View source for World championships in WWE

{{Short description|Listing of men's professional wrestling world championships}}
{{hatnote|This article covers all men's world championships contested in WWE throughout its history, not those acquired by the company and never contested under its banner, although WWE may recognize some titles from outside the company for championship records, such as the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] or the [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]].}}
{{use American English|date=May 2024}}
{{use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
[[File:Buddy Rogers original WWWF World Heavyweight Championship.png|thumb|250px|[[WWE]]'s inaugural world champion, [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]], who became the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion in 1963, a title that is now known as the [[WWE Championship]].]]
The American [[professional wrestling]] promotion [[WWE]] has maintained several men's [[Professional wrestling world championship|world championships]] since [[Capitol Wrestling Corporation]] seceded from the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] in 1963 to become the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which was later subjected to various name changes, including World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)—in April 2011, the company ceased using its full name and has since just been referred to as WWE. The company's first world championship was the [[WWE Championship]], which was established along with the promotion's creation in 1963 as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship; it is still active today and is WWE's oldest active title. Whenever the [[WWE brand extension]] has been implemented (2002–2011; 2016–present), separate world championships have been created or allocated for each brand.
As of 2024, WWE promotes three men's world championships. Two of them, the WWE Championship and the [[WWE Universal Championship]], are held and defended together as the [[Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]] on the [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] brand. The third is the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]].
== Overview ==
=== World Championships ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Name
!Years
!Status
|-
|1
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1963–present
|Active
|-
|2
|style="background-color:gold" | [[WCW Championship]]
|style="background-color:gold" | 1991–2001 (became WWF property in 2001)
|style="background-color:gold" | Retired
|-
|3
|[[ECW Championship]]
|1994–2001, 2006–2010 (became WWE property in 2003)
|Retired
|-
|4
|style="background-color:gold" |[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(original version)}}
|style="background-color:gold" |2002–2013
|style="background-color:gold" | Retired
|-
|5
|style="background-color:gold" | [[WWE Universal Championship]]
|style="background-color:gold" |2016–present
|style="background-color:gold" |Active
|-
|6
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(current version)}}
|2023–present
|Active
|}
* {{legend|gold|Unified with WWE Championship}}
==Summary of championships==
===WWE Championship (1963–present)===
{{main|WWE Championship}}
[[File:WRESTLING NEWS -1 1976 All Star Edition Living Legend BRUNO SAMMARTINO Cover.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bruno Sammartino]] defeated inaugural champion [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]] and became the longest-reigning champion at 2,803 days; pictured here in his second reign with the then-[[WWWF Heavyweight Championship]] (now WWE Championship)|300x300px]]
The [[WWE Championship]] is the original world heavyweight championship of [[WWE]], currently defended on the [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] brand. It was established by the then-World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) on April 25, 1963, as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship, after [[Capitol Wrestling Corporation]] seceded from the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA) to become the WWWF following a dispute over the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]. The inaugural champion was [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=LEALOS |first=SHAWN S. |title=Buddy Rogers: The First WWE Champion & The Man Who Inspired Ric Flair's Nature Boy Gimmick |url=https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-buddy-rogers-first-wwe-champion-inspired-ric-flair-nature-boy-gimmick/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Www.thesportster.com|date=August 13, 2022 }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=O |first=GERARD |title=Before WWE: 25 Very Best Wrestling Territories |url=https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/1036248-the-20-very-best-wrestling-territories.amp.html |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Www.syndication.bleacherreport.com}}</ref> Since its inception, the title has undergone many name changes due to company name changes and [[Championship unification|title unifications]]. The WWWF was renamed to World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=World Wide Wrestling Federation Alumni (1963-1979) |url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/promotions/wwwf/ |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Www.onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref> and then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2002<ref name="GetFOut">{{cite web| title=World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Drops The "F" To Emphasize the "E" for Entertainment| publisher=WWE| url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_05_06.jsp| access-date=August 28, 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119180317/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_05_06.jsp| archive-date=January 19, 2009| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Morales |first=AB |title=20 Years Since They Got The 'F' Out – From WWF To WWE |url=https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2022/05/05/20-years-from-wwf-to-wwe/amp/ |access-date=January 3, 2022 |website=Www.lastwordonsports.com}}</ref>—since April 2011, the company has operated under the [[trade name]] of WWE, although the legal name is still the full unabbreviated name.<ref name="2011name">{{cite press release |last1=Sacco |first1=Justine |last2=Weitz |first2=Michael |date=April 7, 2011 |title=The New WWE |url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2011/04-07-2011 |location=[[Connecticut]] |publisher=WWE |access-date=November 25, 2021 }}</ref>
The WWE Championship is the oldest championship currently active in WWE and is presented as being the promotion's most prestigious title.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Championship|url=https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/wwe-championship|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=April 3, 2022}}</ref> Aside from company name changes that resulted in the championship being renamed accordingly, the most notable name changes were from championship unifications. These included the WWE Undisputed Championship and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. There is also the [[Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]], which is what the title has been held under since April 2022, but unlike previous unifications, both titles under this undisputed banner have maintained their individual lineages.<ref name="WM38N2"/>
====WWE Undisputed Championship (2001–2002)====
[[File:HHH_after_winning_the_WWE_Undisputed_Championship.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Triple H]] after winning the [[Undisputed WWF Championship]] (now WWE Championship) at [[WrestleMania X8]]; the former [[WCW Championship]] (left) and WWF Championship belts represented the unified title until a single belt was presented to Triple H in April 2002; later that same year in September, Triple H became the inaugural [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Champion (original)]], which also used the [[Big Gold Belt]] design that had represented the WCW Championship.]]
