# List of World Heavyweight Champions (WWE, 2002–2013)

The World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It was established by WWE in 2002 after WWE bought out World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and split its roster into two brands, Raw and SmackDown!, in a brand extension. WWE's original world title, the WWE Championship, with which the WCW World Heavyweight Championship had been unified in 2001, was designated to the SmackDown! brand; as a result the World Heavyweight Championship was established for the Raw brand. Although both titles used the "Big Gold" belt design, the World Heavyweight Championship was not a continuation of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, but rather its indirect successor. For a list of champions who have held those titles, see the list of WCW World Heavyweight Champions and list of NWA World Heavyweight Champions respectively.
At the TLC pay-per-view on December 15, 2013, when WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, the World Heavyweight Championship was unified with the WWE Championship, resulting in the retiring of the former, and the renaming of the latter to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
The championship was contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes. The first champion was Triple H, who was awarded the title on September 2, 2002, by Eric Bischoff, then-General Manager of Raw, and he also holds the record for longest combined reign at 616 days. Overall, there have been 25 different official champions, with Edge having the most reigns at seven. The longest single reign was held by Batista, lasting 282 days. The final holder was Randy Orton, who was also the youngest champion at the age of 24 when he first won the championship. The Undertaker was the oldest champion when he won the title for the third time at the age of 44 years.

## Title history
### Names

| Name | Years |
| World Heavyweight Championship | September 2, 2002 – December 15, 2013 |
| World Championship | During Rey Mysterio's reigns |

