13 Wrestling Matches That Cost Wrestlers Their Custom Belts

3. Laycool’s Split Women’s Championship

Gold Ic Goldust Ahmed Johnson
WWE.com

On SmackDown (14 May 2010), Vickie Guerrero pitted Women’s Champion Beth Phoenix against Lay-Cool, Layla and Michelle McCool, in a handicap match. Layla pinned Phoenix, however both members of Lay-Cool claimed to be co-champions, each with their own title belt.

When Teddy Long demanded they choose a solo champion, a tug of war over the official belt ensued. However, the championship plate snapped down the middle creating a token for both women. Aesthetically the design was far from “flawless”.

Michelle McCool (Women’s Champion) vs. Melina (Divas Champion) - Lumberjill Match

Night of Champions 2010

In the run up to the unification match, Layla lost her chance to defend her share of the Women’s Championship, after McCool rigged pulling names from a hat, garnering extra heel heat. McCool went into the match portrayed as an underdog. Melina was a dominant competitor, and every lumberjill had issues with McCool, even her co-champion.

Though Layla was not a legal competitor, her allegiance became the match’s story arc. She initially stood by scowling while the lumberjills piled on McCool, but confirmed her true loyalty helping her partner win. The split Women’s Championship was unified with the Divas Championship. Lay-Cool again declared themselves co-champions sporting a title each.

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An English Lit. MA Grad trying to validate my student debt by writing literary fiction and alternative non-fiction.