World Heavyweight Championship (professional Wrestling) - Nomenclature

Nomenclature

The name of the promotion is often preceded to the term "world heavyweight championship" as the complete name of the title. Examples of this included the ECW World Heavyweight, WCW World Heavyweight, and WWF World Heavyweight Championship. However, some are also correctly known simply as the "World Heavyweight Championship" without bearing the name of an organization. In some cases, this occurs in organizations where other world heavyweight championships are also competed for, as was the case in the AWA during 1960s and 1970s, the NWA and WCW in the early 1990s, and in WWE today.

Due to the term "world heavyweight championship" being applicable to any World Heavyweight Championship in general or to a specific one in particular, this often creates confusion over which championship is being referenced when the term is used. This is often the case when noting the accomplishments of Ric Flair, who is recognized by WWE as being a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion. The actual reference is made to Flair's accumulated NWA, WCW, and WWE Championship reigns.

Other championships have also been referred to as simply "world titles" despite not being World Heavyweight Championships. These often include championships with various classifications, including stipulation-based or weight class. Examples of such championships include the ROH World Television Championship and NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship.

Promotions can also recognize subordinate titles to world heavyweight championships that are often designated as regional, national, or international championships. Examples of these subordinate titles include the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, WWE United States Championship, and WWE Intercontinental Championship, which are regional, national, and international subordinates respectively.

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