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

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Kane in his first reign as World Heavyweight Champion.

The World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). It is one of the world titles of the SmackDown brand, complementing the WWE Championship. It was established by WWE in 2002 after WWE bought out World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and split its roster into two franchises, Raw and SmackDown, in a brand extension.[1][2] WWE's original world title, the WWE Championship (then known as the Undisputed Championship), was designated to the SmackDown brand, which resulted in this World Heavyweight Championship being established and designated to the Raw brand[3] As affirmed by WWE, the World Heavyweight Championship is not a continuation of the WCW Championship, but rather its successor by way of the WWE Undisputed Championship, just as the WCW Championship spun off from the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.[4][5] For a list of champions who have held those titles, see List of WCW World Heavyweight Champions and List of NWA World Heavyweight Champions respectively.

The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute scripted finishes rather than contend in direct competition. The inaugural champion was Triple H, who was awarded the title in September 2002 by Eric Bischoff, then General Manager of Raw. At 282 days, Batista's first reign is the longest in the title's history. Jeff Hardy's first reign is the shortest reign at about 2 minutes.[3] As from December 19 2010, Edge is the champion, currently in his sixth reign. Overall, there have been 18 champions, with Edge holding the most reigns at six.

Title history

Key
# Order of reigns in history.
Reign The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed.
Event The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the titles were won
— Used for vacated reigns in order to not count it as an official reign
+ Indicates the current reign is changing daily.

Reigns

As of June 7, 2024.

