List of WWE Champions

This is the title history of the WWE Championship. The title was introduced in 1963 by the then-World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). It is recognized as the top championship in WWE.

The wrestler with the most reigns as WWE champion is John Cena with 14. Cena holds the most world championship reigns recognized by WWE at 17. The longest reigning champion is Bruno Sammartino, holding the championship for 7 years, 8 months, and 1 day from May 17, 1963, to January 18, 1971. 

Right now the champion is Cody Rhodes, who is in his third reign.

## Title history 
As of  , 
:*† means that the title change was not recognized by WWE.*

|-
|8
|Bob Backlund
|1
|
|()†
|New York, NY
|Billy Graham, who was traditionally a rule breaker, had the rules broken on him for a change. Backlund had Graham in a pinned, but Graham got his foot on the ropes. The referee was out of position to see the champ's foot, though, and his hand hit the mat for the three count giving Backlund his first WWF Championship.

The title was renamed the WWF Heavyweight Championship after the World Wide Wrestling Federation became the World Wrestling Federation in March 1979.
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
| rowspan="3" |—
|Antonio Inoki
|1†
|
|
| rowspan="2" |Tokushima, Japan
|His reign is not recognized by WWE
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|Vacated†
|—
|
|—
|Inoki vacated the title after a rematch with Backlund ended in a no contest.
|align=center|
|-
|10
|Hulk Hogan
|1
|
|
|Hogan overpowered The Iron Sheik and hit the big leg drop for his first WWF Championship.
|align=center|
|-
|11
|André the Giant
|1
|
|data-sort-value=0.2|59
Minutes

