List of WWE Champions

Title history

Name - Years

WWWF World Heavyweight Championship  April 25, 1963 – February 8, 1971

WWWF Heavyweight Championship February 8, 1971 – March 1, 1979

WWF Heavyweight Championship March 1, 1979 – December 26, 1983

WWF World Heavyweight Championship  December 26, 1983 – May 27, 1989

WWF Championship  May 27, 1989 – December 9, 2001

Undisputed WWF Championship  December 9, 2001[2] – May 6, 2002[3]

Undisputed WWE Championship May 6, 2002[3] – May 19, 2002[10]

WWE Undisputed Championship  May 19, 2002 – September 2, 2002

WWE Championship  September 2, 2002– December 15, 2013

WWE World Heavyweight Championship  December 15, 2013 – June 27, 2016

WWE Championship June 27, 2016 – July 25, 2016

WWE World Championship July 26, 2016 – December 9, 2016

WWE Championship December 10, 2016 – present

World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF)

1     Buddy Rogers     April 11, 1963     House show     Washington, D.C.     1     36     22     Won a fictional tournament in Rio de Janeiro after the WWWF left the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), of which Rogers had been the 7th NWA World Heavyweight Champion since defeating Pat O'Connor on June 30, 1961. After Rogers' one fall loss to Lou Thesz for the title on January 24, 1963, Northeast promoters (led by Vince McMahon Sr. and Toots Mondt) did not recognize this title change and withdrew their membership from the NWA to form the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The WWWF billed Rogers as their world champion since January 25, 1963, but it did not recognize him as the first ever WWWF World Heavyweight Champion until April 11, 1963, when he received the title belt. However, WWE lists Rogers' reign and the establishment of the title beginning on April 25, 1963.     [15][16][17]

[18][19][20]

[21]

2     Bruno Sammartino     May 17, 1963     House show     New York, NY     1     2,803     2,803         [22]

3     Ivan Koloff     January 18, 1971     House show     New York, NY     1     21     21         [23]

4     Pedro Morales     February 8, 1971     House show     New York, NY     1     1,027     1,027     The title was renamed the WWWF Heavyweight Championship when the WWWF rejoined the NWA in 1971.     [24]

National Wrestling Alliance: World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF)

5     Stan Stasiak     December 1, 1973     House show     Philadelphia, PA     1     9     9         [25]

6     Bruno Sammartino     December 10, 1973     House show     New York, NY     2     1,237     1,237         [26]

7     Superstar Billy Graham     April 30, 1977     House show     Baltimore, MD     1     296     296         [27]

8     Bob Backlund     February 20, 1978     WWF on MSG Network     New York, NY     1     648     2,135     The title was renamed the WWF Heavyweight Championship when the WWWF became the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in March 1979 for marketing purposes.     [28][29][30]

National Wrestling Alliance: World Wrestling Federation (WWF)

†     Antonio Inoki     November 30, 1979     Toukon Series     Tokushima, Japan     —     6     —         [16][31][32]

—     Vacated     December 6, 1979     —     Tokyo, Japan     —     —     —     Inoki immediately vacated the title after a title defense rematch with Bob Backlund ended in a no contest due to the interference of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Tiger Jeet Singh.     [16][31]

†     Bob Backlund     December 17, 1979     WWF on MSG Network     New York, NY     1     1,470     —     Defeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas death match to fill the vacancy. On October 19, 1981, following a controversial match with Greg Valentine in Madison Square Garden, the title was vacated (recognized only in New York City) by the NY State Athletic Commission. Backlund defeated Valentine in a rematch in MSG on November 23, 1981 to end the vacancy. WWE recognizes this whole period as one uninterrupted reign.     [16][31][33][34]

9     The Iron Sheik     December 26, 1983     WWF on MSG Network     New York, NY     1     28     28     The Iron Sheik won by submission when Bob Backlund's manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel when Backlund was put into Sheik's camel clutch to prevent any major injury. The title was renamed the WWF World Heavyweight Championship when the WWF ended its affiliation with the NWA.     [35][36]