The WWE Undisputed Championship (formerly known as Undisputed WWF Championship) was the result of a unification of the then-WWF Championship and the World Championship (formerly [[WCW Championship]]) in December 2001. Earlier that year in March, the WWF acquired [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), which shortly after began [[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|The Invasion]] storyline, a war between the WWF and the combined faction of former WCW and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) wrestlers called [[The Alliance (professional wrestling)|The Alliance]]. This culminated at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] in November where the WWF won The Invasion war, disbanding The Alliance. The WCW Championship was subsequently renamed World Championship. As there was not a need for two world championships, a unification match was scheduled for [[Vengeance (2001)|Vengeance]] the following month. At the event, [["Stone Cold" Steve Austin]] defeated [[Kurt Angle]] to retain the WWF Championship, while [[Chris Jericho]] defeated [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] for the World Championship. After this, Jericho defeated Austin, unifying the WWF and World Championships, and becoming the first Undisputed WWF Champion; the Undisputed Championship retained the lineage of the WWF Championship while the World Championship was retired.<ref name="Vengeance2001"/>
After the company was renamed to WWE, the championship was renamed Undisputed WWE Championship and then WWE Undisputed Championship. With the introduction of the [[WWE brand extension]] in March 2002, the company split its roster into two brands, [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] and SmackDown, where wrestlers were exclusively assigned to perform.<ref name="BrandExtensionPressRelease">{{cite web|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_03_27.jsp|title=WWE Entertainment To Make RAW and SMACKDOWN Distinct Television Brands}}</ref> The holder of the Undisputed Championship was the only male wrestler allowed to appear on both brands, as the champion defended the title against challengers from both brands. However, in September 2002, after reigning champion [[Brock Lesnar]] signed an exclusive deal to only defend the title on SmackDown, the title dropped the "undisputed" moniker, becoming the WWE Championship, while Raw established the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|original World Heavyweight Championship]] as its counterpart,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/3044541104|title=WCW World Champion – Chris Jericho|work=WWE.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215113326/https://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/3044541104|archive-date=February 15, 2008}}</ref> [[Spin-off (media)|spun off]] from the Undisputed WWE Championship as the successor to the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/08312007/articles/worldtitleturnsfive|title=World Heavyweight Championship turns five years old|last=Clayton|first=Corey|date=September 6, 2007|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=December 23, 2008}}</ref>
====WWE World Heavyweight Championship (2013–2016)====
[[File:Randy Orton at WM30.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Randy Orton]] unified the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002-2013)|World Heavyweight Championship (original)]] with the [[WWE Championship]] in December 2013, retiring the former and renaming the latter to WWE World Heavyweight Championship (which reverted to WWE Championship in 2016); the two belts represented the unified title until a single belt was presented to [[Brock Lesnar]] in August 2014.]]
The WWE World Heavyweight Championship was the result of a unification of the WWE Championship and the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|original World Heavyweight Championship]] in December 2013. Following the end of the first brand extension in August 2011, both the WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion could appear on both ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' and ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]''. After two years, as there was no longer a need for two world championships in the company, reigning World Heavyweight Champion [[John Cena]] made a challenge to reigning WWE Champion [[Randy Orton]] to determine WWE's undisputed world champion. Orton subsequently defeated Cena in a [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match]] at the [[TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2013)|TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs]] [[pay-per-view]] on December 15, 2013, to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The WWE World Heavyweight Championship retained the lineage of the WWE Championship while the World Heavyweight Championship was retired.<ref name="TLC2013"/>
After [[Dean Ambrose]] won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at [[Money in the Bank (2016)|Money in the Bank]] on June 19, 2016, one week later on June 27, the title's name reverted to WWE Championship.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Mike|title=Future of top WWE championship already hinted at|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/103003/future-of-top-wwe-championship-already-hinted-at-new-battleground-ppv-bout-and-more-wwe-news.html?p=1|website=PWInsider|date=June 28, 2016|access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Benigno|first1=Anthony|title=Seth Rollins addressed 'The Roman Reigns Scandal'|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2016-06-27/article/seth-rollins-addressed-roman-reigns-controversy|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=July 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name="WWE Championship">{{cite web|title=WWE Championship|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwe-championship|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629011310/https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwe-championship|archive-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> After the reintroduction of the brand extension the following month, the title became exclusive to SmackDown and was renamed to WWE World Championship, although it reverted to WWE Championship in December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Caldwell|first1=James|title=7/24 WWE Battleground Results – Caldwell's Complete Report|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/07/24/jcbattlegroundppvreport/|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch]]|date=July 24, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016}}</ref>
{{-}}
===WCW Championship (1991–2001)===
{{main|WCW World Heavyweight Championship}}
[[File:Ric Flair Big Gold 1986.png|thumb|right|The inaugural [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|WCW World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Ric Flair]]]]
The [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] was originally the world championship of [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), and later, defended on the then-WWF's programs. The title was established in 1991 when WCW, a member of the NWA, created the title to replace the NWA's world championship and claimed reigning NWA World Heavyweight Champion [[Ric Flair]] as the inaugural WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Flair's [[Big Gold Belt]] simultaneously represented the world championships of both the NWA and WCW until the NWA dropped its recognition of Flair as their champion when Flair left WCW with the Big Gold Belt and joined the WWF. Flair subsequently began appearing on WWF television with the Big Gold Belt, calling himself "The Real World Champion"; however, this was never officially recognized as a world championship in WWF.<ref name=pwhof>{{cite web|url=https://0362dc8.netsolhost.com/halloffamers/bios/flair.asp|title=Ric Flair|publisher=Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|access-date=August 14, 2017|last=Westcott |first=Brian|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923110934/https://0362dc8.netsolhost.com/halloffamers/bios/flair.asp|archive-date=September 23, 2017}}</ref>