|Indianapolis, IN
|*The Main Event I*
|align=left|During the match, Andre went for the pin, but Hogan got his shoulder up at the count of one. The referee continued to count, however, and awarded the match to Andre.
It was also revealed that Earl Hebner, who was said to have been refereeing the match, wasn't even in the ring. Instead, Ted DiBiase paid for another referee to have plastic surgery to look like Hebner so that he could guarantee Andre would win the WWF Championship. This is the shortest reign in the championship's history.
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Vacated
|—
|
|—
|Indianapolis, IN
|*The Main Event I*
|align=left|Right after he won the title from Hogan, André sold it to DiBiase; President Jack Tunney nullified this decision, and he vacated the title.
|align=center|
|-
|13
|Hulk Hogan
|2
|
|
|WrestleMania V
|
|align=center|
|-
|14
|The Ultimate Warrior
|1
|
|
|Toronto, ON, Canada
|WrestleMania VI
|This match was also for Warrior's WWF Intercontinental Championship, which was vacated shortly after this match.
|align=center|
|-
|15
|Sgt. Slaughter
|1
|
|
|Miami, FL
|Royal Rumble
|
|align=center|
|-
|16
|Hulk Hogan
|3
|
|
|Los Angeles, CA
|WrestleMania VII
|
|align=center|
|-
|17
|The Undertaker
|1
|
|
|Detroit, MI
|Survivor Series
|
|align=center|
|-
|18
|Hulk Hogan
|4
|
|
|San Antonio, TX
|This Tuesday in Texas
|
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Vacated
|—
|
|—
|N/A
|*WWF Superstars of Wrestling*
|align=left|Hogan was stripped of the title by president Jack Tunney because of the controversy of the last two title changes. This aired December 7, 1991.
|align=center|
|-
|20
|Randy Savage
|2
|
|
|Indianapolis, IN
|WrestleMania VIII
|
|align=center|
|-
|21
|Ric Flair
|2
|
|
|Hershey, PA
|*Prime Time Wrestling*
|Aired on September 14, 1992.
|align=center|
|-
|22
|Bret Hart
|1
|
|
|Saskatoon, SK
|House show
|
|align=center|
|-
|23
|Yokozuna
|1
|rowspan="2"|
|data-sort-value=0.2|(3)†
|
|
|San Antonio, TX
|Survivor Series
|This was a "Throw in the Towel" submission match, where the only way to win was to have the opponent's cornerman throw a towel into the ring.
|align=center|
|-
|28
|Diesel
|1
|
|
|New York, NY
|House show
|
|align=center|
|-
|29
|Bret Hart
|3
|
|
|Landover, MD
|Survivor Series
|This was a no disqualification match.
|align=center|
|-
|30
|Shawn Michaels
|1
|
|
|Anaheim, CA
|WrestleMania XII
|This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, which Michaels won in overtime after it ended in a 0–0 draw.
|align=center|
|-
|31
|Sycho Sid
|1
|
|
|New York, NY
|Survivor Series
|
|align=center|
|-
|32
|Shawn Michaels
|2
|
|
|San Antonio, TX
|Royal Rumble
|
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Vacated
|—
|
|—
|Lowell, MA
|*Raw*
|Michaels had to forfeit the title because of a knee injury.
|align=center|
|-
|34
|Sycho Sid
|2
|
|
|Nashville, TN
|*Raw*
|
|align=center|
|-
|35
|The Undertaker
|2
|
|
||Rosemont, IL
|WrestleMania 13
|This was a no disqualification match.
|align=center|
|-
|36
|Bret Hart
|5
|
|
|East Rutherford, NJ
|SummerSlam
|Shawn Michaels acted as the guest referee.
|align=center|
|-
|37
|Shawn Michaels
|3
|
|
|Montreal, QC
|Survivor Series
|He won the title in the Montreal Screwjob.
|align=center|
|-
|38
|Stone Cold Steve Austin
|1
|
|
|Boston, MA
|WrestleMania XIV
|Mike Tyson acted as the special outside enforcer.
|align=center|
|-
|39
|Kane
|1
|
|
|Pittsburgh, PA
|King of the Ring
|This was a first blood match.
|align=center|
|-
|40
|Stone Cold Steve Austin
|2
|
|
|Cleveland, OH
|*Raw is War*
|
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Vacated
|—
|
|—
|Hamilton, ON, Canada
|Breakdown: In Your House
|The title was vacated after Kane and The Undertaker both pinned Austin in a triple threat match at the same time. Another match for the vacant title at Judgment Day: In Your House between Kane and The Undertaker ended in a no-contest.
|align=center|
|-
|42
|Mankind
|1
|
|
|Worcester, MA
|*Raw is War*
|This match was a no-disqualification match. Aired on January 4, 1999.
|align=center|
|-
|43
|The Rock
|2
|
|
|Anaheim, CA
|Royal Rumble
|This was an "I Quit" match. The Rock won by knocking Mankind unconscious while someone backstage played an audio recording of Mankind saying "I quit" when The Rock held the microphone against his face.
|align=center|
|-
|44
|Mankind
|2
|
|
|Tucson, AZ
|*Halftime Heat*
|This was an empty arena match which aired as a special during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999.
|align=center|
|-
|45
|The Rock
|3
|
|
|Birmingham, AL
|*Raw is War*
|This was a ladder match.
|align=center|
|-
|46
|Stone Cold Steve Austin
|3
|
|
|Philadelphia, PA
|WrestleMania XV
|Mankind acted as the guest referee in this no disqualification match.
|align=center|
|-
|47
|The Undertaker
|3
|
|
