Cody Rhodes talks "pipe dream" of bringing back the Winged Eagle Championship

[Chris]

Cody Rhodes says he has a "pipe dream" of bringing back the "winged eagle" WWE Championship belt.

The 2023 men's Royal Rumble winner spoke about his affinity for the belt design on Wednesday's episode of The Bump. Rhodes said he would like to bring the belt back should he defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.

Rhodes said:

Through my youth, the WWE that I was watching was really synonymous with the Winged Eagle. I think there is a lot of people who love the Winged Eagle design. Some people like the big eagle but the Winged Eagle was the one for me.
Today's design with the giant W is also incredibly special because it's this walking billboard for the promotion.
I don't want people to think I'm calling a shot, I don't want people to think I'm going into business for myself. The reality is I was able to change the Intercontinental Championship once before, which seemed absurd.
If I'm able to get to the finish line, biggest WrestleMania of all time, SoFi, in Hollywood, if I'm able to get to the finish line and get my hands on these things that, like I said, that have alluded my family up until now... maybe it's just a pipe dream, maybe it's just a thought, a glimmer, but it would be fun to just say let's just boil them down and bring back the Winged Eagle.
It's just a little pipe dream, I had the same pipe dream with the Intercontinental title and I was lucky enough to make that come to fruition so follow along, because this is where the fun begins.

WWE's Winged-Eagle championship belt design had a remarkable first day in existence. It was introduced to wrestling fans as Hulk Hogan made his ring entrance on February 5, 1988, for a title defense against Andre the Giant on The Main Event. 33 million viewers tuned in to see Andre, with the help of the Hebner brothers, defeat Hogan. Andre then surrendered the title to "The Million Dollar Man" Ted Dibiase but Jack Tunney, who was then the company president in storyline, ruled it to be vacated. A tournament a WrestleMania IV was scheduled to determine a new champion. The Winged-Eagle design was eventually retired in 1998 in favor of The Big Eagle.

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/cody-rhodes-has-pipe-dream-of-bringing-back-wwe-winged-eagle-title-belt

 

[Rosie]

I absolutely believe some of WWE's belts could use an upgrade. The US and IC titles did have a change not too long ago which the US got a bit of an upgrade imo, IC is decent apart from the fact it got rid of the best belt in wrestling history. If the belts remain unified then I 100% would love a proper new belt that isn't just a giant WWE logo colour coded to a show.

 

[Dale]

Never happening, the current belt is way too fitting for them when they're handing them out to everyone.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Never happening, the current belt is way too fitting for them when they're handing them out to everyone.

Did you forget the man got WWE to bring back the Classic IC though? If they wanted to they could always go back to the look once he loses it because we all see him beating Roman Reigns.

 

[Dale]

Did you forget the man got WWE to bring back the Classic IC though? If they wanted to they could always go back to the look once he loses it because we all see him beating Roman Reigns.

Not at all, there's just a massive difference between switching a midcard belt that's only ever seen on their programming, to switching up their main belt that's seen on a variety of different shows when they make appearances, red carpets etc.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Not at all, there's just a massive difference between switching a midcard belt that's only ever seen on their programming, to switching up their main belt that's seen on a variety of different shows when they make appearances, red carpets etc.

Like I said they could always go back to it. If you willing to make Spinner and Smoking Skull Belts for the World Title why not go back to the Winged Eagle for whatever amount of time Cody holds it. I imagine Austin, Cena, and Edge had their Custom World Titles during those appearances so why not do it here even though I highly doubt it happens.

 

[Deezy]

Winged Eagle belt always sounded dumb.....what eagle doesn't have wings?

 

[CakeWalker]

 

[Rosie]

This is my sleep paralysis demon.