In 1993, WCW seceded from the NWA and grew to become a rival promotion to the WWF. Both organizations grew into mainstream prominence and were eventually involved in a [[Nielsen ratings|television ratings]] war, dubbed the [[Monday Night Wars]]. Near the end of the ratings war, WCW began a [[History of World Championship Wrestling#Signs of a decline (1998–2001)|financial decline]], which culminated in WWF [[History of World Championship Wrestling#Acquisition by the World Wrestling Federation and aftermath|purchasing WCW]] in March 2001.<ref name="Purchase">{{cite web|url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_03_23.jsp|access-date=May 24, 2008|title=WWE Entertainment, Inc. acquires WCW from Turner Broadcasting|publisher=[[WWE]] Corporate|date=March 23, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050408044957/https://corporate.wwe.com/news/2001/2001_03_23.jsp|archive-date=April 8, 2005}}</ref> As a result of the purchase, the WWF acquired, among other assets, [[World Championship Wrestling#Final champions|WCW's championships]]. Thus, there were two world championships in the WWF: the original WWF Championship and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, which was shortened to WCW Championship upon WWF's acquisition and was eventually renamed the "World Championship" in November.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE Raw Results|website=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=November 10, 2015|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/011119.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Monday Night Raw – November 19, 2001: That's One Heck Of A Reset|website=KB's Wrestling Reviews|date=July 29, 2012|access-date=November 10, 2015|url=https://kbwrestlingreviews.com/2012/07/29/monday-night-raw-november-19-2001-thats-one-heck-of-a-reset/}}</ref> The World Championship was then retired when it was unified into the WWF Championship at Vengeance in December 2001, with the WWF Championship becoming the Undisputed WWF Championship. Chris Jericho was the final WCW Champion.<ref name="Vengeance2001">{{cite news|title=Vengeance 2001 official results|url= https://www.wwe.com/shows/nightofchampions/history/vengeance2001/results/|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=July 29, 2007}}</ref>
===World Heavyweight Championship (2002–2013)===
{{main|World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)}}
The [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|original World Heavyweight Championship]] was the second world championship to be established by WWE, which occurred in September 2002. After WWE introduced the WWE brand extension in March 2002, the Undisputed Champion was the only male wrestler allowed to appear on both the Raw and SmackDown brands. However, after reigning WWE Undisputed Champion Brock Lesnar signed an exclusive deal to only appear on SmackDown, Raw was left without a world championship. The World Heavyweight Championship was subsequently established and awarded to [[Triple H]], who was originally the number one contender to Lesnar's championship, which dropped the "undisputed" moniker.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/lesnar.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160117225113/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/lesnar.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 17, 2016|title=Brock Lesnar Biography at SLAM! Sports|work=SLAM! Sports: Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|access-date=December 21, 2008|quote=After the July 22 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'', Lesnar defected to Stephanie McMahon's SmackDown. Lesnar decided to remain exclusively on SmackDown, forcing Eric Bischoff's Raw brand to create its own World Championship.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/mcmahon-vince.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160731171624/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/mcmahon-vince.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2016|title=Vince Mcmahon Biography at SLAM! Sports|work=SLAM! Sports: Wrestling|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|access-date=December 21, 2008|quote=The entire WWE roster was broken up into two separate camps, yahoo, with some rivalry (especially between future General Managers Eric Bischoff and Stephanie McMahon) occurring.}}</ref><ref name="Raw9/2">{{cite web|last=Nemer|first=Paul|title=Full WWE RAW Results – 9/2/02|url=https://www.wrestleview.com/news/1031022615.shtml|date=September 2, 2002|publisher=WrestleView|access-date=December 20, 2008}}</ref>
Throughout the first brand split (2002–2011), the original World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Championship switched brands, usually as a result of the [[WWE Draft]]. The brand extension was dissolved in August 2011, allowing the World Heavyweight Champion and WWE Champion to appear on both brands. With no longer a need for two world championships, the World Heavyweight Championship was retired when it was unified into the WWE Championship at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs in December 2013, with the WWE Championship becoming the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Randy Orton was the final holder of the original World Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="TLC2013">{{cite web|title=CALDWELL'S WWE TLC PPV RESULTS 12/15: Live, in-person coverage of Cena vs. Orton unification match from Houston|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_75121.shtml|first=James|last=Caldwell|date=December 15, 2013}}</ref>
===ECW Championship (1994–2010)===
{{main|ECW World Heavyweight Championship}}
The [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] was originally the world championship of [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]], and later, WWE's [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] brand. In 1994, Eastern Championship Wrestling seceded from the NWA and became Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and established the ECW World Heavyweight Championship with WWE recognizing [[Shane Douglas]] as the inaugural champion. The championship itself had originally been established as the ECW Heavyweight Championship in 1992 for the previous Eastern Championship Wrestling with [[Jimmy Snuka]] as the inaugural champion; however, WWE only recognizes the title history from its change over to Extreme Championship Wrestling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leatherland |first=Noah |title=How A Shane Douglas Promo Turned ECW Extreme, Explained|url=https://www.thesportster.com/how-shane-douglas-promo-turned-ecw-extreme-explained/|access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=www.thesportster.com|date=July 8, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Buck |title=THIS DAY IN HISTORY: ECW BECOMES EXTREME |url=https://pwinsider.com/article/41000/this-day-in-history-ecw-becomes-extreme.html?p=1 |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Www.pwinsider.com}}</ref><ref name=":0"/> In 2001, the ECW promotion folded due to bankruptcy and WWE bought the assets of ECW in 2003.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=SCHADLER |first=KYLE |title=Abandoned: The History of the ECW World Heavyweight Championship |url=https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/967440-abandoned-the-history-of-the-ecw-world-heavyweight-championship.amp.html |access-date=December 30, 2022 |website=Www.syndication.bleacherreport.com}}</ref>
In June 2006, WWE established a third brand dubbed ECW on which stars from the former promotion and newer talent competed.<ref name=":0"/> When ECW's [[Rob Van Dam]] won the WWE Championship at [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|ECW One Night Stand]], the ECW Championship was subsequently reactivated as the world championship of the ECW brand (and the third concurrently active world championship in WWE) and was awarded to Van Dam, who held both until he lost the WWE Championship to Raw's [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] the following month. The three world championships at one point or another switched brands over the course of the brand extension, usually as a result of the WWE Draft. The ECW brand was disbanded in 2010, subsequently retiring the ECW Championship. The final champion was [[Ezekiel Jackson]].<ref name=":0"/>