World Wrestling Federation (WWF)

10     Hulk Hogan     January 23, 1984     WWF on MSG Network     New York, NY     1     1,474     1,474         [37]

11     André the Giant     February 5, 1988     The Main Event I     Indianapolis, IN     1     <1     <1     Defeated Hulk Hogan when referee Earl Hebner, who was bribed by Ted DiBiase, scored the three-count despite Hogan raising his shoulder at the one-count.     [38]

†     Ted DiBiase     February 5, 1988     The Main Event I     Indianapolis, IN     1     8     —     Immediately after winning the title from Hulk Hogan, André the Giant handed the championship belt to Ted DiBiase, but WWF President Jack Tunney ruled this as vacating the title and therefore DiBiase's reign is not recognized by WWE, albeit he was announced as such in the following days and even defended the title once against Bam Bam Bigelow in a February 8, 1988 live event.     [31][38]

—     Vacated     February 13, 1988     Superstars of Wrestling     Hershey, PA     —     —     —     WWF President Jack Tunney refused to recognize Ted DiBiase as champion and vacated the title. WWE recognizes the vacancy as starting on February 5, 1988, the date of the controversy, rather than the date in which the announcement was made in a video aired on tape delay on February 13, 1988.     [31][38]

12     Randy Savage     March 27, 1988     WrestleMania IV     Atlantic City, NJ     1     371     371     Defeated Ted DiBiase in a tournament final to win the vacant title.     [39]

13     Hulk Hogan     April 2, 1989     WrestleMania V     Atlantic City, NJ     2     364     364     The title was renamed the WWF Championship in July 1989.     [40]

14     The Ultimate Warrior     April 1, 1990     WrestleMania VI     Toronto, ON, Canada     1     293     293     This was a title vs. title match in which Warrior also defended the Intercontinental Championship.     [41]

15     Sgt. Slaughter     January 19, 1991     Royal Rumble     Miami, FL     1     64     64         [42]

16     Hulk Hogan     March 24, 1991     WrestleMania VII     Los Angeles, CA     3     248     248         [43]

17     The Undertaker     November 27, 1991     Survivor Series     Detroit, MI     1     6     6         [44]

18     Hulk Hogan     December 3, 1991     This Tuesday in Texas     San Antonio, TX     4     1     4         [45]

—     Vacated     December 4, 1991     Superstars of Wrestling     New Haven, CT     —     —     —     Hogan was stripped of the title by WWF President Jack Tunney due to the controversy surrounding both of the previous title changes. Aired on tape delay on December 7, 1991.     [45]

19     Ric Flair     January 19, 1992     Royal Rumble     Albany, NY     1     77     77     This was the Royal Rumble match in which Flair last eliminated Sid Justice to win the vacant title.     [46]

20     Randy Savage     April 5, 1992     WrestleMania VIII     Indianapolis, IN     2     149     149         [47]

21     Ric Flair     September 1, 1992     Prime Time Wrestling     Hershey, PA     2     41     41     Aired on tape delay on September 14, 1992.

[48][49]

   [50]

22     Bret Hart     October 12, 1992     House show     Saskatoon, SK, Canada     1     174     174         [51]

23     Yokozuna     April 4, 1993     WrestleMania IX     Las Vegas, NV     1     <1     <1         [52]

24     Hulk Hogan     April 4, 1993     WrestleMania IX     Las Vegas, NV     5     70     70     After Yokozuna pinned Bret Hart to win the title, Yokozuna's manager, Mr. Fuji, issued an immediate challenge to Hogan for the championship, which was accepted and Hogan won the impromptu match.     [53]

25     Yokozuna     June 13, 1993     King of the Ring     Dayton, OH     2     280     280         [54]

26     Bret Hart     March 20, 1994     WrestleMania X     New York, NY     2     248     248     Roddy Piper was the guest referee.     [55]