# Wrestlers Reign Date Days
held 		Location Event Notes Ref
1 Triple H 1 September 2, 2002 76 Milwaukee, WI Raw Triple H was awarded the championship by the on-screen General Manager Eric Bischoff, making him the inaugural champion in the process. Triple H defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion Kane on October 20, 2002 at No Mercy to unify the Intercontinental Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship. [6][7]
2 Shawn Michaels 1 November 17, 2002 28 New York, NY Survivor Series (2002) This was the first ever Elimination Chamber match also involving Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Kane. [8][9]
3 Triple H 2 December 15, 2002 280 Sunrise, FL Armageddon (2002) This was a Three Stages of Hell match. [10][11]
4 Goldberg 1 September 21, 2003 84 Hershey, PA Unforgiven (2003) This was a Career vs. Title match. [12][13]
5 Triple H 3 December 14, 2003 91 Orlando, FL Armageddon (2003) This was a Triple Threat match also involving Kane. [14][15]
6 Chris Benoit 1 March 14, 2004 154 New York, NY WrestleMania XX This was a Triple Threat match also involving Shawn Michaels. [16][17]
7 Randy Orton 1 August 15, 2004 28 Toronto, ON SummerSlam (2004) Became the youngest world champion in the history of the WWE. [18][19]
8 Triple H 4 September 12, 2004 85 Portland, OR Unforgiven (2004) [20][21]
— Vacated - December 6, 2004 — Charlotte, NC Raw The championship was vacated after a double fall occurred in a Triple Threat match involving Triple H, Edge and Chris Benoit. [22][23]
9 Triple H 5 January 9, 2005 84 San Juan, PR New Year's Revolution (2005) Triple H defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Batista, and Edge in an Elimination Chamber match with Shawn Michaels as Special Guest Referee to win the vacant championship. [22][24]
10 Batista 1 April 3, 2005 282 Los Angeles, CA WrestleMania 21 Batista was drafted to the SmackDown! brand as the final pick in June 30, 2005, making the title SmackDown! exclusive. [25][26]
— Vacated — January 10, 2006 — Philadelphia, PA SmackDown! Batista vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legitimate triceps injury. This episode aired on tape delay on January 13, 2006. [27][28]
11 Kurt Angle 1 January 10, 2006 82 Philadelphia, PA SmackDown! Angle won the vacant championship in a 20 man battle royal last eliminating Mark Henry. This episode aired on tape delay on January 13, 2006 [27][28]
12 Rey Mysterio 1 April 2, 2006 112 Rosemont, IL WrestleMania 22 This was a Triple Threat match also involving Randy Orton. Rey Mysterio also became the lightest world heavyweight champion. [29][30]
13 King Booker 1 July 23, 2006 126 Indianapolis, IN The Great American Bash (2006) [31][32]
14 Batista 2 November 26, 2006 126 Philadelphia, PA Survivor Series (2006) This was a Last Chance match. [33][34]
15 The Undertaker 1 April 1, 2007 37 Detroit, MI WrestleMania 23 This was a title vs streak match in which the Undertaker's Wrestlemania undefeated streak improved to 15-0.Became the oldest champion in history [35][36]
16 Edge 1 May 8, 2007 70 Pittsburgh, PA SmackDown! Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank contract to earn the right to challenge for the title. This episode aired on tape delay on May 11, 2007. [37][38]
— Vacated — July 17, 2007 — Laredo, TX SmackDown! Edge vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legitimate pectoral injury. This episode aired on tape delay on July 20, 2007. [39][40]
17 The Great Khali 1 July 17, 2007 61 Laredo, TX SmackDown! Khali won the vacant championship in a 20 man battle royal. This episode aired on tape delay on July 20, 2007. [39][40]
18 Batista 3 September 16, 2007 91 Memphis, TN Unforgiven (2007) This was a Triple Threat match also involving Rey Mysterio. [41][42]
19 Edge 2 December 16, 2007 105 Pittsburgh, PA Armageddon (2007) This was a Triple Threat match also involving The Undertaker. [43][44]
20 The Undertaker 2 March 30, 2008 30 Orlando, FL WrestleMania XXIV This was a title vs streak match in which the Undertaker's Wrestlemania undefeated streak improved to 16-0. [45][46]
— Vacated — April 29, 2008 — Atlantic City, NJ SmackDown Smackdown's General Manager Vickie Guerrero ordered The Undertaker to relinquish the title because of the danger that his Hell's Gate choke hold caused. This episode aired on tape delay on May 2, 2008. [47][48]
21 Edge 3 June 1, 2008 29 San Diego, CA One Night Stand (2008) Edge defeated The Undertaker in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the vacant title. [47][49]
22 CM Punk 1 June 30, 2008 69 Oklahoma City, OK Raw Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract in order to challenge for the title. CM Punk was a part of the Raw brand, thus making the title Raw-exclusive again. [50][51]
23 Chris Jericho 1 September 7, 2008 49 Cleveland, OH Unforgiven (2008) Originally, CM Punk was to defend his title in a Championship Scramble match also involving John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Kane, but he was replaced by Jericho, who won the match and championship as a result of Punk sustaining a scripted injury. [52][53]
24 Batista 4 October 26, 2008 8 Phoenix, AZ Cyber Sunday (2008) This match involved Steve Austin as Special Guest Referee. [54][55]
25 Chris Jericho 2 November 3, 2008 20 Tampa, FL Raw This was a Steel Cage match. [52][56]
26 John Cena 1 November 23, 2008 84 Boston, MA Survivor Series (2008) [57][58]
27 Edge 4 February 15, 2009 49 Seattle, WA No Way Out (2009) This was an Elimination Chamber match also involving Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Mike Knox, and Kane. The title becomes SmackDown exclusive as a result of Edge being a part of the SmackDown roster. [59][60]
28 John Cena 2 April 5, 2009 21 Houston, TX WrestleMania XXV This was a Triple Threat match also involving The Big Show. Becomes exclusive to the Raw brand once again due to John Cena being a Raw brand wrestler. [61][62]
29 Edge 5 April 26, 2009 42 Providence, RI Backlash (2009) This was a Last Man Standing match. The championship becomes exclusive to the SmackDown brand due to Edge being a SmackDown wrestler. [63][64]
30 Jeff Hardy 1 June 7, 2009 0 New Orleans, LA Extreme Rules (2009) This was a Ladder match. [65][66]
31 CM Punk 2 June 7, 2009 49 New Orleans, LA Extreme Rules (2009) Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract immediately after Hardy's victory to win the championship. [66][67]
32 Jeff Hardy 2 July 26, 2009 28 Philadelphia, PA Night of Champions (2009) [68][69]
33 CM Punk 3 August 23, 2009 42 Los Angeles, CA SummerSlam (2009) This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. [70][71]
34 The Undertaker 3 October 4, 2009 140 Newark, NJ Hell in a Cell (2009) This was a Hell in a Cell match. [72][73]
35 Chris Jericho 3 February 21, 2010 37 St. Louis, MO Elimination Chamber This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving John Morrison, R-Truth, CM Punk and Rey Mysterio [74]
36 Jack Swagger 1 March 30, 2010 82 Las Vegas, NV SmackDown! Swagger cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. This episode aired on tape delay on April 2, 2010. [75]
37 Rey Mysterio 2 June 20, 2010 28 Uniondale, NY Fatal 4-Way This was a Fatal 4-Way match, also involving The Big Show and CM Punk. The title was referred to solely as the "World Championship" during the reign. [76]
38 Kane 1 July 18, 2010 5,073 Kansas City, MO Money in the Bank Kane cashed in his SmackDown Money in the Bank contract in order to challenge for the title. [77]
39 Edge 1 December 19, 2010 4,919+ Houston, Texas TLC After weeks of playing mind games with the destructive Kane, the opportunistic Edge defeated The Big Red Monster, Rey Mysterio & Alberto Del Rio in a Tables, Ladders & Chairs Match at WWE TLC to win his tenth World Championship. [78]