===WWE Universal Championship (2016–present)===
{{main|WWE Universal Championship}}
[[File:Finn Bálor Backstage cropped.jpg|thumb|right|The inaugural [[WWE Universal Championship|WWE Universal Champion]] [[Finn Bálor]]]]
The [[WWE Universal Championship]] is the third world championship to be established by WWE and is currently defended on the SmackDown brand. Its creation came as a result of the reintroduction of the brand extension in July 2016. On the July 25 episode of ''Raw'', to address the lack of a world championship for the brand since the WWE Championship became exclusive to SmackDown, the Universal Championship was introduced. [[Finn Bálor]] subsequently became the inaugural champion at [[SummerSlam (2016)|SummerSlam]] the following month.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hamlin|first=Jeff|title=WWE Raw live results: title match set for SummerSlam & a new champion is crowned|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/wwe-raw-live-results-title-match-set-summerslam-new-champion-crowned-217286|publisher=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|date=July 25, 2016|access-date=July 27, 2016}}</ref> The titles would switch brands following the events of the [[Crown Jewel (2019)|2019 Crown Jewel]] pay-per-view.<ref name="CrownJewel2019">{{cite web|date=October 31, 2019|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Crown Jewel results: Powell's live review of Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez for the WWE Championship, Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt in a Falls Count Anywhere match for the WWE Universal Championship, Braun Strowman vs. Tyson Fury, Lacey Evans vs. Natalya|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2019/10/31/wwe-crown-jewel-results-powells-live-review-of-brock-lesnar-vs-cain-velasquez-for-the-wwe-championship-seth-rollins-vs-bray-wyatt-in-a-falls-count-anywhere-match-for-the-wwe-universal-championsh/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=October 31, 2019}}</ref><ref name="SmackDown11012019">{{cite web|date=November 1, 2019|first=Brent|last=Brookhouse|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-smackdown-results-recap-grades-shocking-nxt-invasion-brock-lesnar-quits-and-moves-to-raw/|title=WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Shocking NXT invasion, Brock Lesnar quits and moves to Raw|work=[[CBSSports]]|access-date=March 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102152426/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-smackdown-results-recap-grades-shocking-nxt-invasion-brock-lesnar-quits-and-moves-to-raw/|archive-date=November 2, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Since April 2022, the title has been held together with the WWE Championship under the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship banner, but unlike previous title unifications, both titles under this undisputed moniker have maintained their individual lineages.<ref name="WM38N2"/>
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===NXT Championship (2019–2021)===
{{main|NXT Championship}}
The [[NXT Championship]] is the top championship of WWE's [[Farm team|developmental brand]], [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]]; however, there was a period of time from 2019 to 2021 in which NXT was regarded as WWE's third brand with the championship regarded as a world championship. In June 2012, WWE established the NXT brand as their developmental territory to replace [[Florida Championship Wrestling]]. The NXT Championship was subsequently established and [[Seth Rollins]] became the inaugural champion.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|last=Parry|first=Josh|title=NXT spoiler – first champion crowned |url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/quicknews/article_63732.shtml|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=July 26, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=James|first=Justin|title=JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 8/29 – Week 11: First NXT champion crowned in big-match setting|url=https://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwenxtreport/article_64831.shtml|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=September 8, 2012}}</ref> In September 2019, after years of growth and expansion, the NXT brand became WWE's third major brand when the ''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]'' program was moved to the [[USA Network]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/triple-h-discusses-nxt-as-a-third-brand-putting-talent-in-a-position-to-succeed-more/|title=Triple H Discusses NXT as a Third Brand, Putting Talent in a Position to Succeed, More|date=May 10, 2016|last=Csonka|first=Larry|work=[[411Mania]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2019/08/19/wwe-nxt-usa-network-announcement-aew|title=NXT moving to cable TV on Sept. 18|last=Rollins|first=Khadrice|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|language=en|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=September 8, 2019}}</ref> with the NXT Championship subsequently regarded as a world championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/roman-reigns-vs-edge|title=Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Edge|date=February 21, 2021|last=Burdick|first=Michael|work=[[WWE]]|access-date=February 22, 2021|quote=In the wake of his Herculean effort, The Rated-R Superstar [Edge] traveled to Raw, NXT and SmackDown to scope out the World Champions before declaring that he would not announce which World Champion he would challenge until after WWE Elimination Chamber [2021].}}</ref> However, WWE revamped NXT in September 2021 and returned the brand to its original function as a developmental brand, with the title no longer regarded as a world championship.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Currier|first=Joseph|title=Preview and Predictions for 'NXT WarGames'|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2021/12/03/wwe-nxt-wargames-full-card-preview-predictions |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=December 3, 2021 |access-date=December 11, 2021}}</ref>
===Undisputed WWE Championship (2022–present)===
[[File:Undisputed WWE Championship.png|thumb|right|The Undisputed WWE Championship belt, which has represented both the [[WWE Championship]] and [[WWE Universal Championship]] since June 2023.]]
The '''Undisputed WWE Championship''' (formerly known as the '''Undisputed WWE Universal Championship''') is the term used by WWE to refer to both the WWE Championship and the Universal Championship being held and defended simultaneously by the same individual. This recognition came as a result of a [[Winner Takes All match]] at [[WrestleMania 38]] in April 2022. WWE also billed the match as a championship unification match; however, both titles have maintained their individual lineages despite WWE promoting the undisputed title as one championship.<ref name="WM38N2"/>
