2009 Running Pro Wrestling Thread

I don't think it even spins anymore. The look is gaudy, but they make a mint selling replicas and I like how they have three separate, distinctive looking titles (World Heavyweight is the traditional gold championship and ECW is an ugly but appropriate all-silver look). I like it this way myself. Two identical gold straps for Raw and SD would be kinda repetitive.

 

Interesting note I read a while back about the (no longer) spinning belt: Since the belt is so damn expensive, they have one version that is used for TV/PPV only and a second "stand-in" belt for house shows/appearances/etc.

I wasn't really a fan of the spinning belt, but since they took the spinning mechanism out, I don't think it's quite as annoying. What I REALLY wish they'd do is make the front plate say "CHAMPION" instead of "CHAMP."

 

I agree with this. I like the three distinctive belts, although it would be nice to come up with a different design for the WWE title. The spinner belt just doesn't work as a look for anyone besides Cena. Maybe that's why they keep giving him the belt -- just to get their money's worth.

On another note, one thing I've always liked about the World Heavyweight title is the little nameplate with the champ's name on the bottom. Whenever there's a title change, I always make it a point to see if they changed that before the next show.
I wonder if the former champs get to keep the old nameplate when they change it? That'd be a cool souvenir.

 

Two things:

1. Cena hasn't held the WWE title since 2007. He has won the World Heavyweight Title twice since then.

2. I'm not sure who picks up the tab, but a lot of times, you'll see former champions not only keep the name plate, but the whole belt, depending on the title they won. I remember an interview with the Rock a few years ago from his house where you could see a bunch of championships in the background. Also, in regards to the nameplate, they've started incorporating that concept into other belts. The WWE, US, Intercontinental, Women's and both Tag Team titles have nameplates now.

 

If WWE were to change the current image of the World Heavyweight Championship, they'd be in for a hell of a tongue lashing because that was the original NWA Championship and WCW Championship belt. Changing it would just seem kind of wrong.

 

I got no problem with them keeping the World Heavyweight belt the way it is, even if I think it looks horrendous, but I agree that the WWE "Gangsta" Title has to go. It's hard for me to take that belt seriously because everytime I see it I think the holder of the belt is going to freestyle some "mad sick beats, yo".

What's wrong with the Attitude-Era title? I loved that belt. Hell, even the blue strap title was pretty cool. Maybe I'm just a stickler for old-fashioned things though.

 

I kinda like the red and blue on the US Title belt/Intercontinental belt (which ever it is, since I don't get to watch often). Still, they are all a far cry from the old World Championship belt worn by Lou Thesz. I recently saw a picture of him and his old belt, and it, while nice for its day, is pretty weak by today's standards.

 

Best belt ever. It took the late 80s/early 90s look that was so fondly remembered and amped it up to make it bigger and better.

I also liked the undisputed belt that was used briefly in the mid-2000s. The original version of it was kind of small, but once they made it a little bigger (I think the Rock was the first to carry the big version), it was awesome.

 

Best. Belt. Ever

After WWE did away with the original WWF/WWE title that was around for much of the late 1980's and all of the 1990's, this belt at least looked respectable. I remember this is the belt that Cena held before he then debuted his spinner belt and this was then completely forgetten about.

 

Don't hold out hope for a comeback. I remember reading a while back that when Triple H won the WWE title, he asked to go back to this one instead of the spinner, but was told the spinner is too big of a merch mover to get dumped. So if Triple Freaking H can't even get rid of the spinner for something more traditional, don't hold your breath for it happening with anybody else.

 

The spinner belt is like Austin's smoking skull belt: It only works when it's being worn by the superstar it was made for.

 

Random question: I'm covering a baseball tournament in Vancouver, B.C...anyone know a Canuckistani channel that might show RAW?