All that glitters
SmackDown has just as much championship gold as Raw.
Wearing championship gold is what sports is all about – and the World Wrestling Entertainment is no exception. But don’t think that the belts are fake gold and sequins – they cost an absolute fortune! “Most of the WWE belts are mine,” explains beltmaker Dave Millican. “The WWE Championship, the World Heavyweight Championship… crafted by my hands.” Each one costs the WWE over $50 000 (R650 000) and “I spend months on each belt,” says Dave. “They can have up to 630 cubic zirconia stones and each champion has two: one that they travel with and one for video promos.”
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
Created: 25 April 1963 What it is: originally called the World Heavyweight Championship, this is the oldest and most- coveted title in the WWE business.
Holder: Jinder Mahal, who defeated Randy Orton at the Backlash pay-perview in May 2017.
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
Created: 1 January 1975 What it is: SmackDown’s version of the Intercontinental title. It’s part of the WWE Grand Slam established in 2015 – recognition of wrestlers who’ve won four official championships.
Holder: AJ Styles, who won a triplethreat title match in July 2017.
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
Created: 23 August 2016 What it is: SmackDown’s version of the Raw Women’s Championship. The belt design is almost identical to Raw’s title. Holder: Natalya, who beat Naomi at SummerSlam in August 2017.
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Created: 23 August 2016
What it is: following the 2016 draft split, SmackDown needed a tag team title after the WWE Tag Championship moved exclusively to Raw. Other than having different colour leather (red for Raw), the belts are identical.
Holders: Big E and Kingston, who beat Jey and Jimmy Uso in September 2017 in a Sin City Street Fight.