# Talk:World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)

On-air in the WWE, Big Show's brief reign as World Champion has been referred to as just 45 seconds in length but this is actually very inaccurate. Timing his reign from bell to bell, starting with the first bell after pinning Mark Henry and the second bell, after he got pinned by Daniel Bryan, the time totaling to 1:54 (One minute and Fifty Four Seconds).  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 111.68.59.76 (talk) 06:15, 30 January 2012 (UTC) 

If this is the case, then the article should be consistent. The "Reigns" section says 45 seconds, but the sidebar says 2 minutes. I recommend that the "Reigns" section be edited to say 2 minutes, but WWE often refers to it as 45 seconds...or something like that. 129.62.65.238 (talk) 05:17, 27 April 2018 (UTC)

On the July 22nd edition of Smackdown, reigning World Heavyweight Champion Christian's belt strap seemed red from the back.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 111.68.59.76 (talk) 13:21, 22 July 2011 (UTC) 

If you view footage from Chris Jericho's most recent title reign onwards you will see that the World Title has undergone a slight cosmetic change. The wrestlers that use to be included as ornamental design pieces have been removed and are no longer visible on the center plate or side plates. The images on WWE.com also confirm this though not many images of the belt close-up exist. As such I feel the article needs to updated to reflect this change and a new photograph included on the main page.   —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.11.155.144 (talk) 00:46, 2 June 2009 (UTC) 

Is it not also the former WCW title though? If it carries the lineage due to a company merger, it should technically be considered the same title. Yes, it was merged into the Undisputed title, but the WWE Championship hasn't been called that since Bischoff brought BACK the Big Gold Belt. Being that Bischoff was the head of WCW and brought it back to award to Triple H - and was treated as having the lineage of the old WCW title by WWE - should it not be considered the same title? It seems to me that Bischoff merely split it off again after the merger, at least that's what I understood back when it happened. Are there sources saying otherwise? This article doesn't really cite why that isn't the case. 50.98.154.116 (talk) 08:26, 27 November 2012 (UTC)

In the CM Punk: Best in the World DVD, when they talk about Punk's first WHC reign, the documentary mentions "It's Ric Flair's title, it's Dusty Rhodes' title." Shouldn't that be considered a source that it shares lineage? 50.98.18.29 (talk) 22:45, 20 April 2013 (UTC)

one of the references (http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/tripleh/tentimestheking/reign6match/) is now a dead link 72.200.156.118 (talk) 16:46, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

The World Heavyweight Championship that has recently been carried by such greats as Batista and Triple H got its start in WWE back in 2002. But its prestigious lineage can actually be traced back all the way to George Hackenschmidt and 1904. For years, it was known as the NWA Championship; then when WCW pulled out of the NWA in the early 1990s, Ric Flair was recognized as the first-ever WCW Champion. Since that time, top names such as Hulk Hogan, Ron Simmons and Bret Hart carried the championship prior to WCW's demise.
so says the WCW title page now, also under WWE's WHC page, it has "historical photo" of old NWA & WCW champions. looks like it now carries the same lineage.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.86.247.87 (talk) 03:14, 12 March 2008 (UTC) 
"For years it was known as the NWA Championship"? A belt is NOT a title, a belt only represents a title. The original Big Gold belt only represented the NWA World Title. The NWA and it's World Title never ceast to exist and still exist to this day.
MrNWA4Life 08:47 25 July 2009 (UTC)

Please take a look at the archives. This has been brought up time and time again and has been clarified just as many times as well. -- bulletproof 3:16 03:38, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
I'm not trying to rekindle an old discussion. It could very well be nothing than just a slip of the tongue. I just wonder why JR, Jerry Lawler, and Triple H refers to himself as an 11 time WWE Champion. I can understand a slip of the tongue a couple of times, but they keep saying over and over. On last night's edition of Raw, for example, both Lawler and JR said the same thing at least once each. It makes me wonder if they're now going to try to say that those 5 reigns with the World Championship are going to be consolidated with the 6 WWE Championship reigns to call him an 11 time WWE Champion. I might be paranoid, but I think of the times that WWE has rewritten history, regardless of how piss poor and senseless it is, to reflect a certain view for a storyline. Sounds like something that they'd do.Odin's Beard (talk) 23:26, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
Triple H is in fact now a 12 time World Champion. 7 times with the WWE Championship and 5 times with the World Heavyweight. They are equivalent in prestige and so the title reigns are added together.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.42.208.18 (talk) 22:33, 1 May 2008 (UTC) 

