Wrestling News

Iconic Title Belt Maker Reggie Parks Passes Away

By Lyle Kilbane. Published 8th October 2021.
Reggie Parks

Reggie Parks, the man behind some of the most iconic championship belts in wrestling history has sadly passed away at the age of 87.

Parks made his start in wrestling under the tutelage of the legendary Stu Hart in his home province of Alberta, Canada. Parks made his in-ring debut in 1955 in a career that took him all over the territories of the United States as well as Japan. A two-time NWA World Tag Team Champion as well as a former NWA International Heavyweight Champion, Parks’ legacy in wrestling became more about creating title belts than winning them.

Reggie Parks became synonymous with legendary title belt designs that live on to this very day. Perhaps his most famous creation was the ‘Winged Eagle’ WWF Championship title that was used between early 1988 and had its last outing at WrestleMania 14 in 1998. The title was synonymous with the likes of Randy Savage, Bret Hart, and Shawn Michaels. Parks also designed the ‘Ten Pounds of Gold’ also known as Sweet Charlotte NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship belt made famous by Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, and Ric Flair. Internationally Parks’ work was well known as he designed titles for Japanese companies including the IWGP Heavyweight Title held by the likes of Kazuchika Okada and current AEW World Champion Kenny Omega.

Wrestling podcaster and memorabilia collector Conrad Thompson shared a thread on social media that showed just some of the countless examples of Parks’ fine work, adding his own tribute:

“The world lost a true icon today. If you grew up loving wrestling in the 80s or 90s, you grew up loving his work. RIP Reggie Parks”

Stars from the world of wrestling have also been paying their own tributes to Reggie Parks on social media.

Everyone at Inside The Ropes sends their condolences to the friends and family of Reggie Parks at this difficult time.

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