List of combined reigns

Symbol Meaning
† Indicates the current champion

As of June 7, 2024

Rank
[1] 		Wrestler # of
reigns 		Combined
days
2 Triple H 5 616
3 Batista 4 507
1 Edge† 6 295
4 The Undertaker 3 207
5 CM Punk 3 160
6 Kane 1 5,073
6 Chris Benoit 1 154
8 Rey Mysterio 2 140
9 King Booker 1 126
10 Chris Jericho 3 106
11 John Cena 2 105
12 Bill Goldberg 1 84
13 Kurt Angle 1 82
13 Jack Swagger 1 82
15 The Great Khali 1 61
16 Shawn Michaels 1 28
16 Randy Orton 1 28
18 Jeff Hardy 2 28

Notes

1.^ – Each wrestler's total number of days as champion are ranked highest to lowest; wrestlers with the same number mean that they are tied for that certain rank.

References

General
  • "History of the World Heavyweight Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
Specific
  1. ^ "WWE Entertainment, Inc. Acquires WCW from Turner Broadcasting". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2001-03-21. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  2. ^ "WWE Entertainment To Make RAW and SMACKDOWN Distinct Television Brands". World Wrestling Entertainment. 2002-03-27. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  3. ^ a b "RAW gets its own champion!". Wayback Machine. World Wrestling Entertainment. 2002-09-02. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
  4. ^ "World Heavyweight Championship title history". World Wrestling Entertainment.
  5. ^ "WCW World Heavyweight Championship history". World Wrestling Entertainment.
  6. ^ "Triple H's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  7. ^ Mahling, Mallory (2002-09-03). "9/2 WWE Raw review: New Raw World Championship established". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  8. ^ "Shawn Michaels' first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  9. ^ Keller, Wade (2002-11-17). "11/17 WWE Survivor Series: Keller's Virtual Time PPV Results". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  10. ^ "Triple H's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  11. ^ Keller, Wade (2002-12-15). "12/15 WWE Armageddon PPV report: Keller's "virtual time" results". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  12. ^ "Kasim Al-Sammari's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  13. ^ Keller, Wade (2003-09-21). "9/21 WWE Unforgiven PPV results: Keller's "virtual time" results of live event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  14. ^ "Triple H's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  15. ^ Keller, Wade (2003-12-14). "12/14 WWE Armageddon PPV: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" detailed coverage". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  16. ^ "Chris Benoit's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  17. ^ Keller, Wade (2004-03-14). "3/14 WWE WrestleMania XX PPV review (part two): Keller's ongoing "virtual time" analysis of event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  18. ^ "Randy Orton's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  19. ^ Keller, Wade (2004-08-16). "8/15 WWE Summerslam PPV review: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  20. ^ "Triple H's fourth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  21. ^ Keller, Wade (2004-09-12). "9/12 WWE Unforgiven PPV review: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" analysis of event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  22. ^ a b "Triple H's fifth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  23. ^ Keller, Wade (2004-12-06). "Kellers' 12/6 WWE Raw Review: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  24. ^ Keller, Wade (2005-01-09). "Keller's New Year's Revolution PPV report 1/9: Ongoing "virtual time" analysis of live event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  25. ^ "Batista's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  26. ^ Keller, Wade (2005-04-03). "Keller's WrestleMania PPV Report 4/3: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  27. ^ a b "Kurt Angle's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  28. ^ a b Benjamin, Charlie (2006-01-14). "SmackDown Results - 1/13/06 - Philadelphia (New World Champion)". Wrestle View. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  29. ^ "Rey Mysterio's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  30. ^ Keller, Wade (2006-04-02). "Keller's WrestleMania Report: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  31. ^ "King Booker's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  32. ^ Keller, Wade (2006-07-23). "Keller's WWE Great American Bash PPV Report 7/23: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  33. ^ "Batista's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  34. ^ Keller, Wade (2006-11-26). "Keller's WWE Survivor Series PPV Report 11/26: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  35. ^ "The Undertaker's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
  36. ^ Keller, Wade (2007-04-01). "Keller's WWE WrestleMania 23 Report (Hour 2): Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  37. ^ "Edge's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  38. ^ Parks, Greg (2007-05-08). "5/11 WWE Smackdown: Parks's Virtual Time Coverage of the Show". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  39. ^ a b "The Great Khali's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  40. ^ a b Parks, Greg (2007-07-21). "7/20 WWE Smackdown: Parks's Coverage of the Show". Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  41. ^ "Batista's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  42. ^ Caldwell, James (2007-09-16). "Caldwell's Unfrgiven Report 9/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of PPV". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  43. ^ "Edge's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
