Belts: A Love Story
I remember it like it was yesterday it was February 5, 1988 The WWF has a show called The Main Event on National TV. The main even was huge as it was the big rematch between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant for the WWF World Title.
I was a huge Hulk-A-Maniac and I was beyond stocked to see this match for free. Most remember the controversial ending, but for me the shining star of the night was the new WWF World Title. The Winged Eagle as it would be called made its debut and I thought it was the prettiest title belt I’d ever seen.
i remember thinking I have to get one of those even at a young age. I would try and draw it when making the cardboard backyard wrestling titles but never did it justice.
fast forward to my first NWA Legends Reunion Fanfest my friend Clyde and I walked into the merch room. Low and behold there was a belt table.
I had a budget for the weekend and was low on cash, my friend then purchased the belt for me on the spot. I had been going through a rough year and he thought this would lift my spirits. Well it did!
It wasn’t pricey as one would think, but it made my day I actually had Bret Hart sign the back of it.
While I’m not a huge Hitman fan, my hopes have always been to have HBK sign it too.
The wrestlers who have held this are: Macho Man, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, Sid, HBK, Ric Flair, Yokozuna, Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, Bob Backlund, Sgt Slaughter, and The Ultimate Warrior
my favorite is a tie: Macho Man and HBK
The Winged Eagle is almost overlooked in my opinion. Its not a belt that is on my top five but it is by far the most impactful belt that was actively wrestled for during my childhood and for that reason alone its still the belt I think of when I think of a World Heavyweight Belt.