Top 10 Most Prestigious World Titles in Professional Wrestling

Throughout the years dating as far back as the early 1900's, Professional Wrestling has used Championship Belts to signify their World Champions.

This is a List of The Most Prestigious World Championship Belts.

In this article, I will dissect each Belt and give my opinion on the Top Ten Belts in Professional Wrestling.

10. TNA World Heavyweight Championship

Introduction:

Our First Championship doesn't trace back really far at all. TNA used to have the NWA belts to recognize their champions, but after splitting they came up with new Belts, and this Belt was introduced in 2007.

First Champion:

Kurt Angle was the inaugural Champion, and also he is the current Champion. The Belt has been on a few other guys such as Sting and Samoa Joe. Sting has the longest reign being 189 days.

This Belt in the next few years will gain fame and prestige if TNA can make an impact on The Mainstream Wrestling World.

9. ECW World Heavyweight Championship

Introduction:

This Belt was first established under Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992. Eastern Championship Wrestling later change to Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1994.

First Champion:

Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka was the inaugural Champion in 1992.

Lineage:

The Belt has a nice history even though it's only been 17 years since it was created. Sandman has the most reigns at 5 and behind him is Shane Douglas with 4.

The Belt has been held by many including Terry Funk, Jerry Lynn, Rob Van Dam, Rhino, Tazz and many others.

The Belt is still active in WWE's Version of ECW on SYFY Network and is currently held by Christian.

8.) WWE "Spinner" Championship

Introduction:

This Belt in my opinion is ridiculous, but nonetheless I have to give it some form of credit seeing that it is WWE's Current Belt.

I will have more prestigious WWE championships listed later. This Belt was introduced in April 2005.

First Champion:

Of Course it was John Cena. John Cena was the only person that looked good with this Belt. I've heard that the Belt currently doesn't spin anymore which is kinda better but still I have no respect, for this Belt its ugly.

The Belt has been held by big names including Edge, Triple H, Batista and now currently held by Randy Orton.

7. WWE World Heavyweight Championship

Introduction:

It was introduced in 2002 by Eric Bischoff and Triple H was crowned the first Champion. Triple H made it famous during Raw's Evolution years.

Many have held the belt; Batista has the longest reign with 282 days, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Booker T, Goldberg, Shawn Michaels and others. This Belt currently represents SmackDown! and is held by Jeff Hardy.

The Issue:

This Belt is slowly losing its prestige by being put on Jeff Hardy, and others who are not World Champion material and the fact that people win and lose this belt so frequently on SmackDown!

6.) WCW World Championship (1991-1993)

Introduction:

This Belt was introduced in 1991. After Ric Flair left WCW over the conflict between him and Jim Herd, he had taken the Big Gold Belt with him to WWE television.

WCW needed a new Belt to signify a World Champion and they created this one. This belt was first held by Lex Luger. WCW then decided to sue Flair for the Big Gold, but ended up having to settle and pay Flair $38,000 for the Big Gold Belt.

WCW was in a pickle because now they had two belts, so they created a gimmick and called The Big Gold Belt the WCW International Heavyweight Title and it was held by Rick Rude and eventually he was defeated by Sting.

Ric Flair returned to WCW and had a Title match against Vader and was awarded this WCW World Title Belt. WCW then decided to have a Unification match between Ric Flair (WCW World Champion) and Sting (WCW International Heavyweight Champion).

Flair won and this belt was never seen on TV again. No one really knows what ever happen to this belt, many think Flair kept it, but it was once found in the garbage by a WCW official, so nobody knows.

5.) WWF "Attitude" World Heavyweight Championship

Introduction:

This Belt was introduced in 1998 and was first held by Steve Austin. WWE was changing into it's Attitude Era, and WCW was now able to compete with WWE. WCW had The Big Gold Belt which the middle plate measured almost a foot tall.

WWE needed to replace The Winged Eagle with a bigger championship, so this belt was designed. In my opinion it's one of the most beautiful belts there is.

This Belt would continue to represent World Champions such as The Rock, Mick Foley, and then to the Final man who would hold this belt Triple H.

The Belt was replaced in 2002 with The Undisputed Title, and later in 2005 with the Spinner Belt. However no Belt in WWE history besides The Winged Eagle can compare to WWF's Attitude Belt.

4.) AWA World Heavyweight Championship

This belt was first introduced in May of 1960, after the AWA broke free of the National Wrestling Alliance. The first champion was Pat O'Connor.

Verne Gagne has the most Title reigns with 10, and after him Nick Bockwinkel follows with seven.

The AWA belt has been held by many greats such as Jerry Lawler, Gene Kiniski, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, and even Hulk Hogan.

The Belt was retired in 1990 when Larry Zybyszko (Current Champion) left AWA for WCW.

The AWA ended up closing in 1991, and since then had recently been in a legal battle with WWE, because WWE owns all rights to the AWA Library among other things.

Still, this belt is a classic with tons of prestige.

3. WWF "Winged Eagle" World Championship

Introduction:

This Belt is by far WWE's most Prestigious Belt because all of the greats have held this Belt. The First was Hulk Hogan of course, but this Belt has been in the hands of Randy Savage, Ultimate Warrior, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, to the last man it was seen with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

This belt is a beauty, and most likely the most recognized Belt by WWE fans. The classic design and beautiful details make this belt a great championship in history.

2.) NWA/WCW "Big Gold" World Heavyweight Championship

Introduction:

This Belt is by far the Most Popular World Title in History. So popular just about everyone has tried to re-create the original, i.e. WWE.

However the original Big Gold Belt was introduced in 1985 by Jim Crockett Promotions. NWA was hitting big with the fans and Jim Crockett who was in control of the prime territories decided that Ric Flair needed a new Belt, so he had a silversmith from Reno, Nev., create this Belt. It is the largest Belt in history.

Crockett found Ric Flair in the dressing room after a match and told him from now on The Big Gold would be recognized as the NWA World Title. Flair ended up keeping the NWA Domed Globe Belt.

The Big Gold Belt was used up until 1991 when Flair left and took it to WWF. In the old days the NWA Champion had to put up $25,000 to hold the belt in case of damages.

Flair owned the Belt and wasn't paid back so he took it with him. The Belt was later brought back to WCW and Flair regained the Championship.

WCW then dropped the NWA and The Big Gold was used up until the Latter Days of WCW. Since then The Big Gold Belt has gained the most respect from Wrestling fans and is the top selling Belt by replica belt-makers.

1.) NWA "Domed Globe" World Championship

Introduction:

Although the Belt was made in the late 60's, The Championship is the oldest living Championship in history. It can be traced back to the early 1900's with the First Recognized World Champion Frank Gotch.

The NWA started in 1948. The reason this Belt is The Most Prestigious is because This Belt was only awarded to the best.

You had to be a great man to hold this Title, because this Belt would be defended in territory after territory and country after country.

This Belt is the only true Belt that ever signified a Real World's Heavyweight Champion. This belt has been held by many greats such as Buddy Rogers, Jerry Brisco, The Funks, Gene Kiniski, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes and the last man to ever be seen with this Belt under the Old NWA Laws, The Nature Boy Ric Flair.

This belt resurfaced as the World Championship recognized by TNA back in 2002. However This Belt isn't the same as it was defended in the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's. The NWA Championship is in a class unto itself.