Championship History

Names

Name	Years
WWWF World Heavyweight Championship	April 29, 1963 — February 8, 1971
WWWF Heavyweight Championship	February 8, 1971 — 1979
WWF Heavyweight Championship	1979 — 1983
WWF World Heavyweight Championship	1983 — 1998
WWF Championship	1998 — December 9, 2001[3]
Undisputed WWF Championship	December 9, 2001[3] — May 6, 2002[4]
WWE Undisputed Championship	May 6, 2002[4] — September 2, 2002[8]
WWE Championship	September 2, 2002[8] — present
Undisputed WWE Championship	July 25, 2011 — September 18, 2011

Reigns

As of June 8, 2012.

^† indicates reigns and title changes not recognized by WWE.

#	Wrestlers	Reign	Date	Days held	Location	Event	Notes	Ref.
1	Buddy Rogers	1	April 29, 1963	18	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	N/A	Won an apocryphal tournament in Rio De Janeiro after the WWWF left the National Wrestling Alliance, of which Rogers was champion.	[9]
2	Bruno Sammartino	1	May 17, 1963	2803	New York, NY	Live event	Held title for over seven years, a record for professional wrestling world champions.	[10]
3	Ivan Koloff	1	January 18, 1971	21	New York, NY	Live event		[11]
4	Pedro Morales	1	February 8, 1971	1027	New York, NY	Live event	Title renamed WWWF Heavyweight Championship when WWWF rejoined the NWA in 1971.	[12]
5	Stan Stasiak	1	December 1, 1973	9	Philadelphia, PA	Live event		[13]
6	Bruno Sammartino	2	December 10, 1973	1237	New York, NY	Live event		[14]
7	Billy Graham	1	April 30, 1977	296	Baltimore, MD	Live event		[15]
8	Bob Backlund	1	February 20, 1978	648	New York, NY	Live event	The title was renamed the WWF Heavyweight Championship when the World Wide Wrestling Federation became the World Wrestling Federation in March 1979.	[16]
—	Antonio Inoki	1†	November 30, 1979	6	Tokushima, Japan	Live event	Backlund and Inoki also met on December 6, 1979 but the match ended in a no contest. Inoki immediately vacated the title. This reign is not recognized by WWE.
—	Bob Backlund	1(2)†	December 17, 1979	672	New York, NY	Live event	Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match.
—	Held Up†	—	October 19, 1981	35	New York, NY	Live event	Title held up after a match against Greg Valentine in which the referee gave Valentine the title after Backlund pinned him.
—	Bob Backlund	1(3)†	November 23, 1981	763	New York, NY	Live event	Defeated Greg Valentine in a rematch to win the held up title. WWE officially lists Backlund's first reign as being uninterrupted.
9	The Iron Sheik	1	December 26, 1983	28	New York, NY	Live event	Iron Sheik won by forfeit after Backlund's manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel on his behalf to prevent any major injury as a result of Sheik's signature move "The Camel Clutch", but Bob Backlund never officially submitted.	[17]
10	Hulk Hogan	1	January 23, 1984	1474	New York, NY	Live event		[18]
11	André the Giant	1	February 5, 1988	0	Indianapolis, IN	The Main Event I		[19]
—	Vacated	—	February 5, 1988	—	Indianapolis, IN	The Main Event I	Immediately after winning the title from Hogan, André sold the title to Ted DiBiase; President Jack Tunney nullified this decision, and vacated the title.	[19]
12	Randy Savage	1	March 27, 1988	371	Atlantic City, NJ	WrestleMania IV	Defeated Ted DiBiase in a tournament finals to win the vacant title.	[20]
13	Hulk Hogan	2	April 2, 1989	364	Atlantic City, NJ	WrestleMania V		[21]
14	The Ultimate Warrior	1	April 1, 1990	293	Toronto, ON	WrestleMania VI	This match was also for Warrior's WWF Intercontinental Championship.	[22]
15	Sgt. Slaughter	1	January 19, 1991	64	Miami, FL	Royal Rumble (1991)		[23]
16	Hulk Hogan	3	March 24, 1991	248	Los Angeles, CA	WrestleMania VII		[24]
17	The Undertaker	1	November 27, 1991	6	Detroit, MI	Survivor Series (1991)		[25]
18	Hulk Hogan	4	December 3, 1991	1	San Antonio, TX	This Tuesday in Texas		[26]
—	Vacated	—	December 4, 1991	—	N/A	Superstars	Hogan was stripped of the title by WWF President Jack Tunney due to the controversy surrounding both of the previous title changes. This aired December 7, 1991.	[26]
19	Ric Flair	1	January 19, 1992	77	Albany, NY	Royal Rumble (1992)	Won the Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Sid Justice.	[27]
20	Randy Savage	2	April 5, 1992	149	Indianapolis, IN	WrestleMania VIII		[28]
21	Ric Flair	2	September 1, 1992	41	Hershey, PA	Prime Time Wrestling	Aired on September 14, 1992.	[29]
22	Bret Hart	1	October 12, 1992	174	Saskatoon, SK	Live event		[30]
23	Yokozuna	1	April 4, 1993	0	Las Vegas, NV	WrestleMania IX		[31]
24	Hulk Hogan	5	April 4, 1993	70	Las Vegas, NV	WrestleMania IX		[32]
25	Yokozuna	2	June 13, 1993	280	Dayton, OH	King of the Ring (1993)		[33]
