This image is of a poster from a Japanese magazine in 1977, not long after Race won the NWA title in Toronto from Terry Funk. Most of the Japanese magazines featured really nice photography and fold out or centerfold posters.
One of the tell-tale signs that dates this photo is the condition of the belt. It is the third configuration, or version, of the domed-globe belt.
Not long before Funk dropped the title to Race, the NWA had the title belt refurbished. It had taken an awful beeating during Funk's reign. The globe had been badly dented and much of the black paint on the belt had come off.
The key identifier that this was the third configuration of the belt was that Canada is to the left of the main plate, the only version of the four to
have that distinction. (In fact, Canada was in a different position on
all four versions of the belt.)
Other notable identifiers on the belt in this picture peg it to early-mid 1977:
- cream-colored fabric backing on the leather
- black onyx panels replacing the black-painted areas on either side of the main plate
- new globe (with curved "NWA" letters)
Not long after Race won the title in 1977, one additional refurbishment took place. The leather was replaced (with a slightly different cut) and the creme-colored fabric backing on the belt (seen in this photo) was removed, leaving the leather on the back of the belt exposed. The fact that the cream-colored backing is visible in this photo means it was taken sometime in the months following Race's victory over Funk.
If little details like that interest you, check out my book on the domed globe belt titled
Ten Pounds of Gold. Almost every possible detail is discussed in a chapter that outlines all four versions of the belt.
