The first question...
 

...is the one I still want answered, just where did the tradition of awarding your champion a hugeass belt begin?

At the fall of the Roman Empire.

You know, when they started letting heteros back in charge of things like fashion and wrestling.

Well, smaller than they are today, but still larger than the sort of belt that holds your pants up.

Well, belts are usually easier to carry around and exchange that large trophies. So they went with large ordimental belts. Also boxing and rodeos do the same thing (well rodeos just have belt buckles, but it is the same idea).

No dude, professional wrestling is where championships belts was created and they have a patent so no other sport can use them, dumbass