27     Bob Backlund     November 23, 1994     Survivor Series     San Antonio, TX     2     3     3     This was a Throw in the Towel submission match.     [56]

28     Diesel     November 26, 1994     House show     New York, NY     1     358     358         [57]

29     Bret Hart     November 19, 1995     Survivor Series     Landover, MD     3     133     133     This was a no disqualification match.     [58]

30     Shawn Michaels     March 31, 1996     WrestleMania XII     Anaheim, CA     1     231     231     This was a 60-minute Iron Man match in which Michaels won 1–0 in overtime.     [59]

31     Sycho Sid     November 17, 1996     Survivor Series     New York, NY     1     63     63         [60]

32     Shawn Michaels     January 19, 1997     Royal Rumble     San Antonio, TX     2     25     25         [61]

—     Vacated     February 13, 1997     Raw     Lowell, MA     —     —     —     Shawn Michaels forfeited the title due to a knee injury.     [61]

33     Bret Hart     February 16, 1997     In Your House 13: Final Four     Chattanooga, TN     4     1     1     This was a four-way elimination match for the vacant title also involving Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Undertaker, and Vader.     [62]

34     Sycho Sid     February 17, 1997     Raw     Nashville, TN     2     34     34         [63]

35     The Undertaker     March 23, 1997     WrestleMania 13     Rosemont, IL     2     133     133     This was a no disqualification match.     [64]

36     Bret Hart     August 3, 1997     SummerSlam     East Rutherford, NJ     5     98     98     Shawn Michaels was the guest referee.     [65]

37     Shawn Michaels     November 9, 1997     Survivor Series     Montreal, QC, Canada     3     140     140     This was the Montreal Screwjob.     [66]

38     Stone Cold Steve Austin     March 29, 1998     WrestleMania XIV     Boston, MA     1     91     91     Mike Tyson was the special outside enforcer.     [67]

39     Kane     June 28, 1998     King of the Ring     Pittsburgh, PA     1     1     1     This was a First Blood match; had Kane lost, he would have set himself on fire.     [68]

40     Stone Cold Steve Austin     June 29, 1998     Raw     Cleveland, OH     2     90     90         [69]

—     Vacated     September 27, 1998     Breakdown: In Your House     Hamilton, ON, Canada     —     —     —     The title was vacated after Kane and The Undertaker simultaneously pinned Stone Cold Steve Austin in a triple threat match.[70]     [69]

41     The Rock     November 15, 1998     Survivor Series     St. Louis, MO     1     44     50     Defeated Mankind in the finals of the Deadly Game tournament in a recreation of the Montreal Screwjob to win the vacant title. WWE recognizes The Rock's reign as ending on January 4, 1999, when the following episode aired on tape delay.     [71]

42     Mankind     December 29, 1998     Raw     Worcester, MA     1     26     20     This was a no disqualification match. WWE recognizes Mankind's reign as beginning on January 4, 1999, when the episode aired on tape delay.     [72]

43     The Rock     January 24, 1999     Royal Rumble     Anaheim, CA     2     2     7     This was an "I quit" match which The Rock won by knocking Mankind unconscious while someone backstage, later revealed to be Shane McMahon, played an audio recording of Mankind saying "I quit" when The Rock placed the microphone against his face. WWE recognizes The Rock's reign as ending on January 31, 1999, when the following match aired on tape delay.     [73]

44     Mankind     January 26, 1999     Halftime Heat     Tucson, AZ     2     20     15     This was an Empty Arena match that aired on tape delay as a special during halftime of Super Bowl XXXIII on January 31, 1999, the date WWE recognizes as the beginning of Mankind's reign.     [74]

45     The Rock     February 15, 1999     Raw     Birmingham, AL     3     41     41     This was a ladder match.     [75]

46     Stone Cold Steve Austin     March 28, 1999     WrestleMania XV     Philadelphia, PA     3     56     56     This was a no disqualification match with Mankind as the guest referee.     [76]

