“Stone Cold” Steve Austin shocked fans in 1998 when he ditched the WWE Championship for a personalized version of the belt, featuring his smoking skull logo on the center plate and snakeskin backing.
Since then, WWE introduced various customized championships. The most notable — and notorious — were John Cena’s spinner titles in the 2000s, which divided traditionalists and newer fans.
In recent years, WWE has found a middle ground that keeps titles focused on the brand while still personalizing them
for individual holders: custom side plates.
Typically, these plates feature a wrestler’s name in bold lettering or their signature logo. But the concept isn’t entirely new. Instead, it’s the evolution of a long-running tradition.
In the 1970s, the NWA “Domed Globe” World Heavyweight Championship featured an engraved nameplate of the reigning champion. That continued with the introduction of Ric Flair’s “Big Gold Belt” in 1985, which carried over from the NWA to WCW and later WWE.
In 1986, WWE tried something similar for a short time. Seemingly inspired by early boxing belts, it put a picture of then-champion Hulk Hogan on the center plate. Fans later called it the “Hogan Mystery Belt,” as WWE used it only briefly before returning to a traditional look that focused on the company and the championship name.
Originally, having a name engraved on a plate was an honor reserved for the world champion. Today, WWE offers plates for nearly all title holders. But the custom bling isn’t just for champions.
WWE’s online store sells replica plates that fans can add to the company’s replica titles. Though the selection is limited in 2026, it includes stars like Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley. In the past, WWE offered plates for icons like Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, and Randy Savage, even though side plates didn’t exist during their era.
Some of the more popular designs among fans are Rhodes’ “American Nightmare” logo, AJ Styles’ “P1,” and Randy Orton’s “RKO” with a viper slithering over the top. It’s a unique twist on an old concept that pays respect to the past while keeping up with the times.
