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Revision as of 02:07, 24 July 2012

The Triple Crown Championship is an accomplishment in professional wrestling. It is a distinction made to a professional wrestler who has won three specific championships. National promotions that officially recognize Triple Crown winners include WWE, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and Ring of Honor (ROH); as well as the defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). The three titles typically feature two levels of singles championships (a primary and secondary singles title) and a tag team championship.

WWE

CM Punk, the fastest to win the WWE Triple Crown.

In WWE (formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment), the term Triple Crown Champion has traditionally been used to describe a wrestler who has won the WWE Championship, the Intercontinental Championship, and the World Tag Team Championship.[1] For a span of nearly eighteen years, from 1979 up through 1997, these were the three championships of the company, and a competitor who had won all three championships (not necessarily concurrently) was considered a "Triple Crown Champion."[1][2]

CM Punk holds the record for completing the Triple Crown Championship in the shortest amount of time between the first and third title. It took him 203 days between June 2008 and January 2009. This broke Diesel's previous record of 227 days set in 1994, which is notable as Diesel had only been with the company for a year and a half at the time.[3][4]

Following the brand extension in 2002, the World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship became alternate titles that can compose part of the Triple Crown. WWE has yet to officially declare the WWE United States Championship to be an acceptable substitute for secondary championships in order to complete the Triple Crown. Current WWE wrestlers who are one title away from a Triple Crown include:

List of WWE Triple Crown Champions

The following is a list of WWE Triple Crown Champions with dates indicating the wrestler's first reign with the respective championship.

Text
Championships in italics Indicates the title is an alternate title from the original definition of a Triple Crown Championship.
Dates in italics The wrestler has won that title, but does not contribute to their Triple Crown because they had already won the Triple Crown or they had already won a title at that the same level.
Dates in bold The date the wrestler became a Triple Crown Champion.
Names in bold Indicates the wrestler is also a Grand Slam Champion.
Name colors

Won the Triple Crown under the original definition.

Won the Triple Crown with one or more alternate titles.

Won the Triple Crown with an alternate title, but then went on to win all the titles under the original definition.

Won every Triple Crown eligible championship.
Date colors

Won title as a member of the Raw brand.

Won title as a member of the ECW brand.

Won title as a member of the SmackDown brand.
Won title before the WWE Brand Extension.
Notes
1 ^ The wrestler is not currently employed by WWE or is retired from professional wrestling, so future reigns are not probable.
2 ^ The wrestler is deceased, so future reigns are not possible.
3 ^ The World Tag Team Championship was unified with the WWE Tag Team Championship on April 5, 2009, so future reigns with this title are not possible.
Champion Primary Championships Tag Team Championships Secondary Championships
WWE World
Heavyweight
World
Tag Team
WWE
Tag Team
Intercontinental
Pedro Morales[1][5] February 8, 1971 no future reign probable1 August 9, 1980
(with Bob Backlund)
no future reign probable1 December 8, 1980
Bret Hart October 12, 1992 no future reign probable January 26, 1987
(with Jim Neidhart)
no future reign probable August 26, 1991
Diesel[3] November 26, 1994 August 28, 1994
(with Shawn Michaels)
April 13, 1994
Shawn Michaels March 31, 1996 November 17, 2002 August 28, 1994
(with Diesel)
December 13, 2009
(with Triple H)
October 27, 1992
Stone Cold Steve Austin[6] March 29, 1998 no future reign probable1 May 26, 1997
(with Shawn Michaels)
no future reign probable1 August 3, 1997
The Rock November 15, 1998 August 30, 1999
(with Mankind)
February 13, 1997
Triple H August 23, 1999 September 2, 2002 April 29, 2001
(with Stone Cold Steve Austin)
December 13, 2009
(with Shawn Michaels)
October 21, 1996
Kane June 28, 1998 July 18, 2010 July 13, 1998
(with Mankind)
April 19, 2011
(with Big Show)
May 20, 2001
Chris Jericho December 9, 2001 September 7, 2008 May 21, 2001
(with Chris Benoit)
June 28, 2009
(with Edge)
December 12, 1999
Kurt Angle October 22, 2000 January 10, 2006 no future reign possible3 October 20, 2002
(with Chris Benoit)
February 27, 2000
Eddie Guerrero February 15, 2004 no future reign possible2 no future reign possible2 November 17, 2002
(with Chavo Guerrero)
September 5, 2000
Chris Benoit no future reign possible2 March 14, 2004 May 21, 2001
(with Chris Jericho)
October 20, 2002
(with Kurt Angle)
April 2, 2000
Ric Flair January 19, 1992 no future reign probable1 December 14, 2003
(with Batista)
no future reign probable1 September 18, 2005
Edge January 8, 2006 May 8, 2007 April 2, 2000
(with Christian)
November 5, 2002
(with Rey Mysterio)
July 24, 1999
Rob Van Dam June 11, 2006 no future reign probable1 March 31, 2003
(with Kane)
December 7, 2004
(with Rey Mysterio)
March 17, 2002
Booker T July 23, 2006 November 1, 2001
(with Test)
July 7, 2003
Randy Orton October 7, 2007 August 15, 2004 November 13, 2006
(with Edge)
December 14, 2003
Jeff Hardy December 14, 2008 June 7, 2009 June 29, 1999
(with Matt Hardy)
no future reign probable1 April 10, 2001
CM Punk[3][4] July 17, 2011 June 30, 2008 October 27, 2008
(with Kofi Kingston)
January 19, 2009
John "Bradshaw" Layfield June 27, 2004 no future reign probable1 May 25, 1999
(with Faarooq)
no future reign probable1 March 9, 2009
Rey Mysterio July 25, 2011 April 2, 2006 no future reign possible3 November 5, 2002
(with Edge)
April 5, 2009
Dolph Ziggler February 15, 2011[7] April 3, 2006
(with the Spirit Squad)
July 28, 2010
Christian May 1, 2011 April 2, 2000
(with Edge)
September 23, 2001
Big Show November 14, 1999 December 18, 2011 August 22, 1999
(with The Undertaker)
July 26, 2009
(with Chris Jericho)
April 1, 2012
The Miz November 22, 2010 November 16, 2007
(with John Morrison)
December 13, 2008
(with John Morrison)
July 23, 2012

