Championship belt: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
No helpful |
|||
| (379 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Large belt used to signify a champion}} |
|||
[[Image:Wikibelt.jpg|200px|right]] |
|||
{{Refimprove|date=October 2015}} |
|||
A ''' |
A '''championship belt''' is a large, extravagantly designed [[belt (clothing)|belt]] used primarily in combat sports such as [[boxing]], [[mixed martial arts]], and [[professional wrestling]] to signify the champions of the promotion or company, much like a cup or trophy in other sports. There are several companies in the business of constructing championship belts. |
||
== |
==Early history== |
||
The first belt given as a prize for accomplishments within the ring was presented in 1810 by [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]] to [[Bare-knuckle boxing|bare-knuckle]] boxer [[Tom Cribb]], after he defeated [[Tom Molineaux]], an American who was possibly a former slave.<ref>{{cite book |
|||
| last1 = Fitzgerald |
|||
| first1 = Mike |
|||
| last2 = Hudson |
|||
| first2 = David |
|||
| year = 2004 |
|||
| title = Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas |
|||
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=b9cIRPetE88C&q=%22Jack+Broughton%22+belt&pg=PA1939 |
|||
| publisher = Potomac Books |
|||
| page = 1939 |
|||
| accessdate = 2015-10-20 |
|||
| isbn = 9781612340319 |
|||
}}</ref> |
|||
==Boxing== |
|||
In boxing, the individual organizations such as the [[World Boxing Council]], The [[World Boxing Association]], the [[International Boxing Federation]] and the [[World Boxing Organization]] each have their own unique championship belt that are awarded to the champions of each weight class. Boxers, especially the [[World Championships|World Champions]], strive to win the belt of all 4 organizations to unify their weight divisions. |
|||
[[File:WBA CHAMPIONSHIP BELT cropped.jpg|thumb|right|170px|The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Belt.]] |
|||
In boxing, the individual organizations such as the [[World Boxing Council]] (WBC), the [[World Boxing Association]] (WBA), the [[International Boxing Federation]] (IBF), and the [[World Boxing Organization]] (WBO) each have their own unique championship belt that are awarded to the champions of each [[weight class (boxing)|weight class]]. Boxers strive to win the belt of all four organizations to unify their weight divisions. ''[[The Ring (magazine)|The Ring]]'' also created a championship system that is "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class". |
|||
Champions maintain permanent possession of these belts even upon losing their title, with a new belt made when a new champion is crowned. |
|||
===Weight Divisions=== |
|||
==Professional wrestling== |
|||
There are numerous [[Boxing weight classes]] within the sport, with there being minor discrepancies amongst the different governing bodies. The weight classes are. |
|||
[[File:Sting flair big gold.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Ric Flair]] holding a replica of the [[Big Gold Belt]], which represented six different [[Professional wrestling championship|championships]]]] |
|||
{{main|Professional wrestling championship}} |
|||
One of [[professional wrestling]]'s first world championships was the [[World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship]] which was created in 1875. The [[American Heavyweight Championship]] was created in 1881 as [[catch wrestling]] became the dominant style in the US. The historic [[World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship]] was created in 1905 to identify the best catch as catch can wrestler in the world. These championships were originally contested for in legitimate matches until the sport's gradual shift to predetermined works in the 1920s. |
|||
Modern day professional wrestling is a form of entertainment which combines athletics and theatrical performance in a mimicry of combat sports. Many storylines center around the [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion's]] [[Professional wrestling championship|championships]], which are represented by championship belts similar to those in boxing. The top title in a major promotion is usually designated a "world heavyweight championship". Other, lesser championships may carry regional names, be limited to a specific weight class, or be defended in other special circumstances, such as the traditional tag team match. |
|||
{| class="wikitable" |
|||
|- |
|||
!Weight !! [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] !! [[World Boxing Council|WBC]] !! [[International Boxing Federation|IBF]] !! [[World Boxing Organization|WBO]] !! [[Boxrec.com|BoxRec]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|201+ lb (91.4+ kg) || [[Heavyweight]] || Heavyweight || Heavyweight || Heavyweight || Heavyweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|176 to 200 lb (90.7 kg) || [[Cruiserweight]] || Cruiserweight || Cruiserweight || [[Junior heavyweight]] || Cruiserweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|169 to 175 lb (79.4 kg) || [[Light heavyweight]] || Light heavyweight || Light heavyweight || Light heavyweight || Light heavyweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|161 to 168 lb (76.2 kg) || [[Super middleweight]] || Super middleweight || Super middleweight || Super middleweight || Super middleweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|155 to 160 lb (72.6 kg) || [[Middleweight]] || Middleweight || Middleweight || Middleweight || Middleweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|148 to 154 lb (69.9 kg) || [[Super welterweight]] || Super welterweight || [[Junior middleweight]] || Junior middleweight || [[Light middleweight]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|141 to 147 lb (66.7 kg) || [[Welterweight]] || Welterweight || Welterweight || Welterweight || Welterweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|136 to 140 lb (63.5 kg) || [[Super lightweight]] || Super lightweight || [[Junior welterweight]] || Junior welterweight || [[Light welterweight]] |
