List of WWE Champions - Title History - Reigns

Reigns

As of November 30, 2012.

† indicates reigns and title changes not recognized by WWE.
# Wrestlers Reign Date Days
held		 Location Event Notes Ref.
1 Buddy Rogers 1 01963-04-25April 25, 1963 22 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.
2 Bruno Sammartino 1 01963-05-17May 17, 1963 2803 New York, NY Live event Held title for over seven years, a record for professional wrestling world champions.
3 Ivan Koloff 1 01971-01-18January 18, 1971 21 New York, NY Live event
4 Pedro Morales 1 01971-02-08February 8, 1971 1027 New York, NY Live event Title renamed WWWF Heavyweight Championship when WWWF rejoined the NWA in 1971.
5 Stan Stasiak 1 01973-12-01December 1, 1973 9 Philadelphia, PA Live event First time the WWWF title changed hands at a live event outside New York City.
6 Bruno Sammartino 2 01973-12-10December 10, 1973 1237 New York, NY Live event
7 Billy Graham 1 01977-04-30April 30, 1977 296 Baltimore, MD Live event
8 Bob Backlund 1 01978-02-20February 20, 1978 2135
†		 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. WWE does not recognize succedent reigns prior to Backlund's loss to The Iron Sheik.
— Antonio Inoki 1† 01979-11-30November 30, 1979 6 Tokushima, Japan Live event
— Vacated† — 01979-12-06December 6, 1979 — Tokushima, Japan Live event Inoki immediately vacated the title after a rematch with Backlund ended in a no contest.
— Bob Backlund 1(2)† 01979-12-17December 17, 1979 672 New York, NY Live event Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match.
— Vacated† — 01981-10-19October 19, 1981 — 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)† 01981-11-23November 23, 1981 763 New York, NY Live event Defeated Greg Valentine in a rematch to win the held up title.
9 The Iron Sheik 1 01983-12-26December 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.
10 Hulk Hogan 1 01984-01-23January 23, 1984 1474 New York, NY Live event
11 André the Giant 1 01988-02-05February 5, 1988 0 Indianapolis, IN The Main Event I
— Vacated — 01988-02-05February 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.
12 Randy Savage 1 01988-03-27March 27, 1988 371 Atlantic City, NJ WrestleMania IV Defeated Ted DiBiase in a tournament finals to win the vacant title.
13 Hulk Hogan 2 01989-04-02April 2, 1989 364 Atlantic City, NJ WrestleMania V
14 The Ultimate Warrior 1 01990-04-01April 1, 1990 293 Toronto, ON WrestleMania VI This match was also for Warrior's WWF Intercontinental Championship.
15 Sgt. Slaughter 1 01991-01-19January 19, 1991 64 Miami, FL Royal Rumble
16 Hulk Hogan 3 01991-03-24March 24, 1991 248 Los Angeles, CA WrestleMania VII
17 The Undertaker 1 01991-11-27November 27, 1991 6 Detroit, MI Survivor Series
18 Hulk Hogan 4 01991-12-03December 3, 1991 1 San Antonio, TX This Tuesday in Texas
— Vacated — 01991-12-04December 4, 1991 — N/A WWF Superstars of Wrestling 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.
19 Ric Flair 1 01992-01-19January 19, 1992 77 Albany, NY Royal Rumble Won the Royal Rumble match by last eliminating Sid Justice.
20 Randy Savage 2 01992-04-05April 5, 1992 149 Indianapolis, IN WrestleMania VIII
21 Ric Flair 2 01992-09-01September 1, 1992 41 Hershey, PA Prime Time Wrestling Aired on September 14, 1992.
22 Bret Hart 1 01992-10-12October 12, 1992 174 Saskatoon, SK Live event
23 Yokozuna 1 01993-04-04April 4, 1993 0 Las Vegas, NV WrestleMania IX
24 Hulk Hogan 5 01993-04-04April 4, 1993 70 Las Vegas, NV WrestleMania IX Won the title in 22 seconds.
25 Yokozuna 2 01993-06-13June 13, 1993 280 Dayton, OH King of the Ring
26 Bret Hart 2 01994-03-20March 20, 1994 248 New York, NY WrestleMania X Roddy Piper was the guest referee.
27 Bob Backlund 2(4)† 01994-11-23November 23, 1994 3 San Antonio, TX Survivor Series 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.