World Championship Wrestling

Bret Hart, the first wrestler to win both the WWE and WCW Triple Crown

The World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Triple Crown consisted of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship and the WCW World Tag Team Championship.[8][9]

List of WCW Triple Crown Champions

Champion Primary Championships Tag Team Championships Secondary Championships
WCW World Heavyweight WCW World Tag Team WCW United States Heavyweight
Ric Flair January 11, 1991 December 26, 1976
(with Greg Valentine)
July 29, 1977
Lex Luger July 14, 1991 March 27, 1988
(with Barry Windham)
July 11, 1987
Sting February 29, 1992 January 22, 1996
(with Lex Luger)
August 25, 1991
Diamond Dallas Page April 11, 1999 May 31, 1999
(with Bam Bam Bigelow and Kanyon)
December 28, 1997
Goldberg July 6, 1998 December 7, 1999
(with Bret Hart)
April 20, 1998
Bret Hart November 21, 1999 December 7, 1999
(with Goldberg)
July 20, 1998
Chris Benoit January 16, 2000 March 14, 1999
(with Dean Malenko)
August 9, 1999
Scott Steiner November 26, 2000 November 1, 1989
(with Rick Steiner)
April 11, 1999
Booker T July 9, 2000 May 3, 1995
(with Stevie Ray)
March 18, 2001

Extreme Championship Wrestling

Rob Van Dam, the only wrestler to win both the WWE and ECW Triple Crown

The Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) Triple Crown consisted of the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, the ECW World Television Championship and the ECW World Tag Team Championship.1[10]

List of ECW Triple Crown Champions

Champion Primary Championships Tag Team Championships Secondary Championships
ECW World Heavyweight ECW World Tag Team ECW World Television
Johnny Hotbody April 26, 1992 April 3, 1993
(with Chris Candido and Chris Michaels)
August 12, 1992
Sabu October 2, 1993 February 4, 1995
(with Rob Van Dam)
November 16, 2002
Mikey Whipwreck October 28, 1995 August 27, 1994
(with Cactus Jack)
May 13, 1994
Taz January 10, 1999 December 4, 1993
(with Kevin Sullivan)
March 6, 1994
Rob Van Dam June 13, 20062 June 27, 1998
(with Sabu)
April 4, 1998

1 ^ All of ECW's Championships are now defunct.

2 ^ Won title as part of WWE's ECW brand.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

In Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), the TNA Triple Crown was an accolade bestowed upon those who won (not necessarily concurrently) all three championships regularly contested in TNA between 2002 and 2007 - the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, the TNA X Division Championship and (one-half of) the NWA World Tag Team Championship.[11]

In May 2007, TNA lost the rights to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and the NWA World Tag Team Championship and introduced the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and the TNA World Tag Team Championship. On July 8, 2007, TNA stated that, should the then-TNA X Division Champion Samoa Joe win the TNA World Tag Team Championship, this would leave him "just one step shy of becoming only the second Triple Crown Champion". This indicates that the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and the TNA World Tag Team Championship are part of the existing Triple Crown accolade.[12]

Current TNA wrestlers who are one title away from a Triple Crown include:

List of TNA Triple Crown Champions

Kurt Angle, the only wrestler to win both the WWE and TNA Triple Crown

The following is a list of TNA Triple Crown Champions with dates indicating the wrestler's first reign with the respective championship. Under TNA's definition of the Triple Crown Championship, wrestlers are eligible to be a multiple Triple Crown champion each time they complete a new circuit. To date only A.J. Styles has won the TNA triple crown on more than one occasion (four times).