At WrestleMania 38, SmackDown's Universal Champion [[Roman Reigns]] defeated Raw's WWE Champion Brock Lesnar to win the latter's title and become recognized as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.<ref name="WM38N2">{{cite web|last=Brookhouse|first=Brent|date=April 3, 2022|title=2022 WWE WrestleMania 38 results, Night 2 grades: Roman Reigns unifies titles, Stone Cold stuns Vince McMahon|url=https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/2022-wwe-wrestlemania-38-results-night-2-grades-roman-reigns-unifies-titles-stone-cold-stuns-vince-mcmahon/live/|access-date=April 30, 2023|website=[[CBSSports]]|archive-date=April 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404041408/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/2022-wwe-wrestlemania-38-results-night-2-grades-roman-reigns-unifies-titles-stone-cold-stuns-vince-mcmahon/live/|url-status=live}}</ref> As the undisputed champion, Reigns was allowed to appear on both brands; as a result of the [[2023 WWE Draft]], however, he was drafted to SmackDown, thus making both championships under the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship banner exclusive to the brand.<ref>{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=4/28 WWE SmackDown Results: Keller's report on WWE Draft Night 1, Owens & Sami vs. Usos for WWE Tag Team Titles|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/04/28/4-28-wwe-smackdown-results-kellers-report-on-wwe-draft-night-1-owens-sami-vs-usos-for-wwe-tag-team-titles/|date=April 28, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=April 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430121410/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/04/28/4-28-wwe-smackdown-results-kellers-report-on-wwe-draft-night-1-owens-sami-vs-usos-for-wwe-tag-team-titles/|archive-date=April 30, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/results/wwe-smackdown-live-results-wwe-draft-begins|title=WWE SmackDown live results: The WWE Draft begins|date=April 28, 2023|last=Bath|first=Dave|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|access-date=April 28, 2023}}</ref> A new world title, the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]], was created and subsequently designated to Raw.<ref name="Raw04242023"/><ref name="2023draft"/>
On the June 2, 2023, episode of ''SmackDown'', in celebration of Reigns reaching 1,000 days as Universal Champion, he was presented with a single belt, which features the same "[[WWE Championship#2014–present|Network Logo]]" design of the individual titles, but with notable differences. It is on a black strap, the WWE logo is encrusted with black diamonds, the background behind the logo is gold with nugget texturing, and the text at the bottom of the plate says "Undisputed Champion", while the side plates featured Reigns' logo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/wwe-unveils-new-undisputed-wwe-universal-championship-belt|title=WWE unveils new Undisputed WWE Universal Championship belt|date=June 2, 2023|last=Rose|first=Bryan|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|access-date=June 5, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.patreon.com/posts/more-on-wwe-84385045|title=More on WWE streamlining titles, future plans|date=June 11, 2023|work=Fightful|access-date=June 11, 2023|url-access=subscription}}</ref> His manager [[Paul Heyman]] had continued to carry around the standard WWE and Universal Championship belts until the end of July.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/07/29/wwe-smackdown-tv-results-7-28-mcdonalds-alt-perspective-report-on-roman-reigns-and-jey-uso-face-to-face-mysterio-vs-escobar-u-s-title-invitational-final-anderson-vs-kross/|title=WWE SMACKDOWN TV RESULTS (7/28): McDonald's "alt perspective" report on Roman Reigns and Jey Uso face to face, Mysterio vs. Escobar U.S. Title Invitational Final, Anderson vs. Kross|date=July 29, 2023|last=McDonald|first=Alex|work=[[PWTorch]]|access-date=September 5, 2023}}</ref> [[Cody Rhodes]] would defeat Reigns at [[WrestleMania XL]] Night 2 on April 7th, 2024, to win the title, and he has continued to hold the singular Undisputed belt, now with his own logos on the side plates, while continuing the individual lineages of both championships.<ref name="WM40N2">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WrestleMania XL results: Powell's live review of night two with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Universal Championship with Bloodline Rules, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/04/07/wrestlemania-xl-results-powells-live-review-of-night-two-with-roman-reigns-vs-cody-rhodes-for-the-wwe-universal-championship-with-bloodline-rules-seth-rollins-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-world-heav/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=April 7, 2024|access-date=April 7, 2024}}</ref> Following Rhodes's victory, WWE renamed the unified title to the Undisputed WWE Championship, removing the Universal term from the championship despite the Universal Championship still being active.
===World Heavyweight Championship (2023–present)===
{{main|World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)}}
[[File:Seth Rollins April 2015.jpg|thumb|right|The inaugural [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Seth "Freakin" Rollins]], shown here with the [[WWE Championship]]. Rollins was also the inaugural [[NXT Champion]] and is the only wrestler to have held the NXT, WWE, [[WWE Universal Championship|Universal]], and World Heavyweight Championships]]
The [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|current World Heavyweight Championship]] is the fourth world championship to be established by WWE, and is currently defended on the Raw brand. Its creation came as a result of Roman Reigns, who at the time held both the WWE Championship and the Universal Championship to be recognized as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. On the April 24, 2023, episode of ''Raw'', WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H announced that regardless of what brand Reigns was drafted to in the 2023 WWE Draft, he and his undisputed championship would become exclusive to that brand, with Triple H subsequently unveiling the World Heavyweight Championship for the opposing brand. During the draft, SmackDown drafted Reigns, thus the World Heavyweight Championship became exclusive to Raw.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Andrew|date=April 25, 2023|title=Paul Levesque unveils new World Heavyweight Title, champion to be crowned at WWE Night of Champions|url=https://www.postwrestling.com/2023/04/24/paul-levesque-unveils-new-world-heavyweight-title-champion-to-be-crowned-at-wwe-night-of-champions/|access-date=April 25, 2023|website=POST Wrestling}}</ref><ref name="Raw04242023">{{cite web |last=Keller |first=Wade |date=April 24, 2023 |title=4/24 WWE Raw results: Keller's report on Triple H announcement, Bad Bunny appearing in person, Rey vs. Priest|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/04/24/4-24-wwe-monday-night-raw-results-kellers-report-on-bad-bunny-appearing-in-person-rey-vs-priest-last-pre-wwe-draft-episode/|access-date=April 24, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref><ref name="2023draft">{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/results/wwe-smackdown-live-results-wwe-draft-begins|title=WWE SmackDown live results: The WWE Draft begins|date=April 28, 2023|last=Bath|first=Dave|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|access-date=April 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Seth "Freakin" Rollins became the inaugural champion by defeating [[AJ Styles]] in a tournament final at [[Night of Champions (2023)|Night of Champions]] on May 27, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/seth-rollins-becomes-inaugural-wwe-world-heavyweight-champion-wwe-night-champions|title=Seth Rollins Becomes Inaugural WWE World Heavyweight Champion At WWE Night Of Champions|date=May 27, 2023|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|work=Fightful|access-date=May 28, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NOC2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/05/27/wwe-night-of-champions-results-5-27-kellers-report-on-seth-rollins-vs-aj-styles-for-world-hvt-title-sami-ko-vs-roman-reigns-solo-sikoa-cody-rhodes-vs-brock-lesnar/|title=WWE Night of Champions Results (5/27): Keller's report on Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles for World Hvt. Title, Sami & KO vs. Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa, Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|first=Wade|last=Keller|date=May 27, 2023|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref>
==Champions==
===Current champions===
The following list shows the wrestlers that are currently holding all active men's world championships in WWE.
