The WWF Intercontinental Championship belt won by Ricky Steamboat from Randy Savage at WrestleMania III sold for $716,750 at Heritage Auctions on Saturday, October 24, setting a record for a wrestling championship belt.
Conrad Thompson Confirms Record Transaction
- Conrad Thompson, who owned the belt, confirmed the record-shattering transaction on X.
Shattering the Previous Championship Auction Record
The winning bid of $587,500 swelled to $716,750 once Heritage Auctions applied its standard 22 percent buyer’s premium during the Fall Sports Catalog Auction. The staggering sum eclipses the previous benchmark set just months prior. On August 21, Hulk Hogan’s WWF Championship belt—photo-matched to WrestleMania 2—sold through the same auction house for $414,800.
Despite the massive influx of capital into the wrestling memorabilia sector, the overall record for a single piece of squared-circle history remains Hogan’s boots from the first WrestleMania. Those iconic footwear items pulled in $1,037,000 earlier in the year, becoming the first wrestling item to break the seven-figure threshold.
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A Heritage Spanning Four Hall of Famers
According to Heritage’s catalog description, the Reggie Parks-inspired championship hardware was used from 1985 through 1988. Unlike presentation pieces minted solely for display, this physical strap passed through the hands of four future WWE Hall of Famers: Tito Santana, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and The Honky Tonk Man.
Savage captured the gold from Santana in February 1986, holding the strap for over a year before dropping it to Steamboat in their match on March 29, 1987, at WrestleMania III inside the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. The Honky Tonk Man subsequently won the title from Steamboat in June 1987. Measuring 48.5 inches from end to end with its distinct red WWF logo, the belt retains visible wear from its years on the road, including a 6.5-inch strip of black tape fixed to the reverse.
| Memorabilia Item | Auction House | Sale Date | Final Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulk Hogan’s WrestleMania I Boots | Heritage Auctions | Early 2026 | $1,037,000 |
| WrestleMania III Intercontinental Belt | Heritage Auctions | October 24, 2026 | $716,750 |
| Hulk Hogan’s WrestleMania II Belt | Heritage Auctions | August 21, 2026 | $414,800 |
From a 2020 Vince McMahon Trade to the Auction Block
The belt’s journey to a near-three-quarter-million-dollar payday involves a notable trade involving Vince McMahon. Conrad Thompson acquired the artifact in 2020 directly from McMahon. Following the passing of Pat Patterson—the first Intercontinental Champion—that same year, McMahon sought out the original Intercontinental Championship belt that Patterson had historically carried, which Thompson personally owned. Thompson negotiated a direct trade, handing over Patterson’s belt in exchange for the iconic WrestleMania III strap.
Years later, Thompson took to social media to celebrate the historic auction result, writing on X, We set a record!
Thank you!
alongside a link to the closing lot.
We set a record! Thank you!To learn more about the belt, be sure to visit the site! 🔗 ⬇️ To be the first to know what’s coming to market next, before it’s even listed, sign up for emails at the site! 🔗 ⬇️ And if you’re curious about what your item may be worth or would… pic.twitter.com/4TznpO8mPh
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