Every Major Wrestling Title Ranked From Ugliest To Most Beautiful

1. IWGP Heavyweight Championship

AEW World Tag Team Championship
NJPW

The IWGP Heavyweight Championship is delightfully large, which might be considered unwise, since New Japan traditionally does not book gigantic performers to that esteemed level. But it never looks like it doesn't fit; it's as if those who earn the belt literally have to prove themselves worthy of carrying its immense weight.

Like the best, most seminal New Japan classics, it is loaded with detail. The elongated top of the plate design looks like a crown on top of a crown, implicitly putting the title over as the achievement of achievements that it is. The side plates don't merely feature the name or, worse, branding of the current holder.

The grand lineage is literally etched into it, in what is an important acknowledgement and daunting reminder of the legacy its current holder must maintain and improve upon to continue it.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!