26	Bret Hart	2	March 20, 1994	248	New York, NY	WrestleMania X	Roddy Piper was the guest referee.	[34]
27	Bob Backlund	2(4)†	November 23, 1994	3	San Antonio, TX	Survivor Series (1994)	This was a "Throw in the Towel" submission match; the only way to win was to have the opponent's cornerman throw a towel into the ring.	[35]
28	Diesel	1	November 26, 1994	358	New York, NY	Live event	Diesel defeated Backlund in eight seconds; the fastest WWF/E Championship match in history and the last time the title changed hands at an untelevised event.	[36]
29	Bret Hart	3	November 19, 1995	133	Landover, MD	Survivor Series (1995)	This was a no-disqualification match.	[37]
30	Shawn Michaels	1	March 31, 1996	231	Anaheim, CA	WrestleMania XII	This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, which Michaels won in overtime after a 0–0 draw.	[38]
31	Sycho Sid	1	November 17, 1996	63	New York, NY	Survivor Series (1996)		[39]
32	Shawn Michaels	2	January 19, 1997	25	San Antonio, TX	Royal Rumble (1997)		[40]
—	Vacated	—	February 13, 1997	—	Lowell, MA	Raw	Michaels forfeited the title due to a knee injury.	[40]
33	Bret Hart	4	February 16, 1997	1	Chattanooga, TN	In Your House 13: Final Four	This was a four-way elimination match also involving Steve Austin, The Undertaker and Vader.	[41]
34	Sycho Sid	2	February 17, 1997	34	Nashville, TN	Raw		[42]
35	The Undertaker	2	March 23, 1997	133	Rosemont, IL	WrestleMania 13	This was a no-disqualification match.	[43]
36	Bret Hart	5	August 3, 1997	98	East Rutherford, NJ	SummerSlam (1997)	Shawn Michaels was the guest referee.	[44]
37	Shawn Michaels	3	November 9, 1997	140	Montreal, QC	Survivor Series (1997)	Won the title in the Montreal Screwjob.	[45]
38	Stone Cold Steve Austin	1	March 29, 1998	91	Boston, MA	WrestleMania XIV	Mike Tyson was the special outside enforcer.	[46]
39	Kane	1	June 28, 1998	1	Pittsburgh, PA	King of the Ring (1998)	This was a first blood match.	[47]
40	Stone Cold Steve Austin	2	June 29, 1998	90	Cleveland, OH	Raw is War		[48]
—	Vacated	—	September 27, 1998	—	Hamilton, ON	Breakdown: In Your House	Vacated after Kane and The Undertaker simultaneously pinned Austin in a triple threat match. A subsequent match for the vacant title at Judgment Day: In Your House between Kane and The Undertaker ended in a no-contest.[49]	[48]
41	The Rock	1	November 15, 1998	44	St. Louis, MO	Survivor Series (1998)	Defeated Mick Foley in the finals of the Deadly Game tournament for the vacant title.	[50]
42	Mankind	1	December 29, 1998	26	Worcester, MA	Raw is War	This was a no-disqualification match. Aired on January 4, 1999.	[51]
43	The Rock	2	January 24, 1999	2	Anaheim, CA	Royal Rumble (1999)	This was an "I Quit" match.	[52]
44	Mankind	2	January 26, 1999	20	Tucson, AZ	Halftime Heat	This was an empty arena match that aired as a special during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999.	[53]
45	The Rock	3	February 15, 1999	41	Birmingham, AL	Raw is War	This was a ladder match.	[54]
46	Stone Cold Steve Austin	3	March 28, 1999	56	Philadelphia, PA	WrestleMania XV	Mankind was the special guest referee. This was also a no-disqualification match.	[55]
47	The Undertaker	3	May 23, 1999	36	Kansas City, MO	Over the Edge (1999)	Both Vince and Shane McMahon were special guest referees.	[56]
48	Stone Cold Steve Austin	4	June 28, 1999	55	Charlotte, NC	Raw is War		[57]
49	Mankind	3	August 22, 1999	1	Minneapolis, MN	SummerSlam (1999)	This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H, with Jesse Ventura as guest referee.	[58]
50	Triple H	1	August 23, 1999	22	Ames, IA	Raw is War	Shane McMahon was the special guest referee.	[59]
51	Vince McMahon	1	September 14, 1999	6	Las Vegas, NV	SmackDown	Aired on September 16, 1999 with Shane McMahon as special guest referee.	[60]
—	Vacated	—	September 20, 1999	—	Houston, TX	Raw is War	McMahon vacated the title.	[60]
52	Triple H	2	September 26, 1999	49	Charlotte, NC	Unforgiven (1999)	This was a Six-Pack Challenge match, also involving The Rock, Mankind, Big Show, The British Bulldog and Kane. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special outside enforcer.	[61]
53	Big Show	1	November 14, 1999	50	Detroit, MI	Survivor Series (1999)	This was a triple threat match, also involving The Rock.	[62]
54	Triple H	3	January 3, 2000	118	Miami, FL	Raw is War		[63]
55	The Rock	4	April 30, 2000	21	Washington, D.C.	Backlash (2000)	Shane McMahon was the special guest referee.	[64]
56	Triple H	4	May 21, 2000	35	Louisville, KY	Judgment Day (2000)	This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, which Triple H won 6–5 with Shawn Michaels as the Special guest referee.	[65]
