What championship belts actually count when talking about breaking Flair's 16-title record?

[Emperor Smeat]

All this talk about title records and Flair's record of 16 titles had me thinking of which belts would actually qualify as being a "major" title and worthy enough to be considered in the totals.

Does the TNA title actually count post-NWA years or is it more of an ROH/old ECW title of being a smaller belt in status?

It can't be just any belt or else Lawler basically doubles Flair's total alone with his Memphis championships.

So far everyone agrees that the NWA, WWF/E, and WCW championship counts for official total but do any of the Indy or foreign promotion titles officially count?

[Rammsteinmad]

It's mainly the World/WWE Championships (including the World Title in WCW), as Christian isn't considered a 'four time world champion', however, if he went to TNA again he would be.

I personally count the TNA title though. Say what you will about the company, but it's still the #1 title in the #2 wrestling organization.

The record really just depends on what company the wrestler is working for, since WWE don't acknowledge TNA's existence.

[CSL]

I'd count WWE, WCW, ECW (original), NWA, TNA, IWGP and GHC, ROH at a big stretch. In regard to the WWE not acknowledging TNA's existence part, it depends on the guy. They were never going to mention it in relation to Christian because the whole story was based around him "finally making it". If Flair for example had won the TNA title before his final run in WWE, I'm pretty sure they'd have counted it. It all depends on what they're trying to get over.

[itsmeJD]

It's hard for me to count the TNA title as I still see it as the SMW of 21st century wrestling companies.

[GD]

Although the WWE recognizes NWA World title reigns of wrestlers such as Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair, NWA World title reigns of wrestlers such as Christian, Rhyno, Colt Cabana and Ron Killings who have won it since the belt's association with TNA aren't recognized.

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID1734/images/nwaflairbelt_32133.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1071/551793895_a94d0f3719.jpg

http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling3/fivestarcentral/wcwworldbelt.jpg

Although the WWE-ECW Championship's world title status is disputed, the original ECW Championship was a spin-off from the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/NewECWchampbelt.jpg/800px-NewECWchampbelt.jpg

The WWE doesn't acknowledge the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, yet.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/TNA_World_Heavyweight_Championship.JPG

[Xero]

Let's see. The NWA title at its height (Ric Flair, etc) vs. The NWA title as just another indy title (Cabana, etc). Yeah, I wonder why WWE doesn't recognize the current NWA champions.

I debated putting "glorified indy title" here, but I don't think it's even glorified at this point.

[DLVH84]

I for one recognize WWE, TNA, WCW, ECW (original), AWA, NWA, WCCW/WCWA, CWA (Otto Wanz' promotion), NJPW, AJPW, NOAH, ZERO1, and WWA as having World title status, as all those promotions have international credibility, as the champions defended their respective titles around the globe, giving their promotion's names worldwide recognition.

[Xero]

ECW defended their title "around the globe"?

[DLVH84]

Yes, in FMW in Japan, as they had a talent exchange thing in the late-1990s, early-2000s, similar to what WCW and NJPW had.

[Fox]

WWE will only recognize the WWE, World Heavyweight, and WCW World Title at World Title runs. I highly doubt they will EVER recognize TNA's World Title as a "countable" World Title, unless Vince buys TNA some day, in which case they might include it.

TNA probably counts everything since they have no shame.

[GD]

Let's see. The NWA title at its height (Ric Flair, etc) vs. The NWA title as just another indy title (Cabana, etc). Yeah, I wonder why WWE doesn't recognize the current NWA champions.

I debated putting "glorified indy title" here, but I don't think it's even glorified at this point.

Back in the days, if you won the belt, you were to deposit $25,000 to the NWA treasurer. It was to ensure that the Champion would not leave the company with the belt. The deposit would be refunded once you lost the strap with interest. Nerds :roll:

WWE will only recognize the WWE, World Heavyweight, and WCW World Title at World Title runs. I highly doubt they will EVER recognize TNA's World Title as a "countable" World Title, unless Vince buys TNA some day, in which case they might include it.

TNA probably counts everything since they have no shame.

They also consider Kurt's olympic gold medal as a World Championship.