World Heavyweight Championship - Who do you think of?

[The Crock]

World Heavyweight Championship​

The series is back! Today's installment is all about the World Heavyweight Championship, but mostly the Big Gold Belt. This belt design came into use in 1985, with Ric Flair as the first champion. It was the NWA World Heavyweight Championship until 1991 when WCW was formed it then became defunct in 2001 only to return in the WWE in 2002. The Big Gold Belt has been held by many legends, including Sting, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, and Bret Hart. It is one of the most prestigious belts in wrestling history and is surely going to be held in high regard until the day it is retired.

I sat down and thought about who came to mind, then it hit me. One man really just epitomizes this belt:

Ric Flair​

He was an 8-time holder of the Big Gold Belt. No other man has ever really come to mind with this belt. He carried the belt with pride, and at one point even refused to give it up. Flair really worked hard to make the belt as prestigious as it is today. Flair busted his ass for years so that this belt would be considered a high level championship. Flair had many notable moments with this belt all coming in WCW/Jim Crockett Promotions. He feuded with greats like Sting, Vader, Savage, and Hogan. He held the belt for an amazing amount of time and will forever be the guy I think of.

What do you guys think? What are your thoughts?

 

[Ferbian]

Well obviously there would have to be two different people to think of for this championship, considering it was vacated for a good while only to eventually return.

We've already covered Ric Flair, who is hands down the guy to remember for the NWA and WCW world heavyweight championship period. However, there's the WWE period of the championship that definitely deserves a COMPLETELY different mention.

It's so obvious. This guy is the longest reigning WWE world heavyweight champion, and the guy was in the title scene for 3 of it's 7 years existence. This is the guy that dominated and controlled the RAW title scene for the period of 2002-2005 with this championship. And he solidified himself at the top of the business with Evolution and the World Heavyweight Championship.

A lot of people tend to think a lot of the reigns were unwarranted, and that he should've dropped the belt to a few specific people here and there. Yet I would like to say that I enjoyed more or less everything about Triple H during this period, and I think without the championship around the waist of Triple H for so long, Evolution would've severely flopped after a while.

Not only did Triple H create stars, but he created the WWE legacy of this championship. And he should definitely be remembered for it. I'd like to think he's the second person next to Ric Flair to be remembered for wearing this championship in total to be honest, even though there have been some other great reigns. But next to Flair, Triple H is the man with this championship.

 

[nbieclkl91]

Well obviously there would have to be two different people to think of for this championship, considering it was vacated for a good while only to eventually return.

We've already covered Ric Flair, who is hands down the guy to remember for the NWA and WCW world heavyweight championship period. However, there's the WWE period of the championship that definitely deserves a COMPLETELY different mention.

It's so obvious. This guy is the longest reigning WWE world heavyweight champion, and the guy was in the title scene for 3 of it's 7 years existence. This is the guy that dominated and controlled the RAW title scene for the period of 2002-2005 with this championship. And he solidified himself at the top of the business with Evolution and the World Heavyweight Championship.

A lot of people tend to think a lot of the reigns were unwarranted, and that he should've dropped the belt to a few specific people here and there. Yet I would like to say that I enjoyed more or less everything about Triple H during this period, and I think without the championship around the waist of Triple H for so long, Evolution would've severely flopped after a while.

Not only did Triple H create stars, but he created the WWE legacy of this championship. And he should definitely be remembered for it. I'd like to think he's the second person next to Ric Flair to be remembered for wearing this championship in total to be honest, even though there have been some other great reigns. But next to Flair, Triple H is the man with this championship.

I completely agree. If we're talking about WWE's version of the strap then yes, Triple H is definately who I think of. He was the first to wear it and probably the guy who brought the most prestige to the title.

 

[Calderownz]

Two different people, honestly. Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.

I think of Hogan because of the fact that when he was in WCW, he had it about 85% of the time.

I think of Ric Flair because when he held it, it looked like it belonged. He was just a great looking champion, so to speak.

Currently, I think of Edge. Not because because of his current reign, just because he's held it a few times most recently.

 

[#hamler]

Edge​

I'm very bias on this decision. When ever I think of the World Heavyweight Championship, I can't help myself but to think of my favorite Superstar, Edge. Edge has put on numerous feuds with vets like Undertaker, Kane, and a little with Triple H in 2008. Edge holds the record for total number of World Championships with 6 reigns. Edge has no doubt done his share of bringing prestige to the title, one of the greatest heels in a good while. Edge was someone who dominated Smackdown for at least two years and most of that time, he craved the gold. Beating the likes of Rey Mysterio, and Jeff Hardy. Edge is probably the guy I think of most when I picture the World Championship.

