WWE made Trick Williams look like the future of the United States Championship, gave him a custom white-fur title and even put the replica up for sale. Then, just after the belt debuted, Baron Corbin walked out of SummerSlam with the championship.
WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select revealed that WWE did not originally expect Trick’s custom championship run to end anywhere near that quickly. The decision to move the title to Corbin came together late, and several people backstage were caught off guard by the change.
“We are told by those with knowledge that when Trick Williams unveiled the custom white-fur United States Championship on the July 10 edition of SmackDown, and throughout the weeks leading up to its debut, while the title was being designed and developed, there was no expectation internally that the custom championship would be off of Trick Williams just three weeks later.”
The custom belt was built specifically around Trick’s presentation. His entrance was hot, the crowd was behind him and WWE had already started selling the championship through its merchandise operation. None of that stopped creative from pulling the trigger on Corbin at SummerSlam.
“We’re told the decision to move the title to Baron Corbin came together only recently, with a number of people backstage surprised by the late change in plans.”
The timeline is what makes the decision stand out. Trick introduced the belt on July 10. By August 2, he was no longer the champion. Joey Votes questioned how WWE could put that much effort into creating the championship and then turn around and take it away almost immediately.
“Somebody somewhere recently—and that’s the point here, recently—decided to give him a custom championship. If that was greenlit, how all of a sudden do you say, ‘Baron could take it off him?’”
TC pushed back on the idea that WWE should be locked into keeping the title on Trick simply because replica belts had already been produced.
“I don’t think you can handcuff your booking and creative based on the fact that there are replica titles made in a certain form or fashion.”
There is also a chance Corbin’s championship win is only a temporary stop in the story. WWE could have Corbin carry Trick’s custom title as a way to rub the loss in his face before Williams eventually gets another shot.
“I don’t think it is said and done. I can absolutely see Baron Corbin holding on to this title the way it is, using it in Trick Williams’ face that he’s got the fur now, and maybe Trick Williams gets his hands back on it somehow and wins the title back from Baron Corbin.”
Joey Votes closed the discussion by pointing out just how quickly WWE changed direction.
“July 10, that title debuted. No plans to take it off him. We get to August 2, and it’s gone. So it is what it is.”
Corbin’s win gave SummerSlam one of its biggest surprises, but it also left Trick Williams in a strange position after WWE spent weeks presenting him and his custom championship as a major act. Now the question is whether WWE has truly moved on from Trick as champion or whether Corbin is simply holding the belt until the rematch.
Do you think Baron Corbin should have taken the United States Championship from Trick Williams, or should WWE put the title back on Trick? Let us know what you think in the comments.
