The WWF/WWE Championship

[Guest RazorxEDGE]

In my opinion, WWE has changed the appearance of its most prestigious title waay too many times. By my count:

 

1. The original WWF title that Hulk Hogan won from the Iron Shiek at MSG in 1984. You know, green strap, lots of plates. This thing was absolutely hideous and deserved to be retired.

 

2. The belt worn by Hogan right up until he lost it to Andre in '88. It looked kinda like WCW's old World TV title.

 

3. The most famous version. Debuted at WrestleMania IV and was in existence for exactly a decade. It was worn by all the greats: Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, The Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage, even Steve Austin for a short period of time. Then Austin -- the biggest belt-disrespecter of all time -- comes out on the RAW after WrestleMania XIV and throws it down like a piece of garbage so that he can grab the new belt. This belt was the one constant throughout the WWF's evolution. It kinda sucked to see it go, but belt #4 DID totally out-class it...

 

4. The best-looking version of the title, by far. I really wish that they had stuck with this one for at least 10 years like they did with #3. IMO, it could have stood the test of time because it was both large AND cool-looking.

 

5. The undisputed WWE championship. They've actually gone through two versions of this one already: the first resembled an old-school world title. The current version is larger and the plates have a glossy finish.

[Guest Brian]

I must have missed the point...

[Guest DJ Jeff]

I liked version #4. B)

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

There was another between the first green Hogan one and the one he had when he lost to Andre. Just bland silver.

 

Fo sheez,

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics]

I think the point is that they keep going on about the history, and prestige of the belt, and how all the past greats have held it, when at the same time they (kind of) piss on that history by chucking the old belts out after a couple of years and starting up with a new one.

How would Hockey fans feel if the NHL brought out a new Stanley Cup every few years?

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

Uh..The Stanley cup gets bigger every x # of years, so it technically isnt the same..

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

#3 is the best.

 

#4 looks like a toy.

[Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics]

The stand w/ nameplates doesn't count!

I'm talking about a whole new cup every 7-8 years.

Personally, I'm not overly bothered about the multiple makeovers, but keeping the same design for a number of years adds to the rcognition value and prestige, especially to casual fans who might have missed any changeover and don't immedeatly recognise the championship belt as just that.

[Guest RicFlairGlory]

As far as the World Title goes, the #3 Belt was by far and away the best, BUT. I can live with that

 

What I have a problem with... is why the FUCK did they change the Intercontinental strap back in '98? I mean cmon, the old IC belt was the shit

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

They were going for more streamlined stuff, I guess.

 

Fo style!

Kotzenjunge

[Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics]

They had to gat a new intercontinental belt cos Steve Austin through it in a river to get back at Vince McMahon striping him of the title and giving it to the Rock. [/mark]

[Guest Mad Dog]

Yeah but the Rock still carried the version that Austin threw in the river for a good couple of months. He still had the old version at WMXIV.

[Guest Grenouille]

The stand w/ nameplates doesn't count!

I'm talking about a whole new cup every 7-8 years.

Personally, I'm not overly bothered about the multiple makeovers, but keeping the same design for a number of years adds to the rcognition value and prestige, especially to casual fans who might have missed any changeover and don't immedeatly recognise the championship belt as just that.

Just to let you know, the original cup isn't on the one teams parade around with it's at the Hall of Fame in Toronto.

[Guest RazorxEDGE]

That's another thing...the old Intercontinental belt ROCKED. That had to be the best-looking belt in WWE history.

[Guest Mad Dog]

Yeah I loved the old I.C. title belt. I've honestly never cared much for this version of it. Don't really know why though.

[Guest Youth N Asia]

I definatly liked the Eagle plated one the best (#3)...#4 was alright too...the new one is just ugly as hell though.

 

I also like the IC title before the current one.

 

I do like how the tag titles have gone mostly unchanged for the last 20 years or so though.

[Guest dreamer420]

Personally I find pretty well all title belts awesome looking (except the Hardcore).

