If you haven’t tuned into a Friday night in a while, or maybe you just took a break after WrestleMania 40, you might be looking at the screen right now thinking, "Wait, what is that around her waist?" Honestly, nobody blames you. The belt situation in WWE has gone from "traditional" to "total overhaul" in what feels like the blink of an eye.
We aren't just talking about a fresh coat of paint on the old designs. We’re talking about entirely new lineages, secondary titles for divisions that have been begging for them for decades, and even experimental championships that live on social media. It’s a lot to keep track of. Basically, the TKO era has decided that more gold equals more stakes, and they’ve been handing out leather and hardware like it’s going out of style.
The Midcard Revolution: Women’s United States and Intercontinental Titles
For years, the biggest complaint about the women’s division was the "all or nothing" problem. You were either the world champion or you were just... there. That changed in late 2024 and early 2025.
The WWE Women's United States Championship finally landed on SmackDown, and it didn't take long for it to become a workhorse title. Chelsea Green made history by becoming the inaugural champion on December 14, 2024, but the gold has already seen some serious wars. As of early 2026, the belt is currently in the hands of Giulia, who is already in her second reign after a brutal back-and-forth saga with Green.
Then you’ve got the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship over on the red brand. This one felt prestigious the second it was announced. Lyra Valkyria was the one to first hoist it on January 13, 2025. But look at where we are now: Becky Lynch currently holds the title. She took it from Maxxine Dupri during the massive Raw on Netflix anniversary show on January 5, 2026. It’s clear WWE is using these new belts in WWE to give the heavy hitters something to fight for when they aren't in the world title picture.
The Speed Championships: Wrestling in the Twitter Age
If you’re a fan of high-octane, "don't blink or you'll miss it" action, the WWE Speed Championship is probably your favorite weird experiment. These matches happen exclusively on X (formerly Twitter) and have a strict five-minute time limit.
It started with Ricochet—who else?—becoming the first-ever Speed Champion in May 2024. But the title has taken some strange turns since then. For a while, the title was held by a character called El Grande Americano. If that sounds like a masked gimmick, it’s because it was; Chad Gable originally wore the mask, but Ludwig Kaiser actually stepped into the role later when Gable got sidelined with an injury.
As of right now, the Speed gold has found a more permanent home. In late 2025, NXT General Manager Ava announced that both the Men’s and Women’s Speed titles would be moved to the NXT brand. Jasper Troy is the current Men’s Speed Champion, having won it in November 2025, while Fallon Henley holds the Women's Speed Championship after a "sudden death" overtime thriller against Zaria.
The Crown Jewel Championships: Diamonds and Drama
Every year, the Saudi Arabia shows seem to get more extravagant, but 2024 introduced something that actually stays in the trophy case. Sort of.
The WWE Crown Jewel Championship is a bit of a weird one because the winners don't actually defend the physical belts on weekly TV. Instead, the reigning world champions from Raw and SmackDown face off once a year to determine who the "top" dog is.
- 2024 Winners: Cody Rhodes and Liv Morgan.
- 2025 Winners: Seth Rollins and Stephanie Vaquer.
Instead of carrying the massive, diamond-encrusted belts home, the winners get a custom Crown Jewel ring—kind of like a Super Bowl ring. The actual belts stay on display at the WWE Experience in Riyadh. It’s basically a massive bragging rights trophy, but in the world of new belts in WWE, it’s the most expensive-looking one they’ve got.
Changes at the Top: The Undisputed Rebrand
We also have to talk about the fact that the "Universal" name is officially dead. After Roman Reigns’ historic run ended, WWE finally retired the Universal lineage in April 2024. What we have now on SmackDown is simply the Undisputed WWE Championship.
The design is that big, gold-plate "Network Logo" style we've seen, but the name change matters for the history books. Cody Rhodes carried that weight for a long time, but we just saw a massive shift. On January 9, 2026, Drew McIntyre finally got his moment in front of a live crowd, defeating Cody in a Three Stages of Hell match to become the new champion.
What’s Actually New in 2026?
It’s not just the main roster getting new toys. NXT has been a breeding ground for these new concepts. The NXT Women’s North American Championship has become one of the best-booked titles in the company. Kelani Jordan was the face of that belt for a while, but it’s currently around the waist of Izzi Dame, who pulled off a shocking upset against Thea Hail at New Year’s Evil just a few days ago.
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Here is a quick reality check on who is holding what right now in this new landscape:
- Women's Intercontinental: Becky Lynch (Raw)
- Women's United States: Giulia (SmackDown)
- Speed Champion: Jasper Troy (NXT)
- Women's Speed Champion: Fallon Henley (NXT)
- Crown Jewel Champions (2025): Seth Rollins & Stephanie Vaquer
The "Why" Behind All This Gold
A lot of old-school fans think this is "participation trophy" booking. I get that. If everyone has a belt, does anyone really have one? But the nuance here is about the roster size. WWE has more "main event quality" talent right now than they did in the Attitude Era.
Without the Women’s Midcard titles, people like Chelsea Green or Lyra Valkyria would just be spinning their wheels. These new belts provide a "reason" for 15-minute TV matches that actually mean something. Plus, from a business perspective, WWE Shop is cleaning up on replica sales. If you see a new belt on TV, you can bet there’s a $500 version of it on the website within 24 hours.
Practical Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're trying to keep up with all these changes, here is how you stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Taped Shows: Titles like the Speed Championship often change hands during tapings that don't air for a week. Check the spoilers if you want to be the "first to know," but WWE is getting better at keeping the big moments for the actual air date.
- The "Netflix Effect": Now that Raw is on Netflix, expect title changes to happen more frequently on "free" TV. The days of titles only changing at PLEs (Premium Live Events) are mostly over.
- Replica Quality: If you’re a collector looking for the new Women's US or Intercontinental replicas, keep an eye on the plate thickness. The newer "Legacy" series belts often have better detailing but higher price points than the standard Commemorative versions.
The landscape is still shifting. With rumors of a "Women's Tag Team" expansion or even a dedicated "Hardcore" style revival for the midcard, the belt rack in the locker room is only going to get more crowded. For now, just enjoy the fact that more people are getting a chance to hold the gold.