How do people become WWE champions if the fights are predetermined?

Answer 1

This is a tricky one. Usually its about the heat or money making power a wrestler can bring in. If a compamy sees a person if he has a title to gain a lot of fan interest(good example at the moment: John Cena and of the Attitude Era The Rock) then that person is a pick. There are some situations where 'heel' wrestlers become champs is so that fans can see him being bashed up like a pulp, eventhough he has great abilities (eg: Chris jericho) Titles are 'given' too to wrestlers who can sell shows for a long time and these titles are given as a point of appreciation (eg: chris beniot) There are also situations where the titles are earned. HBK and Bret Hart are very good examples. This is the reasons why the have a real life feud, although it mellowed down recently. They fight to become champs, not thru kayfabe.

Answer 2

You go against a wrestler who has a championship belt