a leadership role, and be able to successfully bear the standard for their particular brand.

Men like John Cena exemplify what it takes to be a champion. While some might knock Cena's lack of technical ability, he cannot be accused of simply phoning it in. John worked very hard, often to the detriment of his physical and emotional health, in order to be worthy of the championship.

Don't matter: Too many title reigns have watered down title significance.

In Bob Backlund's day, title reigns could last a year or more.

At one time, wrestling titles changed hands rarely. If someone won a title belt, they could be expected to hang on to it for at least a year, providing they were not injured or failed to resonate with the crowd as champion.

These days, it seems that many wrestling titles change hands as often as the wind blows. There were nine title changes among five different men for the WWE United States title in 2017 alone. This practice has made titles less significant than in times past.

Definitely, do matter: The belts create conflict, and therefore drama.

Championships give a great opportunity for storyline writers to create conflict between two wrestlers who might not otherwise have any.

AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura were good friends until the WWE title came between them. Now they are the bitterest of enemies, and all because of ten pounds of gold-plated tin.

Don't Matter: Great feuds don't need title belts.

Ciampa vs. Gargano has led to classic matches and segments, yet no title is in sight.

It's perfectly possible to have a great wrestling storyline without any title belts at all.

Tomasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano have had a classic, blistering hot feud that has lasted over a year, without one single championship match in the mix. During the 1980s, Greg Valentine and Roddy Piper had a classic rivalry that had little, if anything, to do with championship gold. It's jut not necessary for a storyline.

Definitely, do matter: The sport needs a 'richest prize.'

Stone Cold Steve Austin once said "If you're not in this to be the world champion, you have no business being a wrestler."

While that may not be entirely true, it does prove a crucial point. The world championship is meant to adorn the waist of the best wrestler in their federation. Having a richest prize is essential for the up and coming wrestlers to strive for.

Don't Matter: Having titles doesn't make you a star.

Austin Aries, belt collector

Austin Aries holds over five different title belts, but is still less well known than the Rock, who only ever held the IC strap and the WWE world title, and certainly not at the same time.

Simply put, just because a wrestler has a lot of gold doesn't mean they are popular, or helping grow the sport.

Definitely, do matter: Titles can elevate talent.

Booker T.

Championship gold can change the fortunes of wrestler for the better.

Take Booker T, for example. For years he had been steadily building crowd support, not because of a massive push but because of his outstanding wrestling ability and work ethic. He became the Television champion, which made him arguably the best mid-carder in WCW, and then when he became World champion he was, forever after, a no questions asked main eventer--even when he went to rival WWE after the buyout of WCW.

Don't Matter: Titles distract fans from the drama.

Seth Rollins after turning on the Shield.

Sometimes titles do more harm than good.

Take Seth Rollins, for example. When he turned on the Shield, he was the greatest villain of the day in WWE. However, he was quickly given a world title reign, and it distracted from the outstanding drama with his former Shield mates. WWE sort of lost all momentum on the angle, all because of a title belt.

Definitely, do matter: Gives pro wrestling a unique hook.

Kenny Omega

One of the unique things about pro wrestling is that the championship can change hands multiple times in the same year.

While the Houston Astros are the MLB world champions and will be until new ones are crowned later this year (unless they repeat,) wrestling can have multiple world champions, giving more opportunities for excitement and drama.

There you have it; Five reasons titles don't matter in pro-wrestling, and five that they still do.