THey may be "equal in prestige" but JR still constanly says "an 12-time WWE Champion." Triple H calls himself that too. Can't they just say "12 time world champion?" They say "5 time world champion" when talking about Edge. I agree with Odin's Beard, it sometimes seems like they attempt to retcon the shit of things for no reason. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 20:01, 13 July 2008 (UTC)
They add the world title reigns together and mean that say HHH is a 12 time world champion, but when a championship is involved they often slip up and say 12 time WWE champion 92.238.202.23 (talk) 19:44, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

I was just at the show in Atlantic City tonight, and Vickie stripped Taker of the belt.  Do we update this now or when it airs? Linknumbers (talk) 03:54, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

No, until it airs in Australia. --  ThinkBlue  (Hit BLUE) 03:54, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
So it actually happened? So much for that much-deserved long-term reign everyone thought he would get. But ThinkBlue is right, we have to wait until it airs. -- Scorpion0422 04:02, 30 April 2008 (UTC)
Actually, we wait until it airs in America tomorrow night, not Australia.Killswitch Engage (talk) 16:19, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
No, consensus was made that it was Australia. SexySeaShark 16:48, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
Correct, Australia is where it airs first, so thats when we're allowed to post it up, I understand.--76.104.252.229 (talk) 17:33, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
Not being allowed to update this page until Smackdown airs somewhere is all bollocks. This is an encyclopedia, it's job is to report fact. And the fact is that Undertaker is no longer World Heavyweight Champion. Doesn't matter when it airs, fact is fact.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.42.208.18 (talk) 22:30, 1 May 2008 (UTC) 

But fact must be backed up by a reliable source to be established as fact! By your logic, I could come up with a convincing untrue statement and edit it in without a source. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 22:43, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
Then use a reliable source. There are many websites out there that provide the reliable source so we can update this page. www.gerweck.net and www.wrestlingrevealed.com will both confirm that Vicki Guerrero stripped the Undertaker of the World Title. There's your reliable source now can someone please update this page?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.42.184.35 (talk) 13:18, 2 May 2008 (UTC) 

Both of those sources are NOT reliable per, WP:RS. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 14:26, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
Wait, why Australia? WWE is an American company. And posting it before airs in America would violate the spoiler policy, because the results wouldn't be up on WWE.com.Killswitch Engage (talk) 16:07, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
There is no spoiler policy. That was abolished months ago! Gavyn Sykes (talk) 16:30, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
Holy shit, I'm way out of the loop. But wouldn't that mean I could use a spoiler report off of lordsofpain.net? Killswitch Engage (talk) 18:44, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
No, since lordsofpain isn't a reliable source. A match can be added with a reliable source even i it is a spoiler. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 18:50, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
How is it not reliable? Unless the person reporting is lying, I don't get it.Killswitch Engage (talk) 18:53, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
Dirtsheets are not reliable sources. WON and WWE.com are reliable. Pretty much anything else isn't. In other words, you can't remove something because it's a spoiler, but you can remove it because there's no RS. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 18:55, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
What is with all of this fannying around. Will someone who has access to this page please update it? The fact is that Undertaker is no longer World Champion and you are mocking the idea of an encyclopedia. We allno the truth, we know it's not a lie and of course dirtsheets are reliable sources. Now will you all pull your head out of your arses and get on with it?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by DannyChaos23 (talk • contribs) 22:08, 2 May 2008 (UTC) 

No, dirtsheets, are not reliable sources, per WP:PW and WP:RS. If you wish to present reasoning that dirtsheets ARE reliable sources, feel free to start a discussion here. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 22:13, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
I still remember back in 1999 when several of these dirtsheets claimed that Jake The Snake Roberts returned to WWE and joined Undertaker's ministry by attacking Austin and Big Show on a taped episode of RAW.  Turned out to be total bullocks.  That is one example why dirtsheets are not to be taken as reliable sources, they tend to spread lies sometimes. 71.121.72.15 (talk) 15:48, 11 May 2008 (UTC)

Let's also remember back in 1990 when The Rockers beat the Hart Foundation for the World Tag Team Titles during a taping of Saturday Night's Main Event.  That match ended up being left off of the broadcast,  and the title change was never acknowledged.  In my opinion,  title changes shouldn't be added to Wikipedia until they air on television.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.145.146.137 (talk) 07:53, 16 May 2008 (UTC) 

 - The article was not renamed--SRX 15:17, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
Who supports a move to WWE World Heavyweight Championship? -- iMatthew T.C. 22:17, 4 July 2008 (UTC)

