 |
| World Heavyweight Championship (September 2, 2002 - ??????) |
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| Most Times Held | Longest Reign | Shortest Reign | Most Cumulative Time |
|
1. Triple H (5) 1. Edge (5) 3. Dave Batista (4) 4. C.M. Punk (3) 4. The Undertaker (3) |
1. Dave Batista (282) 2. Triple H (280) 3. Chris Benoit (154) 4. Booker T (126) 4. Dave Batista (126) |
1. Jeff Hardy (5 min) 2. Dave Batista (8) 3. Chris Jericho (20) 4. John Cena (21) 5. Shawn Michaels (28) 5. Randy Orton (28) 5. Jeff Hardy (28) |
1. Triple H (616) 2. Dave Batista (507) 3. Edge (295) 4. C.M. Punk (160) 5. Chris Benoit (154) |
| The belt used as the World Heavyweight Championship formerly represented the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. The WCW belt was unified with the WWF World Heavyweight Championship when Chris Jericho defeated The Rock and Steve Austin in December 2001 becoming the first ever "Undisputed World Champion." Jericho carried both belts until losing at WrestleMania X8 in March of 2002 to Triple H, who then began carrying a new, single belt representing the Undisputed Champion. The belt was brought back into competition by Eric Bischoff, then General Manager of WWE RAW, due to the current Undisputed Champion, Brock Lesnar, signing a deal to wrestle exclusively for WWE SmackDown. Eric Bischoff presented the title belt directly to Triple H rather than holding a tournament or battle royal. WWE has never referred to this belt as the former WCW Championship since it's re-introduction, and their own title history page does not refer to any history before Triple H's presentation. Therefore, this is not the WCW title reborn; it is considered a different title. |
| Won By | # | Won From | Date/Location | Days | Notes |
| Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
- | Raw GM Eric Bischoff |
September 2, 2002 Milwaukee, WI Raw |
76 | See above. |
| Shawn Michaels | - | Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
November 17, 2002 New York, NY Survivor Series |
28 | First ever Elimination Chamber Match which involved Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Kane, Booker T, and Rob Van Dam. |
| Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
[2] | Shawn Michaels | December 15, 2002 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Armageddon |
280 | Two Out of Three Falls Match consisting of a Street Fight Match, Cage Match, and Ladder Match. |
| Bill Goldberg | - | Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
September 21, 2003 Hershey, PA Unforgiven |
84 | |
| Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
[3] | Bill Goldberg | December 14, 2004 Orlando, FL Armageddon |
91 | Triple Threat Match with Kane. |
| Chris Benoit | - | Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
March 14, 2004 New York City, NY WrestleMania XX |
154 | Triple Threat Match with Shawn Michaels. |
| Randy Orton | - | Chris Benoit | August 15, 2004 Toronto, ON SummerSlam |
28 | |
| Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
[4] | Randy Orton | September 12, 2004 Portland, OR Unforgiven |
85 | After the referee got knocked out, Ric Flair and Batista came to HHH's aid. Jonathan Coachman tried to replace the referee but was taken out by Orton. After a Pedigree on a steel chair, the groggy Earl Hebner made the count. |
| VACANT | - | Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
November 29, 2004 - RAW |
41 | Acting General Manager Randy Orton set up a Battle Royal to name a #1 Contender to face Triple H the same night. Chris Benoit and Edge hit the floor at the same time, so the World Title match became a Triple Threat match. Triple H was knocked out of the ring and Benoit put the Crossface on Edge. Edge tried to roll out of it, but only got halfway. Benoit's back was on the mat and one referee counted him down 1-2-3 while Edge simultaneously tapped out, which a second referee saw. The following week on RAW, Vince McMahon declared the title vacant and said that the returning GM Eric Bischoff would have to make the decision as to who the new champion was the following week. |
| Hunter Hearst Helmsley |
[5] | Elimination Chamber |
