| # |
Wrestler: |
Reigns: |
Date: |
Days held: |
Location: |
Event: |
Notes: |
| 001 1 |
Buddy Rogers |
1 |
01963-04-29 April 29, 1963[10] |
18 |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
N/A |
Rogers was awarded the title with the explanation that he defeated Antonino Rocca in the finals of a tournament in March 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.[11] |
| 002 2 |
Bruno Sammartino |
1 |
01963-05-17 May 17, 1963 |
2803 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
Held title for eight years, a record for professional wrestling world champions.[12] |
| 003 3 |
Ivan Koloff |
1 |
01971-01-18 January 18, 1971 |
21 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
[13] |
| 004 4 |
Pedro Morales |
1 |
01971-02-08 February 8, 1971 |
1027 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
The championship was referred to as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship when WWWF rejoined the NWA in 1971.[14] |
| 005 5 |
Stan Stasiak |
1 |
01973-12-01 December 1, 1973 |
9 |
Philadelphia, PA |
Live event |
[15] |
| 006 6 |
Bruno Sammartino |
2 |
01973-12-10 December 10, 1973 |
1237 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
[16] |
| 007 7 |
Billy Graham |
1 |
01977-04-30 April 30, 1977 |
296 |
Baltimore, MD |
Live event |
[17] |
| 008 8 |
Bob Backlund |
1 |
01978-02-20 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.[18] |
| 008 8* |
Antonio Inoki |
1† |
01979-11-30 November 30, 1979 |
6 |
Tokushima, Japan |
Live event |
[9] |
| 008 8* |
Vacated† |
0 |
01979-12-06 December 6, 1979 |
0 |
Tokyo, Japan |
Live event |
Vacated when Backlund pins Inoki, but WWF president Hisashi Shinma declares the match a no contest due to interference by Tiger Jeet Singh. Inoki refused the championship following Shinma's decision, and the title was declared vacant.[9] |
| 008 8* |
Bob Backlund |
1(2)† |
01979-12-12 December 12, 1979 |
677 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match.[9] |
| 008 8* |
Held up† |
0 |
01981-10-19 October 19, 1981 |
0 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
Title held up after a match against Greg Valentine in which the referee gave him the title after Backlund pinned him.[9] |
| 008 8* |
Bob Backlund |
1(3)† |
01981-11-23 November 23, 1981 |
763 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
Defeated Valentine in a rematch to win the held up title. According to the official championship history, Backlund's reign lasted from February 20, 1978 to December 26, 1983 and was never interrupted.[19] The title was referred to as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983 after the WWF withdrew from the NWA.[9] |
| 009 9 |
The Iron Sheik |
1 |
01983-12-26 December 26, 1983 |
28 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
[20] |
| 010 10 |
Hulk Hogan |
1 |
01984-01-23 January 23, 1984 |
1474 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
[21] |
| 011 11 |
André the Giant |
1 |
01988-02-05 February 5, 1988 |
0 |
Indianapolis, IN |
The Main Event I |
[22] |
| 011 11* |
Vacated |
0 |
01988-02-05 February 5, 1988 |
0 |
Indianapolis, IN |
The Main Event I |
Immediately after winning the title from Hogan, André surrendered the title to Ted DiBiase; President Jack Tunney nullified this decision, and vacated the title.[22] |
| 012 12 |
Randy Savage |
1 |
01988-03-27 March 27, 1988 |
371 |
Atlantic City, NJ |
WrestleMania IV |
Defeated Ted DiBiase in a tournament final.[23] |
| 013 13 |
Hulk Hogan |
2 |
01989-04-02 April 2, 1989 |
364 |
Atlantic City, NJ |
WrestleMania V |
[24] |
| 014 14 |
The Ultimate Warrior |
1 |
01990-04-01 April 1, 1990 |
293 |
Toronto, ON |
WrestleMania VI |