Oppose due to the WWE Championship once having been known as the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 02:27, 5 July 2008 (UTC)
I don't think it ever was, if we are talking about the big gold belt, it was brought in post-May 2002. Darrenhusted (talk) 08:14, 7 July 2008 (UTC)
Support SAVIOR_SELF.777 07:02, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
Oppose Since it would bring confusion since the WWE Championship is the WWE World Heavyweight Championship by a shorter name.--WillC 09:20, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
Support-The WWF World Heavyweight Championship is the WWE Championship, but the WWE Championship has never been known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. After the attitude era, the title was known as the WWF Championship and then the WWE Championship. The proper name for the above title is the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) World Heavyweight Championship because the title is using the WWE name. We should just call the TNA World Heavyweight Championship the World Heavyweight Championship (TNA), plus this name brings to much confusion, as other titles use the same name. The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is it's name and the way it should be called.--SRX--LatinoHeat 20:46, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
Except that that's not it's name. It's name is simply "World Heavyweight Championship. It was never called the "WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 20:54, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
Yes, but that is the "literal" name for it. Look at the article, if that articles were to ever go to a GA review or FA review (hypothetically) they would notice, why isn't World Heavyweight Championship (WWE) written anywhere else in the article? This is also sort of like a quantifier for the championship because so many championships out there use it's name. --SRX--LatinoHeat 21:04, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
It's for disamg purposes. Notice in Get Smart (film) that the "(film)" part isn't repeated. Since when did the article title have to be exactly copied in the article. Mshake3 (talk) 15:04, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
It IS a quantifier and I realize I sound like a hypocrite for opposing a move for this and opposing moves to other quantifiers but I feel like the quantifier is the better option in this case. I would support a move to something without a quantifier if it's not "WWE World Heavyweight Championship." Gavyn Sykes (talk) 21:08, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
This probably doesn't mean much but that's the way it is referred to as there. here as well The Sun is also using that name. Also, another reason, who owns the copyrights to all titles in WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Why do all of them have the WWE logo on them? Because they are owned by WWE, which is why every title begins with the WWE acronym, WWE doesn't say the "WWE World Tag Team Champions or the WWE World Heavyweight Champion because of storyline purposes to distinguish the titles of each brand.SRX--LatinoHeat 22:57, 9 July 2008 (UTC)
Also, the NWA refers to it as the "WWE World Championship", per CM Punk winning, [1] (This is from 7/10/08)--SRX--LatinoHeat 15:50, 10 July 2008 (UTC)
Who's gives a shit about the NWA and they call another company's championship? Mshake3 (talk) 00:54, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
Support per SRX 1362talk 04:09, 10 July 2008 (UTC)
Although I support the move, SRX, I have to point something out. this link you provided] is about the history of the WWE Championship not the World Heavyweight Championship. I still support the move. SAVIOR_SELF.777 20:11, 10 July 2008 (UTC)
Oops, thats what I get for not reading it. But you see how the WWE Championship is incorrectly called that, thats not it's name, the WHC is the WWE WHC.SRX 21:15, 10 July 2008 (UTC)
Oppose Before the company changed its name, the WWE Championship was referred to as both the WWF Championship and the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Given the name change, WWE World Heavyweight Championship logically succeeds to have the same meaning as WWE Championship whereas the World Heavyweight Championship (WWE) has never been called the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Tony2Times (talk) 19:04, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
That is true, but too many titles have world heavyweight championship in their name, and all of them are referred to it with the {acronym} World Heavyweight Championship. If we are going to keep it like this, we may as well rename the rest of the articles to quantifiers.SRX 19:08, 20 July 2008 (UTC)
Oppose - This has nothing to do with what is the "proper" term. It has to do with how the company promotes it. If WWE doesn't want it's initials in front of this championship name, who are we to say otherwise? It's similar to how numerous indy feds will use the term "World Champion" for their top title, even though they're not a recognized world championship among fans and magazines. We leave the title name as it because that's what it is called. Mshake3 (talk) 00:59, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
Oppose - Same reasons as Mshake3. Articles of this type should reflect the name of the championship as its named by the promotion that owns it. World Wrestling Entertainment calls it the World Heavyweight Championship, so that's what the title of the article should be. It's logical and it's simple.Odin's Beard (talk) 01:11, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
Oppose per Gavyn and Mshake. ♥Nici♥Vampire♥Heart♥ 06:17, 13 August 2008 (UTC)
 Not done--SRX 15:17, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

How will we do this? List who comes out on top at the end and then mention how many times the title changed hands in the match? Because I think that matters since every time someone is pinned they are recognized as World Champion for that brief period and while they may or not be champion at the end there were title changes in that period. SuperSonicTH (talk) 02:43, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Just how many times the title changed hands because the people who pin during the time limit are unofficial champions and only the
guy who comes out last is the real official champion. The note section will be enough. I doubt the belt will change more than 3 times.--WillC 03:27, 2 September 2008 (UTC)

Do you really have to say the design was "replaced"? The belts are near identical, except for the wwe logo..