January 9, 2005 San Juan, PR New Year's Revolution |
84 | Triple H won an Elimination Chamber match to fill the vacated title. The match included Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Edge, and Dave Batista. Triple H pinned Orton to win the match. |
| Dave Batista | - | Triple H | April 3, 2005 Los Angeles, CA WrestleMania 21 |
282 | On June 27, Batista became the final random pick in the 2005 Draft Lottery and moved to SmackDown. JBL had just won a 6-man Elimination match to crown the new "SmackDown Champion," but Batista's arrival nullified that victory. |
| Kurt Angle | - | VACANT | January 10, 2006 Philadelphia, PA SmackDown |
82 | Due to a torn tricep, and a nagging back injury, Batista was forced to vacate the title. Teddy Long called for a battle royal to be held to determine a new champion. The participants were Road Warrior Animal, Simon Dean, Nunzio, Vito, Paul London, Brian Kendrick, Orlando Jordan, William Regal, Paul Burchill, Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, Mark Henry, Psicosis, Super Crazy, John Bradshaw Layfield, Matt Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Sylvan Grenier, and Bobby Lashley. The 20th entrant was a surprise guest...Kurt Angle. As a RAW superstar, Angle was the first target of everyone. Henry slammed Angle through the announce table before re-entering the ring legally. Henry eliminated Rey Mysterio and was the last man standing, but Angle had not been thrown over the top. Angle re-entered and eliminated Henry with a leg scissors over the top. |
| Rey Mysterio | - | Kurt Angle Randy Orton |
April 2, 2006 Chicago, IL WrestleMania 22 |
112 | Mysterio pinned Orton while Angle was trying to get back in the ring. |
| Booker T | - | Rey Mysterio | July 23, 2006 Indianapolis, IN The Great American Bash |
126 | |
| Dave Batista | [2] | King Booker | November 26, 2006 Philadelphia, PA Survivor Series |
126 | |
| The Undertaker | - | Dave Batista | April 1, 2007 Detroit, MI WrestleMania 23 |
37 | Undertaker becomes 15-0 at Mania. |
| Edge | - | The Undertaker | May 8, 2007 Pittsburgh, PA SmackDown |
70 | After a brutal cage match title defense against Batista, which ended in a draw when both men escaped the cage simultaneously, Mark Henry made his return and attacked Undertaker. Then, Edge, who had just won the Money in the Bank contract from Mr. Kennedy the night before on RAW, cashed in the briefcase and defeated The Undertaker. |
| VACANT | - | Edge | July 17, 2007 Laredo, TX SmackDown |
- | Due to a pectoral muscle injury sustained the week before at the hands of Kane, Edge was forced to relinquish the title. |
| The Great Khali | - | - | July 17, 2007 Laredo, TX SmackDown |
61 | The Great Khali defeated 19 other men in a Battle Royal to fill the vacated title. Particpants also included: Dave Batista, Deuce, Domino, Kenny Dykstra, Eugene, Finlay, Sho Funaki, Chavo Guerrero, Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, Kane, Brett Major, Brian Major, Chris Masters, Shannon Moore, MVP, Jamie Noble, Dave Taylor, and Jimmy Wang Yang. |
| Dave Batista | [3] | The Great Khali | September 16, 2007 Memphis, TN Unforgiven |
91 | Batista defeated Khali and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat by pinning the champion after a spinebuster. |
| Edge | [2] | Batista | December 16, 2007 Pittsburgh, PA Armageddon |
105 | Edge pinned Batista in a triple threat match including The Undertaker. |
| The Undertaker | [2] | Edge | March 30, 2008 Orlando, FL WrestleMania XXIV |
30 | Undertaker becomes 16-0 at WrestleMania. |
| VACANT | - | The Undertaker | April 29, 2008 Atlantic City, NJ SmackDown |
33 | SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero decided to strip The Undertaker of the title due to the champion's repeated use of a devastating choke hold (gogoplata), which had injured several superstars in recent weeks. Guerrero stripped Taker of the title and banned the move from being used ever again. The Undertaker was given a spot in the match to fill the vacated title out of fairness from SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero. The second spot was filled by winning the "Championship Chase" tournament, which consisted of winning a qualifying match followed by a battle royal on the May 9 episode of SmackDown. Batista had won the battle royal until Guerrero announced that Edge, her fiancee, had just been medically cleared to wrestle. Edge sprinted to the ring and speared Batista off the apron to claim the spot in the title match. The match held at Judgment Day 2008 ended with Undertaker winning via countout. Guerrero declared that the vacant title could not be won in such a way, and the title remained vacant. |