57	The Rock	5	June 25, 2000	119	Boston, MA	King of the Ring (2000)	This was a six-man tag team match at with The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane vs. Triple H, Mr. McMahon and Shane McMahon. The Rock pinned Mr. McMahon to win Triple H's title.	[66]
58	Kurt Angle	1	October 22, 2000	126	Albany, NY	No Mercy (2000)	This was a no-disqualification match.	[67]
59	The Rock	6	February 25, 2001	35	Las Vegas, NV	No Way Out (2001)		[68]
60	Stone Cold Steve Austin	5	April 1, 2001	175	Houston, TX	WrestleMania X-Seven	This was a no-disqualification match.	[69]
61	Kurt Angle	2	September 23, 2001	15	Pittsburgh, PA	Unforgiven (2001)		[70]
62	Stone Cold Steve Austin	6	October 8, 2001	62	Indianapolis, IN	Raw		[71]
63	Chris Jericho	1	December 9, 2001	98	San Diego, CA	Vengeance (2001)	Earlier that night, Jericho had already defeated (WCW) World Heavyweight Champion The Rock for that title. By defeating Austin for the WWF Championship, he unified both titles as the Undisputed Championship.	[72]
64	Triple H	5	March 17, 2002	35	Toronto, ON	WrestleMania X8		[73]
65	Hulk Hogan	6	April 21, 2002	28	Kansas City, MO	Backlash (2002)	The title was renamed the WWE Undisputed Championship on May 6, 2002 after World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. settled a lawsuit with the World Wide Fund for Nature, and became simply World Wrestling Entertainment.	[74]
66	The Undertaker	4	May 19, 2002	63	Nashville, TN	Judgment Day (2002)		[75]
67	The Rock	7	July 21, 2002	35	Detroit, MI	Vengeance (2002)	This was a triple threat match, also involving Kurt Angle.	[76]
68	Brock Lesnar	1	August 25, 2002	84	Uniondale, NY	SummerSlam (2002)	"Undisputed" was removed from the title's name after it became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand on September 2, 2002, which resulted in the creation of the World Heavyweight Championship for the Raw brand. Became the youngest champion in history	[77]
69	Big Show	2	November 17, 2002	28	New York, NY	Survivor Series (2002)		[78]
70	Kurt Angle	3	December 15, 2002	105	Sunrise, FL	Armageddon (2002)		[79]
71	Brock Lesnar	2	March 30, 2003	119	Seattle, WA	WrestleMania XIX		[80]
72	Kurt Angle	4	July 27, 2003	51	Denver, CO	Vengeance (2003)	This was a triple threat match, also involving Big Show.	[81]
73	Brock Lesnar	3	September 16, 2003	152	Raleigh, NC	SmackDown!	This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, aired September 18, 2003 on SmackDown!.	[82]
74	Eddie Guerrero	1	February 15, 2004	133	Daly City, CA	No Way Out (2004)		[83][84]
75	John "Bradshaw" Layfield	1	June 27, 2004	280	Norfolk, VA	The Great American Bash (2004)	This was a Texas Bullrope match.	[85][86]
76	John Cena	1	April 3, 2005	280	Los Angeles, CA	WrestleMania 21	The title became exclusive on the Raw brand on June 6, 2005 when Cena was drafted to Raw as the first pick in the 2005 Draft Lottery.	[87][88]
77	Edge	1	January 8, 2006	21	Albany, NY	New Year's Revolution (2006)	Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 21 immediately after Cena won an Elimination Chamber match.	[89][90]
78	John Cena	2	January 29, 2006	133	Miami, FL	Royal Rumble (2006)		[91][92]
79	Rob Van Dam	1	June 11, 2006	22	New York, NY	ECW One Night Stand (2006)	Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 22. This was an Extreme Rules match. The title becomes property of the ECW brand. Became the first ever person to hold both WWE and ECW World Championship.	[93][94]
80	Edge	2	July 3, 2006	76	Philadelphia, PA	Raw	This was a triple threat match, also involving John Cena. The title again becomes exclusive on the Raw brand.	[95][96]
81	John Cena	3	September 17, 2006	380	Toronto, ON	Unforgiven (2006)	This was a tables, ladders, and chairs match.
—	Vacated	—	October 2, 2007	—	Dayton, OH	ECW on Sci Fi	Vacated when Cena suffered a torn right pectoral tendon on the October 1 edition of Raw.
82	Randy Orton	1	October 7, 2007	0	Rosemont, IL	No Mercy (2007)	Awarded the title by Mr. McMahon.	[97][98]
83	Triple H	6	October 7, 2007	0	Rosemont, IL	No Mercy (2007)		[98][99]
84	Randy Orton	2	October 7, 2007	203	Rosemont, IL	No Mercy (2007)	This was a Last Man Standing match.	[98][100]
85	Triple H	7	April 27, 2008	210	Baltimore, MD	Backlash (2008)	This was a Fatal-Four Way Elimination match, also involving John Cena and John "Bradshaw" Layfield. The title became a SmackDown exclusive title once again when Triple H was drafted to SmackDown! on June 23, 2008.	[101][102]