But the plates themselves were changed, not altered, so in actuality it was replaced, and im sure someone like Ric Flair has the original design. 92.238.202.23 (talk) 19:48, 20 May 2009 (UTC)

Shouldn't The Rock be known for the first World Heavyweight Champion? Does anyone not remember when the Alliance lost at Survivor Series '01 The Rock still held before then the WCW Championship, but after SS it was referred as the World Heavyweight Champion until it was merged with the WWF Championship at Vengeance '01.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by Killa Koz (talk • contribs) 04:25, 19 December 2008 (UTC) 

This is not the same belt as the WCW Championship. WWE even says they are two different belts.--WillC 04:27, 19 December 2008 (UTC)
I know it's not the same, I'm stating that it was referred as the World Championship when The Rock had it, thus making him the first. Killa Koz (talk) 18:24, 19 December 2008 (UTC)
No it doesn't. If the belts aren't the same, no matter what it was called he is not the first since the belt was not created till late 2002. Plus all championships over history are called World Championship.--WillC 19:01, 19 December 2008 (UTC)

There's no more "Current Champion" section? SuperSonicTH (talk) 03:42, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

It's under the "Reigns" section, because the current champion is the wrestler with the current reign as World Heavyweight Champion. The page design was changed for Good article nomination purposes (WP:GAN).--Truco 03:47, 13 January 2009 (UTC)

At the following link, they refer to the title as the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2004/2004_10_05.jsp
On the same page, they refer to the Intercontinental Title as the WWE Intercontinental Title. On the title history page of the WWE website, they refer to both titles without the WWE prefix.
http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/
So with that said, on Wikipedia, I believe that both pages should be name in the same manner. Either both should say, "WWE Title Name", or both should say, "Title Name (WWE)". TheGary (talk) 17:16, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

I believe it was done that way to avoid confusion with the WWE Championship which has been called the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in the past. Gavyn Sykes (talk) 17:57, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

Shouldn't it be mentioned that the title was called the World Championship, omitting the word "heavyweight" during Rey Mysterio's reign?  Tommyferrellhc08 (talk) 04:46, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

As is the case with Bradshaw's Texas Hardcore Championship and Lance Storm's Canadian Heavyweight Championship, these reign exclusive names simply aren't notable. --UnquestionableTruth-- 05:40, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

I timed his reign, starting when the bell was rang after the ladder match, and ending with the bell ringing in the MitB match. His reign was 3 minutes and 8 seconds. The statistics section says that his reign is 2 minutes.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.3.251.100 (talk) 07:06, 14 June 2009 (UTC) 

Im sorry but under the descrpition of the belts history it say that the World Heavyweight Championship is the successor to the NWA and WCW Championships. I don't think this should be in it due to the fact that it holds a different lineage and therefore it can be confusing to say its the "successor". Thoughts? Approval of removing that statement?  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.93.167.109 (talk) 04:20, 1 July 2009 (UTC) 

Exactly. Fact of the matter is the NWA never ceast to exist and still exists to this day  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.123.53.88 (talk) 12:43, 25 July 2009 (UTC) 

Corrected.--UnquestionableTruth-- 03:45, 20 December 2010 (UTC)

Who wrote that Morrison was champ, i am reverting it back to Jeff.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by ShanRaj 10 (talk • contribs) 02:58, 31 July 2009 (UTC) 

It was vandalism that was missed. ♥Nici♥Vampire♥Heart♥ 08:22, 31 July 2009 (UTC)
Jeff Hardy Champıons Ulan  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.180.74.165 (talk) 12:50, 10 September 2009 (UTC) 

Although the photo description of the current World Heavyweight Championship design in the article stated that design is introduced in March 2003 but when I was watching Survivor Series 2002 (which took place Live on November 17 2002) on VCD I saw Triple H (with Ric Flair) was interviewed backstage by Marc Lyold, Triple H was wearing the "2003" and current design of the World Heavyweight Championship.
Any wikipedian who owned a copy of the Survivor Series 2002 DVD can see the belt's centerplate flashing the WWE's logo on the upper curve of its centerplate while looking closely at that title belt while watching that interview and change the belt's current design intro date. Kyrios320 (talk) 03:02, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