 

[UFOcalling]

Unfortunately, I was a late-bloomer when it came to being a wrestling fan. I watched a bit in the late 80s & early 90s, but I wasn't a "fan"...I just had friends who were fans and I remember them being ga-ga for Hogan, Savage & Warrior. I only became a "real" wrestling fan in the late 90s, when the second "big boom" (or whatever you'd call it) happened. I started watching WCW when the nWo was already pretty big (around '97 or so). During this period, I was strictly a WCW fan.

The point of that whole paragraph was to point out the fact that when I think of the Heavyweight Championship, I think of it's time in WCW in the late nineties (from 1997 until it DIED). When I think of the belt in this time period, I think of four guys: Hollywood Hogan, Flair, Sting & Goldberg (yes, Goldberg).

I know that Flair was already given a rave review by The Crock, and I agree with Calderownz's reasons for why he thinks of Hogan (I still want to picture the black spraypaint on the belt when I see it). Sting was mentioned too, but I think Goldberg had a really prestigious reign with the belt as well.

I know this might not be a very popular answer to your question, but I really do think of Goldberg when I think of the World Heavyweight Championship. Goldberg definitely won't go down in history as one of the all-time greats, and a lot of his title defenses were against total jobbers (during his first title-reign)...but during the time of his first reign he was pretty damn popular, and so was WCW (and wrestling in general).

Goldberg held the World Heavyweight Title during one of wrestling's highest peaks (definitely the highest for WCW that I can think of while I was a fan), and he also added prestige to the title by having his undefeated streak coincide with his first title-run.

Hell, one could easily argue that WCW's inevitable turn for the worse started right around the time when Goldberg lost his title to Nash; and we all know what happened after that. In my opinion, Goldberg was the last "true" champion to hold this belt in WCW (at least the last really "prestigious" WCW champ), so that's why I think of him when I think of this belt. I know Goldberg held it at least one more time before WCW went belly-up, but I'm only talking about his first reign (when the streak was still alive).

 

[jh715]

When I think of the Big Gold Belt, I think of the eras and they were mentioned above. NWA, WCW and WWE eras. In those three era's many legends held the belt such as Bret Hart, Hogan, Flair, Triple H etc. So, I'm going to give 3 answers to this.

NWA Era: Ric Flair. This man epitomized the Big Gold Belt. He held the title 8 times, took it with him to the WWF in 1991 proclaiming himself to be the "real World Heavyweight Champion" (I am aware that was after WCW was created but it was a great moment)and was involved in some of the greatest promos, matches and moments in wrestling history. When you think of the Big Gold Belt during its time in the NWA, Ric Flair is the first man I think of.

WCW Era: Hulk Hogan. During Hogan's time in WCW, he pretty much owned the belt. In his first match in WCW, he won the belt from reigning Champion, Ric Flair at Bash at the Beach 1994 and after that, pretty much held on to the belt holding it in 6 reigns, holding it for 1,177 combined days. Twice as much as Ric Flair who held it for only 507 days combined. But my point is, since Hogan won the belt in 1994, during the WCW era of the Big Gold Belt, Hogan is synonymous with that title. Okay, Nash, Sting, Goldberg, Bret Hart, Sid Vicious, Booker T and not to forget David Arquette and Vince Russo held the belt, but to me during its time in WCW, Hogan is the guy I think of.

WWE: Triple H. Triple H was handed the WWE version of the Big Gold Belt, now known as the World Heavyweight Championship on September 2nd 2002, has had 5 reigns with the belt and held it for a combined total of 616 days. During those reigns he defended it against RVD, Kane, Shawn Michaels, Scott Steiner, Booker T, Kevin Nash, Goldberg, Chris Benoit, Randy Orton, Edge and Batista (I'm sure there are more but can't remember them right now). He has also defended the belt in 2 Elimination Chamber matches, won it in the 3rd Elimination Chamber at New Years Revolution 2005, defended it in Last Man Standing matches, 2 Hell in a Cell matches, Street Fights and many more. He also defended the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 19, 20 and 21 When this belt was given to him, like Hogan, he chased it constanty and was pretty much always in the title picture as a challenger. He is the man I think of when it comes to the Big Gold Belt in WWE.

 

[marklouis]

When I saw the pic of the belt, the 1st name that came to mind was Ric Flair. He practically owned the belt for a long time. But the more I think about it, my most vivid image of the belt is Hollywood Hogan holding it with the letters "NWO" painted in black on its face. That's my favorite era of pro wrestling, & even as I type this, I'm seeing Hogan play the belt like a guitar as his Hendrix theme plays in the background. So, I guess I'm flipping, & Hollywood Hogan is my answer.

 

[No Count Pup]

When I think of the World Heavweight Championship, I think of Triple H and Edge. Between those two grapplers, they've held the title 11 times. However, I also think of Batista.