### Reigns

Key :
| No. | Overall reign number |
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
| <1 | Reign lasted less than a day |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Championship change | Championship change | Reign statistics | Reign statistics | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. |
| No. | Champion | Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | Notes | Ref. |
| | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw |
| 1 | Triple H | September 2, 2002 | Raw | Milwaukee, WI | 1 | 76 | 75 | After the WWE Undisputed Championship became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff created the World Heavyweight Championship to be the world title of Raw and awarded it to Triple H, who was originally the number one contender for the WWE Undisputed Championship, which dropped the "Undisputed" moniker. At No Mercy on October 20, 2002, Triple H defeated Intercontinental Champion Kane to unify the Intercontinental Championship into the World Heavyweight Championship. | |
| 2 | Shawn Michaels | November 17, 2002 | Survivor Series | New York, NY | 1 | 28 | 27 | This was the first Elimination Chamber match, also involving Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Kane. | |
| 3 | Triple H | December 15, 2002 | Armageddon | Sunrise, FL | 2 | 280 | 279 | This was a Three Stages of Hell match. | |
| 4 | Goldberg | September 21, 2003 | Unforgiven | Hershey, PA | 1 | 84 | 83 | This was a title vs. career match. If Triple H was counted out or disqualified, he would lose the title. If Goldberg lost, he would be forced to retire. | |
| 5 | Triple H | December 14, 2003 | Armageddon | Orlando, FL | 3 | 91 | 90 | This was a triple threat match, also involving Kane. | |
| 6 | Chris Benoit | March 14, 2004 | WrestleMania XX | New York, NY | 1 | 154 | 153 | This was a triple threat match, also involving Shawn Michaels and Triple H. | |
| 7 | Randy Orton | August 15, 2004 | SummerSlam | Toronto, ON, Canada | 1 | 28 | 27 | | |
| 8 | Triple H | September 12, 2004 | Unforgiven | Portland, OR | 4 | 85 | 84 | | |
| — | Vacated | December 6, 2004 | Raw | Baltimore, MD | — | — | — | The championship was vacated after a double fall occurred in a triple threat match, also involving Chris Benoit and Edge. | |
| 9 | Triple H | January 9, 2005 | New Year's Revolution | San Juan, PR | 5 | 84 | 83 | Defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Batista, and Edge in an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant title. Shawn Michaels was the special guest referee. | |
| 10 | Batista | April 3, 2005 | WrestleMania 21 | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | 282 | 281 | The title became exclusive to the SmackDown! brand following the 2005 WWE draft lottery while the WWE Championship became exclusive to the Raw brand. | |
| | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown |
| — | Vacated | January 10, 2006 | SmackDown! | Philadelphia, PA | — | — | — | Batista vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legit triceps injury. Aired on tape delay on January 13, 2006. | |
| 11 | Kurt Angle | January 10, 2006 | SmackDown! | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | 82 | 81 | This was a 20-man battle royal for the vacant title. Aired on tape delay on January 13, 2006. | |
| 12 | Rey Mysterio | April 2, 2006 | WrestleMania 22 | Rosemont, IL | 1 | 112 | 111 | This was a triple threat match, also involving Randy Orton who Mysterio pinned. The championship was referred to as the "World Championship", due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight. | |
| 13 | King Booker | July 23, 2006 | The Great American Bash | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | 126 | 125 | | |
| 14 | Batista | November 26, 2006 | Survivor Series | Philadelphia, PA | 2 | 126 | 125 | This was a Last Chance match. If King Booker was disqualified or counted out, he would lose the title. | |
| 15 | The Undertaker | April 1, 2007 | WrestleMania 23 | Detroit, MI | 1 | 37 | 36 | | |
| 16 | Edge | May 8, 2007 | SmackDown! | Pittsburgh, PA | 1 | 70 | 69 | This was Edge's Money in the Bank cash-in match. Following the win, Edge transferred from Raw to SmackDown!. Aired on tape delay on May 11, 2007. | |
| — | Vacated | July 17, 2007 | SmackDown! | Laredo, TX | — | — | — | Edge vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legit pectoral injury. Aired on tape delay on July 20, 2007. | |
| 17 | The Great Khali | July 17, 2007 | SmackDown! | Laredo, TX | 1 | 61 | 60 | This was a 20-man battle royal for the vacant title. Aired on tape delay on July 20, 2007. | |
| 18 | Batista | September 16, 2007 | Unforgiven | Memphis, TN | 3 | 91 | 90 | This was a triple threat match, also involving Rey Mysterio. | |
| 19 | Edge | December 16, 2007 | Armageddon | Pittsburgh, PA | 2 | 105 | 105 | This was a triple threat match, also involving The Undertaker. | |
| 20 | The Undertaker | March 30, 2008 | WrestleMania XXIV | Orlando, FL | 2 | 30 | 32 | WWE recognizes The Undertaker's reign as ending on May 2, 2008, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | |
| — | Vacated | April 29, 2008 | SmackDown | Atlantic City, NJ | — | — | — | SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero stripped The Undertaker of the title for using the Hell's Gate submission hold, which she deemed to be dangerous. Aired on tape delay on May 2, 2008. | |
| 21 | Edge | June 1, 2008 | One Night Stand | San Diego, CA | 3 | 29 | 28 | Defeated The Undertaker in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the vacant title. Per the pre-match stipulation, Undertaker was (kayfabe) banished from WWE. | |
| 22 | CM Punk | June 30, 2008 | Raw | Oklahoma City, OK | 1 | 69 | 68 | This was Punk's Money in the Bank cash-in match. The title moved to Raw due to Punk's status as a Raw wrestler as CM Punk was drafted to Raw the week prior in the 2008 WWE Draft. The WWE Championship moved to the SmackDown! brand a week prior due to the Draft as then WWE Champion Triple H was drafted to SmackDown. | |
| | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw |
| 23 | Chris Jericho | September 7, 2008 | Unforgiven | Cleveland, OH | 1 | 49 | 48 | This was a Championship Scramble, also involving John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Kane. Jericho was a late replacement for champion CM Punk, who was attacked by Legacy prior to the match. | |
| 24 | Batista | October 26, 2008 | Cyber Sunday | Phoenix, AZ | 4 | 8 | 7 | Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special guest referee. | |
| 25 | Chris Jericho | November 3, 2008 | Raw | Tampa, FL | 2 | 20 | 19 | This was a steel cage match. | |
| 26 | John Cena | November 23, 2008 | Survivor Series | Boston, MA | 1 | 84 | 83 | | |