|Kansas City, MO
|Over the Edge
|Both Shane and Mr. McMahon acted as the guest referees.
|align=center|
|-
|48
|Stone Cold Steve Austin
|4
|
|
|Charlotte, NC
|*Raw is War*
|
|align=center|
|-
|49
|Mankind
|3
|
|
|Minneapolis, MN
|SummerSlam
|This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H, with Jesse Ventura acting as the guest referee.
|align=center|
|-
|50
|Triple H
|1
|
|
|Ames, IA
|*Raw is War*
|Shane McMahon acted as the guest referee.
|align=center|
|-
|51
|Mr. McMahon
|1
|
|
|Las Vegas, NV
|*SmackDown*
|Aired on September 16, 1999 with Shane McMahon acting as the guest referee.
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Vacated
|—
|
|—
|Houston, TX
|*Raw is War*
|The title was vacated by Mr. McMahon.
|align=center|
|-
|53
|Big Show
|1
|
|
|Detroit, MI
|Survivor Series
|This was a triple threat match, also involving The Rock.
|align=center|
|-
|54
|Triple H
|3
|
|
|Miami, FL
|*Raw is War*
|On April 17, 2000, Chris Jericho defeated Triple H for the WWF Championship after Earl Hebner fast-counted. Later in the night, Triple H forced Hebner to reverse the decision, which nullified Jericho's reign and continued Triple H's.
|align=center|
|-
|55
|The Rock
|4
|
|
|Washington, D.C.
|Backlash
|Shane McMahon acted as the guest referee.
|align=center|
|-
|56
|Triple H
|4
|
|
|Louisville, KY
|Judgment Day
|This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, which Triple H won 6–5 with Shawn Michaels acting as the guest referee.
|align=center|
|-
|57
|The Rock
|5
|
|
|Boston, MA
|King of the Ring
|This was a six-man tag team match between The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane vs. Triple H, Mr. McMahon and Shane McMahon. The Rock pinned Mr. McMahon to win Triple H's title.
|align=center|
|-
|58
|Kurt Angle
|1
|
|
|Albany, NY
|No Mercy
|This was a no disqualification match.
|align=center|
|-
|59
|The Rock
|6
|
|
|Las Vegas, NV
|No Way Out
|
|align=center|
|-
|60
|Stone Cold Steve Austin
|5
|
|
|Houston, TX
|WrestleMania X-Seven
|This was a no disqualification match.
|align=center|
|-
|61
|Kurt Angle
|2
|
|
|Pittsburgh, PA
|Unforgiven
|
|align=center|
|-
|62
|Stone Cold Steve Austin
|6
|
|
|Indianapolis, IN
|*Raw*
|
|align=center|
|-
|63
|Chris Jericho
|1
|
|
|San Diego, CA
|Vengeance
|Earlier that night, Jericho had already defeated WCW World Heavyweight Champion The Rock for that title. By defeating Austin for the WWF Championship, he unified both titles as the Undisputed Championship.
|align=center|
|-
|64
|Triple H
|5
|
|
|Toronto, ON
|WrestleMania X8
|
|align=center|
|-
|65
|Hollywood Hulk Hogan
|6
|
|
|Kansas City, MO
|Backlash
|The title was renamed the WWE Undisputed Championship on May 6, 2002 after World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. settled a lawsuit with the World Wide Fund for Nature, and it became simply World Wrestling Entertainment.
|align=center|
|-
|66
|The Undertaker
|4
|
|
|Nashville, TN
|Judgment Day
|On May 20, 2002, Rob Van Dam defeated The Undertaker for the title. Later in the night, Ric Flair restarted the match and Undertaker defeated him, which nullified Van Dam's reign and continued Undertaker's.
|align=center|
|-
|67
|The Rock
|7
|
|
|Detroit, MI
|Vengeance
|This was a triple threat match, also involving Kurt Angle.
|align=center|
|-
|68
|Brock Lesnar
|1
|
|
|Uniondale, NY
|SummerSlam
|The "Undisputed" was removed from the title's name after it became exclusive to the *SmackDown!* brand on September 2, 2002, which resulted in the creation of the World Heavyweight Championship for the *Raw* brand.
|align=center|
|-
|69
|Big Show
|2
|
|
|New York, NY
|Survivor Series
|
|align=center|
|-
|70
|Kurt Angle
|3
|
|
|Sunrise, FL
|Armageddon
|
|align=center|
|-
|71
|Brock Lesnar
|2
|
|
|Seattle, WA
|WrestleMania XIX
|
|align=center|
|-
|72
|Kurt Angle
|4
|
|
|Denver, CO
|Vengeance
|This was a triple threat match, also involving Big Show.
|align=center|
|-
|73
|Brock Lesnar
|3
|
|
|Raleigh, NC
|*SmackDown*
|align=left|This was a 60-minute Iron Man match, that aired on September 18, 2003.
|align=center|
|-
|74
|Eddie Guerrero
|1
|
|
|Daly City, CA
|No Way Out
|
|align=center|
|-
|75
|John "Bradshaw" Layfield
|1
|
|
|Norfolk, VA
|The Great American Bash
|This was a Texas Bullrope match.
|align=center|
|-
|76
|John Cena
|1
|
|
|Los Angeles, CA
|WrestleMania 21
|The title became exclusive on the *Raw* brand on June 6, 2005 after Cena was drafted to *Raw* as the first pick in the 2005 Draft Lottery.
|align=center|
|-
|77
|Edge
|1
|
|
|Albany, NY
|New Year's Revolution
|Edge cashed in his "Money in the Bank" contract that he won from WrestleMania 21 immediately after Cena won an Elimination Chamber match.
|align=center|
|-
|78
|John Cena
|2
|
|
|Miami, FL
|Royal Rumble
|
|align=center|
|-
|79
|Rob Van Dam
|1
|
|
|New York, NY
|ECW One Night Stand