28 Diesel 1 01994-11-26November 26, 1994 358 New York, NY Live event Diesel defeated Backlund in eight seconds, marking the fastest WWF/E Championship match in history and the last time the title changed hands at an untelevised event.
29 Bret Hart 3 01995-11-19November 19, 1995 133 Landover, MD Survivor Series This was a no-disqualification match.
30 Shawn Michaels 1 01996-03-31March 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.
31 Sycho Sid 1 01996-11-17November 17, 1996 63 New York, NY Survivor Series
32 Shawn Michaels 2 01997-01-19January 19, 1997 25 San Antonio, TX Royal Rumble
— Vacated — 01997-02-13February 13, 1997 — Lowell, MA Raw Michaels forfeited the title due to a knee injury.
33 Bret Hart 4 01997-02-16February 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.
34 Sycho Sid 2 01997-02-17February 17, 1997 34 Nashville, TN Raw
35 The Undertaker 2 01997-03-23March 23, 1997 133 Rosemont, IL WrestleMania 13 This was a no-disqualification match.
36 Bret Hart 5 01997-08-03August 3, 1997 98 East Rutherford, NJ SummerSlam Shawn Michaels was the guest referee.
37 Shawn Michaels 3 01997-11-09November 9, 1997 140 Montreal, QC Survivor Series Won the title in the Montreal Screwjob.
38 Stone Cold Steve Austin 1 01998-03-29March 29, 1998 91 Boston, MA WrestleMania XIV Mike Tyson was the special outside enforcer.
39 Kane 1 01998-06-28June 28, 1998 1 Pittsburgh, PA King of the Ring This was a first blood match.
40 Stone Cold Steve Austin 2 01998-06-29June 29, 1998 90 Cleveland, OH Raw is War
— Vacated — 01998-09-27September 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.
41 The Rock 1 01998-11-15November 15, 1998 44 St. Louis, MO Survivor Series Defeated Mankind in the finals of the Deadly Game tournament for the vacant title.
42 Mankind 1 01998-12-29December 29, 1998 26 Worcester, MA Raw is War This was a no-disqualification match. Aired on January 4, 1999.
43 The Rock 2 01999-01-24January 24, 1999 2 Anaheim, CA Royal Rumble This was an "I Quit" match.
44 Mankind 2 01999-01-26January 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.
45 The Rock 3 01999-02-15February 15, 1999 41 Birmingham, AL Raw is War This was a ladder match.
46 Stone Cold Steve Austin 3 01999-03-28March 28, 1999 56 Philadelphia, PA WrestleMania XV Mankind was the special guest referee. This was also a no-disqualification match.
47 The Undertaker 3 01999-05-23May 23, 1999 36 Kansas City, MO Over the Edge Both Vince and Shane McMahon were special guest referees.
48 Stone Cold Steve Austin 4 01999-06-28June 28, 1999 55 Charlotte, NC Raw is War
49 Mankind 3 01999-08-22August 22, 1999 1 Minneapolis, MN SummerSlam This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H, with Jesse Ventura as guest referee.
50 Triple H 1 01999-08-23August 23, 1999 22 Ames, IA Raw is War Shane McMahon was the special guest referee.
51 Vince McMahon 1 01999-09-14September 14, 1999 6 Las Vegas, NV SmackDown Aired on September 16, 1999 with Shane McMahon as special guest referee.
— Vacated — 01999-09-20September 20, 1999 — Houston, TX Raw is War McMahon vacated the title.
52 Triple H 2 01999-09-26September 26, 1999 49 Charlotte, NC Unforgiven 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.
53 Big Show 1 01999-11-14November 14, 1999 50 Detroit, MI Survivor Series This was a triple threat match, also involving The Rock.
