My theory on why they haven't combined the belts yet

[JohnJohnson]

People have discussed whether the belts will be merged into one or split into two separate titles again. The first time this happened it was still split up while Jerich and Triple H won it. It looked good on them because of Jericho's entrance pose and the pose Triple H does on the turnbuckle. After this, if I'm not mistaken, it was consolidated into one belt.

I was thinking about WMXXX, which is right around the corner, and what the match outcomes will be. That's when it dawned on me the reason they are currently keeping the two split. I believe they are holding out for that huge moment at the end of the night when 80,000 people are standing on their feet chanting along with Daniel Bryan as he does his "Yes!" chant holding a belt in either hand. I know it sounds a little stupid to keep the belts separate for the sake of a celebration, but I believe it really adds to the image. I think Daniel Bryan wins it and either carries both for a little while before merging them, or carries both until Summer Slam when they unveil a new belt, and he drops it there(hopefully not in a rematch of last year).

Does this make sense to anyone, or are there any other unique theories? I think if anything, this is an indication that they planned all along to put the straps on Bryan at Mania, despite the IWC marks claiming he is being buried.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Honestly, I don't know that there's any particular reason why they're using both titles right now. One reason might simply be to play up the history of the World Heavyweight Championship. Vince has done some major revisionist history by claiming that the WHC is part of the lineage of the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, even though it isn't. A simple explanation, again I don't know that there's any special reason, is just the iconic image of the Big Gold Belt. The Big Gold Belt design looks amazing in my opinion, always has. Whenever I think of how a World Championship belt should look, whether it's in wrestling, boxing or MMA, that's the title I always find myself comparing all other against.

Right now, WWE is slowly phasing out it's old scratch logo and replacing it with the new one that's used to represent the WWE Network. The logo for WrestleMania XXXI has the new logo design, the new logo design has been incorporated into all the various NXT banners & posters, and the side plates of the NXT Championship have all been replaced with the new WWE logo. Eventually, WWE will debut a new championship using the updated logo and my guess is that it'll be used to represent the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. If they stay with the Big Logo design that The Rock debuted in February 2013, then they'll go back to officially calling it the WWE Championship again.

 

[KitsuneDreamer]

I don't really throw out my "fantasy bookings" but this is an interesting topic.

I'm not sure that they both remain due to it being aesthetically pleasing, but maybe they haven't had only one title for a grand story-line?

What If...
At WMXXX Bryan wins, and goes to RAW the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
He starts to have his victory celebration, admiring the Yes Movement, and The Authority walk out claiming Bryan will never be the face of the WWE. Using their power, they dissolve the unification and give the WWE title to say Batista as the Corporate/Authority Champion and keep Bryan as the "B+" WHC Champion. With them constantly reminding him he isn't THE face of the WWE because he isn't the WWE Champion. Have them a great feud to say Battleground, Bryan wins, the titles become one (the one the Rock debuted), Battleground as a PPV is put on the map, and the Authority angle is over.

Just my theory. Cheers

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Damn John, I took my phone in to the bathroom to read your thoughts because I figured your post would amount to taking a dump, but I have to admit that whether or not you right - your idea is cool, makes sense and I am mad at myself for not thinking of it first.

I agree that the double belts pointed straight up is a cool visual. I also think it is odd that they didn't go to one belt. Seems to me that unless replicas of either belt are selling like hotcakes, you would expect WWE to have something new to put out and sell to the King Patrick's of the world. But they haven't done this and your reason is as reasonable as any for why they are dragging their feet.

Nice work, I would hire you as my bra salesman.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

The Network is the blatant reason for keeping the two belts right now... it keeps them visual and newbies to the Network will have a point of reference with the old PPV's seeing both belts defended. The visual of 2 belts also lends gravitas to the Mania 30 main event in that it's for "all the marbles". I can see Bryan winning it and the new belt being presented the following night, only for his shock defence/defeat...

