List of WWE Champions

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The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling title. Currently, it is the highest ranked championship on the RAW brand of World Wrestling Entertainment. This is a list, by ring name, of people that have been WWE Champion.

[edit] Title history

† indicates reigns and title changes not recognized by WWE.

Wrestler: Times: Date: Location: Notes:
Buddy Rogers 1 April 29, 1963 Washington, D.C. Rogers was awarded the title with the explanation of him defeating Antonino Rocca in the finals of a fictitious tournament in March 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.
Bruno Sammartino 1 May 17, 1963 New York City, NY
Ivan Koloff 1 January 18, 1971 New York City, NY
Pedro Morales 1 February 8, 1971 New York City, NY The championship loses World status when the WWWF rejoins the NWA in 1971. The title was renamed the WWWF Heavyweight Championship.
Stan Stasiak 1 December 1, 1973 Philadelphia, PA
Bruno Sammartino 2 December 10, 1973 New York City, NY
"Superstar" Billy Graham 1 April 30, 1977 Baltimore, MD
Bob Backlund 1 February 20, 1978 New York City, NY The title was renamed the WWF Heavyweight Championship when the World Wide Wrestling Federation became the World Wrestling Federation in March 1979.
Antonio Inoki † November 30, 1979 Tokushima, Japan Championship reign not officially recognised by the WWE
Bob Backlund 1 December 6, 1979 Tokyo, Japan WWF President Hisashi Shinma overturned the decision due to the outside interference of Tiger Jeet Singh, declaring Inoki still champion.
Vacated December 6, 1979 Tokyo, Japan Antonio Inoki refused the championship following Shinma's decision, and the title was declared vacant.
Bob Backlund 1 December 12, 1979 New York City, NY Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match to win the vacant title.
Held up October 19, 1981 New York City, NY Title held up after a match against Greg Valentine in which the referee gave the title to Valentine after Backlund pinned him.
Bob Backlund 1 November 23, 1981 New York City, NY Defeated Valentine in a rematch to win the held up title. According to the official WWE Championship history, Backlund's reign lasted from February 20, 1978 to December 26, 1983 and was never interrupted.
The Iron Sheik 1 December 26, 1983 New York City, NY Backlund's manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel while Backlund was in the Sheik's Camel clutch.
Hulk Hogan 1 January 23, 1984 New York City, NY
André the Giant 1 February 5, 1988 Indianapolis, IN Immediately after winning the title from Hogan, André surrendered the title to Ted DiBiase.
Randy Savage 1 March 27, 1988 Atlantic City, NJ Defeated Ted DiBiase in a tournament final to win the vacant title.
Hulk Hogan 2 April 2, 1989 Atlantic City, NJ
The Ultimate Warrior 1 April 1, 1990 Toronto, ON
Sgt. Slaughter 1 January 19, 1991 Miami, FL
Hulk Hogan 3 March 24, 1991 Los Angeles, CA
The Undertaker 1 November 27, 1991 Detroit, MI
Hulk Hogan 4 December 3, 1991 San Antonio, TX
Vacated December 4, 1991 Hogan was stripped of the title by WWF President Jack Tunney due to the controversy surrounding both of the previous title changes. Tunney, in an announcement airing on the December 7 edition of WWF Superstars, declared the title would go to the winner of the following month's Royal Rumble match.
Ric Flair 1 January 19, 1992 Albany, NY Last eliminated Sid Justice in the Royal Rumble match to win the vacant title.
Randy Savage 2 April 5, 1992 Indianapolis, IN
Ric Flair 2 September 1, 1992 Hershey, PA
Bret Hart 1 October 12, 1992 Saskatoon, SK
Yokozuna 1 April 4, 1993 Las Vegas, NV
Hulk Hogan 5 April 4, 1993 Las Vegas, NV
Yokozuna 2 June 13, 1993 Dayton, OH
Bret Hart 2 March 20, 1994 New York City, NY
Bob Backlund 2 November 23, 1994 San Antonio, TX This was a "Throw in the Towel" match. Upon being urgently asked by Owen Hart, Helen Hart threw in the towel while Bret was in Backlund's crossface chickenwing, giving Backlund the victory.
Diesel 1 November 26, 1994 New York City, NY Diesel defeated Backlund in a record eight seconds.
Bret Hart 3 November 19, 1995 Landover, MD This was a no-disqualification match.
Shawn Michaels 1 March 31, 1996 Anaheim, CA This was a 60-minute Iron Man match. After a 0-0 tie after 60 minutes, Michaels pinned Hart three minutes into overtime to win.
Sycho Sid 1 November 17, 1996 New York City, NY
Shawn Michaels 2 January 19, 1997 San Antonio, TX
Vacated February 13, 1997 Lowell, MA Michaels forfeited the title due to a knee injury.
Bret Hart 4 February 16, 1997 Chattanooga, TN This was a Fatal Four-Way match also involving Steve Austin, The Undertaker and Vader.
Sycho Sid 2 February 17, 1997 Nashville, TN
The Undertaker 2 March 23, 1997 Rosemont, IL
Bret Hart 5 August 3, 1997 East Rutherford, NJ
Shawn Michaels 3 November 9, 1997 Montreal, QC The Montreal Screwjob.
Steve Austin 1 March 29, 1998 Boston, MA
Kane 1 June 28, 1998 Pittsburgh, PA This was a first blood match.
Steve Austin 2 June 29, 1998 Cleveland, OH
Vacated September 28, 1998 Detroit, MI The title was declared vacant after The Undertaker and Kane simultaneously pinned Austin in a Triple Threat match the previous night in Hamilton, ON.
The Rock 1 November 15, 1998 St. Louis, MO Defeated Mankind in a Tournament final to win the vacant title.
Mankind 1 December 29, 1998 Worcester, MA Match aired January 4, 1999.
The Rock 2 January 24, 1999 Anaheim, CA This was an "I Quit" match.
Mankind 2 January 26, 1999 Tucson, AZ This was an Empty Arena match.
The Rock 3 February 15, 1999 Birmingham, AL This was a ladder match.
Steve Austin 3 March 28, 1999 Philadelphia, PA
The Undertaker 3 May 23, 1999 Kansas City, MO
Steve Austin 4 June 28, 1999 Charlotte, NC
Mankind 3 August 22, 1999 Minneapolis, MN This was a Triple Threat match also involving Austin and Triple H.
Triple H 1 August 23, 1999 Ames, IA
Vince McMahon 1 September 14, 1999 Las Vegas, NV
Vacated September 20, 1999 Houston, TX McMahon vacated the title and declared it be put on the line in a Six Pack Challenge match at Unforgiven.
Triple H 2 September 26, 1999 Charlotte, NC Defeated The Rock in a Six-Pack Challenge match also involving Mankind, The Big Show, The British Bulldog and Kane to win the vacant title.
The Big Show 1 November 14, 1999 Detroit, MI Defeated Triple H a Triple Threat match also involving The Rock.
Triple H 3 January 3, 2000 Miami, FL Chris Jericho defeated Triple H on April 17, 2000 in State College, PA to win the title, but the decision was reversed and the title returned to Triple H 18 minutes later.
The Rock 4 April 30, 2000 Washington, D.C.
Triple H 4 May 21, 2000 Louisville, KY Won a 60-minute Iron Man match 5-4.
The Rock 5 June 25, 2000 Boston, MA Defeated Triple H a six-man tag team match with The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane vs. Triple H, Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon in which if Triple H or one of the McMahons were pinned, the winner would win the title.