47     The Undertaker     May 23, 1999     Over the Edge     Kansas City, MO     3     36     36     Both Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon were the guest referees.     [77]

48     Stone Cold Steve Austin     June 28, 1999     Raw     Charlotte, NC     4     55     55     If The Undertaker had gotten himself disqualified, he would have lost the championship.     [78]

49     Mankind     August 22, 1999     SummerSlam     Minneapolis, MN     3     1     1     This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H. Jesse Ventura was the guest referee.     [79]

50     Triple H     August 23, 1999     Raw     Ames, IA     1     22     24     Shane McMahon was the guest referee. WWE recognizes Triple H's reign as ending on September 16, 1999, when the following episode aired on tape delay.     [80]

51     Vince McMahon     September 14, 1999     SmackDown!     Las Vegas, NV     1     6     4     Shane McMahon was the guest referee. WWE recognizes Vince McMahon's reign as beginning on September 16, 1999, when the episode aired on tape delay.     [81]

—     Vacated     September 20, 1999     Raw     Houston, TX     —     —     —     Mr. McMahon vacated the title due to the Fully Loaded stipulation after losing his feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who defeated The Undertaker at the event and forced McMahon to no longer appear on WWF television.     [81]

52     Triple H     September 26, 1999     Unforgiven     Charlotte, NC     2     49     49     This was a six-pack challenge for the vacant title, also involving Big Show, The British Bulldog, Kane, Mankind, and The Rock. Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special outside enforcer.     [82]

53     Big Show     November 14, 1999     Survivor Series     Detroit, MI     1     50     50     This was a triple threat match also involving The Rock. Stone Cold Steve Austin had originally been scheduled to take part in the match, but he did not participate after being (in storyline) run over by a car in the parking garage earlier in the night.     [83]

54     Triple H     January 3, 2000     Raw     Miami, FL     3     118     118         [84]

55     The Rock     April 30, 2000     Backlash     Washington, D.C.     4     21     21     Shane McMahon was the guest referee.     [85]

56     Triple H     May 21, 2000     Judgment Day     Louisville, KY     4     35     35     This was a 60-minute Iron Man match which Triple H won 6–5 with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.     [86]

57     The Rock     June 25, 2000     King of the Ring     Boston, MA     5     119     119     This was a six-man tag team match with Kane, The Rock, and The Undertaker vs. Triple H, Shane McMahon, and Vince McMahon. The Rock pinned Vince to win Triple H's title.     [87]

58     Kurt Angle     October 22, 2000     No Mercy     Albany, NY     1     126     126     This was a no disqualification match.     [88]

59     The Rock     February 25, 2001     No Way Out     Las Vegas, NV     6     35     35     After the WWF purchased World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in March 2001, the WCW Championship became a second concurrently active world championship in the WWF. By November 2001, the WCW title was renamed to World Championship.     [89]

60     Stone Cold Steve Austin     April 1, 2001     WrestleMania X-Seven     Houston, TX     5     175     175     This was a no disqualification match.     [90]

61     Kurt Angle     September 23, 2001     Unforgiven     Pittsburgh, PA     2     15     15         [91]

62     Stone Cold Steve Austin     October 8, 2001     Raw     Indianapolis, IN     6     62     62         [92]

63     Chris Jericho     December 9, 2001     Vengeance     San Diego, CA     1     98     98     Earlier the same night, Jericho defeated World Champion The Rock for that title. By defeating Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship, Jericho unified both titles to become the first-ever undisputed WWF world champion. The World Championship was retired while the WWF Championship became known as the Undisputed WWF Championship.     [93]

64     Triple H     March 17, 2002     WrestleMania X8     Toronto, ON, Canada     5     35     35     In late March 2002, due to the WWF's roster having doubled in size, the brand extension began, splitting the roster between the Raw and SmackDown brands, represented by the TV shows of the same name. Championships were assigned to be exclusive to a specific brand, with the exception of the Undisputed WWF Championship and the WWF Women's Championship, which were non-exclusive at this time.     [94]