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;"
|-
!Championship
!colspan=2 | Current champion
!Reign
!Date won
!Days<br />held
!Location
!Notes
!Ref.
|-
| align="center" | [[Undisputed WWE Championship]]<br>{{small|([[WWE Championship|WWE]] and [[WWE Universal Championship|Universal]] championships)}}
| align="center" | [[File:Cody Rhodes with his Undisputed Championship (Birmingham UK, April 2024) (3) (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| align="center" | [[Cody Rhodes]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | April 7, 2024
| align="center" | {{age in days|April 7, 2024}}
| align="center" | [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
| align="left" | Defeated [[Roman Reigns]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match|Bloodline Rules match]] at [[WrestleMania XL]] Night 2.
| <ref name="WM40N2">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WrestleMania XL results: Powell's live review of night two with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Universal Championship with Bloodline Rules, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/04/07/wrestlemania-xl-results-powells-live-review-of-night-two-with-roman-reigns-vs-cody-rhodes-for-the-wwe-universal-championship-with-bloodline-rules-seth-rollins-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-world-heav/|work=[[Pro Wrestling Dot Net]]|date=April 7, 2024|access-date=April 7, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" | [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(current version)}}
| align="center" | [[File:Gunther_2024_(cropped).jpg|100px]]
| align="center" | [[Gunther (wrestler)|Gunther]]
| align="center" | 1
| align="center" | August 3, 2024
| align="center" | {{age in days|August 3, 2024}}
| align="center" | [[Cleveland|Cleveland, Ohio]]
| align=left | Defeated [[Damian Priest]] at [[SummerSlam (2024)|SummerSlam]].
|<ref name="SSlam2024">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE SummerSlam results: Powell's review of Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match for the WWE Championship, Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/08/03/wwe-summerslam-results-powells-review-of-cody-rhodes-vs-solo-sikoa-in-a-bloodline-rules-match-for-the-wwe-championship-damian-priest-vs-gunther-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship/|work=[[Pro Wrestling Dot Net]]|date=August 3, 2024|access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref>
|}
===Retired championships===
The following list shows retired men's world championships and the final title holders before the belts were deactivated in WWE.
{|class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:70%;"
!Championship
!Final champion
!Reign
!Date retired
!Days held
!Notes
|-
|[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[Chris Jericho]]
|2
|December 9, 2001
|<1
|align="left"|{{small|Won the title as the World Championship. It was [[Championship unification|unified]] into the then-[[WWF Championship]], which subsequently became known as the Undisputed WWF Championship.}}
|-
|[[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[Ezekiel Jackson]]
|1
|February 16, 2010
|<1
|align="left"|{{small|Won the title as the ECW Championship. It was retired with the dissolution of the [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] brand.}}
|-
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002-2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(original version)}}
|[[Randy Orton]]
|4
|December 15, 2013
|<1
|align="left"|{{small|The championship was [[Championship unification|unified]] into Orton's [[WWE Championship]], which subsequently became known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|}
===Inaugural championship holders===
The following list shows the inaugural holders for each world championship created and/or promoted by WWE.
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:70%;"
|-
!Championship
!Holder(s)
!Date
!Notes
|-
|[[WWE Championship]]
|[[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]]
|April 11, 1963
|align=left|{{small|Won the title as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship which WWE recognizes as happening on April 25, 1963.}}
|-
|[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[Ric Flair]]
|January 11, 1991
|align=left|{{small|Flair was the reigning [[NWA World Heavyweight Champion]] when [[World Championship Wrestling]] began also recognizing him as their world champion. For Flair's 16 world championships, this reign is recognized as one of his 8 NWA reigns.}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|[[Jimmy Snuka]]
|April 25, 1992
|align=left|{{small|Won the title as the ECW Heavyweight Championship as part of [[Eastern Championship Wrestling]] of the [[National Wrestling Alliance]]. This is not recognized by WWE.}}
|-
|[[Shane Douglas]]
|March 26, 1994
|align=left|{{small|WWE officially recognizes this as the inaugural reign of the title after [[Eastern Championship Wrestling]] split from the NWA to become [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] with Douglas' reign for the latter officially beginning on August 27, 1994.}}
|-
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002-2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(original version)}}
|[[Triple H]]
|September 2, 2002
|
|-
|[[WWE Universal Championship]]
|[[Finn Bálor]]
|August 21, 2016
|
|-
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(current version)}}
|[[Seth Rollins|Seth "Freakin" Rollins]]
|May 27, 2023
|
|-
|}
== Superlative reigns ==
* (+) – indicates the reign is ongoing.
