Replica belts and the fans that have them

[Big BosskMan]

As an older wrestling fan, one thing I've noticed is the boom in replica belts, the ones that cost serious money and look legit.

Some fans, and I'm sure there are some here, display them as part of personal collections or bring them to fan fests where one might expect to see them given the environment.

Others, so I've noticed on social media (mainly Instagram), walk around with these belts in public - not connected to attending a live event - and reenact scenes as if they are the title holder, which strikes me as a bit of wrestling LARPing.

For those here who own replica belts, do you keep those private and/or only show them off within the context of an event like a convention?

Or is your fandom on more of a public display 24/7? And if so, why?

I'm also left wondering how some of these superfans pay for these belts due to quantity of replicas they show as well as the quality.

[The Creepo Man]

I don’t purchase that stuff but I was invited to SummerSlam 2019 by a friend who moved to Toronto only a few weeks back at the time. One of my wrestling buddies who would appear at every local show in town and jot down notes of all the results gave me $500 to purchase a bunch of merchandise. He wanted a few T-shirts and either one of the NXT North American or the Universal titles. I went with the first one since the second one was significantly more expensive and the shirts were over $200.

Tragically, he passed away last May at age 50. He gave his collectibles to his best friend. Hopefully he’s still got his pencil and notebook in the sky recording all of our shows.

[Deleted]

Mine are on display on shelves like my other memorabilia. I wouldn't want to take them out and get them scratched up, and I definitely wouldn't take them to a live show.

They're cheaper than you think, but mostly for a sketchy reason - there are a lot of bootleg belt makers that are based out of places like Pakistan, and typically those are of much better quality than the official replicas, and hundreds of dollars cheaper, to boot. They have thicker and more curved plates, better etched detail, and real leather straps.

You're typically looking at around $200 a belt for those.

The WWE Shop ones have straps that are pleather over cardboard, thinner plates, and you can forget about getting the correct WWF block or scratch logo. They're officially licensed, but you're getting into bigger money.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

I never owned one. Often thought about it but never could decide which one I want first. I want one that looks like the real deal and doesn't come off as cheaply made. Why I never brought one from WWE shop, because I heard about what was said above. Kind of a turn away.

[Instant Classic]

Growing up in the Ruthless Aggression era I one day want a replica spinner belt.

[mattyy]

I bought what I thought was a replica of the IWGP US Title at McKays in Nashville, but with how heavy it is and how beat up it is, I'm starting to think it was a ring used belt. I've bought bootlegs and they feel nothing like this.

[Andee9001]

I own the previous version of Undisputed belt that's on WWEShop so not the new one with the curve or as much detail. Don't want to replace it because it has sentimental value to me. I bought it in Orlando during Mania 33 week.

I also have a few Fandu belts. Got a World title with a tooled strap and i put a New York nameplate on it because i got it at Wrestlecon in 2019. I also picked up the Fandu Tag Team and Backlund belts that were on sale and have a few minor flaws. I'm also going to order the NWA title soon too.

I also collect the WWEShop mini belts. Usually order them in bulk when they are on sale because international shipping ain't great. I've got a version of all the NXT belts, a few modern designs but now i'm focusing on the older belts.

[Mozenrath]

I'd consider it if I wanted to set up a space for this kind of thing. As it is, that's a lot of money for something that'd take up a shitload of space.

[S-Chrome]

I've got a litany of WWE Shop replica belts. I wouldn't go to wrestling events with them, even if I had any interest whatsoever in attending shows/conventions/etc.

In fact, I put many of them in storage due to the embarrassment of purchasing as many as I did at the time.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

I'd get them if I had any realistic ability to create my dream mancave and use them to decorate, but I wouldn't take them to shows and whatnot.

[héad.casé]

I have a couple of replica belts. The first one I bought was a kids size ECW World Title, as a kids size belt was very cheap at the time and I just wanted to see what they were like.

Then I got an adult size WWF Winged Eagle belt as I grew up a wrestling fan in the 80’s and that belt design IS the WWF World Title to me.

Then 10 years ago I bought an adult size replica of the original NWA:TNA X-Division Title that had been signed by AJ Styles off eBay. It’s funny how different the X Title is to WWE’s replicas.

[Malcolm]

I got a Jakk's commemorative WWE Championship belt and 3 mini belts(WWE, 24/7, and Million Dollar).

My dream is to someday own a full size Million Dollar Championship belt. That or Big Gold. Either or.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I own a few replicas, but I would never take them to shows unless I wanted to get them signed and I knew there was a meet and greet at the show, which I have done a few times.

Otherwise, there is no benefit to bringing them to shows, as they are quite clunky to carry around, even if you wear it around your waist (standing up and sitting back down is a pain), and you needlessly risk damaging the belt or getting it lost or stolen.

[johnnyk9]

I love my replica Million Dollar belt

[Ultimo Gallos]

Never got a replica,only ones I have wanted was Mid South North American title and Watt's UWF World title. But got the above belt right at 2 years ago.


It was the Hoodmark Lucha Libre World Title,won by Matt Cross at the first hoodmark show in 2019. Hoodmark folded and the 3 belts got split between the 2 guys who ran Hoodmark. The belt Cross one was put up for sale and I got it.

Was made in Argentina and is heavy very heavy. The match when Matt Cross won it was against Ricky Reyes. Who is appearing on a BIW show this year. Gonna get a picture of Ricky and I with the belt.

Now since the guy who owns the other 2 hoodmark belts,and has had a minis and women's title made,has the belts going around the southern indies. I have renamed the belt I have to the Heelmark Lucha Libre Central American Heavyweight title.

I do bring it with me when I vend at shows. Had a few kids and some adults ask if they could take a picture wiith it. Only other time I've had it out in public was this last Halloween. Friends threw a Halloween/Husbands birthday party. So we went as Jubilee(Fox Kids Xmen cartoon version) and Ultimo Gallos HEELMARK Lucha Libre Central Amerian Heavyweight Champion.

[Deleted]

Jan 15, 2022 18:33:34 GMT -5 Big BosskMan said:

As an older wrestling fan, one thing I've noticed is the boom in replica belts, the ones that cost serious money and look legit.

Some fans, and I'm sure there are some here, display them as part of personal collections or bring them to fan fests where one might expect to see them given the environment.

Others, so I've noticed on social media (mainly Instagram), walk around with these belts in public - not connected to attending a live event - and reenact scenes as if they are the title holder, which strikes me as a bit of wrestling LARPing.

For those here who own replica belts, do you keep those private and/or only show them off within the context of an event like a convention?

Or is your fandom on more of a public display 24/7? And if so, why?

I'm also left wondering how some of these superfans pay for these belts due to quantity of replicas they show as well as the quality.

I have 14 replicas ecw, wcw, roh, and nwa and i display them in detolf cases next to my custom wrestlefest arcade cabinet and my loose wwf hasbro set. They are conversation pieces for guests nothing more. I wouldnt ever take one to a show just because of the responsibility of it. I work in IT for financial reference.

[ianriccaboni]

I have a purple Matt Taven ROH World Title in my office. My favorite title while at ROH.

[tafkaga]

I never understood the appeal. With that said, I have a few thousand dollars worth of action figures in boxes in my closet.

[Kalmia]

I think they look really cool as display pieces. I don't get the appeal of standing at a show with one though.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Jan 16, 2022 18:34:57 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

I think they look really cool as display pieces. I don't get the appeal of standing at a show with one though.

How else will people know you’re a bad motherf***er and had $500?