The Belt Thread

**CSL** · 07-25-2012, 07:08 PM

found this pretty interesting, stealing/copy and pasting word for word/pic for pic from a poster named Rule One on the fan forum. Will update the thread as he goes along

NWA World Heavyweight Title

First Belt

Dates in use: 7/1948 - 1959
First holder: Orville Brown
Last holder: Pat O'Connor
Maker: Unknown

Used before 1948, Orville Brown was the current World champion (Won 5/1/1948) and was recognised as the first National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight champion.
The National Wrestling Association (Then ran by the National Boxing Association board.) absorbed its title into the Alliance world Heavyweight title due to Lou Thesz winning the Alliance version.
During Lou Thesz's first reign as Alliance World Heavyweight champion he also unified the title with the Los Angles version of the World Heavyweight title and a few other associated World Heavyweight titles.

Second Belt

Dates in use: 1959 � 20/7/1973
First holder: Pat O'Connor
Last holder: Harley Race
Maker: Unknown

Belt changed to the second version during Pat O'Connor's reign.
Date unknown of when the second version of the title was presented.
Design has been reproduced by the Midwest team, Dave Millican and Reggie Parks, most notably for NWA Midwest.

Third Belt (Domed Globe)

Dates in use: 20/7/1973 - 14/2/1986
First holder: Harley Race
Last holder:Ric Flair
Dates in use: 27/8/1994 � Present
First holder: Shane Douglas
Current holder: Colt Cabana
Original maker: Unknown

Second maker: Joe Marshall.

Third maker: Dave Millican (Midwest)

Fourth and current maker: All Star Championship Belts

Original maker unknown � Believed to be made in Mexico.
Belt introduced presented during an event on the 20/7/1973. Harley Race received the title from Sam Muchnick but lost the title the same night to Jack Brisco.
Originally on red suede/velvet with belt buckle strap.
Releathered a few months into Jack Brisco's reign due to the material being unsuitable and beginning to fall apart. The belt had a name plate placement area but it was only used by Jack Brisco.
Supposedly features high traces of gold.
Had real jewels on both the main and side plates.
Wrecked during Terry Funks reign, damage to the globe which was replaced but again dinted, paint work destroyed on the main plate on either side of the globe which was then replaced with Onyx sheets, the side plates were jumbled in order after work was carried out on its strap, they were also repainted.
Featured wrong Canadian flag as the Maple Leaf was in use by then.
Kerry Von Erich etched/scratched his initials into the main plate during his 18 day reign.
Original belt is retired and is under ownership of Ric Flair. (WWE maybe paid his debts on the collateral used against the belt.) Was on display at WWE Wrestlemania 28 Axxess.
Joe Marshall (J-Mar) made two versions of the Domed Globe from 1994 up until 2003, a private collector swapped his pristine Midwest Domed Globe for a Midwest releathered J-Mar domed globe then later sold it on to another private collector.
Midwest made a few with subtle differences after the NWA-TNA split.
In 2008 the NWA used an anniversary edition of the NWA World Heavyweight title which featured red leathering and lacing, the plates were made in Pakistan and poorly made, this version was last seen held by Blue Demon Junior during his reign.
The new Sheik who became champion in 2011 refused to lose the title and was subsequently stripped by the NWA board, Sheik kept the belt because he had paid for it himself, the NWA used an earlier Dave Millican domed globe to crown the next champion which turned out to be Adam Pearce.
In 2012, NWA World Heavyweight champion Adam Pearce debuted a new variation of the Domed Globe made by All Star Championship Belts.

Belt is considered open source and has numerous copies/replicas out there. Each maker has their own design/twist on it but usually stay close to the blueprint of the original.

Fourth Belt (Big Gold)

Dates in use: 14/2/1986 � 9/1993
First holder: Ric Flair
Last holder: Ric Flair
Maker: Crumrine

Belt made by Crumrine of Reno, Nevada. Made in 1985 by Charles Crumrine, Jeanne Lashelle (Charles Daughter) and Victor Ortiz.