This match was also for Warrior's WWF Intercontinental Championship.[25] |
| 015 15 |
Sgt. Slaughter |
1 |
01991-01-19 January 19, 1991 |
64 |
Miami, FL |
Royal Rumble (1991) |
[26] |
| 016 16 |
Hulk Hogan |
3 |
01991-03-24 March 24, 1991 |
248 |
Los Angeles, CA |
WrestleMania VII |
[27] |
| 017 17 |
The Undertaker |
1 |
01991-11-27 November 27, 1991 |
6 |
Detroit, MI |
Survivor Series (1991) |
[28] |
| 018 18 |
Hulk Hogan |
4 |
01991-12-03 December 3, 1991 |
1 |
San Antonio, TX |
This Tuesday in Texas |
[29] |
| 018 18* |
Vacated |
0 |
01991-12-04 December 4, 1991 |
0 |
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.[29] |
| 019 19 |
Ric Flair |
1 |
01992-01-19 January 19, 1992 |
77 |
Albany, NY |
Royal Rumble (1992) |
Won the Royal Rumble match.[30] |
| 020 20 |
Randy Savage |
2 |
01992-04-05 April 5, 1992 |
149 |
Indianapolis, IN |
WrestleMania VIII |
[31] |
| 021 21 |
Ric Flair |
2 |
01992-09-01 September 1, 1992 |
41 |
Hershey, PA |
Live event |
[32] |
| 022 22 |
Bret Hart |
1 |
01992-10-12 October 12, 1992 |
174 |
Saskatoon, SK |
Superstars |
[33] |
| 023 23 |
Yokozuna |
1 |
01993-04-04 April 4, 1993 |
0 |
Las Vegas, NV |
WrestleMania IX |
[34] |
| 024 24 |
Hulk Hogan |
5 |
01993-04-04 April 4, 1993 |
70 |
Las Vegas, NV |
WrestleMania IX |
[35] |
| 025 25 |
Yokozuna |
2 |
01993-06-13 June 13, 1993 |
280 |
Dayton, OH |
King of the Ring (1993) |
[36] |
| 026 26 |
Bret Hart |
2 |
01994-03-20 March 20, 1994 |
248 |
New York, NY |
WrestleMania X |
Roddy Piper was the guest referee. [37] |
| 027 27 |
Bob Backland |
2(4) |
01994-11-23 November 23, 1994 |
3 |
San Antonio, TX |
Survivor Series (1994) |
This was a "Throw in the Towel" match.[38] |
| 028 28 |
Diesel |
1 |
01994-11-26 November 26, 1994 |
358 |
New York, NY |
Live event |
Won the title at a house show, shortest WWF Title match in history.[39] |
| 029 29 |
Bret Hart |
3 |
01995-11-19 November 19, 1995 |
133 |
Landover, MD |
Survivor Series (1995) |
This was a no-disqualification match.[40] |
| 030 30 |
Shawn Michaels |
1 |
01996-03-31 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.[41] |
| 031 31 |
Sycho Sid |
1 |
01996-11-17 November 17, 1996 |
63 |
New York, NY |
Survivor Series (1996) |
[42] |
| 032 32 |
Shawn Michaels |
2 |
01997-01-19 January 19, 1997 |
25 |
San Antonio, TX |
Royal Rumble (1997) |
[43] |
| 032 32* |
Vacated |
0 |
01997-02-13 February 13, 1997 |
0 |
Lowell, MA |
Thursday RAW Thursday |
Michaels forfeited the title due to a knee injury.[43] |
| 033 33 |
Bret Hart |
4 |
01997-02-16 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.[44] |
| 034 34 |
Sycho Sid |
2 |
01997-02-17 February 17, 1997 |
34 |
Nashville, TN |
Raw |
[45] |
| 035 35 |
The Undertaker |
2 |
01997-03-23 March 23, 1997 |
133 |
Rosemont, IL |
WrestleMania 13 |
[46] |
| 036 36 |
Bret Hart |
5 |
01997-08-03 August 3, 1997 |
98 |
East Rutherford, NJ |
SummerSlam (1997) |
Won the title with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.[47] |
| 037 37 |
Shawn Michaels |
3 |
01997-11-09 November 9, 1997 |
140 |
Montreal, QC |
Survivor Series (1997) |
Won the title in the Montreal Screwjob.[48] |
| 038 38 |
Steve Austin |
1 |
01998-03-29 March 29, 1998 |
91 |
Boston, MA |
WrestleMania XIV |
[49] |
| 039 39 |
Kane |
1 |
01998-06-28 June 28, 1998 |
1 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
King of the Ring (1998) |
This was a first blood match.[50] |
| 040 40 |
Steve Austin |
2 |
01998-06-29 June 29, 1998 |
91 |
Cleveland, OH |
RAW is WAR |
[51] |
| 040 40* |
Vacated |
0 |
01998-09-28 September 28, 1998 |
0 |
Detroit, MI |
RAW is WAR |
Vacated after Kane and The Undertaker simultaneously pinned Austin in a triple threat match the previous night at Breakdown: In Your House in Hamilton, ON.[51] |