| 27 | Edge | February 15, 2009 | No Way Out | Seattle, WA | 4 | 49 | 48 | This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Mike Knox, and Kane. Edge, a member of the SmackDown roster, attacked Kofi Kingston and replaced him in the match. The title became exclusive to SmackDown due to Edge's status as a SmackDown wrestler. | |
| | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown |
| 28 | John Cena | April 5, 2009 | WrestleMania 25 | Houston, TX | 2 | 21 | 20 | This was a triple threat match, also involving Big Show who Cena pinned. The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Cena's status as a Raw wrestler. | |
| | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw | WWE: Raw |
| 29 | Edge | April 26, 2009 | Backlash | Providence, RI | 5 | 42 | 41 | This was a Last Man Standing match. The title was returned to SmackDown due to Edge's status as a SmackDown wrestler. Two weeks prior to the event, then WWE Champion Triple H was drafted to Raw in the 2009 WWE Draft. Ironically at the same pay-per-view, Triple H lost the WWE title to Randy Orton in a six man tag-team match involving Batista and Shane McMahon facing all three members of Legacy. | |
| | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown | WWE: SmackDown |
| 30 | Jeff Hardy | June 7, 2009 | Extreme Rules | New Orleans, LA | 1 | <1 | <1 | This was a ladder match. | |
| 31 | CM Punk | June 7, 2009 | Extreme Rules | New Orleans, LA | 2 | 49 | 48 | This was Punk's Money in the Bank cash-in match. | |
| 32 | Jeff Hardy | July 26, 2009 | Night of Champions | Philadelphia, PA | 2 | 28 | 27 | | |
| 33 | CM Punk | August 23, 2009 | SummerSlam | Los Angeles, CA | 3 | 42 | 41 | This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. | |
| 34 | The Undertaker | October 4, 2009 | Hell in a Cell | Newark, NJ | 3 | 140 | 139 | This was a Hell in a Cell match. | |
| 35 | Chris Jericho | February 21, 2010 | Elimination Chamber | St. Louis, MO | 3 | 37 | 39 | This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving John Morrison, R-Truth, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio. WWE recognizes Jericho's reign as ending on April 2, 2010, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | |
| 36 | Jack Swagger | March 30, 2010 | SmackDown | Las Vegas, NV | 1 | 82 | 78 | Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Swagger transferred from Raw to SmackDown upon winning the title. WWE recognizes Swagger's reign as beginning on April 2, 2010, when the episode aired on tape delay. | |
| 37 | Rey Mysterio | June 20, 2010 | Fatal 4-Way | Uniondale, NY | 2 | 28 | 27 | This was a fatal four-way match, also involving Big Show and CM Punk. The championship was referred to as the "World Championship" due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight. | |
| 38 | Kane | July 18, 2010 | Money in the Bank | Kansas City, MO | 1 | 154 | 153 | This was Kane's Money in the Bank cash-in match. | |
| 39 | Edge | December 19, 2010 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Houston, TX | 6 | 58 | 60 | This was a fatal four-way Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match, also involving Alberto Del Rio and Rey Mysterio. WWE recognizes Edge's reign as ending on February 18, 2011, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | |
| — | Vacated | February 15, 2011 | SmackDown | San Diego, CA | — | — | — | Edge was stripped of the title by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero as a result of using the spear (which had been banned) in a previous match. Aired on tape delay on February 18, 2011. | |
| 40 | Dolph Ziggler | February 15, 2011 | SmackDown | San Diego, CA | 1 | <1 | <1 | Awarded the title by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero. Aired on tape delay on February 18, 2011, the date WWE recognizes for the reign. | |
| 41 | Edge | February 15, 2011 | SmackDown | San Diego, CA | 7 | 56 | 54 | WWE recognizes Edge's reign as beginning on February 18, 2011, and ending on April 15, 2011, both episodes of which aired on tape delay. | |
| — | Vacated | April 12, 2011 | SmackDown | Albany, NY | — | — | — | Edge relinquished the title when he announced his immediate retirement as a result of being diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Aired on tape delay on April 15, 2011. | |
| 42 | Christian | May 1, 2011 | Extreme Rules | Tampa, FL | 1 | 2 | 4 | Defeated Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match to win the vacant title. WWE recognizes Christian's reign as ending on May 6, 2011, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | |
| 43 | Randy Orton | May 3, 2011 | SmackDown | Orlando, FL | 2 | 75 | 71 | WWE recognizes Orton's reign as beginning on May 6, 2011, when the episode aired on tape delay. | |
| 44 | Christian | July 17, 2011 | Money in the Bank | Rosemont, IL | 2 | 28 | 27 | Defeated Randy Orton by disqualification after being hit with a low-blow. The stipulations of the match allowed the title to change hands via disqualification. | |
| 45 | Randy Orton | August 14, 2011 | SummerSlam | Los Angeles, CA | 3 | 35 | 34 | This was a No Holds Barred match. On August 29, 2011, the first brand extension ended, allowing the World Heavyweight Champion to appear on both Raw and SmackDown. | |
| | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) | WWE (unbranded) |
| 46 | Mark Henry | September 18, 2011 | Night of Champions | Buffalo, NY | 1 | 91 | 91 | | |
| 47 | Big Show | December 18, 2011 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Baltimore, MD | 1 | <1 | <1 | This was a chairs match. | |
| 48 | Daniel Bryan | December 18, 2011 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Baltimore, MD | 1 | 105 | 104 | This was Bryan's Money in the Bank cash-in match. | |
| 49 | Sheamus | April 1, 2012 | WrestleMania XXVIII | Miami, FL | 1 | 210 | 210 | | |
| 50 | Big Show | October 28, 2012 | Hell in a Cell | Atlanta, GA | 2 | 72 | 72 | | |
| 51 | Alberto Del Rio | January 8, 2013 | SmackDown | Miami, FL | 1 | 90 | 89 | This was a Last Man Standing match. Aired on tape delay on January 11, 2013. | |
| 52 | Dolph Ziggler | April 8, 2013 | Raw | East Rutherford, NJ | 2 | 69 | 69 | This was Ziggler's Money in the Bank cash-in match. | |
| 53 | Alberto Del Rio | June 16, 2013 | Payback | Rosemont, IL | 2 | 133 | 133 | | |
| 54 | John Cena | October 27, 2013 | Hell in a Cell | Miami, FL | 3 | 49 | 49 | | |
| 55 | Randy Orton | December 15, 2013 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Houston, TX | 4 | <1 | <1 | This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs title unification match, in which Orton also defended his WWE Championship. | |
| — | Unified | December 15, 2013 | TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs | Houston, TX | — | — | — | Randy Orton defeated John Cena to unify the World Heavyweight Championship with the WWE Championship. The World Heavyweight Championship was retired and the WWE Championship became the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. | |