Belt was made from sterling silver and heavy electroplate 22k gold.

The belt was hand crafted/engraved.
The belt originally had real stones which were hand set. The real stones were popped out/stolen by wrestlers and pawned/sold, once the news spread, the stones were replaced with fakes but continued to be popped/stolen.
During its production the main plate barely fit into Crumrines plating tank due to its size.
The belt was commissioned by Nelson Royal who proposed its original (But never made.) design to Jim Crockett/NWA but it was passed upon.

Nelson had the designed modified to what it became and had it made out of his own pocket. The cost is said to have been $25,000 but Nelson received a better rate from Crumrine due him using them for his own belt buckle business, the real cost to Nelson was anything between $12,000-$15,000.
Upon seeing the finished product, NWA/Crockett bought the title from Nelson Royal.
The belt was debuted by Ric Flair on 14/2/1986 at the NWA Battle Of The Belts 2 event, it's television debut was the 22/2/1986. Ric Flair Introduces The Big Gold 22/2/1986
Originally featured Rick Flair on the name plate but it was sent back to Crumrine and a Ric Flair was produced for the title.

Three other name plates were ordered besides the Ric/k Flair plates; Dusty Rhodes, Ronnie Garvin and Stinger.

Was known as the WCW World Heavyweight title from January 1991 until July 1991 but kept the NWA World Heavyweight title lineage, the title was stripped from Ric Flair on the 8/9/1991 but the belt was not returned as Jim Herd refused to refund Ric Flairs $25,000 deposit on the belt. Ric Flair left to go to WWF with the belt and featured on WWF with it declaring it to be the 'real World Heavyweight title'. A cease and desist was sent by the NWA/WCW to which the WWF adhered to. Ric Flair eventually returned the belt following a court case and the NWA/WCW refunding Ric Flair's deposit plus extras (In total $25,000+) The belt was then used from August 1992 until September 1993 under the agreement NWA and WCW had. During September 1993, WCW seceded the NWA and used the belt as the WCW International Heavyweight title until 1994 where it returned to use as the WCW World Heavyweight title.

The Belt is considered open source and has numerous copies/replicas out there. Each maker has their own design/twist on it but usually stay close to the blueprint of the original. There is anything between 4-6 casts of the belt depending on who story you believe. Three have been made public:

Diamond Dallas Page's

Jeff Jarrett's, which is now in the possession of Hulk Hogan after the fiasco/incident/shoot at WCW Bash At The Beach 2000. Hulk Hogan attests it is the original and Ric Flair backs this story but it is not true.

WWF/E's inherited cast. Booker T was the final champion and was in possession of possibly Scott Steiner's cast and WWF inherited it via the buyout of WCW. The belt was used until 2003 when Triple H debuted Joe Marshall's (J-Mar) 3D big gold with the WWE logo. It was last seen used for promotional pictures/vignettes of Batista in 2005.

Only one copy has been made of the original belt by Crumrine for a private collector who paid in excess of $12,000 for it to be made and to have the rights to it. Jeanne Lashelle who had a hand in producing the original Big Gold did so with the copy, Charles Crumrine passed on a few years back and the whereabouts of Victor Ortiz is unknown, he left Crumrine years ago. A cast of this belt is available through Dave Millican's website from $2,500+. Crumrine will not produce another Big Gold for anyone else.

Fifth Belt (Dan Severn's)

Dates in use: 24/2/1995 � 14/3/1999
First holder: Dan Severn (Only holder of the belt.)
Maker: Joe Marshall

The belt was made by Joe Marshall (J-Mar) for Dan Severn who was the only one to use the belt and still is in possession of the belt. Only two copies/replicas are in circulation and are slightly different to Dan Severn's belt. His World lettering is painted Black whereas the copies/replicas are painted red. Dan Severn used the belt for some title defences but more often than not used the Domed Globe.