| 041 41 |
The Rock |
1 |
01998-11-15 November 15, 1998 |
44 |
St. Louis, MO |
Survivor Series (1998) |
Defeated Mankind in a tournament final.[52] |
| 042 42 |
Mankind |
1 |
01998-12-29 December 29, 1998[9] |
26 |
Worcester, MA |
RAW is WAR |
Aired January 4, 1999.[53] |
| 043 43 |
The Rock |
2 |
01999-01-24 January 24, 1999 |
2 |
Anaheim, CA |
Royal Rumble (1999) |
This was an "I Quit" match.[54] |
| 044 44 |
Mankind |
2 |
01999-01-26 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.[55] |
| 045 45 |
The Rock |
3 |
01999-02-15 February 15, 1999 |
41 |
Birmingham, AL |
RAW is WAR |
This was a ladder match.[56] |
| 046 46 |
Steve Austin |
3 |
01999-03-28 March 28, 1999 |
56 |
Philadelphia, PA |
WrestleMania XV |
[57] |
| 047 47 |
The Undertaker |
3 |
01999-05-23 May 23, 1999 |
36 |
Kansas City, MO |
Over the Edge (1999) |
Shane McMahon was special guest referee.[58] |
| 048 48 |
Steve Austin |
4 |
01999-06-28 June 28, 1999 |
55 |
Charlotte, NC |
RAW is WAR |
[59] |
| 049 49 |
Mankind |
3 |
01999-08-22 August 22, 1999 |
1 |
Minneapolis, MN |
SummerSlam (1999) |
This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H, with Jesse Ventura as guest referee.[60] |
| 050 50 |
Triple H |
1 |
01999-08-23 August 23, 1999 |
22 |
Ames, IA |
RAW is WAR |
Won the title on RAW is WAR with Shane McMahon as special guest referee.[61] |
| 051 51 |
Vince McMahon |
1 |
01999-09-14 September 14, 1999 |
6 |
Las Vegas, NV |
SmackDown |
Aired September 16, 1999 with Shane McMahon as special guest referee.[62] |
| 051 51* |
Vacated |
0 |
01999-09-20 September 20, 1999 |
0 |
Houston, TX |
RAW is WAR |
McMahon vacated the title.[62] |
| 052 52 |
Triple H |
2 |
01999-09-26 September 26, 1999 |
49 |
Charlotte, NC |
Unforgiven (1999) |
This was a Six-Pack Challenge match, also involving The Rock, Mankind, The Big Show, The British Bulldog and Kane.[63] |
| 053 53 |
The Big Show |
1 |
01999-11-14 November 14, 1999 |
50 |
Detroit, MI |
Survivor Series (1999) |
This was a triple threat match, also involving The Rock.[64] |
| 054 54 |
Triple H |
3 |
02000-01-03 January 3, 2000 |
118 |
Miami, FL |
RAW is WAR |
[9][65] |
| 055 55 |
The Rock |
4 |
02000-04-30 April 30, 2000 |
21 |
Washington, D.C. |
Backlash (2000) |
[66] |
| 056 56 |
Triple H |
4 |
02000-05-21 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 guest referee.[67] |
| 057 57 |
The Rock |
5 |
02000-06-25 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, Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon. The Rock pinned Vince McMahon to win Triple H's title.[68] |
| 058 58 |
Kurt Angle |
1 |
02000-10-22 October 22, 2000 |
126 |
Albany, NY |
No Mercy (2000) |
[69] |
| 059 59 |
The Rock |
6 |
02001-02-25 February 25, 2001 |
35 |
Las Vegas, NV |
No Way Out (2001) |
[70] |
| 060 60 |
Steve Austin |
5 |
02001-04-01 April 1, 2001 |
175 |
Houston, TX |
WrestleMania X-Seven |
[71] |
| 061 61 |
Kurt Angle |
2 |
02001-09-23 September 23, 2001 |
15 |
Pittsburgh, PA |
Unforgiven (2001) |
[72] |
| 062 62 |
Steve Austin |
6 |
02001-10-08 October 8, 2001 |
62 |
Indianapolis, IN |
Raw |
[73] |
| 063 63 |
Chris Jericho |
1 |
02001-12-09 December 9, 2001 |
98 |
San Diego, CA |
Vengeance (2001) |
Jericho won a four man one night tournament consisting of himself, The Rock, Steve Austin and Kurt Angle to unify the World Championship with the WWF Championship. Austin defeated Angle to advance to the finals while Jericho defeated The Rock and subsequently defeated Austin in the finals. The unified title was named the WWF Undisputed Championship.[74] |
| 064 64 |
Triple H |
5 |
02002-03-17 March 17, 2002 |
35 |