Text
Championships in italics Indicates the title is an alternate title from the original definition of a Triple Crown Championship.
Dates A date indicates the wrestlers first reign with that championship.
Dates in bold The date the wrestler became a Triple Crown Champion.
Names in bold Indicates the wrestler is also a Grand Slam Champion.
Name colors

Won the Triple Crown under the original definition.

Won the Triple Crown with an alternate title.

Won every Triple Crown eligible championship.
Champion Primary Championships Tag Team Championships Secondary Championships
NWA
World Heavyweight
TNA
World Heavyweight
NWA
World Tag Team
TNA
World Tag Team
TNA
X Division
A.J. Styles June 11, 2003 September 20, 2009 July 3, 2002
(with Jerry Lynn)
October 14, 2007
(with Tomko)
June 19, 2002
Kurt Angle June 17, 2007 August 12, 2007
(No partner)
August 12, 2007
Samoa Joe April 13, 2008 July 15, 2007
(No partner)
December 11, 2005
Abyss November 19, 2006 February 4, 2004

(with A.J. Styles)

May 16, 2011

Ring of Honor

Eddie Edwards, the first ROH Triple Crown winner

The Ring of Honor (ROH) Triple Crown originally was defined as the ROH World Championship, the ROH World Tag Team Championship, and the ROH World Television Championship.[13] It was later amended so that the World Title and any combination of the TV, Tag Team, or the now defunct ROH Pure Championship would qualify.[14]

Current ROH wrestlers who are one title away from the Triple Crown include:

List of ROH Triple Crown Champions

Champion Primary Championships Tag Team Championships Secondary Championships
ROH World ROH World Tag Team ROH World Television ROH Pure
Eddie Edwards[15][16] March 19, 2011 April 10, 2009
(with Davey Richards)
March 5, 2010
Roderick Strong[17] September 11, 2010 December 12, 2005
(with Austin Aries)
March 31, 2012

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Brian Shields (4th Edition 2006). Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s. Pocket Books. p. 199. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)
  2. ^ "Pedro Morales". WWE. Retrieved 2007-06-03. Pedro Morales [defeated] Ivan Koloff for the [WWF] Championship...Morales would also go on to become the first Triple Crown winner [upon winning] the Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship.
  3. ^ a b c "Punk rocks! C.M. is WWE's triple threat". Daily News. 2009-01-22. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  4. ^ a b Baines, Tim (2009-01-24). "Rey's ready to Rumble again". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  5. ^ "Pedro Morales". WWE. Retrieved May 4, 2012.
  6. ^ "WWE Legends: Skysports.com looks back at Stone Cold Steve Austin's distinguished career in the first of a series of superstar reviews". Sky Sports. August 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  7. ^ "History of the World Heavyweight Championship: Dolph Ziggler". WWE. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  8. ^ The 50 Greatest Stars in WCW History: Booker T. WWE. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  9. ^ Khan, Steve. "Bret Hart Airs Out Hogan, HBK, & More In Controversial Interview". Wrestlezone. April 3, 2006. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  10. ^ Denbaum, Evan (2006-02-27). "Cardona ready to work his way to WWE stardom". WWE.
  11. ^ Banks, B. (2007-03-30). "Ask TNAwrestling.com: New Titles, Great Muta, DVDs & More". TNAWrestling.com. Retrieved 2007-05-14. Who do you think will be the 2nd man to win the TNA Triple Crown?...Obviously, A.J. Styles was the first to accomplish the feat, capturing the X, Tag Team and World Titles...
  12. ^ Jevec, R. (2007-07-08). "The TNA Championship Scenarios At Sunday's Victory Road". TNAWrestling.com. Retrieved 2007-07-19. [Samoa Joe] has been a multi-time X Division Champion...A victory over Team 3D will put yet another championship title around his waist, leaving him just one step shy of becoming only the second Triple Crown Champion in TNA Wrestling history
  13. ^ http://www.rohwrestling.com/wrestlers/roster/eddie-edwards
  14. ^ "http://www.rohwrestling.com/news/champion-vs-champion-philly". ROHWrestling. Retrieved 2012-7-5. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); External link in |title= (help)
  15. ^ "http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/186071". 411mania. Retrieved 2011-10-19. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  16. ^ "MORE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST 2011 UPDATES!". Ring of Honor. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
  17. ^ Caldwell, James (2012-03-31). "Title change at ROH iPPV Saturday". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2012-03-31.