WWE News: United Airlines Loses Dolph Ziggler’s Intercontinental Title

Whoops. WWE Superstar and current WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler took to Twitter today to imply that United Airlines may have lost his Intercontinental Championship belt in a case of mishandled luggage.

This is certainly not the first case of a WWE Superstar losing his luggage on an airline. In September of last year, several WWE RAW Superstars lost their luggage en route to Toronto for Monday Night RAW, among them WWE Hall of Famer and current Color Commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler.

While it would definitely be a headache for WWE backstage officials should Ziggler show up tonight in Brooklyn sans Intercontinental Title, it would be naive to think that WWE isn’t prepared for this situation. Because most Championship Titles in WWE tend to weigh upwards of 10 pounds, it isn’t practical for WWE Superstars to travel with them in carry-on luggage. Of course, Superstars then run the obvious risk of checking their bags with their Titles inside, and trusting the airline to get the luggage from Point A to Point B, which is easier said than done.

WWE’s Championship Titles tend to weigh anywhere from 10 to 15 pounds, and it’s not unheard of for them to be valued at $50,000 or more. $50K might seem like a rich man’s gamble to you or I, but to WWE, it’s the equivalent of buying a fancy steak dinner; irritating if something happens to it, but not irreplaceable.

WWE undoubtedly keeps “backup” Championship Titles laying around in the event of something happening to them. Over the years, titles have been stolen, lost, thrown into rivers, and blown up in trash cans, both in and out of kayfabe. Naturally, WWE’s recent financial hiccups may give WWE officials more cause to get upset over an airline losing a Championship Title, but little can be done in these situations outside of airline employees “miraculously” finding the lost luggage.

Still, fans shouldn’t worry too much. Regardless of whether or not it’s the same belt, Dolph Ziggler will be on RAW tonight, live in Brooklyn, and he will be wearing the Intercontinental Championship. It’s also probably a safe bet that Ziggler will also be extra-paranoid in the coming weeks with regards to traveling with his Title.

Even though United Airlines should receive the benefit of the doubt for losing the luggage and Championship, it’s difficult to banish the thought of a United employee dancing in the break room, performing Ziggler’s trademark entrance, complete with an authentic WWE Intercontinental Championship around his waist.

Update: According to lordsofpain.net, United somehow sent Ziggler’s luggage, and the Intercontinental Title, to Canada but will be able to get the title back to him before tonight’s RAW in Brooklyn.

[IMG Credit: WWE.com]