Thats odd... If you watch the Survivor Series you can cleary see the belt Shawn is celebrating with has no logo. The belt also used at Armageddon, Royal Rumble, and No Way Out also didn't have a logo. The first time you the WWE logo on the belt at a pay-per-view event is at WrestleMania XIX. --UnquestionableTruth-- 03:54, 21 January 2010 (UTC)

undertaker is not the oldest champ cause king booker is older than him. also undertaker was 42 when he first won the wch title not 44.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.205.115.157 (talk) 23:22, 24 August 2010 (UTC) 

WWF was ALHEBSI is the greatest in WWE 
this statement seems to have been added and does not make sence ......either it needs to be removed or explained ...cos i dont know if its an acronym or a username  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 178.98.80.104 (talk) 17:30, 15 November 2011 (UTC) 

 Not done: requests for changes to the page protection level should be made at Wikipedia:Requests for page protection. --Stfg (talk) 09:30, 28 October 2013 (UTC)

With the unification match at TLC, should it be noted that Cena is technically the final World Heavyweight Champion? Jedi Striker (talk) 19:25, 15 December 2013 (UTC)

Not until it actually happens. — Richard BB 20:08, 15 December 2013 (UTC)
The World Heavyweight Championship is not abolished.  According to WWE, Orton is now dubbed as the first ever "WWE World Heavyweight Champion".  Also WWE lists Orton's reign as WHC as December 15, 2013 - present.  Just as a comparison to show the difference, WWE lists Ezekiel Jackson's ECW Championship reign as February 16, 2010 - February 16, 2010.  The fact that Orton's reign is listed as "present" shows that WWE considers Orton's reign (and thus the title) as active.  This appears on the surface as something similar to when the World Tag Team and WWE Tag Team titles were unified, in that the champion is lugging around both belts under an umbrella term ("Unified Tag Team Championship", "WWE World Heavyweight Championship"), and that the titles will be defended together. Vjmlhds (talk) 05:49, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes you got it right VJ. I believe I fixed all the related pages that were changed after the PPV to state the title had been abolished. That is all WP:OR and speculation at this point. STATic message me! 06:56, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Although we won't know for certain until Orton loses the title and either championship history is updated after a new champion is crowned the title history page at wwe.com seems to indicate at the very least that the WWE Championship has in fact been renamed. --UnquestionableTruth-- 12:04, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Strangely enough, it's on the list of retired championships. http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/retired-championships  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 112.209.139.83 (talk) 12:16, 16 December 2013 (UTC) 

That looks fairly conclusive. It seems that Orton has been declared the final champion and the belt was subsequently retired. — Richard BB 12:20, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
We're getting mixed signals here (all from WWE)...on one hand the WHC is in the retired column, but on the other, Orton's WHC  reign is considered active.  The safe thing to do is consider Orton's WHC reign as active.  Once someone beats Orton for the title, we'll see if it counts as both a WWE and WH title reign (a la the Unified Tag Team Titles).  If it does, great..if not, then that would mean Orton was the final WHC and we can adjust accordingly.  Vjmlhds (talk) 15:18, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Well the implication that I got was that Orton is considered the final champion. Either way, perhaps the best course of action is to do nothing and hope Raw tonight clears up a few questions. — Richard BB 15:33, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Maybe today at RAW, WWE will help us. We can wait a few hours. --HHH Pedrigree (talk) 16:15, 16 December 2013 (UTC)

It looks like for the time Orton holds both belts he will be called the "WWE World Heavyweight champion", but there is not saying that when the storyline unfolds that one of them will be no more. We can wait till at least RAW tonight to make any darastic changes. Also someone take a look over at Template: WWE Championships and Template: Former WWE Championships, the same user edit warring on this page is edit warring there too. STATic message me! 18:05, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Another bit of info to throw in the hopper - WWE is referring to Orton as the "new World Heavyweight Champion".  Just by what's out there, WWE is making really hard to definitively say that the WHC is kaput. Vjmlhds (talk) 23:28, 16 December 2013 (UTC)
Raw notes - Orton is lugging around both the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships, Orton's nameplate is on the WHC, and Orton's chyron features both belts.  So again for what it's worth, any thought that the WHC is kaput should be put on the back burner as long as Orton continues to have both belts in his hands. Vjmlhds (talk) 04:40, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
I think it's a fairly safe conclusion to make now that the WHC is retired. The website officially declares it, and now Raw made only reference to there being one title, which is the "WWE World Heavyweight Championship". Yes, Orton is lugging around the Big Gold Belt, but that belt has represented many titles in its time. Remember, after all, that when Jericho unified the WCW title and the WWF title, he still carried both belts around for a few months. It seems to me that, for the time being, the single title is being represented by two belts, just as the undisputed championship was. I think that, unless a reliable source says anything to the contrary, it's now safe to assume that the WHC is no more. — Richard BB 08:45, 17 December 2013 (UTC)