86	Edge	3	November 23, 2008	21	Boston, MA	Survivor Series (2008)	This was a triple threat match, also involving Vladimir Kozlov. Jeff Hardy had originally been scheduled to take part in the match, but did not participate after, in storyline, was assaulted in the stairwell of his hotel prior to the event. Triple H and Kozlov started off in the match, and Edge was revealed as Hardy's surprise replacement, and won the championship.	[103][104]
87	Jeff Hardy	1	December 14, 2008	42	Buffalo, NY	Armageddon (2008)	This was a triple threat match, also involving Triple H.	[105][106]
88	Edge	4	January 25, 2009	21	Detroit, MI	Royal Rumble (2009)	This was a no-disqualification match.	[107][108]
89	Triple H	8	February 15, 2009	70	Seattle, WA	No Way Out (2009)	This was a Elimination Chamber match, also involving Jeff Hardy, Vladimir Kozlov, The Undertaker and Big Show. The title became a Raw exclusive title once again when Triple H was drafted to Raw on April 13, 2009.	[109][110]
90	Randy Orton	3	April 26, 2009	42	Providence, RI	Backlash (2009)	Won a six-man tag team match in which Orton would win the championship if his team won.	[111][112]
91	Batista	1	June 7, 2009	2	New Orleans, LA	Extreme Rules (2009)	This was a Steel Cage match.	[113][114]
—	Vacated	—	June 9, 2009	—	N/A	Announced on WWE.com	Vacated when Batista suffered a torn left biceps.	[115]
92	Randy Orton	4	June 15, 2009	90	Charlotte, NC	Raw	This was a Fatal Four-Way match also involving Triple H, John Cena and Big Show.	[116][117]
93	John Cena	4	September 13, 2009	21	Montreal, QC	Breaking Point	This was an "I Quit" match. If anyone interfered on Orton's behalf, he would have automatically lost the title.	[118][119]
94	Randy Orton	5	October 4, 2009	21	Newark, NJ	Hell in a Cell (2009)	This was a Hell in a Cell match.	[120][121]
95	John Cena	5	October 25, 2009	49	Pittsburgh, PA	Bragging Rights (2009)	This was a 60-Minute Anything Goes Iron Man match. If Cena lost, he would have had to leave the Raw brand.	[122][123]
96	Sheamus	1	December 13, 2009	70	San Antonio, TX	TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2009)	This was a Tables match.	[124][125]
97	John Cena	6	February 21, 2010	0	St. Louis, MO	Elimination Chamber (2010)	This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving Triple H, Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase and Kofi Kingston.	[126]
98	Batista	2	February 21, 2010	35	St. Louis, MO	Elimination Chamber (2010)	Awarded a title shot by Mr. McMahon immediately after Cena won the Elimination Chamber match.	[127]
99	John Cena	7	March 28, 2010	84	Glendale, AZ	WrestleMania XXVI	Title was returned solely to the Raw brand.	[128]
100	Sheamus	2	June 20, 2010	91	Uniondale, NY	Fatal 4-Way	This was a Fatal Four-Way match also involving Edge and Randy Orton.	[129]
101	Randy Orton	6	September 19, 2010	64	Rosemont, IL	Night of Champions (2010)	This was a Six-Pack Challenge Elimination match also involving Edge, John Cena, Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett.	[130]
102	The Miz	1	November 22, 2010	160	Orlando, FL	Raw	The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract after Randy Orton successfully defended the WWE Championship against Wade Barrett.	[131]
103	John Cena	8	May 1, 2011	77	Tampa, FL	Extreme Rules (2011)	This was a Triple Threat Steel Cage match also involving John Morrison.	[132]
104	CM Punk	1	July 17, 2011	28	Rosemont, IL	Money in the Bank (2011)	Punk was scripted to leave WWE the day after with the championship. He returned on the July 25 episode of Raw; his reign was deemed to continue through this period.	[133]
105	Rey Mysterio (and CM Punk)	1 (1)	July 25, 2011	0	Hampton, VA	Raw	Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz in the final of an eight man tournament to crown a new champion. CM Punk was also the WWE Champion at this time.	[134]
106	John Cena (and CM Punk)	9 (1)	July 25, 2011	20	Hampton, VA	Raw	Cena defeated Mysterio later that same night. CM Punk, who returned immediately following the match, was also the WWE Champion at this time; he defeated Cena at SummerSlam to become the undisputed champion.	[135]
107	Alberto Del Rio	1	August 14, 2011	35	Los Angeles, CA	SummerSlam (2011)	Cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and defeated CM Punk, who had just become the undisputed WWE Champion after defeating John Cena.	[136]
108	John Cena	10	September 18, 2011	14	Buffalo, NY	Night of Champions (2011)		[137]
109	Alberto Del Rio	2	October 2, 2011	49	New Orleans, LA	Hell in a Cell (2011)	This was a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell match also involving CM Punk.	[138]
110	CM Punk	2	November 20, 2011	201+	New York, NY	Survivor Series (2011)		[139]

