Side Plates: The Personalized Touch That Makes a Championship Belt Yours

In the world of professional wrestling, few moments are more iconic than when a new champion receives their belt—freshly adorned with personalized side plates. It’s the final, defining mark of victory. More than just decorative additions, Custom side plates for wrestling belts have become one of the most personal and prestigious elements in modern combat sports memorabilia.

Whether you’re a fan, a cosplayer, an athlete, or a collector, custom side plates offer a way to make a belt unmistakably yours. They transform replicas into tributes, gifts into heirlooms, and off-the-shelf belts into legacy-defining icons.

🏆 The Legacy of Side Plates in Modern Wrestling

Side plates have always existed on championship belts, but they took on a more meaningful role during the last decade—especially in promotions like WWE. Traditionally engraved with generic logos, side plates became customizable when WWE introduced personalized designs featuring a champion’s symbol or initials.

Think about Roman Reigns’ unmistakable side plates featuring his emblem, or Seth Rollins’ burning cross logo etched into gold. These weren’t just visuals—they became extensions of their character, branding, and championship narrative.

Suddenly, fans and belt collectors wanted in. Today, side plates are a must-have feature for anyone serious about owning a belt that tells their own story.

🔍 What Are Side Plates and Why Do They Matter?

Side plates are the smaller decorative plates mounted on either side of the central plate on a championship belt. While the center plate carries the core title (e.g., World Heavyweight Champion), the side plates offer a personalized element—often showcasing:

• The champion’s name or initials
• A custom logo or icon
• A symbolic image (e.g., crown, flame, glove, dragon)
• A commemorative date or event

In WWE and AEW, side plates are swapped out between title changes, making each reign visually unique. For fans, it’s the perfect way to add identity to a replica belt or complete a cosplay ensemble.

For collectors and athletes, it’s a way to honor their own wins—on the mat, in the ring, or in life.

🔧 How Custom Side Plates Are Made

Designing and producing your own side plates is easier than ever, thanks to specialist shops offering personalized builds. Here’s a breakdown of the typical process:

1. Choose a Base Belt

Whether you own a WWE replica belt, a custom-built title, or a fantasy league trophy, the base belt will determine the plate size and fitting style.

2. Design the Plates

Most makers allow full control over the design, letting you upload your own logos, initials, or emblems. Some even offer help with illustration and layout.

3. Select Materials and Finish

The best side plates are made from:

• Zinc alloy or brass
• Gold-plated or silver-plated finishes
• Etched or laser-cut designs
• High-gloss enamel fills

4. Get a Digital Proof

Before production, you’ll get a digital rendering of your plates for approval.

5. Mount or Replace the Plates

Once shipped, plates are mounted via screw-in brackets or slide-in mechanisms, depending on the belt model.

Whether you’re updating an existing belt or building one from scratch, side plates offer that perfect finishing touch.

🎨 Inspiration: Iconic Side Plate Designs

Looking for ideas? Here are some of the most popular and creative side plate styles:

• Roman Reigns side plates – One of the most in-demand customizations for tribal-style belts or Universal Title replicas.
• Initials or Monograms – Perfect for gifting. Adds a luxury touch to the belt’s visual design.
• Fighter or Gym Logos – Common for boxing, MMA, and martial arts belts used in amateur circuits.
• Date-Stamped Plates – Used for wedding belts, retirement gifts, or tournament trophies.
• Icons & Symbols – Flames, crowns, fists, skulls, wings—make your belt reflect your character.

🧠 Why Side Plates Are Essential for Belt Collectors

For belt collectors, presentation and authenticity matter. You want your display to reflect accuracy and detail—just like the real thing.

Without custom side plates, even the most expensive replica can feel incomplete. But add your own custom plates? Suddenly it becomes a conversation piece. It goes from mass-market to personal masterpiece.

That’s why collectors often keep multiple sets of side plates for different champions, characters, or fantasy stories. It adds dimension and creative storytelling to any collection.

🎁 Side Plates Make Exceptional Gifts

If you’re gifting a belt—whether for a birthday, bachelor party, gym award, or special event—adding custom side plates turns a cool gift into an unforgettable one.

• Imagine gifting a dad a belt with “Fatherweight Champion” center plate and side plates with his kids’ names.
• Or awarding a top-performing fighter with a belt that includes their name and gym logo on each side.

It’s personal. It’s thoughtful. It’s one-of-a-kind.

🛒 Where to Get Custom Side Plates for Wrestling Belts

There are only a few shops that truly specialize in building high-quality, made-to-order side plates. One standout is Custom-championshipbelts, which offers a full range of side plate services for both pre-owned replica belts and fully custom title belts.

Whether you need replacements for WWE models or you're building an original belt with interchangeable plates, they offer:

• Full graphic design support
• High-grade metal options
• Color fill, etching, or engraving
• Perfect-fit sizing for popular belt models
• Worldwide shipping

With dozens of templates and the ability to start from scratch, it’s the perfect destination for fans, fighters, and belt collectors alike.

Few side plate designs have captivated fans like the Roman Reigns side plates. His instantly recognizable emblem has become a symbol of dominance—and sparked a surge in demand for side plate personalization among fans and collectors.

🧾 Final Checklist: What to Consider Before Ordering Side Plates

Before you place an order, ask yourself:

✅ What belt will these plates be used on?

✅ Do I have artwork or need design assistance?

✅ Do I want engraved or enamel-filled visuals?

✅ Do I want initials, logos, or symbols—or all three?

✅ Will the plates be used for wearing or display?

Having answers to these questions will help ensure you get the perfect fit—both physically and stylistically.

🎤 Final Thoughts

Championship belts are powerful on their own—but it’s the side plates that make them yours. They elevate a belt from generic to iconic, from cool to meaningful.

Whether you're replicating the glory of your favorite superstar, commemorating your own win, or building a belt from scratch—custom side plates are the detail that brings it all home.

In the end, it’s not just about what you’ve won.

It’s about putting your name on it.

Customize your legacy at Custom-championshipbelts.com.