I agree, this title should be retired. Also, http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/3044541104 jericho stills the wcw championship, like orton--HHH Pedrigree (talk) 11:56, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
Seeing the Jericho/WCW thing, I've changed my mind.  The WHC is retired, but the big gold belt is used as part of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.  1 title, 2 belts. Vjmlhds (talk) 14:13, 17 December 2013 (UTC)

This article contains this sentence ""Its heritage can be traced back to the first world heavyweight championship, thereby giving the belt a legacy over 100 years' old, the oldest in the world.""
How in the world can this title be traced back to the first world championship? How can this be the oldest championship in the world? Especially since the NWA World Title has actually existed since 1948, and this belt was only born in 2002. The belt design itself only goes back to the 80s. 
I know there are a few WWE revisionist history statements out there, but I believe that if wikipedia is a truly accurate page, then someone needs to actual proof that this belt is the oldest belt in the world, especially since the NWA title still exists... and it is the oldest belt.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.16.120.232 (talk) 00:34, 17 December 2013 (UTC) 

The article explains this, as does the diagram. This belt is considered the successor to the WCW title, which is considered the successor to the NWA title, which grew out of the original WHC, over 100 years ago. — Richard BB 08:47, 17 December 2013 (UTC)
The problem with the theory is simple: Dan Severn. The WCW championship replaced the NWA one in WCW. In the non-WCW universe (who we're supposed to write for), life went on. Blue Demon Jr. existed. If a reader takes "traced back" loosely, like in a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon way, it's not entirely a lie. But it definitely implies a direct lineage, which is utter bullshit.
The problem with your diagram is also pretty simple: It's your diagram (unless the image info is wrong). We can't have original research here. Especially when the research ignores Sabu. InedibleHulk (talk) 09:15, 24 December 2013 (UTC)
Yes, it is my image. However, this is not original research. All of the information represented by the diagram is presented by the WWE in numerous sources, most notably of which is their History of the World Heavyweight Championship DVD, which outright states everything claimed. The problem with the WHC is that its lineage works in a different way to other belts. This title started in 2002, sure, but its heritage is considered to descend from the original title that Frank Gotch held. Perhaps we should state the WWE consider the heritage to be linked. — Richard BB 16:28, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

I propose a slight modification of the article title name. From the current World Heavyweight Champion (WWE) to World Heavyweight Championship (WWE version). I've proposed similar for similar articles that featured disputed title names. They're disputed whether two or more promotions has similar names for a title or one promotion recognition it with a name that another promotion. For example, see the Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) article about the International Grand Prix Wrestling (IGPW) Heavyweight Championship. The IGPW Heavyweight belongs to  New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).  IGF previously had a version of that belt which it (and TNA) also recognized as  the IGPW Heavyweight Championship. I proposed that the IGF version has the notation IGF version by it. This is similar to how the multiple version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship has their version by it. I like to propose the same for this article. The World Heavyweight Championship, though different titles, many promotions recognize their World Heavyweight Championship as such. Even the original World Heavyweight Championship. So to distinct, this is WWE version, we make it clear that this is the WWE version. By having it around (), we know that it's not part of the official title as the company call it, just to distinct the different version. Not that it matter much anymore since this title is merge as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but I think for historical purpose. What do you guys think? --Seasrmar (talk) 21:07, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

IGF is a completely different situation. IGF actually acknowledged a different version of the IWGP's World title. It's similar to how in the old days, the different cities had different versions of the same title. That's why you'll see articles like AWA World Heavyweight Championship (Boston version). However, the WWE's world title isn't the "version" of anything. There aren't other versions of this title running about in other promotions. This is a title purely of WWE's creation. It just has the most generic name possible, requiring the "(WWE)" modifier at the end. Adding the word version to the article title would cause confusion to what the championship actually is. Feedback ☎ 14:39, 19 August 2014 (UTC)
I don't remember IGF officially recognizing that they have a different version of the IWGP title. They seemed to book things as if the holder of that belt as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. About "version," it's not so much about different version of the same belt, but to distinguished the name. Some companies, particularly some wrestlers, often call the holder, (wrestlers-themselves) of that belt as their World Heavyweight Champion, sometimes without the use of the name of the company before it. For example, some wrestler may say "I'm the World Heavyweight Champion." Ok, you're World Heavyweight Champion, but precisely you're (the company you work for) version of what is the World Heavyweight Champion. There isn't really the World Heavyweight Champion since the split of the original World Heavyweight Championship, with many different companies recognizing their to be World Heavyweight Champions. It's their version of it. But some guidelines. First, this only applicable to companies who insist using "World Heavyweight Championship" in the title of their name. Second, if not the word version in the article name, at least mention how the belt traced back to the original World Heavyweight Championship. Third, I think to be fair, not all suppose World Heavyweight Championship should be consider as a version of the World Heavyweight Championship. Only those that can be traced back to their linage back the original World Heavyweight Championship. The World Heavyweight Championship (WWE version) does so therefore should recognize as such. An example of not, the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Championship, while a World Heavyweight Championship, it doesn't trace its linage to the original World Heavyweight Championship.  Seasrmar (talk) 02:44, 23 August 2014 (UTC)

