When the announcement was first made on WWE RAW after WrestleMania 35, the crowd could not believe their ears. Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins, two men who realized their destinies the night before would engage in battle and one man would walk out Double Champion.
Of course, this would be like the Becky Lynch situation, as she's the current RAW and SmackDown Women's Champion. But eventually, WWE decided to pull the plug on this angle, with The Bar's interference. Let me try and answer why WWE did not have a double champion crowned during the show.
As always, let me remind you that this is pure speculation and little more, but based on reports I've read and my experience of covering sports entertainment for the last few years. I invite you to weigh in and voice your opinion too.
Why do you think neither man became a Double Champion?
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#5 The brand split is still very much a thing
Everyone on the internet was talking about the titles being unified while I sat scratching my head in puzzlement, quite honestly. Why would the titles be unified when the Superstar Shake-Up is scheduled to take place on next week's show? It would make no sense at all to do a Shake-Up with a common Champion.
I mean I'm not even very happy with the whole Becky Lynch situation because, with the schedules of both brands, I'm guessing that she cannot perform double duty for long. She will either have to show up on the red or blue brand. And the other one will suffer for lack of a resident champion, I feel.
If it's any measure of consolation, I'm just glad that both men retained. At least, both brands will have a male world champion.
#4 Far too soon to do this match
When the Seth Rollins vs. Kofi Kingston match began in the main event of WWE RAW, the commentators, especially Corey Graves. made mention of the fact that this was a huge match indeed. In fact, this was a match that had the potential to main event WrestleMania next year. In a way, it was a hint that this match will happen down the line someday.
In any case, even when The Bar interfered during the course of this contest, Seth Rollins assured Kofi Kingston that this match would happen somewhere down the line. I'm sure the seeds have been planted and fans really want to see it take place. The chorus of boos that sounded during the match is a great indication of the fact.
Will it be a title unification match when it eventually happens? Maybe not, but it'll certainly be quite a big deal.
#3 Would have devalued the magical WrestleMania moments
I've covered multiple WrestleManias as part of my role in Sportskeeda, and every year when the show ends, you hear the familiar complaints. 'Why does WWE always focus on Reigns?' 'Why can't the main roster be like NXT?' 'Why doesn't WWE give fans what they want?'
This year was a breath of fresh air in the sense that fans actually seemed happy that three of their favorites- Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, and Kofi Kingston stood tall when all was finally said and done! And to have buried someone's WrestleMania moment so soon after it happened would have been quite criminal.
Hence, The Bar interfered in the match and it was a no contest. Hence, a new match would begin with Kofi Kingston and Seth Rollins teaming up.
To be quite honest, I'm glad quite to a great degree that both men will remain champions!
#2 Separate plans for both men
WWE made a huge botch during the course of the show. Even though it was announced that Seth Rollins would face Kofi Kingston to find out who would emerge as a double champion, a SmackDown Live segment was advertised. And this SmackDown Live segment would incidentally be 'Kofi Kingston's Championship Celebration'.
It is quite clear at this juncture that WWE has different plans in mind for both of the men involved. On the one hand, Seth Rollins will be the anchor on WWE RAW, and he will face up against anyone at all, who ends up on RAW after the Superstar Shake-Up. Meanwhile, something big is planned for Kofi Kingston and The New Day on SmackDown Live.
Could The Undisputed ERA make their debuts on SmackDown Live? I've interviewed The New Day and they've mentioned how they'd love to work with the said faction.
#1 Both men deserve extended reigns
Seth Rollins carried WWE RAW on his back when Roman Reigns had to take time off, putting on some extraordinary matches. His reign as the top babyface in the company has been a long time coming because people had become sick and tired of Brock Lesnar only showing up on certain occasions when he felt like it.
And therefore, everyone in WWE and the WWE Universe certainly believes that Seth Rollins deserves a chance as the face of the company and an opportunity to prove that he can take the place that everyone assumed belonged to Reigns. This is a litmus test of sorts, in my opinion.
In Kofi Kingston's case, he could be a transitional champion, but his redemption arc has been much longer. And for an eleven-year-old arc to end overnight would be absolutely criminal.
Why do you think WWE didn't crown a double champion?