The brand extension is getting closer and the latest rumors suggest that the World Heavyweight championship will be brought back. The WWE retired the Big Gold Belt in 2013 but it could make a return to SmackDown as its own world title.
The WWE Draft will be held on July 19 to kickoff SmackDown going live on the USA Network and the brand split. The two brands will now feature two distinct rosters but there is still no official word if there would be two world championship belts.
According to Cageside Seats, Dean Ambrose was only referred as the WWE champion in the latest episode of Monday Night Raw. The term "World Heavyweight" was dropped for the first time in three years. It has led to a lot of speculations that the old World Heavyweight championship is going to be the top prize on SmackDown.
It has been rumored since the announcement of the brand extension that The Shield trio will be the top stars on Raw while John Cena, Brock Lesnar and A.J. Styles headline SmackDown. Many fans are opposed to having two world titles but it is necessary since the WWE wants to boost the ratings of SmackDown.
Someone like Cena, Lesnar or Styles holding the belt will be a big deal. Even so, more superstars such as Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Cesaro can be elevated to being a world champion. According to IGN, the new elevated stars will have the opportunity to main a pay-per-view and prove their worth in the company.
The World Heavyweight championship was retired in 2013 when Randy Orton defeated Cena at TLC to become the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight champion. The WWE borrowed the design of The Big Gold Belt from the old NWA and WCW championship.
They could always introduce a new belt design but the World Heavyweight champion is one of the best-looking titles the WWE ever had. Other championship designs that the WWE can bring back is the Winged Eagle belt of the 1990s and the Undisputed WWE championship from the early 2000s.
Check out the video below for Orton's celebration for becoming the "Champion of Champions."