Is Brock Lesnar technically the last person to have held the gold championship belt? They did give him a new title belt like they did with Triple H. That should be mention in the article. Gochyooo (talk) 05:01, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

There's a difference between the belt (the design having represented multiple titles) and the championship, which was retired after it was unified with the WWE Championship. What happened to the belt after that unification is already covered in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. oknazevad (talk) 03:14, 19 January 2015 (UTC)
On WWE Superstars Season 6 Episode 333, the WWE recognized Brock Lesnar as the final World Heavyweight champion. Gochyooo (talk) 07:37, 5 October 2015 (UTC)
A single spoken reference by the announces doesn't count; they're often sloppy, and make many mistakes. That's why we use the title histories from the webpage, which ends the title's existence when it was unified by Orton, 8 months before Lesnar captured the title. oknazevad (talk) 08:30, 5 October 2015 (UTC)

I replaced the prose text with a concise and easy to read table without removing any information. The edit was reverted without comment. Is there any reason a table shouldn't be used to quickly convey the title's switching between brands? Ozdarka (talk) 07:01, 6 April 2015 (UTC)

I agree tht the table was superior and have restored it. oknazevad (talk) 13:25, 6 April 2015 (UTC)

The article currently states Big Show has the shortest reign at 45 seconds. But if the title was retired as soon as it was unified with the WWE title, then that would make Orton's last reign even shorter, over as soon as it started. Does anyone have a source on how long this reign was supposed to have lasted? Ozdarka (talk) 06:57, 21 June 2015 (UTC)

No source has been provided to indicate that the World Heavyweight title continued to exist after its unification with the WWE title, so I've made the edit to reflect that Orton's last reign ended as soon as it started. Ozdarka (talk) 09:40, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

The WHC was retired years ago. There is no overlap between the belts. Also, no rational person would be able to confuse "WWE Universal" with "World Heavyweight" since the names are completely different. The WCW, ECW and USWA world titles were also contested in WWE - should we list those under "not to be confused" as well?
Removed, obviously. 185.54.163.137 (talk) 03:38, 26 August 2016 (UTC)
You have been warned, reported and warned several times to stop removing. They are there for a reason Chris "WarMachineWildThing" (talk) 03:55, 26 August 2016 (UTC)

Nice try, vandal. Stop trying to WP:OWN everything and move on. 185.54.163.137 (talk) 03:57, 26 August 2016 (UTC)
See Talk:WWE Universal Championship. Let's have one discussion, in one place, please. And try to get a broad consensus, instead of edit warring back and forth. oknazevad (talk) 04:25, 26 August 2016 (UTC)

I remember it being so good that it's my favorite cash in 102.187.74.174 (talk) 11:16, 2 March 2023 (UTC)

So Triple H just announced the reboot of this championship with a new look. Are we keeping this page or making a new “WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP” page Trethezeldafan (talk) 01:53, 25 April 2023 (UTC)

@Trethezeldafan nothing yet. This might be a revival of this title or it might be a brand new title. if it's a revival, then we'll just update this title to being active again, but if it's a brand new title, then we'll create a new article for the title. We just don't have enough concrete confirmation to know for sure which one it is yet. A post on WWE's Twitter makes it sound like Triple H brought back this title, but an article on WWE's website makes it sound like it's a brand new title, so we just got to wait and see. JDC808 ♫ 01:59, 25 April 2023 (UTC)
Only time will tell. GodofDemonwars (talk) 02:00, 25 April 2023 (UTC)
Definitely a revival. And I quote:
"@TripleH has brought back a legendary championship on #WWERaw    that The Game knows all too well!" right from the horse's twitter account Serouj2000 (talk) 17:53, 25 April 2023 (UTC)
Nvm. On the other hand, the website calls it a new championship. Maybe they're talking about the new design Serouj2000 (talk) 18:31, 25 April 2023 (UTC)
@Serouj2000 and that's the confusing part. Corey Graves on commentary also said they would crown the inaugural champion at Night of Champions. We just have to play the waiting game to find out for sure what's going on. JDC808 ♫ 21:55, 25 April 2023 (UTC)
The even more confusing part is that unlike, say, the Women's championship or the Cruiserweight Championship that were introduced in 2016, this one actually looks similar to the one from 2002-2013 Serouj2000 (talk) 04:06, 26 April 2023 (UTC)
Honestly, the safest bet for now is to change this page's title to include its runtime and make a new page with the World Heavyweight Championship (WWE) title with the new championship Serouj2000 (talk) 04:18, 26 April 2023 (UTC)
Maybe the design is brand new but let’s be honest it’s still paying homage to the Big Gold Belt haha. Why do I feel like this probably won’t even be fully answered if both titles are related Trethezeldafan (talk) 02:02, 25 April 2023 (UTC)

