WWE Championship’s Record 12-Year Design Prompts Fan Calls for Redesign

The current WWE Championship design has been in official use in its present form since 2014. That marks twelve years—the longest stretch in the promotion’s history without a complete redesign. Combined with widespread dissatisfaction toward the most recent aesthetic adjustment, fans are now vocally urging a change.

A Dozen Years with the Same WWE Championship Design

There is no fixed schedule for updating WWE championship aesthetics. Some titles remain largely unchanged for decades. Although numerous minor variants have appeared over time, the current WWE Championship is the seventh iteration since the outset of the WrestleMania era, beginning with Vince McMahon’s leadership in the 1980s.

The first iteration of the title under McMahon was the one Hulk Hogan won and carried for four years. That was replaced by the Winged Eagle, still the most beloved WWE Championship design, which remained in place for ten years. That was the longest a design had ever been in use until the current version of the championship surpassed it.

• WWF World Heavyweight Championship: 1984-1988

• Winged Eagle: 1988-1998

• Attitude Era Winger Eagle: 1998-2002

• Undisputed: 2002-2005

• Spinner: 2005-2013

• Scratch WWE Logo: 2013-2014

• Current Design: 2014-Present

The current design has now served as the WWE Championship for twelve years. As Owen Hart famously stated, “enough is enough, and it’s time for a change.” A clip of CM Punk wearing the title at a live event appears to have intensified fan demands for an overhaul, with the recently added gold finish on the long-tenured belt serving as the catalyst for calls to redesign.

The Current Design Has Outstayed Its Welcome

WWE

There have been a few different versions of the current championship. This new golden version was introduced when Cody Rhodes was champion, and it was arguably a better fit for his aesthetic. It does look a little odd on Punk, and if WWE listens to fans, it might take this opportunity to create a new WWE Championship from scratch.

It isn’t that simple, though. Titles take months, if not years, to design and create. Unless WWE has had a new one in the works for a while, which is possible, then this current model will extend its 12 years on top long into the future.

I don’t think the WWE that exists today is all that interested in changing title designs, and that’s why this one has been in place longer than any to have come before it, even though it isn’t anyone’s favorite. Much like the company’s set designs, the edict for the WWE Championship seems to be to keep it simple and clean. It’s inoffensive, or at least it was until WWE added too much gold, and it’s easy to make replicas that can then be sold for hundreds of dollars.

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