10 Strange Things WWE Champions Did With The Belt
4. Replaced It Entirely (Stone Cold Steve Austin)
Stone Cold Steve Austin's "Smoking Skull" belt was cool enough that the company built an entire storyline around it when 'The Rattlesnake' returned to the apex of the organisation at WrestleMania XV.
Last seen as Vince McMahon screwed Austin out of the Championship the prior September, the title had, in kayfabe at least, sat on McMahon's mantlepiece all that time. But was 'The Chairman' luxuriating in his ownership of the sacred strap more shoot than work?
Quite possibly. The prize was devised entirely by Stone Cold Steve Austin without permission from his gaffer. Unhappy with the redesigned WWE Championship belt (not least because the sharp edges on the first version actually cut him up), he acted upon advice from Road Warrior Hawk and had a personalised belt made that McMahon only because aware of when Austin took it to television.
It became a much-loved part of his original act, and survived a second stint when Austin traded title wins with The Undertaker in 1999.