Chris Benoit defeated The Rock on July 23, 2000 in Dallas, TX, due to a stipulation where if the Rock was disqualified, the title would change hands. During the match, The Rock was mistakenly disqualified, therefore, the title was awarded to Chris Benoit. However, then-WWF Commissioner Mick Foley restarted the match and The Rock won the restart.

Similarly, on September 24, 2000 in Greensboro, NC, Benoit won a Fatal Four-Way match against The Rock, Kane and The Undertaker. Yet as Benoit was leaving the ring, Commisioner Mick Foley came down and restarted the match and The Rock won the restart.
Kurt Angle 1 October 22, 2000 Albany, NY
The Rock 6 February 25, 2001 Las Vegas, NV
Steve Austin 5 April 1, 2001 Houston, TX
Kurt Angle 2 September 23, 2001 Pittsburgh, PA
Steve Austin 6 October 8, 2001 Indianapolis, IN
Chris Jericho 1 December 9, 2001 San Diego, CA Jericho defeated The Rock for the World Championship and immediately afterward defeated Steve Austin for the WWF Championship. The two titles are unified and become the WWF Undisputed Championship.
Triple H 5 March 17, 2002 Toronto, ON The last WWF Champion before the brand extension was established.
Hulk Hogan 6 April 21, 2002 Kansas City, MO The title was renamed the WWE Undisputed Championship after World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. settles a lawsuit with the World Wildlife Fund, and drops "Federation" from all references in the company.
The Undertaker 4 May 19, 2002 Nashville, TN
The Rock 7 July 21, 2002 Detroit, MI Defeated Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat match also involving the Undertaker.
Brock Lesnar 1 August 25, 2002 Uniondale, NY The title was renamed the WWE Championship on August 27, 2002 in Uncasville, CT after Lesnar becomes a SmackDown-exclusive superstar. In response, Eric Bischoff created the World Heavyweight Championship and awarded it to Triple H.
The Big Show 2 November 17, 2002 New York City, NY
Kurt Angle 3 December 15, 2002 Sunrise, FL
Brock Lesnar 2 March 30, 2003 Seattle, WA
Kurt Angle 4 July 27, 2003 Denver, CO Defeated Lesnar in a Triple Threat match also involving The Big Show.
Brock Lesnar 3 September 16, 2003 Raleigh, NC This was a 60-minute Iron Man match.
Eddie Guerrero 1 February 15, 2004 San Francisco, CA
John "Bradshaw" Layfield 1 June 27, 2004 Norfolk, VA This was a Texas Bullrope match.
John Cena 1 April 3, 2005 Los Angeles, CA The title becomes RAW-exclusive on June 6, 2005 in St. Louis, MO when Cena moves to RAW as the first pick in the 2005 Draft Lottery.
Edge 1 January 8, 2006 Albany, NY Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 21 after Cena won an Elimination Chamber match just minutes earlier.
John Cena 2 January 29, 2006 Miami, FL
Rob Van Dam 1 June 11, 2006 New York City, NY Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 22. This was an Extreme Rules match. This was the first time a WWE title changed hands at an ECW event.
Edge 2 July 3, 2006 Philadelphia, PA Defeated Rob Van Dam in a Triple Threat match also involving John Cena.
John Cena 3 September 17, 2006 Toronto, ON This was a Tables, Ladders and Chairs Match.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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