 

[JohnJohnson]

Damn John, I took my phone in to the bathroom to read your thoughts because I figured your post would amount to taking a dump, but I have to admit that whether or not you right - your idea is cool, makes sense and I am mad at myself for not thinking of it first.

I agree that the double belts pointed straight up is a cool visual. I also think it is odd that they didn't go to one belt. Seems to me that unless replicas of either belt are selling like hotcakes, you would expect WWE to have something new to put out and sell to the King Patrick's of the world. But they haven't done this and your reason is as reasonable as any for why they are dragging their feet.

Nice work, I would hire you as my bra salesman.

Thanks GSB. I also believe that this explains why Cena vs Orton took place at TLC. It seemed weird that a title unification match did not happen at the biggest show of the year. It makes sense now. This is a way for the underdog to go in with nothing, battle all odds, and come out with everything. If they unified them at Wrestlemania, then Bryan would have had to go in as a champion rather than an underdog in the match. I think it would have still been triple threat due to the fact Batista would win the Rumble regardless. This just goes to show how long they have been planning this for Bryan. I think it's also interesting to note that, while Jericho beat both Rock and Austin for the belts, Bryan will have beaten Triple H, Orton, and Batista for the belts. That's a pretty big decoration.

 

[cherrickb]

What if they are going with the angle with having HHH win it. With DB being #1 contender thereafter. They feud back and forth for a few months, only to have DB beat trips for the belts at Payback, or Battleground perhaps ?

 

[Blade]

Why would Orton be the one to unveil a single World Title belt? When has a heel ever been the one to do something like that?

We had Hogan debut the eagle belt, I believe. Austin was the first to bring in the Attitude Era WWF title belt. Triple H got the Undisputed title when he won after Wrestlemania 18. Cena brought in the spinner. The Rock brought in the current WWE title.

Since the titles were unified, only Orton has held it. They're not going to let a heel be the one to do away with one belt, that's a very babyface moment.

Bearing in mind, I don't mean only faces reintroduce new belts. Triple H brought back the WCW title as the World Title with the help of Eric Bischoff. Cody Rhodes brought back the classic Intercontinental belt.

But the belts will probably be replaced by just the WWE title when the next babyface wins. Likely Daniel Bryan. He'll do his Yes chants at the end of Wrestlemania with both belts, then they'll likely do away with the World Title the next night. Because that's the role that faces have.

 

[JohnJohnson]

If they went with that plan, it would still involve Triple H holding both belts up in his typical pose and still allow for Daniel Bryan to have the same celebration when he picks it back up. I still think Bryan wins it. From a business aspect, it makes the most sense, and the majority of fans want it. I'm personally a huge Triple H mark, so I will not be sad wither way.

 

[lil steroid meat]

They have two belts because they just debuted the WWE Title and the WHC is more well known and they are trying to squeeze merchandise sales out of both.

That plus, the WM moment of Bryan celebrating will be that much better with a Yes chant lead by two big gold belts.

I'm sure that in the very near future, maybe as soon as the night after WM, a WWE World Heavyweight Championship belt with the new logo will be debuted.

Personally, I like having two belts, it legitimizes the title of being WWE World Heavyweight Champion even more.

But the obvious answer is merchandising. Plus marketing, they've been sending the WWE Title out to celebrities and they also want to milk that publicity.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

The answer to this is very simple. They're not sure what to do.

The "Big Gold Belt" has a legendary history in professional wrestling and they don't want to just get rid of it or get it off of TV. On the other hand, they just unveiled a new WWE championship belt last February. So WWE is stuck here. They're not going to throw away the belt they just unveiled and yet they're not going to throw away a legendary belt either. That's why they've kept both of them. IF they hadn't just changed the WWE title belt to a new design, I think there'd be a better chance that they'd unveil a new undisputed title belt like they did in the past.

 

[I.AM.KEMP]

I believe the reason why there are still two belts is because of the current WWE logo situation. They are slowly phasing the scratch logo away. My guess is they will redo the new WWE Championship belt with the updated logo.