5 ways to bring back the World Heavyweight Championship

It may seem a little bit odd given that the title was only officially retired just under six years ago by WWE, but a whole lot of fans are intrigued by the possibility of seeing the World Heavyweight Championship - also known as the Big Gold Belt - make a comeback.

It's one of the most prestigious championships in the history of professional wrestling dating back over many, many decades. While it took a knock or two towards the end of its last run, we still think there's a lot of 'fire left in the tank', so to speak.

Nobody truly knows one way or the other whether or not any given title is going to get over with the fans but when you're talking about the World Heavyweight Championship, we think it's safe to say most would be on board.

Today, we're going to try and delve into the ways in which this could actually work.

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#5 Tournament

Could it happen?

If an announcement is made far enough in advance that WWE is bringing back the World Heavyweight Championship, it would give fans a whole lot of time to debate as to whether or not it's a good idea. You'd probably have to first vacate the Universal Championship or some way, shape or form, given that three world title belts would be a bit silly and there's no way the WWE Championship would be the one to go.

However, all debate would turn into excitement if WWE decided to put on a tournament to determine the first (in the new lineage) World Heavyweight Champion.

An eight-man tournament could potentially work but if we're being really greedy, throwing 16 men in there would be a lot of fun, too. That way you could have superstars from both brands, with the WWE Champion landing on whichever brand doesn't win the WHC.

#4 Fan Poll

Let the fans decide

While the United Kingdom may be sick and tired of hearing this word, a referendum could be a good way in which to try and bring back the World Heavyweight Championship.

The best way to go about doing it would be as follows: ask the WWE Universe whether they'd prefer to see the Universal Championship or the World Heavyweight Championship on a week to week basis. Two options with no messing around.

Then, you could legitimately have people campaigning for either side before an official decision is made in the form of a democratic vote.

It'd be unlike anything we've seen in quite some time and if we're going to stick our necks out on the line and guess, we would assume the World Heavyweight Championship belt would win in something close to a landslide.

Even if it loses, it'd give the Universal Championship a nice boost with the knowledge that fans are starting to gravitate towards the belt after four years of existence. It's not much, but it's something.

#3 ‘Business’ Arrangement

It's all about the money

When the World Heavyweight Championship was re-introduced back in September 2002, it was awarded to Triple H by Eric Bischoff in what was a fairly historic moment at the time. It felt like more of a business arrangement than anything else and while some fans may not be on board with that concept, even now almost two decades later, we think there are quite a few stars it could benefit.

Whether it be through blackmail, paying someone off, or courtesy of a secret that gets revealed down the road, the idea that the title could be 'bought' would really throw a lot of heat behind whichever heel ends up wearing it first.

It'd also build up quite a nice storyline that could run for months. With nobody knowing the true source behind how the title has come back into existence, the guessing game would lead to all sorts of interesting conspiracy theories.

It's a risky move for WWE to make but we believe it could pay off in a big way.

#2 Destroying Universal Title

It's been a good run

Over the years we've actually witnessed quite a few belts being destroyed on WWE programming, often to the amusement of the fans. Alas, while it may not seem like the most dignified end for any given title, it'd definitely put a bit of weight behind the story that's taking place around the belt being dismantled.

The Universal Championship has had a decent enough run in the last few years, but we do think it's almost time to say goodbye. One way in which we'd be interested in seeing it go out would be via 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt destroying it himself, perhaps deeming it 'not worthy'.

Alternatively, whoever beats him for the title could proceed to throw it in the trash in favour of the World Heavyweight Championship taking its place on a permanent basis.

It's all about the image at the end of the day, and the image of someone holding the WHC is still much more powerful than the image of the Universal Championship being over somebody's shoulder.

#1 Starrcade

It just feels right

Starrcade has been used as a glorified house show and nothing more across the last few years with many fans questioning why WWE hasn't decided to bring the WCW classic back as a full-time pay per view.

If they were ever going to do that, then it just feels right to see the World Heavyweight Championship being brought back on the very same show. While the belt has enjoyed an incredibly long lineage, there's an argument to be made - and a pretty big one - that World Championship Wrestling was the true home of this title.

Honouring WCW may not be at the top of WWE's wishlist and we can understand that to a certain extent, but this would be up there with ECW One Night Stand in terms of all-time 'testimonials' if you will.

We don't know who would challenge for the title, but really, that isn't even the point. The point is that pro wrestling was somehow better with this championship in it, and it's time for the exile to end.