54 Triple H 3 02000-01-03January 3, 2000 118 Miami, FL Raw is War On April 17, 2000, Chris Jericho defeated Triple H for the WWF Championship after Earl Hebner's fast-count. Later that night, Triple H forced Hebner to reverse the decision, nullifying Jericho's reign and continuing Triple H's.
55 The Rock 4 02000-04-30April 30, 2000 21 Washington, D.C. Backlash Shane McMahon was the special guest referee.
56 Triple H 4 02000-05-21May 21, 2000 35 Louisville, KY Judgment Day This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, which Triple H won 6–5 with Shawn Michaels as the Special guest referee.
57 The Rock 5 02000-06-25June 25, 2000 119 Boston, MA King of the Ring This was a six-man tag team match 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.
58 Kurt Angle 1 02000-10-22October 22, 2000 126 Albany, NY No Mercy This was a no-disqualification match.
59 The Rock 6 02001-02-25February 25, 2001 35 Las Vegas, NV No Way Out
60 Stone Cold Steve Austin 5 02001-04-01April 1, 2001 175 Houston, TX WrestleMania X-Seven This was a no-disqualification match.
61 Kurt Angle 2 02001-09-23September 23, 2001 15 Pittsburgh, PA Unforgiven
62 Stone Cold Steve Austin 6 02001-10-08October 8, 2001 62 Indianapolis, IN Raw
63 Chris Jericho 1 02001-12-09December 9, 2001 98 San Diego, CA Vengeance 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.
64 Triple H 5 02002-03-17March 17, 2002 35 Toronto, ON WrestleMania X8
65 Hulk Hogan 6 02002-04-21April 21, 2002 28 Kansas City, MO Backlash 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.
66 The Undertaker 4 02002-05-19May 19, 2002 63 Nashville, TN Judgment Day
67 The Rock 7 02002-07-21July 21, 2002 35 Detroit, MI Vengeance This was a triple threat match, also involving Kurt Angle.
68 Brock Lesnar 1 02002-08-25August 25, 2002 84 Uniondale, NY SummerSlam "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
69 Big Show 2 02002-11-17November 17, 2002 28 New York, NY Survivor Series
70 Kurt Angle 3 02002-12-15December 15, 2002 105 Sunrise, FL Armageddon
71 Brock Lesnar 2 02003-03-30March 30, 2003 119 Seattle, WA WrestleMania XIX
72 Kurt Angle 4 02003-07-27July 27, 2003 51 Denver, CO Vengeance This was a triple threat match, also involving Big Show.
73 Brock Lesnar 3 02003-09-16September 16, 2003 152 Raleigh, NC SmackDown! This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, aired September 18, 2003 on SmackDown!.
74 Eddie Guerrero 1 02004-02-15February 15, 2004 133 Daly City, CA No Way Out
75 John "Bradshaw" Layfield 1 02004-06-27June 27, 2004 280 Norfolk, VA The Great American Bash This was a Texas Bullrope match. Longest WWE Championship reign in SmackDown! history.
76 John Cena 1 02005-04-03April 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.
77 Edge 1 02006-01-08January 8, 2006 21 Albany, NY New Year's Revolution Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 21 immediately after Cena won an Elimination Chamber match.
78 John Cena 2 02006-01-29January 29, 2006 133 Miami, FL Royal Rumble
79 Rob Van Dam 1 02006-06-11June 11, 2006 22 New York, NY ECW One Night Stand Cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract from WrestleMania 22. This was an Extreme Rules match. The title became property of the ECW brand. Van Dam Became the first person to hold both WWE and ECW World Championship.
80 Edge 2 02006-07-03July 3, 2006 76 Philadelphia, PA Raw This was a triple threat match, also involving John Cena. The title became exclusive on the Raw brand.
81 John Cena 3 02006-09-17September 17, 2006 380 Toronto, ON Unforgiven This was a tables, ladders, and chairs match.
— Vacated — 02007-10-02October 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 02007-10-07October 7, 2007 0 Rosemont, IL No Mercy Awarded the title by Mr. McMahon.