From 2005 through 2007, the World Heavyweight Championship was the property of Smackdown. During that time, Smackdown was Batista's show. Batista carried the blue brand while fueding with the likes of JBL, Eddie Guerrero, Booker T, Kane, Edge, and The Undertaker. Batista is also the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history.

Pre-2002, I always think of Ric Flair when I think of the Big Gold Belt. In my view, he made the belt so iconic. The belt was his whole world, and that's what made the title seem larger than life.

 

[Shakin' Abe]

I think of David Arquette. When they gave him the strap, even as a gag, it ruined wrestling for me. Since then,the belt in any promotion has never meant anything again. I don't want to believe it's just a prop. I want to believe that the top guy or gal is the best that promotion has to offer and that person is who puts the asses in the seats at the shows.

 

[eromenation18]

As I'm looking at this belt and reading these posts, I could think of a million people who resembles this precious belt. However as I can't just put one, I will put three people who make me think of this belt.

1. The first is Booker Huffman. Even in his WWE days he constantly reminded the fans of his five reigns as WCW Champion, so right away when I think of this belt I think of Booker T.


2. Ric Flair- I think this is pretty obvious here. Flair will go down in history as being the greatest World Champion of all time. For the better part of Flairs career, he was constantly shown with this belt whether it was in the NWA or WCW. So of course he would make the top three.

3. Dave Batista- I really going to catch a lot of heat on this one but thats okay. Throughout the last 5 years which wrestler has made you think of the World Heavyweight Championship. For me it was Batista in so many ways. In my opinion, Wrestlemania 21 was a huge stepping stone for the WWE because it created two big stars for the future, John Cena and Batista. Batista took this belt from HHH who held it for a while and carried it into the limelight as the WWE's ratings continued to improve. Also for quite sometime, Batista defended this belt on Smackdown when there was nothing else going on with the show.

So even though I'm just suppose to pick one, I chose three, what ya think?

 

[MancMark]

The WWE era of this belt really means nothing to me as I haven't watched any of it. I pretty much only think of it as a WCW belt, as that's how I grew up seeing it. So I won't bother giving a WWE era name, because honestly I couldn't really give 3 shits as to who has held it since WCW ended.

From WCW there's so many names. It's my favourite of all the belts I think. Hogan comes to mind because he held it all the time. The NWO paint on it, playing it like a guitar. That was pretty iconic. The other name that springs up, and the proper one I'll put forward, is Sting.

Sting was the franchise of WCW. It seemed like he would bleed for that company. So immediately the big title comes to mind. When he finally beat Hogan and took the title away from the NWO, it was such a moment. It looked like it mattered. He probably never held it as much as he should have, but when he did, the title seemed (and looked) special to him. Also he's my favourite wrestler ever, so whatever.

 

[CerebralViper96]

In WWE,I think of Triple H and Edge.Edge has the most reigns.Triple H is the longest reigning...simple enough.In WCW,I think of Hulk Hogan,Mr,Hulkamania was pretty much the main guy in the late 90's version of WCW and he's the longest reigning

 

[RJJ]

1- Ric Flair: The greatest World Heavyweight champion of all times. He won the title 8 times(Holding a record). Also, flair is the oldest wcw champion when he won it back in 2000.

2- Hulk Hogan: During the 90's, Hogan held the WCW title longer than anyone. He won the title 6 times. Beating savage, lugar, flair, nash, show, for the title.


3- Triple H: 2002-2005 the guy owned the title, beating everyone, Goldberg, HBK, Nash, RVD, Booker T, Orton, Kane, Flair, and the list goes on and on... He was dominating, untill his match against batista.

 

[TheRealDeal]

Whenever I see the belt.. the only person I could think of is HHH, Goldberg and Batista... Cause HHH really pushed this belt to a new level and held it most of the time during 2002-2005. Batista's reign in WWE was mostly of WHC title and well Goldberg cause I was remebering his match against HHH i watched few nights ago

 

[King Patrick Star]

The Big Gold!!

When I think of the WCW Championship, the Superstars that come to mind are Ric Flair for being the first WCW Champion and for winning the WCW Title 8 times, and Hulk Hogan for holding the Title for a combined 1,177 days.

When I think of the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship (hardly ever), the Superstars that come to mind are Ric Flair for being the first International Champion and Rick Rude, who not only also held the Title 3 times, but for holding the Title for a combined 202 days.

When I think of the World Heavyweight Championship, the Superstars that come to mind are Triple H for being the first WWE World Heavyweight Champion (You know what I mean) and for holding the Title for a combined 616 days, and Edge for winning the Title 6 times.

 

[Hawkeye]

I think of Eric Bischoff,HHH, and how much I hated Raw because of them. I watch wrestling as a mark,and I did especially years ago when they were just running rough shod on monday nights screwing people left and right. Now everytime I think of the WHC I think of that time in WWE history.