  44. ^ Keller, Wade (2007-12-16). "Keller's WWE Armageddon PPV Report 12/16: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV event". Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  45. ^ "The Undertaker's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  46. ^ Keller, Wade (2008-03-30). "Keller's WWE WrestleMania 24 Report: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of pay-per-view event". Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  47. ^ a b "Edge's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  48. ^ Caldwell, James (2008-05-03). "Caldwell's WWE SmackDown REPORT 5/2: Taker stripped of title, Hardy vs. MVP, Foley's SD debut on commentary". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  49. ^ Keller, Wade (2008-06-01). "Keller's WWE One Night Stand PPV Report 6/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event from San Diego". Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  50. ^ "CM Punk's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  51. ^ Martin, Adam (2008-06-30). "Raw Results- 6/30/08 - Oklahoma City, OK (Hour 1 coverage, more)". Wrestle View. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
  52. ^ a b "Chris Jericho's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-09-07. Cite error: The named reference "Jericho2" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  53. ^ Keller, Wade (2008-09-07). "Keller's WWE Unforgiven PPV Report 9/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV event". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  54. ^ "Batista's fourth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  55. ^ Keller, Wade (2008-10-26). "Keller's WWE Cyber Sunday PPV Report 10/26: Triple H vs. Vladimir Kozlov or Jeff Hardy, Batista vs. Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio vs. Kane (ongoing live coverage)". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  56. ^ Golden, Hunter (2008-11-04). "Raw Results - 11/3/08 - Tampa, FL". Wrestle View. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  57. ^ "John Cena's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
  58. ^ Keller, Wade (2008-11-23). "Keller's WWE PPV Report 11/23: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live event including Jeff Hardy update, Triple H vs. Kozlov, John Cena return". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  59. ^ "Edge's fourth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
  60. ^ Keller, Wade (2009-02-15). "Keller's WWE No Way Out PPV Report 2/16: Two Elimination Chambers, two new world champions, plus Michaels vs. JBL, Super-Shane-O-Mac vs. Orton". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  61. ^ "John Cena's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-04-06.
  62. ^ Keller, Wade (2009-04-05). "Keller's WrestleMania XXV Results 4/5: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of biggest PPV of the year". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  63. ^ "Edge's fifth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-04-26.
  64. ^ Keller, Wade (2009-04-26). "Keller's WWE Backlash PPV Report 4/26: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage - Orton & Rhodes & DiBiase vs. McMahon & Triple H & Batista". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  65. ^ "Jeff Hardy's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  66. ^ a b Caldwell, James (2009-06-07). "Caldwell'S WWE Extreme Rules PPV Report 6/7: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Orton vs. Batista, Edge vs. Jeff Hardy". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  67. ^ "Punk's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  68. ^ "Hardy'ssecond reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  69. ^ Keller, Wade (2009-07-26). "Keller's WWE Night of Champions PPV Report 7/26: Results, star ratings, thoughts, observations, nitpicks, quotebook". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  70. ^ "Punk's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  71. ^ Keller, Wade (2009-08-23). "WWE Summerslam PPV Report 8/23: Keller's report on John Cena vs. Randy Orton, DX vs. Legacy, Jeff Hardy vs. C.M. Punk, Rey Mysterio vs. Dolph Ziggler..." PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
  72. ^ "Undertaker's third Reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  73. ^ Keller, Wade (2009-10-04). "WWE Hell in a Cell Results: Keller's ongoing "virtual time" coverage of John Cena vs. Randy Orton, DX vs. Legacy, Undertaker vs. C.M. Punk". PW Torch. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
  74. ^ "Chris Jericho's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  75. ^ Caldwell, James (2010-03-30). "WWE News: Major Spoiler at tonight's Smackdown TV taping for Friday's show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
  76. ^ "Rey Mysterio's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  77. ^ "Kane's First Reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-07-18.
  78. ^ "Edges 6th Title Win". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2010-12-19.

External links

Notes

1.^ – Each wrestler's total number of days as champion are ranked highest to lowest; wrestlers with the same number mean that they are tied for that certain rank.

References

General
Specific

External links

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