## Combined reigns

| Rank | Wrestler | No. of reigns | Combined days | Combined days recognized by WWE |
| 1 | Triple H | 5 | 616 | 611 |
| 2 | Batista | 4 | 507 | 503 |
| 3 | Edge | 7 | 409 | 405 |
| 4 | Alberto Del Rio | 2 | 223 | 223 |
| 5 | Sheamus | 1 | 210 | 210 |
| 6 | The Undertaker | 3 | 207 | 207 |
| 7 | CM Punk | 3 | 160 | 157 |
| 8 | Chris Benoit | 1 | 154 | 153 |
| 8 | John Cena | 3 | 154 | 152 |
| 8 | Kane | 1 | 154 | 153 |
| 11 | Rey Mysterio | 2 | 140 | 138 |
| 12 | Randy Orton | 4 | 138 | 132 |
| 13 | King Booker | 1 | 126 | 125 |
| 14 | Chris Jericho | 3 | 106 | 106 |
| 15 | Daniel Bryan | 1 | 105 | 104 |
| 16 | Mark Henry | 1 | 91 | 91 |
| 17 | Goldberg | 1 | 84 | 83 |
| 18 | Jack Swagger | 1 | 82 | 78 |
| 18 | Kurt Angle | 1 | 82 | 81 |
| 20 | Big Show | 2 | 72 | 72 |
| 21 | Dolph Ziggler | 2 | 69 | 69 |
| 22 | The Great Khali | 1 | 61 | 60 |
| 23 | Christian | 2 | 30 | 31 |
| 24 | Jeff Hardy | 2 | 28 | 27 |
| 24 | Shawn Michaels | 1 | 28 | 27 |