|||
|- |
|||
|131 to 135 lb (61.2 kg) || [[Lightweight]] || Lightweight || Lightweight || Lightweight || Lightweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|127 to 130 lb (59.0 kg) || [[Super featherweight]] || Super featherweight || [[Junior lightweight]] || Junior lightweight || Super featherweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|123 to 126 lb (57.2 kg) || [[Featherweight]] || Featherweight || Featherweight || Featherweight || Featherweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|119 to 122 lb (55.3 kg) || [[Super bantamweight]] || Super bantamweight || [[Junior featherweight]] || Junior featherweight || Super bantamweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|116 to 118 lb (53.5 kg) || [[Bantamweight]] || Bantamweight || Bantamweight || Bantamweight || Bantamweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|113 to 115 lb (52.2 kg) || [[Super flyweight]] || Super flyweight || [[Junior bantamweight]] || Junior bantamweight || Super flyweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|109 to 112 lb (50.8 kg) || [[Flyweight]] || Flyweight || Flyweight || Flyweight || Flyweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|106 to 108 lb (49.0 kg) || [[Light flyweight]] || Light flyweight || [[Junior flyweight]] || Junior flyweight || Light flyweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|96 to 105 lb (47.6 kg) || [[Minimumweight]] || [[Strawweight]] || [[Mini flyweight]] || Mini flyweight || Minimumweight |
|||
|- |
|||
|} |
|||
Typically, pro wrestling title belts have a unique design for each title, in contrast with boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) where the title belts of a given sanctioning body are all the same design. The [[Big Gold Belt]] design, for example, is very recognizable and has been used by various wrestling promotions since the 1980s. |
|||
==Professional Wrestling== |
|||
In 2016, [[WWE]] began to streamline their championships, making their top male and female championships have the same design, similar to boxing and MMA. The only differences between them are the colors (to represent if the title belongs to either the [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] or [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]]), the name on the belt, and the women's belts are smaller. The tag team championships also have the same design between each other with the only difference being the color of the straps. |
|||
{{main|Championship (professional wrestling)}} |
|||
Unlike Professional Boxing, [[Professional Wrestling]] has numerous World Champions and even more regionalized and specialized Championship Belts. The generally recognized World Championship Belts are those of [[World Wrestling Entertainment]], The [[National Wrestling Alliance]], and to a lesser extent [[Ring Of Honor]].The National Wrestling Alliance recognizes numerous regional Championship Belts such as The NWA North American Championship and The NWA British Commonwealth Championship. World Wrestling Entertainment currently has 3 Main Champions. The [[WWE Championship]] is the main championship belt of its [[WWE RAW|RAW]] brand, the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] is the main championship belt of the [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown!|SmackDown!]] brand,and the [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] is the main championship of the [[ECW brand]]. The Raw and Smackdown! brands also have their own separate tag team Championship Belts and various lesser belts, but the ECW brand has one title, although it is unknown if the [[ECW World Television Championship]] and the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]] will be brought back. |
|||
== |
==Mixed martial arts== |
||
[[File:UFC Championship Belt.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The former [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] [[Heavyweight (MMA)|heavyweight]] championship belt]] |
|||
Unlike boxing, which has 14 recognized weight classes, professional wrestling generally only has 2. The Heavyweight title and the Cruiserweight/Light Heavyweight title belt. The "weight limit" varies with the Cruiserweight/Light heavyweight divisions depending on the wrestling promotion. The [[WWE]] uses 230 lb as its proposed Cruiserweight limit. Generally speaking, the Cruiserweight/Light Heavyweight belt is often treated as a secondary belt, despite having "World Title" status. |
|||
[[Mixed martial arts]] generally follows the boxing model of each sanctioning group, which is also a promotion, awarding its champion in each [[Mixed martial arts weight classes|weight class]] a championship belt. As in boxing, the design of each promotion's belts are the same regardless of weight class, and the champion keeps their belt after losing the title. |
|||
===Specialized Championship Belts=== |
|||
Professional Wrestling also has numerous specialty championship belts. The most well known ones are the now defunct [[WWE Hardcore Championship]], The [[NWA World Television Championship]] and the [[ROH Pure Championship]]. TNA Wrestling dropped the cruiserweight title and went with the [[TNA X Division Championship]], considering it an open weight title. These belts would be contested under different rules and stipulations to make the championship more unique. |
|||
==Motorsports== |
|||