65     Hollywood Hulk Hogan     April 21, 2002     Backlash     Kansas City, MO     6     28     28     After the WWF was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) due to a lawsuit by the World Wide Fund for Nature on May 6, 2002, the title was also renamed Undisputed WWE Championship and then WWE Undisputed Championship.     [95]

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)

66     The Undertaker     May 19, 2002     Judgment Day     Nashville, TN     4     63     63         [96]

67     The Rock     July 21, 2002     Vengeance     Detroit, MI     7     35     35     This was a triple threat match also involving Kurt Angle.     [97]

68     Brock Lesnar     August 25, 2002     SummerSlam     Uniondale, NY     1     84     84     The following night, Lesnar signed a deal to appear exclusively on the SmackDown brand, making the championship exclusive to the brand. The World Heavyweight Championship was then created for the Raw brand and awarded to Triple H, who was Lesnar's number one contender. On September 2, 2002, the WWE Undisputed Championship became the WWE Championship as it was no longer "undisputed".     [98]

WWE: SmackDown

69     Big Show     November 17, 2002     Survivor Series     New York, NY     2     28     28         [99]

70     Kurt Angle     December 15, 2002     Armageddon     Sunrise, FL     3     105     105         [100]

71     Brock Lesnar     March 30, 2003     WrestleMania XIX     Seattle, WA     2     119     119         [101]

72     Kurt Angle     July 27, 2003     Vengeance     Denver, CO     4     51     53     This was a triple threat match also involving Big Show. WWE recognizes Angle's reign as ending on September 18, 2003, when the following episode aired on tape delay.     [102]

73     Brock Lesnar     September 16, 2003     SmackDown!     Raleigh, NC     3     152     150     This was a 60-minute Iron Man match. WWE recognizes Lesnar's reign as beginning on September 18, 2003, when the episode aired on tape delay.     [103]

74     Eddie Guerrero     February 15, 2004     No Way Out     Daly City, CA     1     133     133         [104][105]

75     John "Bradshaw" Layfield     June 27, 2004     The Great American Bash     Norfolk, VA     1     280     280     This was a Texas bullrope match.     [106][107]

76     John Cena     April 3, 2005     WrestleMania 21     Los Angeles, CA     1     280     280     The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery.     [108][109]

WWE: Raw

77     Edge     January 8, 2006     New Year's Revolution     Albany, NY     1     21     21     Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.     [110][111]

78     John Cena     January 29, 2006     Royal Rumble     Miami, FL     2     133     133         [112][113]

79     Rob Van Dam     June 11, 2006     ECW One Night Stand     New York, NY     1     22     22     Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. This was an Extreme Rules match.

The title became property of the new ECW brand due to Van Dam's status as an ECW wrestler. The ECW World Heavyweight Championship was subsequently reactivated for the brand and awarded to Van Dam, who became the only wrestler to ever hold both titles at the same time. The ECW Championship became a third concurrently active world championship in WWE.     [114][115]

WWE: ECW

80     Edge     July 3, 2006     Raw     Philadelphia, PA     2     76     76     This was a triple threat match also involving John Cena.

The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Edge's status as a Raw wrestler.     [116][117]

WWE: Raw

81     John Cena     September 17, 2006     Unforgiven     Toronto, ON, Canada     3     380     380     This was a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match.

