[CSL]

TNA World Heavyweight Title

First Belt

First Holder: Kurt Angle
Last Holder: Jeff Hardy
Dates In Use: 14/5/2007 – 8/11/2010
Maker: Dave Millican

• The first TNA World Heavyweight title was introduced due to the split from the National Wrestling Alliance on 13/5/2007. Some say it was because Christian Cage refused to defend it against regional NWA promotion wrestlers but others think that TNA wanted to get away from the NWA stigma and move forward with their own branding/promotion. Given that new titles were made without any association to the NWA and were on hand just a day after the split, it is more than likely the latter.
• The title is a redesign from a customer of Dave Millican's. The original design cost more in artwork/design than the actual cost of the belt itself. It was made for a private collector who also owns the first replica of the TNA/Midwest licence deal. The licence deal ended quite quickly between Midwest and TNA due to TNA's conduct. TNA did/does not look after their belts which costs thousands of dollars and many hours to produce and would send them back to Dave Millican for repairs quite often, expecting a quick turn around without justifiable compensation or consideration to Dave Millican and his business. There are very few Midwest replicas of TNA's belts although the TNA World Heavyweight title can still be bought as part of the Figures Inc deal. Those belts are not the same quality as Dave Millican's work and are around a sixth of the price you would pay for his replicas of the TNA belts.
  
  
  
• Christian Cage was recognised as the NWA World Heavyweight champion and lost the title in a controversial manner to Kurt Angle on the 13/5/2007. Jim Cornette announced the Kurt Angle was the TNA World Heavyweight title on the 14/5/2007 (Impact did not air until the 17/5/2007.) but was stripped later that same night due to the finish of the match on the 13/5/2007. The belt made its first appearance on the 15/5/2007 edition of TNA today with Jeremy Borash. Kurt Angle regained the title on the 17/6/2007 at TNA Slammiversary in a king of the mountain match. TNA recognises Kurt Angle as the first TNA World Heavyweight champion but does not acknowledge the fact until the 17/6/2007.
• The belt took quite a beating during its time in use, TNA unable to send it back to Dave Millican for repairs generally did their own work to keep costs down, by the end of usage most plates were repaired by drilling Chicago screws through them to keep them attached to the leather. The plating began to strip and they even sawn off a piece of the belt to make it symmetrical. At times they used Figures Inc replicas for television broadcasts. Rob Van Dam carried one throughout his reign as champion.
  
  
  
  
  
• The belt was last seen around the waist of Eric Young but it served little to no purpose.
• Seven out of the eleven TNA World Heavyweight champions have held this version of the title.

Second Belt

First Holder: Jeff Hardy
Last Holder: Sting
Dates In Use: 8/11/2010 – 14/3/2011
Maker: Top Rope Belts

• Made by Top Rope Belts and designed by Jeff Hardy/Top Rope Belts, the belt cost around $3,000-3,500 to produce but between Jeff Hardy/TNA/Top Rope Belts, the numbers float anywhere between $8,000-12,000. It is available to order from Top Rope Belts.
• Initially only meant for Jeff Hardy's reign but also used by Mr Anderson and Sting. The belt was introduced on the 8/11/2010. (Impact aired on the 11/11/2010.)
• The belt was last seen being thrown from the ring by Hulk Hogan in anger due to Jeff Hardy's conduct.

Third Belt

First Holder: Sting
Current Holder: Austin Aries
Dates In Use: 14/3/2011 – Present
Maker: Wildcat Championship Belts

• Made by Wildcat Belts, the belt features seven plates, nine relief/stacked plates, a logo plate and a relief/stacked, logo'ed tip. (A relief/stacked plate is a plate on top of another plate, usually smaller than the one it is attached to.) The belt is for the TNA World Heavyweight champion but only features the word World on the logo plate. A replica can be produced by Wildcat Championship Belts for anything between $2750-3000 depending on the features you want on/with it. A Figures Inc replica can also be purchased for a fifth/sixth of the price of the Wildcat Championship Belts replica. There seems to be very little differences between the two replicas aside from the price.
  
  
• The belt was introduced on the 14/3/2011 (Impact aired on the 17/3/2011.) by Sting, the belt was thought to be in production during Jeff Hardy's reign but took longer than expected to finish. A second belt was produced due to its size, the leather strap being shortened so it made for a comfortable fit for the champion.
  
  
  
• Six out of the eleven TNA World Heavyweight champions have held this version of the title.

Overall there have been eleven TNA World Heavyweight champions over the five years and counting it has been in use with nineteen title changes. (TNA does not count/recognise Kurt Angle's initial 14/5/2007 reign as of September 2008.)