@Trethezeldafan The design does pay homage to the Big Gold, but yeah, we just got to wait and see for sure what they're doing with this. JDC808 ♫ 02:04, 25 April 2023 (UTC)
A post on one of the official WWE pages on Facebook (I believe it is the WWE Raw page) says that the World Heavyweight Championship is back. That indicates a likely revival. 2600:4040:9DDB:4100:1468:CD7:7DC7:C0AC (talk) 03:27, 26 April 2023 (UTC)
It all depends on the title history. If it picks up from where the old history left off, it's a revival. If not, it is a new title altogether. 2600:4040:9DDB:4100:8CC2:F3BF:3E79:AEFF (talk) 03:41, 8 May 2023 (UTC)

Just wanted to point out that this article done by the USA Network often at times sounds like this and the new WHC are one in the same. Also I am not good at this Wikipedia stuff I just saw the article. --2001:579:8440:AD0:15E6:B694:1A7E:7A11 (talk) 21:48, 29 April 2023 (UTC)

@2001:579:8440:AD0:15E6:B694:1A7E:7A11 while USA does air WWE programs, that's not really a confirmation from WWE. We need a confirmation from WWE. JDC808 ♫ 06:42, 2 May 2023 (UTC)

message regarding the fact.its a revival. https://www.ringsidenews.com/2023/05/22/how-wwe-will-view-world-heavyweight-championship-in-company-history/ Crash Underride (mobile) (talk) 18:32, 22 May 2023 (UTC)

Unfortunately, until WWE comes right out and says it, this can't be confirmed. Especially considering that when clicking on the previous WHC on WWE.com, it still says "Retired". https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/world-heavyweight-championship 2600:1700:F680:3450:B4EC:5763:AFB0:6AF7 (talk) 07:42, 23 May 2023 (UTC)
@Crash Underride (mobile) neither Ringside News or BWE are considered reliable sources. We will find out Saturday (unless WWE confirms something sooner). JDC808 ♫ 06:19, 24 May 2023 (UTC)
WWE has yet to say anything that remotely links the new title to this one. Thus far, no mention of "1905," "WCW," "NWA," or any mention of past NWA, WCW, or World Champions who held the big gold belt between 1986 and 2013. John (talk) 02:59, 26 May 2023 (UTC)
A new shirt released when won by Seth Rollins says "THE INAUGURAL WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION"
So it is not a revival. PedigreeWWEFigz87V2 (talk) 18:58, 27 May 2023 (UTC)
We can confirm that this is not a continuation of the old title. This is a completely new championship based on the title history's page. 2600:4040:9DDB:4100:14D1:5685:2379:2BE3 (talk) 21:53, 27 May 2023 (UTC)
And as far as we know, it's not even a spinoff in the way that this title succeded the WCW title as a spinoff, and the WCW title was spun off from the NWA title. Whatever the case, the current title is a new title.￼ John (talk) 04:44, 29 May 2023 (UTC)
WWE have now added the new World Heavyweight Championship to their website and IT IS NOT a continuation of the 2002-2013 Championship. Here is the new title history https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/world-heavyweight-championship The old 2002-2013 has now been renamed "World Heavyweight Title" as shown here https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/world-heavyweight-title So Seth Rollins is officially the first World Heavyweight Champion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.25.151.30 (talk) 21:08, 27 May 2023 (UTC)

WWE.com has retroactively titled this championship the “World heavyweight title” 8-ballmrmunchjackskellington69 (talk) 02:44, 3 June 2023 (UTC)

Source?  "Championship" and "Title" are typically used interchangeably, so I don't think we should look too far into this.LM2000 (talk) 03:07, 3 June 2023 (UTC)