83 Triple H 6 02007-10-07October 7, 2007 0 Rosemont, IL No Mercy
84 Randy Orton 2 02007-10-07October 7, 2007 203 Rosemont, IL No Mercy This was a Last Man Standing match.
85 Triple H 7 02008-04-27April 27, 2008 210 Baltimore, MD Backlash 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.
86 Edge 3 02008-11-23November 23, 2008 21 Boston, MA Survivor Series 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.
87 Jeff Hardy 1 02008-12-14December 14, 2008 42 Buffalo, NY Armageddon This was a triple threat match, also involving Triple H.
88 Edge 4 02009-01-25January 25, 2009 21 Detroit, MI Royal Rumble This was a no-disqualification match.
89 Triple H 8 02009-02-15February 15, 2009 70 Seattle, WA No Way Out 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.
90 Randy Orton 3 02009-04-26April 26, 2009 42 Providence, RI Backlash Won a six-man tag team match in which Orton would win the championship if his team won.
91 Batista 1 02009-06-07June 7, 2009 2 New Orleans, LA Extreme Rules This was a Steel Cage match.
— Vacated — 02009-06-09June 9, 2009 — N/A Announced on WWE.com Vacated when Batista suffered a torn left biceps.
92 Randy Orton 4 02009-06-15June 15, 2009 90 Charlotte, NC Raw This was a Fatal Four-Way match also involving Triple H, John Cena and Big Show.
93 John Cena 4 02009-09-13September 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.
94 Randy Orton 5 02009-10-04October 4, 2009 21 Newark, NJ Hell in a Cell This was a Hell in a Cell match.
95 John Cena 5 02009-10-25October 25, 2009 49 Pittsburgh, PA Bragging Rights This was a 60-Minute Anything Goes Iron Man match. If Cena lost, he would have had to leave the Raw brand.
96 Sheamus 1 02009-12-13December 13, 2009 70 San Antonio, TX TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs This was a Tables match.
97 John Cena 6 02010-02-21February 21, 2010 0 St. Louis, MO Elimination Chamber This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving Triple H, Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase and Kofi Kingston.
98 Batista 2 02010-02-21February 21, 2010 35 St. Louis, MO Elimination Chamber Awarded a title shot by Mr. McMahon immediately after Cena won the Elimination Chamber match.
99 John Cena 7 02010-03-28March 28, 2010 84 Glendale, AZ WrestleMania XXVI Title was returned solely to the Raw brand.
100 Sheamus 2 02010-06-20June 20, 2010 91 Uniondale, NY Fatal 4-Way This was a Fatal Four-Way match also involving Edge and Randy Orton.
101 Randy Orton 6 02010-09-19September 19, 2010 64 Rosemont, IL Night of Champions This was a Six-Pack Challenge Elimination match also involving Edge, John Cena, Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett.
102 The Miz 1 02010-11-22November 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.
103 John Cena 8 02011-05-01May 1, 2011 77 Tampa, FL Extreme Rules This was a Triple Threat Steel Cage match also involving John Morrison.
104 CM Punk 1 02011-07-17July 17, 2011 28 Rosemont, IL Money in the Bank 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.
105 Rey Mysterio
 1
 02011-07-25July 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.
106 John Cena
 9
 02011-07-25July 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.
107 Alberto Del Rio 1 02011-08-14August 14, 2011 35 Los Angeles, CA SummerSlam Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated CM Punk, who had just become the undisputed WWE Champion after defeating John Cena.
108 John Cena 10 02011-09-18September 18, 2011 14 Buffalo, NY Night of Champions
109 Alberto Del Rio 2 02011-10-02October 2, 2011 49 New Orleans, LA Hell in a Cell This was a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell match also involving CM Punk.
110 CM Punk 2 02011-11-20November 20, 2011 376+ New York, NY Survivor Series

Read more about this topic:  List Of WWE Champions, Title History

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