=== Ten longest ===
The following list shows the ten longest world championship reigns in WWE history.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Champion
!Title
!Reign
!Length<br>(days)
!Notes
|-
!1
|{{nowrap|[[Bruno Sammartino]]}}
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1
|2,803
|{{small|During this reign, the title was known as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
!2
|[[Hulk Hogan]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1
|1,474
|{{small|During this reign, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
!3
|[[Bob Backlund]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1<sup>(2)</sup>
|1,470
|{{small|Backlund first won the title as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship. During this reign, it was renamed to WWF Heavyweight Championship when the WWWF was renamed to WWF. WWE recognizes this reign as lasting 2,135 days as they do not recognize [[Antonio Inoki]]'s reign or the subsequent vacancies of the title that followed, and thus recognize this period as one continuous reign for Backlund. This is the second part of this reign.}}
|-
!4
|[[Roman Reigns]]
|[[WWE Universal Championship]]
|2
|1,316
|{{small|Won the title in August 2020. From April 2022 until April 2024, he held and defended the title together with the [[WWE Championship]] as the [[Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]], although both titles retained their individual lineages.}}
|-
!5
|[[Bruno Sammartino]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|2
|1,237
|{{small|During this reign, the title was known as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
!6
|[[Pedro Morales]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1
|1,027
|{{small|During this reign, the title was known as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
!7
|[[Roman Reigns]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|4
|735
|{{small|During this reign, the title was jointly held and defended with the [[WWE Universal Championship]] as the [[Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]], although both titles retained their individual lineages.}}
|-
!8
|[[Bob Backlund]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1<sup>(1)</sup>
|648
|{{small|Backlund first won the title as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship. During this reign, it was renamed to WWF Heavyweight Championship when the WWWF was renamed to WWF. WWE recognizes this reign as lasting 2,135 days as they do not recognize [[Antonio Inoki]]'s reign or the subsequent vacancies of the title that followed, and thus recognize this period as one continuous reign for Backlund. This is the first part of this reign.}}
|-
!9
|[[Brock Lesnar]]
|[[WWE Universal Championship]]
|1
|504
|{{small|WWE recognizes this reign as lasting 503 days.}}
|-
!10
|[[Hulk Hogan]]
|[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|1
|469
|
|-
|}
=== Longest per championship ===
The following list shows the longest reigning champion for each world championship created and/or promoted by WWE.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Champion
!Title
!Reign
!Dates held
!Length<br>(days)
!Notes
|-
|1
|{{nowrap|[[Bruno Sammartino]]}}
|[[WWE Championship]]
|1
|May 17, 1963 – January 18, 1971
|2,803
|{{small|During this reign, the title was known as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|2
|[[Roman Reigns]]
|[[WWE Universal Championship]]
|2
|August 30, 2020 – April 7, 2024
|1,316
|{{small|From April 2022 until April 2024, he held and defended the title together with the [[WWE Championship]] as the [[Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]], although both titles retained their individual lineages.}}
|-
|3
|[[Hulk Hogan]]
|[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|1
|July 17, 1994 – October 29, 1995
|469
|
|-
|4
|[[Shane Douglas]]
|[[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|4
|November 30, 1997 – January 10, 1999
|406
|
|-
|5
|[[Seth "Freakin" Rollins]]
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(current version)}}
|1
|May 27, 2023 – April 7, 2024
|316
|
|-
|6
|[[Dave Bautista|Batista]]
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(original version)}}
|1
|April 3, 2005 – January 10, 2006
|282
|
|-
|}
=== Most per championship ===
The following list shows the wrestlers with the most reigns for each world championship created and/or promoted by WWE.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Champion
!Title
!No. of reigns
!Notes
|-
|1
|[[John Cena]]
|[[WWE Championship]]
|13
|{{small|During Cena's 12th reign, the title was known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|2
|[[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]]
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(original version)}}
|7
|
|-
|rowspan=3|3
|[[Ric Flair]]
|rowspan=3|[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|rowspan=3|6
|rowspan=3|{{small|In [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), Flair was recognized as an 8-time champion, but WWE only recognizes 6, counting his first reign as one of his 8 [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] reigns and ignoring a title vacancy that occurred in 1994 and instead viewing that as one continuous reign.}}
|-
|[[Hulk Hogan]]
|-
|[[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]]
|-
|4
|[[The Sandman (wrestler)|The Sandman]]
|[[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]]
|5
|
|-
|5
|[[Brock Lesnar]]
|[[WWE Universal Championship]]
|3
|
|-
|rowspan=4|6
|[[Seth "Freakin" Rollins]]
|rowspan=4|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]<br>{{small|(current version)}}
|rowspan=4|1
|rowspan=4|{{small| There have only been four reigns between four champions thus far.}}
|-
|[[Drew McIntyre]]
|-
|[[Damian Priest]]
|-
|[[Gunther (wrestler)|Gunther]]
|-
|}
=== Most total reigns ===
The following list shows the wrestlers who have the most world championship reigns in total, combining all titles they have held as recognized by WWE. This list also shows the titles that they won to achieve this record (minimum five world championship reigns).
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Champion
!Titles
!No. of Reigns
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|1
|[[Ric Flair]]
|
* [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (8 times)
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (6 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (2 times)
|rowspan=2|16
|{{small|WWE officially recognizes that Flair is a 16-time world champion, with other promotions also recognizing this number. His actual number of world championships exceeds that, with Flair himself stating 21 world titles. Depending on recognition, Flair is variously recognized as a 16-time world champion (8 NWA, 6 WCW, and 2 WWF), 18-time world champion (8 NWA, 8 WCW, and 2 WWF), and 21-time world champion (9 NWA, 8 WCW, 2 WWF, and 2 WCW International), with the number of NWA titles varying between 8 and 9, and the WCW World title between 6 and 8. In the current [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]], Flair is recognized as holding that title 9 times but WWE only recognizes 8. In [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]], Flair was recognized as an eight-time champion but WWE only recognizes 6, counting his first reign as one of his 8 NWA title reigns and ignoring a title vacancy that occurred in 1994 and instead viewing that as one continuous reign. WWE also does not recognize his two [[WCW International World Championship]] reigns, recognizing the first reign as an NWA title reign, and not counting the second, which he won via a title unification match.<ref name="worldtitles">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=30190&p=1|title=Ric Flair: The 16-time... 18-time... 21-time... Exactly how many times has he been World Champion?|last=Woodward |first=Buck |publisher=PWInsider.com|date=April 2, 2008|access-date=April 6, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qgcYjV5o1w&t=31s|title=Ric Flair Return|date=November 1, 2009|work=[[Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin]]|publisher=[[YouTube]]|access-date=February 4, 2010|time=31 seconds|quote=Fact be known, it's 21 times. 16, I'll take credit for.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ric Flair's title history|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/ricflair/titlehistory|publisher=WWE.com|access-date=January 12, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112041043/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/ricflair/titlehistory|archive-date=January 12, 2016}}</ref> During his two reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|[[John Cena]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 3 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (13 times)
|{{small|During his 12th reign as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |3
|[[Triple H]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 5 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (9 times)
| rowspan="2" |14
|{{small|During his first four reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF Championship. During his fifth reign, the title was known as the Undisputed WWF Championship. During his ninth reign, the title was known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Triple H was the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion, which subsequently made him the first wrestler to hold the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Championship.}}
|-