List of combined reigns

John Cena, ten-time WWE Champion.

Symbol	Meaning
†	Indicates the current champion
<1	The reign is shorter than one day.

As of June 8, 2012

Rank	Wrestler	# Of Reigns	Combined Days
1	Bruno Sammartino	2	4040
2	Hulk Hogan	6	2185
3	Bob Backlund	2	2138
4	John Cena	10	1058
5	Pedro Morales	1	1027
6	Bret Hart	5	654
7	Triple H	8	539
8	Stone Cold Steve Austin	6	529
9	Randy Savage	2	520
10	Randy Orton	6	420
11	Shawn Michaels	3	396
12	Diesel	1	358
13	Brock Lesnar	3	355
14	The Rock	7	297
	Kurt Angle	4	297
16	Billy Graham	1	296
17	The Ultimate Warrior	1	293
18	Yokozuna	2	280
	John Bradshaw Layfield	1	280
20	The Undertaker	4	238
21	CM Punk†	2	229+
22	Sheamus	2	161
23	The Miz	1	160
24	Edge	4	139
25	Eddie Guerrero	1	133
26	Ric Flair	2	118
27	Chris Jericho	1	98
28	Sycho Sid	2	97
29	Alberto Del Rio	2	84
30	The Big Show	2	78
31	Sgt. Slaughter	1	64
32	Mankind	3	47
33	Jeff Hardy	1	42
34	Batista	2	37
35	The Iron Sheik	1	28
36	Rob Van Dam	1	22
37	Ivan Koloff	1	21
38	Buddy Rogers	1	18
39	Stan Stasiak	1	9
40	Vince McMahon	1	6
41	Kane	1	1
42	Rey Mysterio	1	<1
	André the Giant	1	<1   Copyright 2012 - From Wikipedia.org