Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 07:33:28 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 13:19:01
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Questionable trophies of triumph. Ceremonial belts have been awarded to athletes after epic victories for decades. But for all the glory of receiving such a tangible symbol of success, these large, shiny, and expensive prizes have also raised questions about their practicality and even their aesthetic appeal. So, eyebrows were certainly raised when tennis champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz were presented with custom-made WWE Championship belts, shortly after their US Open triumphs.
The unusual gifts were presented to the pair by former professional wrestler and WWE executive Paul Levesque, better known as Triple H, during the CBS Sports ceremony held at the US Open Champions Dinner on Monday.
Speaking at the event, 23-year-old Alcaraz, who claimed the men's singles title in September, said, "I've watched WWE since I was a kid, I've always dreamed of having a title like this."
WWE has a long history of celebrating athletes from other fields, including football, and NBA, and even NBA 2K22 cover star Stephen Curry, handing over their own customized belts.
But the tradition has not been without its controversies. Several champions, including NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, have complained that the belts were unwieldy and awkwardly large, particularly for indoor awards shows.
At the ceremony, the women's singles champion from Belarus had nothing but good things to say about her new belt, saying, "I really like it, it's very heavy, it's crazy,"
Despite the eyebrow-raising nature of these oddly-shaped trophies of triumph, it seems that WWE's ceremonial belts still hold a strong draw for athletes and fans alike.
Conclusion:
Whether you view them as bold testaments to athletic success or questionable awards, it seems that WWE Championship belts are here to stay. At least we can rest assured that these belts, however large or awkward, are undoubtedly unique.
And uniquely strange gifts fit the bill for some of the most memorable and atypical awards shows around.