The usual stipulations were Television Title Belts that were only defended for the first 10-15 minutes of the match, since television matches usually only had a 10 Minute Time Limit. The Smoky Mountain Beat The Champ TV Title was actually vacated if the Champion won 6 consecutive Title Defenses. Hardcore Championships are usually defended in some gimmick match, although "Hardcore Wrestling" in general is waning in popularity. Ironically, many years ago, several promotions had "Brass Knuckles Championships" which were the Hardcore Championship's predecessors. |
|||
The [[Las Vegas Motor Speedway]] has often used a championship belt for some race winners in lieu of a traditional trophy, owing to combat sport in the city. |
|||
== |
==Other sports== |
||
[[File:Young Tom Morris.jpg|thumb|right|[[Young Tom Morris|Tom Morris, Jr.]] wearing the [[Challenge Belt]]]] |
|||
Generally, wrestling has many more uniquely designed belts than boxing. The 4 major boxing governing bodies generally use the same belt design for all their champions, whereas wrestling companies use different styles for each Championship. The most notable exception is Japan's [[Pro Wrestling NOAH]], who's belts follow one specific design. WWE became the first company to trademark the designs of their belt so they would have unique belts that could not be made for other promotions. Other designs, such as [[John Cena]]'s "Spinner Belt" and [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]]'s "Smoking Skull Belt" are substituted for the conventional belt to enhance that character. Where as WWE has had 11 different belts to represent their World Title, The National Wrestling Alliance has stayed with the same design for over 30 years, sans the period between 1986-1993 when the "Big Gold" belt was the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title Belt. Beltmakers such as Reggie Parks and Dave Millican often create belts that not only set the Championships apart from the others, but become huge collector items as well. |
|||
Historically, championship belts were also awarded to the winner of professional golf tournaments. [[Rodeo]] tournaments also award special belts, among other prizes. |
|||
==References== |
|||
On August 21st, 2006 [[WWE]] introduced a "R-Rated Spinner Belt" for then-WWE Champion [[Adam Copeland|Edge]]. The belt is similar to John Cena's "Spinner Belt" except the [[WWE]] scratch logo has been replaced by Edge's "Rated-R Superstar" logo. The early reviews of the belt have not been that positive as both casual and devoted fans dislike the fact that The [[WWE Championship]] is now treated more like a customizable fashion accessory, rather than a revered championship trophy. |
|||
{{Reflist}} |
|||
{{Boxing}} |
|||
===Belt Collecting=== |
|||
{{Professional wrestling terms}} |
|||
Collecting of Championship Belts has become a very specialized, if not expensive hobby. Many Championship Belts have become collector items over the years as much for their designs as the history behind that particular belt. Championship Belts from the 1980's especially are very sought after by collectors. Belts that are the most sought after include The WWF's "Winged Eagle" Championship and Intercontinental Title Belt used from 1984-1997. The NWA "Domed Globe" World Heavyweight Title Belt, The [[NWA United States Championship]] and [[NWA Television Championship]] used during the [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] era are also very popular. A ring worn Championship from WWE, WCW, ECW or NWA are very sought after and collectors will pay top dollar for belts worn on television. The WWF Tag Team Belts that were worn to the ring at Wrestlemania 1 were recently sold on ebay for $10,500. The World Television Title Belt used on WTBS World Championship Wrestling TV Show in the early 1980's was sold to a collector for over $7,000 on ebay by [[Ronnie Garvin]] last year. Ring-worn belts are rare because the Champions usually wish to keep the belts as career mementoes. |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Championship Belt}} |
|||
In 1997, Figures, Inc. introduced a line of replica belts, starting with The "[[Big Gold Belt]]" [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]]. The incredible popularity of the original belt prompted Figures, Inc. to release all of WCW's belts as replicas. The belts, considerably cheaper than actual professional-grade belts, became instantly popular with not only collectors but with independent wrestling companies (who, due to financial constraints, could not afford original, professional-grade belts for their own promotions; since the plates on the belts are very thin and the engraving is very shallow, the belts can be easily altered for the companies needs). In 1998, [[ECW]] had their belts released as replica belts as well, becoming very popular with their loyal fanbase. In 1999, Figures, Inc signed an exclusive deal to create replicas of The [[WWE Championship]] belts, thus shutting out [[ECW]] and [[WCW]] at the time from the then-lucrative replica belt business. The [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] Belt had also been released as a Figures, Inc. replica and when [[WWE]] signed the exclusive deal with them, those belts went out of production as well. When [[WWE]] purchased [[WCW]] and [[ECW]], their replica belts were allowed to be re-issued, however the NWA World Heavyweight Title belt replica wasn't, and is now a true collectors item. The NWA belt replica is very rare now and can fetch more than triple it's original retail price on [[ebay]]. |
|||
[[Category:Boxing awards|+]] |
|||
[[Category:Mixed martial arts awards|+]] |
|||