|align=left|RVD cashed in his Money in the Bank contract that he won at WrestleMania 22 in an Extreme Rules match. When RVD won, the title became property of the *ECW* brand. RVD became the first person to hold both the WWE and ECW World Championship.
|align=center|
|-
|80
|Edge
|2
|
|
|Philadelphia, PA
|*Raw*
|align=left|This was a triple threat match, also involving John Cena. The title became exclusive on the *Raw* brand.
|align=center|
|-
|81
|John Cena
|3
|
|
|Toronto, ON
|Unforgiven
|This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|Vacated
|—
|
|—
|Dayton, OH
|*ECW on Sci Fi*
|The title was vacated when Cena suffered a torn right pectoral tendon on the October 1 edition of *Raw*.
|align=center|
|-
|82
|Randy Orton
|1
|rowspan="3"|
| rowspan="2" data-sort-value="0.2" |(and CM Punk)
|1(1)
|rowspan="2"|
|data-sort-value=0.2|(and CM Punk)
|9(1)
|
|CM Punk was also the WWE Champion at this time.
|align=center|
|- style="background-color:#e3e3e3"
|—
|CM Punk
|1
|
|data-sort-value=0.1|On December 15, 2013 at the TLC pay-per-view, when Orton defeated John Cena, he unified the World Heavyweight Championship with his WWE Championship.The title became known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
|align=center|
|-
|117
|Daniel Bryan
|3
|
|
|New Orleans, LA
|WrestleMania XXX
|This was a Triple Threat match which also included Batista, whom Bryan made submit to win the title.
|align=center|
|-
| -
|Vacated
| -
|June 9, 2014
| -
|Minneapolis, MN
|Raw
|Bryan was stripped of the title after he injured his neck.
|
|-
|118
|John Cena
|12
|
|
|Boston, MA
|Money in the Bank
|Defeated Alberto Del Rio, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, Kane, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and Sheamus in a ladder match to win the vacant title.
|align=center|
|-
|119
|Brock Lesnar
|4
|
|
|Los Angeles, CA
|SummerSlam
|
|align=center|
|-
|120
|Seth Rollins
|1
|
|220
|Santa Clara, CA
|WrestleMania 31
|Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank during a singles match between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, making it a Triple Threat match. Rollins pinned Reigns to win the match.
|align=center|
|-
|
|Vacated
| -
|November 4, 2015
| -
|Dublin, Ireland
|WWE Live Event (house show)
|Title was vacated after Rollins tore his ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus in his knee
|
|-
|121
|Roman Reigns
|1
| rowspan="2" |November 22, 2015
|
| McIntyre became the first British WWE Champion. This match was taped on March 25, with WWE listing this reign as lasting 202 days.
|
|-
|138
|Randy Orton
|10
|October 25, 2020
|22
|Hell in a Cell
|This was a Hell in a Cell match.
|
|-
|139
|Drew McIntyre
|2
|November 16, 2020
|97
|Raw
|This was a no disqualification and no countout match.
|
|-
|140
|The Miz
|2
|February 21, 2021
|8
| rowspan="2" |St. Petersburg, FL
|Elimination Chamber
|This was Miz's Money in the Bank cash-in match.
|
|-
|141
|Bobby Lashley
|1
|March 1, 2021
|196
| rowspan="2" |Raw
|This was a lumberjack match.
|
|-
|142
|Big E
|1
|September 13, 2021
|110
|Boston, MA
|This was Big E's Money in the Bank cash-in match.
|
|-
|143
|Brock Lesnar
|6
|January 1, 2022
|28
|Atlanta, GA
|Day 1
|This was a fatal five-way match also involving Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Seth Rollins.
|
|-
|144
|Bobby Lashley
|2
|January 29, 2022
|21
|St. Louis, MO
|Royal Rumble
|
|
|-
|145
|Brock Lesnar
|7
|February 19, 2022
|43
|Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
|Elimination Chamber
|This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Riddle and Seth Rollins.
|
|-
|146
|Roman Reigns
|4
|April 3, 2022
|735
|Arlington, TX
|WrestleMania 38
|This was a Winner Takes All match in which Reigns also defended his Universal Championship. Both titles became listed together as the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand following the 2023 WWE Draft.
|
|-
|147
|Cody Rhodes
|1
|April 7, 2024
|
|Philadelphia, PA
|WrestleMania XL
|This was a Bloodline Rules match in which Reigns also defended the Universal Championship. Rhodes was drafted to SmackDown following his win. Both titles together were renamed to "Undisputed WWE Championship".
|
|-
|148
|John Cena
|14
|April 20, 2025
|
|Paradise, NV
|WrestleMania 41
|
|-
|149
|Cody Rhodes
|2
|August 3, 2025
|
|East Rutherford, NJ
|SummerSlam
|This was a Street Fight.
|
|-
|150
|Drew McIntyre
|3
|January 9, 2026
|
|Berlin, Germany
|rowspan=2 | *SmackDown*
|This was a Three Stages of Hell match, where the three stages were: a regular singles match, a Falls Count Anywhere match, and a Steel cage match. McIntyre won the first and third falls.
|
|-
|151
|Cody Rhodes
|3
|March 6, 2026
|+
|Portland, OR
|
|
|}

## List of combined reigns
As of  , .

## References 
## Other websites 
* WWE Title History