Had Cena lost, he would have had to leave the Raw brand.     [118]

—     Vacated     October 2, 2007     ECW     Dayton, OH     —     —     —     The title was vacated when John Cena suffered a torn right pectoral tendon.     [119]

82     Randy Orton     October 7, 2007     No Mercy     Rosemont, IL     1     <1     <1     Orton was originally scheduled to have a Last Man Standing match against John Cena for the title, but due to Cena vacating the title due to a legit injury, Mr. McMahon awarded it to Orton at the start of the event, and was immediately challenged by Triple H.     [120]

83     Triple H     October 7, 2007     No Mercy     Rosemont, IL     6     <1     <1     After winning the championship, Mr. McMahon would tell Triple H he was previously booked for a match against Umaga, and he would face him the same night, now for the WWE Championship. After defeating Umaga, Mr. McMahon stated that Randy Orton was invoking his rematch clause and scheduled a rematch for the same night.     [121]

84     Randy Orton     October 7, 2007     No Mercy     Rosemont, IL     2     203     203     This was a Last Man Standing match.     [122]

85     Triple H     April 27, 2008     Backlash     Baltimore, MD     7     210     210     This was a fatal four-way elimination match also involving John Cena and John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand following the 2008 WWE Draft.     [123][124]

WWE: SmackDown

86     Edge     November 23, 2008     Survivor Series     Boston, MA     3     21     21     This was a triple threat match also involving Vladimir Kozlov. Jeff Hardy had originally been scheduled to take part in the match, but he did not participate after being (in storyline) attacked prior to the event. Triple H and Kozlov started the match before Edge was revealed as Hardy's surprise replacement.     [125]

87     Jeff Hardy     December 14, 2008     Armageddon     Buffalo, NY     1     42     42     This was a triple threat match also involving Triple H.     [126][127]

88     Edge     January 25, 2009     Royal Rumble     Detroit, MI     4     21     21     This was a no disqualification match.     [128][129]

89     Triple H     February 15, 2009     No Way Out     Seattle, WA     8     70     70     This was an Elimination Chamber match also involving Big Show, Jeff Hardy, The Undertaker, and Vladimir Kozlov. The title became exclusive to the Raw brand following the 2009 WWE Draft.     [130][131]

WWE: Raw

90     Randy Orton     April 26, 2009     Backlash     Providence, RI     3     42     42     This was a six-man tag team match with The Legacy (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase) against Batista, Triple H, and Shane McMahon. Orton pinned Triple H to win the title.     [132][133]

91     Batista     June 7, 2009     Extreme Rules     New Orleans, LA     1     2     2     This was a steel cage match.     [134][135]

—     Vacated     June 9, 2009     —     —     —     —     —     The title was vacated when Batista suffered a torn left biceps.     [136]

92     Randy Orton     June 15, 2009     Raw     Charlotte, NC     4     90     90     This was a fatal four-way match for the vacant title also involving Big Show, John Cena, and Triple H.     [137][138]

93     John Cena     September 13, 2009     Breaking Point     Montreal, QC, Canada     4     21     21     This was an "I quit" match.

Had anyone interfered on Randy Orton's behalf, he would have forfeited the title.     [139][140]

94     Randy Orton     October 4, 2009     Hell in a Cell     Newark, NJ     5     21     21     This was a Hell in a Cell match.     [141][142]

95     John Cena     October 25, 2009     Bragging Rights     Pittsburgh, PA     5     49     49     This was a 60-minute Anything Goes Iron Man match in which Cena won 6-5.

Had Cena lost, he would have had to leave the Raw brand.     [143][144]

96     Sheamus     December 13, 2009     TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs     San Antonio, TX     1     70     70     This was a tables match.     [145][146]

97     John Cena     February 21, 2010     Elimination Chamber     St. Louis, MO     6     <1     <1     This was an Elimination Chamber match also involving Kofi Kingston, Randy Orton, Ted DiBiase Jr., and Triple H.     [147]

98     Batista     February 21, 2010     Elimination Chamber     St. Louis, MO     2     35     35     Batista transferred to the Raw roster after winning the title.     [148]

99     John Cena     March 28, 2010     WrestleMania XXVI     Glendale, AZ     7     84     84         [149]

100     Sheamus     June 20, 2010     Fatal 4-Way     Uniondale, NY     2     91     91     This was a fatal four-way match also involving Edge and Randy Orton.     [150]

