The sacred, historic, revered 36lbs of GOLD....

So over at our dearly beloved excoboard (rip) Tony Brooklyn had mentioned in a post about the JMAR N/A title being sold off to a private collector. I loved that belt. To me it represents the first real move of the post WCW National Wrestling Alliance. I'm saddened that is since been replaced but I also can fully appreciate why. It held the distinction of being the first original design for the new NWA but when the new LLC Pro Wrestling Organization decided to revive the NWA National Championship they went old school and I think it was a smart move. The original National Championship probably won't go down in wrestling history as one of the more significant championships but in bringing back the old design the NWA paid tribute to its roots and I personally believe elevated the championship to a higher level than the original. I think its also fair to assume the physical belt that was transferred from PWO LLC to IWC LLC and replaced shortly thereafter is also in the hands of a collector. Of course I consider it common knowledge that the JMAR designed NWA World Tag Team Championship title belts were updated while TNA was in control of the world titles. The JMAR belts were split and one was gifted to the brother of the late, former NWA World's Heavyweight Wrestling Champion Chris Candido, Johnny Candido while it's sister is mounted and displayed in the office of TNA President Dixie Carter. I can't say for certain what became of the JMAR designed, newly reintroduced 10lbs of leather and gold? I would have to guess is sitting somewhere in the possession of The Beast Dan Severn. I do believe that a different belt was used at the first TNA PPV so if Severn isn't the current owner then maybe again, private collection.

This leads me to the title of this thread and the subject matter truly intended for this post. That being the legendary 36lbs? Or was it 42lbs? Either way I'm sure you know I'm referring to what I've affectionately come to refer to as the "GREAT BIG big gold" belt, the former NWA World (YES Henry I said WORLD!) Women's Heavyweight Championship!!!! Subtract the pride and respect and the originality and the balls (no pun intended) that it took to establish the NWA North American Championship and replace it with a bootleg Pakistani company, plenty of carnie, and good old fashioned Tennessee white trash and you get what is quite possibly the worst physical representation for a Worlds title outside of a trophy or plaque!!! I believe one of the Tenn Mikes had this belt commissioned and whether it was the one with teeth or the one without I think it's safe to label it an epic fail. Aside from the rainbows and literal butterflies "divas" belt in the WWE what can we say is the most common characteristic of a belt used in pro wrestling for a women's division? I think you've probably already figured out that it's the actual size of the belt itself. Not that there hasn't been a number of physically imposing female competitors in the sport but it's safe to say that the fairer sex mostly sport a smaller, feminine (I'd hope) frame. And because of the difference in body type it only makes sense that a women's championship belt be smaller. Don't tell that to Mike&Mike, although I'm leaning more towards Sircy on this one! They went out and had the largest belt ever imagined created. One thing I can appreciate about the updated WWE versions of the "Big Gold" is the curving of the center plate. The original crumrine will always be the best but for its size it was rather flat. I like the new version. Well Mike or Mike? seemed more inspired by Crumrine and even OUT Crumrine-ing Crumrine because they went bigger AND flatter as well! For those who haven't seen this belt google Kacee Karlyle or that sexy, hilljack Granny Tasha Simone with the tag NWA Womens Champion...er World Womens Champion, sorry Henry!!!

In spite of the negatives that OVERSHADOW this championship and partly just the absurdity of ordering whatever the Mike originally ordered and then receiving THIS monstrosity AND THEN on top of being aware of how ridiculous it looked deciding it was perfectly fine to go ahead and use I've sort of developed this strange obsession with the belt! Would I rather have that NA or National title? Duh. But those are off the market. But what of the "GREAT BIG big gold"? I know most collectors are highly outspoken against using Pakistani belt makers and wouldn't tarnish their snobby "belt collector cred" by having one in their possession. I can quite possibly see Tasha pawning the thing for $50 bucks and a hit of meth BUT she wasn't the last recognized champion to hold the belt. Oh and I was just joking. Tasha would never partake in something like that. I'm ashamed to even have suggested she would. Everyone knows she'd have been happy with $35!!! HIGH-0!!!! Haha I kid. But anyway I'm very interested in tracking this belt down. Anyone know of any leads? Where is our old PortCityWhiteBoy? Isn't he big into belts? Tony B? Can you elaborate on the whereabouts of the belt? Fred Richards do you remember the belt first being ordered and used and do you happen to know what Bobby Trobich and the rest of the board thought about this belt? I have a rough idea of what was paid for the belt so I have a figure of what I'd be willing to offer for it, roughly. So if anyone here can shed any light on "the cheese touch" of championships please fill me in and help make my dream of owning one of the most infamous pieces in NWA history a reality!

PS. I'm sure the cardboard has pretty much worn away at this point but a close 2nd on the shitte list has to be the old Mountain State Championship that Papa Stro wore. That thing was baaaaad to the bassura as well!

And thanks for reading guys. With that, God Bless ya and GOOD NIGHT.