General Opinions on Nameplates/Side Plates on Championships

[CMWaters]

A discussion elsewhere got me thinking about this.

While the Big Gold in the 80s was the first real title to have this type of customization, it was in 2002 when WWE started to put it on all its titles that the nameplate on championships thing carried on. Even if the plate was hard to find, like on the Divas championship, each title had one and would continue to do so until the mid 2010s. That's when the first version of the current WWE Championship look debuted, and introduced the idea of a custom side plate to the title, a practice that has been taken up by every title in WWE now save for the main roster tag team titles.

So, what's your opinion on the nampelates and side plates? Nameplates I don't mind that much as they're usually relatively small and could be seen like how on sports trophies names are added on every year to them (or just a name added to a trophy if it's one that the person can keep). Side plates are mixed for me...I like titles having a default look, but the side-plates can give a hint to a wrestler's character by how the logo on the plates look (though sometimes it doesn't really amount to much, like how Jinder Mahal had just his name there for a bit).

One argument against both is that it kind of cheapens a moment in the immediacy of winning a title, as they are celebrating their victory while the prior champions' nameplate or side plates are still displayed, making it not really feel the title is "theirs" just yet.

Anyway, your opinions?

[salz4life]

Meh... It's just a sign of the times, I guess. I remember the old belts (maybe it was only in NWA) having flags of the world as sideplates on the World Title. I'd rather see that, but that was probably a territorial thing, so... The nameplates on the front aren't bad... but I think the custom sideplates are a bit much.

[Mayonnaise]

Not big on the side plates but I like name plates. It's like the person claiming ownership of the title. Like even though I'm not a big hockey fan, the Stanley Cup is my trophy in sports because of the engraving and being good enough to get your name on there.

It's also why I like the old IWGP and Big Green WWF Titles, that history of having the former and current champs on there just makes it seem that more elite to me

[Cyno]

I like the nameplates. Not a big fan of side plates though.

I also like when different champions have different colored straps or even main plates, like the old WWF Intercontinental Championship or the AEW TNT Championship.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Jul 8, 2022 22:27:30 GMT -5 Cyno said:

I like the nameplates. Not a big fan of side plates though.

I also like when different champions have different colored straps or even main plates, like the old WWF Intercontinental Championship or the AEW TNT Championship.

I'll agree with you.

Though I'd rather the championship just be generic and everyone wears the same one.

But guys like Warrior and Shawn changing the leather colour was always cool.

[Hit Girl]

Both awful.

The title should remain the same, regardless of champion.

[A Platypus Rave]

Really like the name plates on them.

Putting that this is the person that owns it... as stated a little like the Stanley Cup...

the Side Plates are a bit too TOYETIC! MERCHANDISING! for my taste.

["Sweet & Sour" ImSoFudginGreat]

Echoing others so far, I like name plates. I even liked promo shots after the match where they’ve got the old persons name on the belt, like “it was theirs but now it’s mine” kinda mindset. They also don’t completely change the look of the belt which side plates do. I’m also a fan of different colour straps like Ultimate Warrior had during his title reigns.

[Mozenrath]

I like nameplates, even if it's a little funny how when someone new wins the title, you have shots of them holding a title with someone else's name on it. Plus, do people keep their nameplate once they've lost the title? If so, that's kinda cool, but I have no idea if that's the case.

Sideplates, I am largely indifferent towards, provided they're not too gaudy. Speaking of, sort of surprised I've never seen a custom belt with LEDs in it. That seems inevitable.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Jul 9, 2022 4:51:03 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I like nameplates, even if it's a little funny how when someone new wins the title, you have shots of them holding a title with someone else's name on it. Plus, do people keep their nameplate once they've lost the title? If so, that's kinda cool, but I have no idea if that's the case.

Sideplates, I am largely indifferent towards, provided they're not too gaudy. Speaking of, sort of surprised I've never seen a custom belt with LEDs in it. That seems inevitable.

Naomi put lights on the SmackDown Women’s Championship after she won it for a second time in 2017, that’s as close as there’s been.

[Muskrat]

I loved the nameplates. Makes it seem that much more special for the champion, there’s a reason they used to put out videos (and I think AEW still does the videos) of the changing of the nameplate

[CMWaters]

Jul 9, 2022 15:05:55 GMT -5 Muskrat said:

I loved the nameplates. Makes it seem that much more special for the champion, there’s a reason they used to put out videos (and I think AEW still does the videos) of the changing of the nameplate

Every now and then I've seen them do that with the side-plates too, though I haven't searched in a while. Last one I remember for sure was Carmella getting some when she won her first title.