Dan Severn Belt

Copy/Replica

07-25-2012, 07:08 PM	#1
CSL Over Like Rover Posts: 38,444	The Belt Thread found this pretty interesting, stealing/copy and pasting word for word/pic for pic from a poster named Rule One on the fan forum. Will update the thread as he goes along NWA World Heavyweight Title First Belt Dates in use: 7/1948 - 1959 First holder: Orville Brown Last holder: Pat O'Connor Maker: Unknown Used before 1948, Orville Brown was the current World champion (Won 5/1/1948) and was recognised as the first National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight champion. The National Wrestling Association (Then ran by the National Boxing Association board.) absorbed its title into the Alliance world Heavyweight title due to Lou Thesz winning the Alliance version. During Lou Thesz's first reign as Alliance World Heavyweight champion he also unified the title with the Los Angles version of the World Heavyweight title and a few other associated World Heavyweight titles. Second Belt Dates in use: 1959 � 20/7/1973 First holder: Pat O'Connor Last holder: Harley Race Maker: Unknown Belt changed to the second version during Pat O'Connor's reign. Date unknown of when the second version of the title was presented. Design has been reproduced by the Midwest team, Dave Millican and Reggie Parks, most notably for NWA Midwest. Third Belt (Domed Globe) Dates in use: 20/7/1973 - 14/2/1986 First holder: Harley Race Last holder:Ric Flair Dates in use: 27/8/1994 � Present First holder: Shane Douglas Current holder: Colt Cabana Original maker: Unknown Second maker: Joe Marshall. Third maker: Dave Millican (Midwest) Fourth and current maker: All Star Championship Belts Original maker unknown � Believed to be made in Mexico. Belt introduced presented during an event on the 20/7/1973. Harley Race received the title from Sam Muchnick but lost the title the same night to Jack Brisco. Originally on red suede/velvet with belt buckle strap. Releathered a few months into Jack Brisco's reign due to the material being unsuitable and beginning to fall apart. The belt had a name plate placement area but it was only used by Jack Brisco. Supposedly features high traces of gold. Had real jewels on both the main and side plates. Wrecked during Terry Funks reign, damage to the globe which was replaced but again dinted, paint work destroyed on the main plate on either side of the globe which was then replaced with Onyx sheets, the side plates were jumbled in order after work was carried out on its strap, they were also repainted. Featured wrong Canadian flag as the Maple Leaf was in use by then. Kerry Von Erich etched/scratched his initials into the main plate during his 18 day reign. Original belt is retired and is under ownership of Ric Flair. (WWE maybe paid his debts on the collateral used against the belt.) Was on display at WWE Wrestlemania 28 Axxess. Joe Marshall (J-Mar) made two versions of the Domed Globe from 1994 up until 2003, a private collector swapped his pristine Midwest Domed Globe for a Midwest releathered J-Mar domed globe then later sold it on to another private collector. Midwest made a few with subtle differences after the NWA-TNA split. In 2008 the NWA used an anniversary edition of the NWA World Heavyweight title which featured red leathering and lacing, the plates were made in Pakistan and poorly made, this version was last seen held by Blue Demon Junior during his reign. The new Sheik who became champion in 2011 refused to lose the title and was subsequently stripped by the NWA board, Sheik kept the belt because he had paid for it himself, the NWA used an earlier Dave Millican domed globe to crown the next champion which turned out to be Adam Pearce. In 2012, NWA World Heavyweight champion Adam Pearce debuted a new variation of the Domed Globe made by All Star Championship Belts. Belt is considered open source and has numerous copies/replicas out there. Each maker has their own design/twist on it but usually stay close to the blueprint of the original. Fourth Belt (Big Gold) Dates in use: 14/2/1986 � 9/1993 First holder: Ric Flair Last holder: Ric Flair Maker: Crumrine Belt made by Crumrine of Reno, Nevada. Made in 1985 by Charles Crumrine, Jeanne Lashelle (Charles Daughter) and Victor Ortiz. Belt was made from sterling silver and heavy electroplate 22k gold. The belt was hand crafted/engraved. The belt originally had real stones which were hand set. The real stones were popped out/stolen by wrestlers and pawned/sold, once the news spread, the stones were replaced with fakes but continued to be popped/stolen. During its production the main plate barely fit into Crumrines plating tank due to its size. The belt was commissioned by Nelson Royal who proposed its original (But never made.) design to Jim Crockett/NWA but it was passed upon. Nelson had the designed modified to what it became and had it made out of his own pocket. The cost is said to have been $25,000 but Nelson received a better rate from Crumrine due him using them for his own belt buckle business, the real cost to Nelson was anything between $12,000-$15,000. Upon seeing the finished product, NWA/Crockett bought the title from Nelson Royal. The belt was debuted by Ric Flair on 14/2/1986 at the NWA Battle Of The Belts 2 event, it's television debut was the 22/2/1986. Ric Flair Introduces The Big Gold 22/2/1986 Originally featured Rick Flair on the name plate but it was sent back to Crumrine and a Ric Flair was produced for the title. Three other name plates were ordered besides the Ric/k Flair plates; Dusty Rhodes, Ronnie Garvin and Stinger. Was known as the WCW World Heavyweight title from January 1991 until July 1991 but kept the NWA World Heavyweight title lineage, the title was stripped from Ric Flair on the 8/9/1991 but the belt was not returned as Jim Herd refused to refund Ric Flairs $25,000 deposit on the belt. Ric Flair left to go to WWF with the belt and featured on WWF with it declaring it to be the 'real World Heavyweight title'. A cease and desist was sent by the NWA/WCW to which the WWF adhered to. Ric Flair eventually returned the belt following a court case and the NWA/WCW refunding Ric Flair's deposit plus extras (In total $25,000+) The belt was then used from August 1992 until September 1993 under the agreement NWA and WCW had. During September 1993, WCW seceded the NWA and used the belt as the WCW International Heavyweight title until 1994 where it returned to use as the WCW World Heavyweight title. The Belt is considered open source and has numerous copies/replicas out there. Each maker has their own design/twist on it but usually stay close to the blueprint of the original. There is anything between 4-6 casts of the belt depending on who story you believe. Three have been made public: Diamond Dallas Page's Jeff Jarrett's, which is now in the possession of Hulk Hogan after the fiasco/incident/shoot at WCW Bash At The Beach 2000. Hulk Hogan attests it is the original and Ric Flair backs this story but it is not true. WWF/E's inherited cast. Booker T was the final champion and was in possession of possibly Scott Steiner's cast and WWF inherited it via the buyout of WCW. The belt was used until 2003 when Triple H debuted Joe Marshall's (J-Mar) 3D big gold with the WWE logo. It was last seen used for promotional pictures/vignettes of Batista in 2005. Only one copy has been made of the original belt by Crumrine for a private collector who paid in excess of $12,000 for it to be made and to have the rights to it. Jeanne Lashelle who had a hand in producing the original Big Gold did so with the copy, Charles Crumrine passed on a few years back and the whereabouts of Victor Ortiz is unknown, he left Crumrine years ago. A cast of this belt is available through Dave Millican's website from $2,500+. Crumrine will not produce another Big Gold for anyone else. Fifth Belt (Dan Severn's) Dates in use: 24/2/1995 � 14/3/1999 First holder: Dan Severn (Only holder of the belt.) Maker: Joe Marshall The belt was made by Joe Marshall (J-Mar) for Dan Severn who was the only one to use the belt and still is in possession of the belt. Only two copies/replicas are in circulation and are slightly different to Dan Severn's belt. His World lettering is painted Black whereas the copies/replicas are painted red. Dan Severn used the belt for some title defences but more often than not used the Domed Globe. Dan Severn Belt Copy/Replica signature [sig-nuh-cher, -choor] Yeah.