In April 2002, Figures Inc. released the replica of the new [[WWE Undisputed Championship]] belt. However, when WWE lost its court case to The [[World Wildlife Fund]], all of the belts that had been made that said "World Wrestling Federation" on them had to be recalled and replicas saying "World Wrestling Entertainment" on them reissued. It is almost urban legend that a few of the Undisputed Championship belt replica's saying World Wrestling Federation on them did get into circulation. If so, these replica belts would truly be rare collectors items. |
|||
[[Category:Professional wrestling championships|+]] |
|||
[[Category:Award items]] |
|||
Figures, INC. has just announced that they will release a replica of the "Andre Belt", a belt made specifically for [[Andre The Giant]] when he challenged [[Hulk Hogan]] at [[Wrestlemania 3]]. The actual belt itself was donated to [[Planet Hollywood]] by [[Vince McMahon]]. The belt will be 62 inches in length and the design is unique from the other [[WWE]] belts that were used by the company. |
|||
==External links == |
|||
=== Championship Belt Makers === |
|||
* [http://www.midwestwrestling.com/Beltentrance.htm Official Website of Reggie Parks' Championship Belts] - Reggie Parks |
|||
* [http://www.davemillicanbelts.com Official Website of Dave Millican Belts] - Dave Millican |
|||
* [http://www.elgman-customs.com Official Website of Elgman Customs] - Elgin Moore |
|||
* [http://www.championcraft.com Official Website of ChampionCraft] - Orlando Roman |
|||
=== Images === |
|||
* [http://www.wrestlingbeltworld.com Wrestlng Beltworld Website] |
|||
[[Category:Sports trophies and awards]] |
|||
Latest revision as of 12:03, 2 July 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2015) |
A championship belt is a large, extravagantly designed belt used primarily in combat sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, and professional wrestling to signify the champions of the promotion or company, much like a cup or trophy in other sports. There are several companies in the business of constructing championship belts.
Early history
[edit]The first belt given as a prize for accomplishments within the ring was presented in 1810 by King George III to bare-knuckle boxer Tom Cribb, after he defeated Tom Molineaux, an American who was possibly a former slave.[1]
Boxing
[edit]
In boxing, the individual organizations such as the World Boxing Council (WBC), the World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) each have their own unique championship belt that are awarded to the champions of each weight class. Boxers strive to win the belt of all four organizations to unify their weight divisions. The Ring also created a championship system that is "intended to reward fighters who, by satisfying rigid criteria, can justify a claim as the true and only world champion in a given weight class".
Champions maintain permanent possession of these belts even upon losing their title, with a new belt made when a new champion is crowned.
Professional wrestling
[edit]
One of professional wrestling's first world championships was the World Greco-Roman Heavyweight Championship which was created in 1875. The American Heavyweight Championship was created in 1881 as catch wrestling became the dominant style in the US. The historic World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship was created in 1905 to identify the best catch as catch can wrestler in the world. These championships were originally contested for in legitimate matches until the sport's gradual shift to predetermined works in the 1920s.
Modern day professional wrestling is a form of entertainment which combines athletics and theatrical performance in a mimicry of combat sports. Many storylines center around the promotion's championships, which are represented by championship belts similar to those in boxing. The top title in a major promotion is usually designated a "world heavyweight championship". Other, lesser championships may carry regional names, be limited to a specific weight class, or be defended in other special circumstances, such as the traditional tag team match.
Typically, pro wrestling title belts have a unique design for each title, in contrast with boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) where the title belts of a given sanctioning body are all the same design. The Big Gold Belt design, for example, is very recognizable and has been used by various wrestling promotions since the 1980s.
In 2016, WWE began to streamline their championships, making their top male and female championships have the same design, similar to boxing and MMA. The only differences between them are the colors (to represent if the title belongs to either the Raw or SmackDown brand), the name on the belt, and the women's belts are smaller. The tag team championships also have the same design between each other with the only difference being the color of the straps.
Mixed martial arts
[edit]
Mixed martial arts generally follows the boxing model of each sanctioning group, which is also a promotion, awarding its champion in each weight class a championship belt. As in boxing, the design of each promotion's belts are the same regardless of weight class, and the champion keeps their belt after losing the title.
Motorsports
[edit]The Las Vegas Motor Speedway has often used a championship belt for some race winners in lieu of a traditional trophy, owing to combat sport in the city.
Other sports
[edit]
Historically, championship belts were also awarded to the winner of professional golf tournaments. Rodeo tournaments also award special belts, among other prizes.
References
[edit]- ^ Fitzgerald, Mike; Hudson, David (2004). Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Champs, Chumps, and Punch-Drunk Palookas. Potomac Books. p. 1939. ISBN 9781612340319. Retrieved 2015-10-20.