101     Randy Orton     September 19, 2010     Night of Champions     Rosemont, IL     6     64     64     This was a six-pack elimination challenge also involving Chris Jericho, Edge, John Cena, and Wade Barrett, who decided to cash-in his title shot due to winning the first season of NXT.     [151]

102     The Miz     November 22, 2010     Raw     Orlando, FL     1     160     160     Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. In April 2011, WWE ceased using its full name with the "WWE" abbreviation becoming an orphaned initialism.     [152]

103     John Cena     May 1, 2011     Extreme Rules     Tampa, FL     8     77     77     This was a triple threat steel cage match also involving John Morrison.     [153]

104     CM Punk     July 17, 2011     Money in the Bank     Rosemont, IL     1     28     28     Punk (kayfabe) left WWE the day after with the championship, but he returned on the July 25, 2011 episode of Raw and his reign was deemed to continue through this period.     [154]

—     Vacated     July 18, 2011     Raw     Green Bay, WI     —     —     —     The title was vacated due to CM Punk leaving WWE.

This vacancy is no longer recognized due to Punk's return on the July 25, 2011 episode of Raw.     [31][155]

105     Rey Mysterio     July 25, 2011     Raw     Hampton, VA     1     <1     <1     Defeated The Miz in a tournament final to crown a new champion.

CM Punk was also recognized as WWE Champion.     [156]

106     John Cena     July 25, 2011     Raw     Hampton, VA     9     20     20     As the former champion prior to CM Punk, Cena was granted a title match against Rey Mysterio by Triple H. Punk was also recognized as WWE Champion.     [157]

†     CM Punk     August 14, 2011     SummerSlam     Los Angeles, CA     1     —     —     Punk defeated John Cena in a match to determine the undisputed champion. Triple H was the guest referee. This is considered a continuation of Punk's first reign.     [158]

107     Alberto Del Rio     August 14, 2011     SummerSlam     Los Angeles, CA     1     35     35     Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract after CM Punk defeated John Cena to determine the undisputed champion.

On August 29, 2011, the first brand extension ended, allowing the WWE Champion to appear on both Raw and SmackDown.     [159]

WWE (unbranded)

108     John Cena     September 18, 2011     Night of Champions     Buffalo, NY     10     14     14         [160]

109     Alberto Del Rio     October 2, 2011     Hell in a Cell     New Orleans, LA     2     49     49     This was a triple threat Hell in a Cell match also involving CM Punk.     [161]

110     CM Punk     November 20, 2011     Survivor Series     New York, NY     2     434     434         [162]

111     The Rock     January 27, 2013     Royal Rumble     Phoenix, AZ     8     70     70     CM Punk had initially won, but the match was restarted by Vince McMahon due to interference by The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins).     [163]

112     John Cena     April 7, 2013     WrestleMania 29     East Rutherford, NJ     11     133     133         [164]

113     Daniel Bryan     August 18, 2013     SummerSlam     Los Angeles, CA     1     <1     <1     Triple H was the guest referee.     [165]

114     Randy Orton     August 18, 2013     SummerSlam     Los Angeles, CA     7     28     28     Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Triple H was the guest referee.     [166]

115     Daniel Bryan     September 15, 2013     Night of Champions     Detroit, MI     2     1     1         [167]

—     Vacated     September 16, 2013     Raw     Cleveland, OH     —     —     —     The title was vacated after a controversial finish when Daniel Bryan defeated Randy Orton to win the title.     [168]

116     Randy Orton     October 27, 2013     Hell in a Cell     Miami, FL     8     161     161     Orton defeated Daniel Bryan in a Hell in a Cell match to win the vacant title with Shawn Michaels as the guest referee.