Toronto, ON |
WrestleMania X8 |
[75] |
| 065 65 |
Hulk Hogan |
6 |
02002-04-21 April 21, 2002 |
28 |
Kansas City, MO |
Backlash (2002) |
[76] 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.[9] |
| 066 66 |
The Undertaker |
4 |
02002-05-19 May 19, 2002 |
63 |
Nashville, TN |
Judgment Day (2002) |
[77] |
| 067 67 |
The Rock |
7 |
02002-07-21 July 21, 2002 |
35 |
Detroit, MI |
Vengeance (2002) |
This was a triple threat match, also involving Kurt Angle.[78] |
| 068 68 |
Brock Lesnar |
1 |
02002-08-25 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.[79] |
| 069 69 |
The Big Show |
2 |
02002-11-17 November 17, 2002 |
28 |
New York, NY |
Survivor Series (2002) |
[80] |
| 070 70 |
Kurt Angle |
3 |
02002-12-15 December 15, 2002 |
105 |
Sunrise, FL |
Armageddon (2002) |
[81] |
| 071 71 |
Brock Lesnar |
2 |
02003-03-30 March 30, 2003 |
119 |
Seattle, WA |
WrestleMania XIX |
[82] |
| 072 72 |
Kurt Angle |
4 |
02003-07-27 July 27, 2003 |
51 |
Denver, CO |
Vengeance (2003) |
This was a triple threat match, also involving The Big Show.[83] |
| 073 73 |
Brock Lesnar |
3 |
02003-09-16 September 16, 2003 |
152 |
Raleigh, NC |
SmackDown! |
This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, aired September 18, 2003 on SmackDown!.[84] |
| 074 74 |
Eddie Guerrero |
1 |
02004-02-15 February 15, 2004 |
133 |
San Francisco, CA |
No Way Out (2004) |
[85] |
| 075 75 |
John "Bradshaw" Layfield |
1 |
02004-06-27 June 27, 2004 |
280 |
Norfolk, VA |
The Great American Bash (2004) |
This was a Texas Bullrope match.[86] |
| 076 76 |
John Cena |
1 |
02005-04-03 April 3, 2005 |
280 |
Los Angeles, CA |
WrestleMania 21 |
The title became Raw-exclusive on June 6, 2005 in St. Louis, MO when Cena was drafted to Raw as the first pick in the 2005 Draft Lottery.[87] |
| 077 77 |
Edge |
1 |
02006-01-08 January 8, 2006 |
21 |
Albany, NY |
New Year's Revolution (2006) |
Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 21 after Cena won an Elimination Chamber match just minutes earlier.[88] |
| 078 78 |
John Cena |
2 |
02006-01-29 January 29, 2006 |
133 |
Miami, FL |
Royal Rumble (2006) |
[89] |
| 079 79 |
Rob Van Dam |
1 |
02006-06-11 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.[90] |
| 080 80 |
Edge |
2 |
02006-07-03 July 3, 2006 |
76 |
Philadelphia, PA |
Raw |
This was a triple threat match, also involving John Cena. The title again becomes Raw exclusive.[91] |
| 081 81 |
John Cena |
3 |
02006-09-17 September 17, 2006 |
380 |
Toronto, ON |
Unforgiven (2006) |
This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.[92] |
| 081 81* |
Vacated |
0 |
02007-10-02 October 2, 2007 |
0 |
Dayton, OH |
ECW |
Vacated when Cena suffered a torn right pectoral tendon on the October 1 edition of Raw.[93] |
| 082 82 |
Randy Orton |
1 |
02007-10-07 October 7, 2007 |
0 |
Rosemont, IL |
No Mercy (2007) |
Awarded the title by Vince McMahon.[94] |
| 083 83 |
Triple H |
6 |
02007-10-07 October 7, 2007 |
0 |
Rosemont, IL |
No Mercy |
[95] |
| 084 84 |
Randy Orton |
2 |
02007-10-07 October 7, 2007 |
203 |
Rosemont, IL |
No Mercy |
This was a Last Man Standing match at No Mercy.[96] |
| 085 85 |
Triple H |
7 |
02008-04-27 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 world title once again when Triple H was drafted to SmackDown! on June 23, 2008.[97] |
| 086 86 |
Edge |
3 |
02008-11-23 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. Triple H and Kozlov started off in the match, and Edge was revealed as Hardy's surprise replacement over halfway through.[98] |
| 087 87 |
Jeff Hardy |
1 |
02008-12-14 December 14, 2008 |
26+ |
Buffalo, NY |
Armageddon (2008) |
This was a triple threat match, also involving Triple H.[99] |