Buddy Rogers was awarded the Championship by promoters after breaking with the NWA due to the fact that NWA didn't recognize Rogers' loss of the NWA World Title to Lou Thesz on January 24, 1963. According to some records, Rogers defeated Antonio Rocca in a fictitious tournament in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil for the title.
The belt was reduced to a regional title when the WWWE joined NWA in 1971.
The belt was renamed to the WWE title in March of 1973. Bob Backlund wrestled to a double count out against AWA Champion, Nick Bockwinkle on March 25, 1979 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Bob Backlund defeated Antonio Inoki in a rematch in Tokyo, Japan on December 6, 1979 but the WWE president, Hisashi Shinma declared the match to be a no contest because of the interference of Tiger Jeet Singh. Then President gave the belt back to Antonio Inoki, but Inoki doesn't accept it.
Backlund defeated Bobby Duncum for the Championship belt, then he went on to defeat the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Harley Race by disqualification on September 22, 1980 in New York City, NY. There was no Title change and the title was later held up on October 19, 1981 when Greg Valentine was mistakenly given the belt by a dazed referee after being pinned by Backlund.
Bob Backlund defeated Greg Valentine in a rematch and then Backlund wrestled to a double count out against NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair on July 4, 1982 in Atlanta, GA. Backlund was then recognized as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion when the WWE and the NWA parted ways in 1983.
Iron Sheik wins the belt when Bob Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland throws in the towel while Backlund was in the Sheik's camel clutch.
Andre the Giant immediately gives the title belt to Ted Dibiase but WWE President Jack Tunney announces that the title cannot be given away and by doing so, Andre officially vacated the belt.
With the vacated belt, Randy Savage defeated Ted Dibiase in the final of a tournament held for the belt at Wrestlemania 4.
The belt was held up on December 4, 1991 after two controversial title changes and the title would be given to the winner of the 1992 Royal Rumble.
Ric Flair won that Royal Rumble after eliminating Sid Justice in the end. As a result, Flair walked away with the Championship.
After Yokozuna won the Championship at Wrestlemania 9, Yokozuna's manager Mr. Fuji challenged Hulk Hogan to a match and Hogan accepted and defeated Yokozuna in the blink of an eye.
The Championship was vacated on February 13, 1997 due to a Shawn Michaels knee injury.
Bret Hart beat the Undertaker, Steve Austin and Vader in a Final Four match to win the belt.
The referee of the match, Earl Hebner stopped the match when Shawn Michaels put Bret Hart in the sharpshooter. The title was awarded to the Heartbreak Kid in the most controversial title switch to date.
Kane defeated Steve Austin in a First Blood Match when the Undertaker interfered on behalf of the Big Red Machine.
The belt was vacated on September 27, 1998 when Steve Austin was pinned by both the Undertaker and Kane in a Triple Threat Match for the Title.
The Rock defeated Mankind in a Tournament Final to win that Title.
Mankind defeated The Rock in an Empty Arena match for the title on "Halftime Heat."
In a Triple Threat Match, the Champion, Steve Austin was pinned by Mankind and Mankind walked away with the title. That match also involved Triple H.
After winning the Championship, Vince McMahon vacated the title on September 20, 1999.
In a Six Pack Challenge, Triple H defeated The Rock, Kane, Mankind, The British Bulldog and The Big Show to win the title.
The Big Show defeated The Rock and Triple H in a Triple Threat Match to win the title when replacing an injured Steve Austin at the 1999 Survivor Series.
Triple H defeated The Rock in a 60 minute Ironman match.
The Rock pinned Vince McMahon in a six man tag team match to win the title. The match was The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane against Triple H, Vince and Shane McMahon with the Championship on the line. Triple H walked in as the Champion but The Rock walked out with the gold having pinned Vince McMahon.
The World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Jericho defeated Steve Austin to Unify the WWE and World (WCW) Titles. Chris Jericho becomes the first ever Undisputed Champion.
The Rock defeated Kurt Angle and the Undertaker in a Triple Threat Match to win the belt. The Rock pinned Kurt Angle to take the title off the Phenom.
Brock Lesnar defeats The Rock for the Undisputed Title at the 2002 edition of Summer Slam but the title was later disputed when RAW General Manager brought back the World Title to compete with Smackdown!'s exclusive "Undisputed" Championship. The Undisputed Title was reverted back to being the WWE Heavyweight Championship.
The WWE Championship was switched to the RAW Brand with John Cena while the World Heavyweight Championship went to the Smackdown! Brand with Batista.
Defeated John Cena for the WWE Championship and was then proclaimed the new ECW Heavyweight Champion, RVD was crowned the new ECW Heavyweight Champion on the debut episode of ECW On Sci-Fi, and decided to keep both titles.
Randy Orton was awarded the WWE title after John Cena was stripped due to an injury at the start of WWE No Mercy.
Triple H was named Randy Orton's opponent after making his way down to the ring to interrupt Orton's acceptance speech for the WWE title. Mr. McMahon took exception to Triple H's goading of the WWE chairman and named HHH the #1 contender to face Orton in the opening match of No Mercy.
Randy Orton made WWE history by defeating Triple H to be the only man in WWE history to win the WWE Title twice in one night by winning a Last Man Standing match with Triple H in the main event of No Mercy.
GENERAL INFO