On December 15, 2013 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Orton defeated John Cena in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match to unify the World Heavyweight Championship with the WWE Championship. The World Heavyweight Championship was then retired and the WWE Championship became known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.     [169]

117     Daniel Bryan April 6, 2014  WrestleMania XXX     New Orleans, LA     3     64     65     This was a triple threat match also involving Batista, whom Bryan forced to submit to win the match.     [170]

—     Vacated     June 9, 2014     Raw     Minneapolis, MN     —     —     —     Daniel Bryan was stripped of the title due to a neck injury.     [171]

118     John Cena June 29, 2014 Money in the Bank Boston, MA 12  49 This was an eight-way ladder match for the vacant title also involving Alberto Del Rio, Bray Wyatt, Cesaro, Kane, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, and Sheamus.

119     Brock Lesnar  August 17, 2014 SummerSlam  Los Angeles, CA 4 224

120     Seth Rollins  March 29, 2015 WrestleMania 31 Santa Clara, CA  1  220 Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract during a singles match between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, converting it into a triple threat match and subsequently pinned Reigns to win the match.

—     Vacated     November 5, 2015     —     —     —     —     —     The title was vacated after Seth Rollins suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and a damaged meniscus at a live event in Dublin, Ireland.     [175]

121     Roman Reigns November 22, 2015  Survivor Series Atlanta, GA  1   <1  Defeated Dean Ambrose in a tournament final to win the vacant title.

122     Sheamus November 22, 2015  Survivor Series  Atlanta, GA  3 22 Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.

123     Roman Reigns December 14, 2015 Raw Philadelphia, PA 2 41  This was a title vs. career match.

124     Triple H January 24, 2016 Royal Rumble Orlando, FL 9 70 This was the Royal Rumble match in which Roman Reigns defended the title and entered at number one. Triple H eliminated Reigns before lastly eliminating Dean Ambrose to win the title.

125     Roman Reigns     April 3, 2016 WrestleMania 32 Arlington, TX  3 77

126     Seth Rollins  June 19, 2016  Money in the Bank Las Vegas, NV 2  <1

127     Dean Ambrose June 19, 2016  Money in the Bank Las Vegas, NV 1 84 Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and the title's name reverted to WWE Championship. The brand extension returned and the title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand following the 2016 WWE Draft. The WWE Universal Championship was created for the Raw brand; the WWE Championship was then renamed to WWE World Championship.

WWE: SmackDown

128     AJ Styles September 11, 2016  Backlash Richmond, VA 1 140  In December 2016, the title's name reverted to WWE Championship.

129     John Cena January 29, 2017  Royal Rumble  San Antonio, TX  13 14

130     Bray Wyatt     February 12, 2017     Elimination Chamber     Phoenix, AZ     1  49 This was an Elimination Chamber match also involving AJ Styles, Baron Corbin, Dean Ambrose, and The Miz.     [184]

131     Randy Orton     April 2, 2017     WrestleMania 33     Orlando, FL  9 49

132     Jinder Mahal  May 21, 2017  Backlash Rosemont, IL 1 170

133     AJ Styles November 7, 2017 SmackDown  Manchester, England  2 371

134     Daniel Bryan  November 13, 2018 SmackDown  St. Louis, MO  4 144

135     Kofi Kingston April 7, 2019 WrestleMania 35  East Rutherford, NJ  1 180

136  Brock Lesnar  October 4, 2019 SmackDown's 20th Anniversary Los Angeles, CA 5 184 On the November 1, 2019 episode of SmackDown, Lesnar quit SmackDown and went to Raw, taking the title with him.

WWE: Raw

137     Drew McIntyre March 25, 2020 WrestleMania 36 Part 2  Orlando, FL 203 WrestleMania

138     Randy Orton October 25, 2020 Hell in a Cell  Orlando, FL 10 22 This was a Hell in a Cell match.

139     Drew McIntyre   November 16, 2020 Raw Orlando, FL 2 97  This was a no disqualification and no countout match.

140     The Miz  February 21, 2021   Elimination Chamber  St. Petersburg, FL 2   8 Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.

141     Bobby Lashley March 1, 2021   Raw St. Petersburg, FL 1 196 This was a lumberjack match.

142 Big E September 13, 2021 Raw Boston, MA 1 19+  Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.Big E transferred from SmackDown to Raw upon winning the title.