Following the name of the champion(s): Indicates the number of times the wrestler has held that title at that point.
[...]
Indicates a gap in the listing where title changes are not known.
*
If usednext to the names of the wrestlers, they may, in fact, not have held the title in the period indicated. If usednext to the dates or places, either they are possibly wrong or the title changes are fictitious.
<
Title was held or changed hands no later than this. In these cases, it is known that a wrestler held the title at a certain time but not when he/she won it.
+
Broadcast date; the actual recording date is unknown.
@
Order uncertain. Different titleholders may be known for the same year, for example, but it is not known who held the title before whom.
#
Unofficial or disputable claims. These are usually matches that certainly took place, but where there is doubt that the wrestler shown should be recognized as a true title holder. These listings are alsoitalicized in HTML files
Continues to be recogized as world champion in northeast even after losingNWA World Title to LouThesz on 63-01-24 in Toronto, ON because the promoters refuse to recognize Rogers's one-fall loss in the title match; in some accounts, Rogers defeats AntoninoRocca in a fictitious tournament in Rio de Janeiro, BRA for the title in 63-03.
Backlund pins Inoki in a rematch in Tōkyō, JPN on 79-12-06; however, WWF PresidentShinma Hisashi declares the match as no-contest because of the interference by Tiger JeetSingh; vacant after Inoki refuses the belt.
Defeats BobbyDuncum for the vacant title; defeatsNWA World champion HarleyRace by disqualification on 80-09-22 in New York, NY(no title change); title held up on 81-10-19 when GregValentine is mistakenly given the belt by a dazed referee after being pinned by Backlund.
Defeats GregValentine in rematch; wrestles to a double count-out againstNWA World champion RicFlair on 82-07-04 in Atlanta, GA;recognized as WWF World Heavyweight Title when WWF withdraws from NWA in 83.
Iron Sheik
1983-12-26
New York, NY
Wins title when manager ArnoldSkaaland throws in the towel while Backland is in the camel clutch.
Awarded by Andre immediately after winning the title; billed as champion until the following weekend when WWF President Jack Tunney announces the title cannot be given away and Andre has officially vacated the title by doing so.
Wins Royal Rumble, eliminating Sid Justice; has claimed the "Real World Heavyweight Title" since 91-09 when Flair brings hisNWA World Title belt upon joining WWF.
No loger billed as "Undisputed" title after Lesnar signs to wrestle exclusively for the Smackdown brand; RAW brand general manager EricBischoff awardsWorld Heavyweight Title to Triple H on 02-09-02 in Minneapolis, MN for defeating The Undertaker for a top contender match on 02-08-26.
Wins a a ladder match on 05-04-03 in Los Angeles, CA to obtain a right to challenge for the title anytime next year; defeats Cena right after Cena wins a 6-man elimination cage match.
Defeats Orton, JohnCena, and John BradshawLayfield in a 4-way elimination match; also retains the title in a 20min limit "Championship Scramble", during which participants can become the temporary champion via pinfall or submission, against JeffHardy, BrianKendrick, SheltonBenjamin, and Montel VontaviousPorter on 08-09-07 in Cleveland, OH.
Cashes in his "Money in the Bank", which allows him to challenge for any title any time, during a match between Lesnar and RomanReigns; the match becomes a 3-way bout; Rollins pins Reigns; also winsUnited States Title, defeating JohnCena in a double title match on 15-08-23 in Brooklyn, NY; vacant on 15-11-05 due to knee injury.
RomanReigns (JoeAnoaʻi)
2015-11-22
Atlanta, GA
Defeats DeanAmbrose in tournament final.
Sheamus [3]
2015-11-22
Atlanta, GA
Cashes in his "Money in the Bank", which allows him to challenge for any title any time.
Cashes in his "Money in the Bank", which allows him to challenge for any title any time, right after McIntyre defends the title in 6-man Elimination Chamber.
BobbyLashley
2021-03-01
St. Petersburg, FL
Big E.(Big E.Langston)
2021-09-13
Boston, MA
Cashes in his "Money in the Bank", which allows him to challenge for any title any time.
Defeats Big E., BobbyLashley, SethRollins, and KevinOwens in a 5-way match; originally scheduled to face Universal champion RomanReigns who is pulled of the card due to being tested positive for COVID-19.
Wins "Elimination Chamber" match against Lashley, Seth Rollins, A.J. Styles, Riddle, and Austin Theory; Lashley is removed during the match due to injury.
RomanReigns [4]
2022-04-03
Dallas, TX
Universal champion, wins a double title match; presented a new belt on 23-06-02 to represent both titles.
CodyRhodes
2024-04-07
Philadelphia, PA
Wins both titles; billed as Undisputed WWE Championship after the match with one belt although WWE continues to recognize it as two separate titles on its website.