|[[Randy Orton]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 4 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (10 times)
|{{small|Orton was the youngest holder of the World Heavyweight Championship at 24, which also makes him the youngest world champion in WWE history. Orton is also the final holder of the title when he unified the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Championship to become the WWE World Heavyweight Championship; this occurred during Orton's eighth reign as WWE Champion. By the time of his ninth reign, the title reverted to being called the WWE Championship.}}
|-
|5
|[[Hulk Hogan]]
|
* [[WCW World Championship|WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (6 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (6 times)
|12
|{{small|During his first five reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, although often abbreviated to WWF Championship. During his sixth reign, the title had three names, and he won it as the Undisputed WWF Championship but was shortly after renamed to Undisputed WWE Championship (due to the company being renamed from WWF to WWE) before being renamed again to WWE Undisputed Championship. Hogan is a 13-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his reign with the original version of [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'s [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship (original version)|IWGP Heavyweight Championship]].}}
|-
| 6
|[[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 7 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (4 times)
|11
|
|-
|rowspan="4" |7
|[[Brock Lesnar]]
|
* [[WWE Championship]] (7 times)
* [[WWE Universal Championship]] (3 times)
| rowspan="4" |10
|{{small|Lesnar first won the WWE Championship when it was called the WWE Undisputed Championship; during that same reign, it was renamed to WWE Championship. During his fourth reign, it was known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Lesnar holds the record for being the youngest wrestler to hold the WWE Championship at 25. With the WWE Universal Championship, Lesnar holds the record for most reigns, and he was also the first wrestler to hold the WWE Championship and the WWE Universal Championship.<br>Lesnar is an 11-time World Champion, but WWE doesn't recognize his [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship]] reign.}}
|-
|[[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]]
|
* [[WCW World Championship|WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (2 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (8 times)
|{{small|During his first six reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF Championship. During his seventh reign, it was known as the WWE Undisputed Championship.<br>During his first reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, the title was known as the WCW Championship. During his second reign, it was known simply as the World Championship.}}
|-
|[[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]]
|
* [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (2 times)
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (6 times)
* [[WCW International World Heavyweight Championship]] (2 times)
|{{small|Sting is a 15-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his one [[WWA World Heavyweight Championship]] reign or his four [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] reigns.}}
|-
|[[Verne Gagne]]
|
* [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (10 times)
|
|-
| 11
|[[Harley Race]]
|
* [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (8 times)
|8
|
|-
|rowspan=3|12
|[[Bret Hart]]
|
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (2 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (5 times)
|rowspan=3|7
|{{small|During his five reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|[[The Undertaker]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 3 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (4 times)
|{{small|During his first two reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. During his third reign, it was known as the WWF Championship. During his fourth reign, it was known as the WWE Undisputed Championship.}}
|-
|[[Big Show]]
|
* [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (2 times)
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 2 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (2 times)
|{{small|During his first reign as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF Championship. During his reign as ECW World Heavyweight Champion, the title was known as the ECW World Championship. Big Show is the only wrestler to have held all of these championships.}}
|-
| rowspan="9" |15
|[[Kurt Angle]]
|
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 1 time)
* [[WWE Championship]] (4 times)
| rowspan="9" |6
|{{small|During his first two reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF Championship.<br>During his sole reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, the title was known as the WCW Championship. Angle is a 13-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his one [[IWGP Heavyweight Championship (IGF)|IWGP Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Inoki Genome Federation]] version) reign and his six [[TNA World Heavyweight Championship]] reigns.}}
|-
|[[Roman Reigns]]
|
* [[WWE Championship]] (4 times)
* [[WWE Universal Championship]] (2 times)
|{{small|During his first three reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Reigns is the first wrestler to hold both titles together as the [[Undisputed WWE Universal Championship]].}}
|-
|[[Randy Savage]]
|
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (4 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (2 times)
|{{small|During his two reigns as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|[[Stone Cold Steve Austin|"Stone Cold" Steve Austin]]
|
* [[WWE Championship]] (6 times)
|{{small|During all six of his reigns, the title was known as the WWF Championship.}}
|-
|[[Kevin Nash]]
|
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (5 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (1 time)
|{{small|During his reign as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.}}
|-
|[[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]]
|
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (5 times)
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 1 time)
|{{Small|In his fourth reign, the WCW World Heavyweight Championship was renamed as the WCW Championship after WWF purchased WCW in 2001. Booker T won his fifth WCW World Heavyweight Championship as the WCW Championship.}}
|-
|[[Chris Jericho]]
|
* [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] (2 times)
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 3 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (1 time)
|{{small|During his first reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, the title was known as the WCW Championship. During his second reign, it was known simply as the World Championship. Jericho was also the final holder of the WCW title as he unified it with the then-WWF Championship to become the Undisputed WWF Champion (his only reign of what is now the WWE Championship). Jericho is an 9-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his one [[AEW World Championship]] reign and two [[ROH World Championship]] reign.}}
|-
|[[Dave Bautista|Batista]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 4 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (2 times)
|
|-
|[[CM Punk]]
|
* [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 3 times)
* [[WWE Championship]] (2 times)
|{{small|During his reign as ECW World Heavyweight Champion, the title was known as the ECW Championship. CM Punk is a 9-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his one [[ROH World Championship]] reign and two [[AEW World Championship]] reigns.}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |24
|[[Bryan Danielson|Daniel Bryan]]
|
* [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (original version, 1 time)
* [[WWE Championship]] (4 times)
| rowspan="4" |5
|{{small|During his third reign as WWE Champion, the title was known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Bryan is a 10-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his one [[ROH World Championship]] reign, one [[AEW World Championship]] reign, his two [[PWG World Championship]] reigns, or his one [[wXw World Heavyweight Championship]] reign.}}
|-
|[[Mad Dog Vachon]]
|
* [[AWA World Heavyweight Championship]] (5 times)
|
|-
|[[Seth "Freakin" Rollins]]
|
*[[WWE Championship]] (2 times)
*[[WWE Universal Championship]] (2 times)
*[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] (current version, 1 time)
|{{small|Rollins won the WWE Championship as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in both of his reigns. Rollins was the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion (current version). Rollins is a 6-time world champion, but WWE does not recognize his one [[ROH World Championship]] reign.}}
|-
|[[The Sandman (wrestler)|The Sandman]]
|
* [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]] (5 times)
|{{small|Despite WWE not recognizing any ECW Championship reigns before 1994, Sandman is described as a 5-time ECW Champion.}}
|}
== See also ==
* [[Secondary championships in WWE]]
* [[Tag team championships in WWE]]
* [[Women's championships in WWE]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{WWE}}
[[Category:World heavyweight wrestling championships]]
[[Category:WWE championships]]