WWE has renamed the WWE World Championship for the third time in 2016.
In 2014, the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships got merged together to become the “WWE World Heavyweight Championship.” This would stay the same until June when WWE renamed the belt the “WWE Championship.” However, about one month later, it would get renamed again to the “WWE World Championship” and remain this way for the next five months.
Well, WWE has chosen to go through yet another name change for SmackDown’s world title. WWE’s website now notes that there is a “WWE Championship”, and has AJ Styles holding the belt. Styles has been the WWE World Champion since winning the title from Dean Ambrose at September’s Backlash pay-per-view.
For the third time in 2016, WWE has renamed this belt. pic.twitter.com/h5uh28v5ej
— Daily DDT (@FanSidedDDT) December 10, 2016
WWE didn’t previously note a reason for the belt changes earlier in the year, and likely won’t do the same. It is interesting that they decided to drop “world”, though. This could be to match up to the name “WWE Universal Championship,” which doesn’t have “world” in it because that probably wouldn’t look too aesthetically pleasing.
On the other hand, since WWE has toyed with the name so many times in 2016, maybe this was just a change of heart from someone like Vince McMahon. Using “world” doesn’t necessarily make or break the name of the championship, but maybe it does to the WWE executives.
However, the first time WWE renamed the belt it came just weeks before the introduction of the Universal Championship for the brand split. Could there be something in store once again for the world titles? What would that be, if anything?
This title name change will likely go into effect for Tuesday’s episode of SmackDown then, which will feature Styles on the show. Are you in favor of WWE switching the name of the Blue Brand’s top belt? Or does it not matter that much?
More from Daily DDT
This article originally appeared on 
