>>8175489So that he could make the TNT title *his* belt
It was a master political move: it gave him a cache like Nakamura and the NJPW IC title, it helped downplay the idea that he was "booking himself to be world champion" which was a locker room issue his dad also had to deal with, it allowed him to sidestep Jericho's politicking, and most importantly - it made him look like a big deal to Turner execs to leverage for synergy
