…The history of the WWE Championship dates back to the 60s when WWE was known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation WWWF, also known as WWF and now WWE.
The very first man to hold the prestigious title was the late Buddy Rogers. Since the days of Buddy Rogers championship reign, forty-four other men have had the privilege of calling themselves WWE Champion.
This Is A List Of Every World Heavyweight Champion In WWE History
#1 Buddy Rogers
Rogers was awarded the title with the explanation that he defeated Antonio Rocca in the finals of a tournament in March 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.
#2 Bruno Sammartino
Held title for eight years, a record for professional wrestling world champions. Was also the first wrestler to repeat as champion.
#3 Ivan Koloff
1 Time WWWF World Heavyweight Champion
#4 Pedro Morales
The championship loses World status when the WWWF rejoins the NWA in 1971. The title was renamed the WWWF Heavyweight Championship.
#5 Stan Stasiak
Stan was one of the fortunate few that had the combination of talent and opportunity to become World heavyweight champion.
#6 Superstar Billy Graham
He won the title, and he lost the title in the same manner: with his leg on the ropes.
#7 Antonio Inoki
Later in a rematch in Tokyo, Japan on December 6, 1979 Backlund pinned Inoki for the title, but then-WWF president Hisashi Shinma declared the match a no-contest because of the interference of Tiger Jeet Singh.
Antonio Inoki refused the championship on December 6, 1979 following Shinma’s decision, and the title was declared vacant.
#8 Bob Backlund
Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match to win the vacant title.
Title held up on October 19, 1981 after a match against Greg Valentine in which the referee gave the title to Valentine after Backlund pinned him. 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.
#9 The Iron Sheik
Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaal and threw in the towel while Backlund was in the Sheik’s Camel clutch.
#10 André the Giant
Won the title at Main Event I. Immediately after winning the title from Hogan, André surrendered the title to Ted DiBiase. The title was immediately declared vacant.
After Andre surrendered the title to Ted DiBiase on February 5, 1988, the title was declared vacant by WWF President Jack Tunney and put up for grabs in a fourteen man tournament at WrestleMania IV.
#11 Randy Savage
Defeated three wrestlers in a tournament and Ted DiBiase in the final to win the vacant title, also the first time there was a new champion at a WrestleMania.
#12 Hulk Hogan
Won title at Tuesday in Texas.
Hogan was stripped of the title by WWF President Jack Tunney on December 4, 1991 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.
#13 The Ultimate Warrior
Won title at WrestleMania VI, the Intercontinental Title was also on the line.
#14 Sgt. Slaughter
Won title at the Royal Rumble.
#15 The Undertaker
Won title at Survivor Series.
#16 Ric Flair
Last eliminated Sid Justice in the Royal Rumble match to win the vacant title.
#17 Bret Hart
Won title at an un-televised house show.
#18 Yokozuna
Won title at WrestleMania IX.
#19 Diesel
Defeated Backlund at an un-televised house show in a record eight seconds.
#20 Shawn Michaels
This was a 60-minute Iron Man match atWrestleMania XII. After a 0-0 tie after 60 minutes, Michaels pinned Hart in sudden death overtime after one minute and 52 seconds to win. Also won title at Royal Rumble. Michaels forfeited the title on February 13, 1997 due to a knee injury.
#21Sycho Sid
Won title at Survivor Series.
#22 Steve Austin
Won title at WrestleMania XIV, marked the beginning of the “Attitude Era”.
#23 Kane
This was a first blood match at King of the Ring.
#24 The Rock
Defeated Mankind in a Tournament final at Survivor Series to win the vacant title.
#25 Mankind
Won title on Monday Night RAW.
#26 Mr. McMahon
Vacated title on September 20.
McMahon vacated the title on September 20, 1999 and declared it be put on the line in a Six Pack Challenge match at Unforgiven.
#27 Triple H
Pinned The Rock in a Six-Pack Challenge match at Unforgiven that also included Mankind, The Big Show, The British Bulldog and Kane to win the vacant title.
#28 The Big Show
Pinned Triple H in a Triple Threat match at Survivor Series that also included The Rock.
#29 Kurt Angle
Won title at No Mercy.
#30 Chris Jericho
Jericho won a four man one night tournament consisting of himself, The Rock, Steve Austin and Kurt Angle to unifythe World Championship, with the WWF Championship at Vengeance. Austin defeated Angle to advance to the finals while Jericho defeated The Rock and subsequently defeated Austin in the finals.
After being unified with the World Heavyweight Championship the title was renamed the unified title was named the WWF Undisputed Championship.
#31 Brock Lesnar
Won title at Summerslam. The title was renamed the WWE Championship on September 3, 2002 in Uncasville, CT after Lesnar becomes a SmackDown exclusive superstar and Eric Bischoff created the World Heavyweight Championship and awarded it to Triple H.
#32 Eddie Guerrero
Won title at No Way Out.
#33 John “Bradshaw” Layfield
This was a Texas Bullrope match that occurred at the Great American Bash.
#34 John Cena
Won title at WrestleMania 21, the title became RAW-exclusive on June 6, 2005 in St. Louis, MO when Cena moves to RAW as the first pick in the 2005 Draft Lottery.
#35 Edge
Cashed in his “Money in the Bank” contract from WrestleMania 21 after Cena won an Elimination Chamber match at New Year’s Revolution just minutes earlier.
Won title at the Royal Rumble.
#36 Rob Van Dam
Cashed in his “Money in the Bank” contract from WrestleMania 22. This was an Extreme Rules match at One Night Stand.
#37 Jeff Hardy
Won in a Triple Threat match also featuring Triple H at Armageddon.
#38 Batista
Won in a Steel Cage match at Extreme Rules.
The title is vacated on June 09, 2009 when Batista suffers a torn left bicep.
#39 Sheamus
Defeated John Cena Tables Match at TLC 2009
#40 The Miz
Won after cashing in the Money in the Bank contract on Raw.
#41 CM Punk
Won at Money in the Bank 2011 and left the company with the belt. Punk returned just two weeks later on RAW, still claiming to be champion. This led to an Undisputed WWE Championship match at SummerSlam
#42 Rey Mysterio
Won a tournament on Raw after Punk had left the company with the title.
#43 Alberto Del Rio
Defeated CM Punk, who had just become undisputed WWE Champion after defeating John Cena. Del Rio cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase after Punk had been attacked by Kevin Nash.
#44 Daniel Bryan
Won at SummerSlam 2013
#45 Seth Rollins
Won at WrestleMania XXXI