 

The Tag Titles have always been my favorite and I think the Europeon title was pretty nice looking to.

 

The Heavyweight titles have all be impressive but I do agree that the one used from Wrestlemania 4 to Wrestlemania 14 was the best of the bunch. The Undiputed title has a great look to it as well.

[Guest art_vandelay]

I like #3 simply because so many people have held it and there's a true sense of tradition in it.

[Guest The Czech Republic]

The Holy Grail puts all to shame except the 88-98 WWF belt.

[Guest NazMistry]

Triple H's RAW belt is actually my favourite belt of All-Time. It's just big and Gold. It's great.

 

As for the WWF title, the change with Austin from 3 to 4 made sense.

But getting rid of 4 so qucikly was stupid.

Don't even get me started on how utterly crap the Smoking Skull Belt was.

[Guest Michael Joel Benoit]

YOU HATED THE SMOKIN' SKULL BELT?

 

THAT belt was tha shit!

[Guest Dames Edna]

Just as a side note, I don't think you'll be fighting many people in line to be Avril Levigne's husband...I think you should shoot a little higher

 

No offense

[Guest Trivia247]

IC title also went through a Similar recycling. Though shorter..

 

the original IC belt look like the older NWA version looking almost totally gold and kinda greek looking.

 

second the one the macho Man and company look more like the World tag team belt, a Duller Gold almost Bronze looking

 

The third and last was the Oval Shaped title that people from the Rock to Shamrock and others wore up to R V D

[Guest The Tino Standard]

You gotta love the Big Gold Belt. No company name on it. No goofy "united" or "unified" or "undisputed" moniker on it or associated with it.

 

Just a big-ass belt with three gold plates that reads: "WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT WRESTLING CHAMPION"

 

End of story.

 

I really don't understand why they got rid of WWE World Title version No. 4 listed above when they replaced it with a belt that says the exact same thing. (No mentions of "Undisputed" or the titles it joined together anywhere on it, just subtle hints, such as the nameplate, for example).

[Guest NazMistry]

The Smoking Skull Belt was the biggest piece of shit belt ever.

The WWF/WWE World Title is meant to a prestigous thing, so for Austin to have his own customised version was a bit of a diss on the old belt and it's heritage.

But this is my main problem with Austin and The Rock.

Considering they are touted as greats, they physically treated the World Title belts like shit.

[Guest Si82]

Well I gotta say I liked both #3 and #4. I think #4 is kinda better. Mind you, Brock is managing to make that new belt look good. "The Big Gold Belt" is pretty good too but it often looed a bit too "Big". As for the old IC belt. Man that kicked ass! It was my favourite belt ever.

[Guest Michael Joel Benoit]

The Smokin' Skull Belt was part of Austin's rebel image. He didn't like wearing the WWF Championship cuz it was too "corporate" for him so he created his own redneck hick title.

 

And yeah, the Big Gold Belt is the best looking belt ever. You had no idea how pissed I was when Hollywood Hogan spray-painted "nWo" on it.

 

And speaking of that, do you think Bischoff bringing the belt back is a sign of WCW coming back?

[Guest NazMistry]

The Smokin' Skull Belt was part of Austin's rebel image. He didn't like wearing the WWF Championship cuz it was too "corporate" for him so he created his own redneck hick title.

I don't care, they belt should not have been altered to encompass someones gimmick.

 

As for the nWo spraypaint. It was a good idea because it was a demonstration of the nWo taking over.

[Guest Michael Joel Benoit]

Also, the first old Intercontinental Championship belt had a red WWF logo on it. That was worn until Ultimate Warrior won the belt at Summerslam 1988.

[Guest RazorxEDGE]

second the one the macho Man and company look more like the World tag team belt, a Duller Gold almost Bronze looking

 

It only looked "dull" when the gold plating began to tarnish and wear out. They had to replace it a few times with a new, shiny belt, but the design was always the same.