| Edge | [3] | The Undertaker | June 1, 2008 San Diego, California One Night Stand |
29 | TLC Match to fill the vacated title. An extra stipulation was placed on this match by SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero. If The Undertaker lost, he would be banned from the entire WWE forever. |
| C.M. Punk | - | Edge | June 30, 2008 Oklahoma City, OK RAW |
69 | Edge came to RAW to gloat about SmackDown having both major championships, and to deny all the RAW superstars an opportunity at the belt. Batista, who had lost a title match to Edge the night before, came out and brawled with Edge, culminating with a Batista Bomb. C.M. Punk then came out and cashed in his Money in the Bank contract that he won at WrestleMania XXIV. Punk easily delivered the GTS to bring the World Heavyweight Championship to RAW and send Edge back to SmackDown empty handed. |
| VACANT | - | C.M. Punk | September 7, 2008 Cleveland, OH Unforgiven |
- | Randy Orton attacked Punk backstage before the main event. Punk's concussion forced RAW G.M. Mike Adamle to find a replacement for the Championship Scramble match. Adamle chose Chris Jericho, even though Jericho had been destroyed by Shawn Michaels in an unsanctioned match earlier in the evening. |
| Chris Jericho | - | Championship Scramble |
September 7, 2008 Cleveland, OH Unforgiven |
49 | The Championship Scramble match was a 20 minute match in which two randomly picked particpants started the match, a third entered at 5 minutes, then a fourth at 7 minutes, and a final fifth at 9 minutes. Any pinfall or submission would gain the "advantage," and the man with the advantage when time ran out would be champion. Batista had the match won until Jericho snuck in from behind to pin Kane behind Batista's back. Also involved in the match were J.B.L. and Rey Mysterio. |
| Dave Batista | - | Chris Jericho | October 26, 2008 Phoenix, AZ Cyber Sunday |
8 | |
| Chris Jericho | [2] | Dave Batista | November 3, 2008 Tampa, FL RAW |
20 | Cage match. |
| John Cena | - | Chris Jericho | November 23, 2008 Boston, MA Survivor Series |
84 | |
| Edge | [4] | John Cena | February 15, 2009 Seattle, WA No Way Out |
49 | Edge defeated John Cena, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Kane, and Mike Knox in an Elimination Chamber to win his fourth World Heavyweight Championship. Edge had lost the WWE Championship only a couple hours before in a different Elimination Chamber match. Kofi Kingston was scheduled to be in the title match, but Edge attacked him during Kofi's entrance, then sealed himself inside one of the four pods in the chamber. Edge was inexplicably allowed to remain in the match and not only eliminated the reigning champion via pinfall, but also pinned Mysterio to win. |
| John Cena | [2] | Edge | April 5, 2009 Houston, TX WrestleMania XXV |
21 | Cena pinned The Big Show in a triple threat match. |
| Edge | [5] | John Cena | April 26, 2009 Providence, RI Backlash |
- | Last Man Standing match. The Big Show interfered by chokeslamming Cena off the stage into a spotlight, which put Cena down for the 10-count. |
| Jeff Hardy | - | Edge | June 1, 2009 New Orleans, LA Extreme Rules |
5 min | Ladder match. |
| C.M. Punk | [2] | Jeff Hardy | June 7, 2009 New Orleans, LA Extreme Rules |
49 | After Hardy's win, Jim Ross entered the ring to interview the new champion. Punk came out and cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, which he won at WrestleMania XXV. |
| Jeff Hardy | [2] | C.M. Punk | July 26, 2009 Philadelphia, PA Night of Champions |
28 | |
| C.M. Punk | [3] | Jeff Hardy | August 23, 2009 Los Angeles, CA SummerSlam |
42 | |
| The Undertaker | [3] | C.M. Punk | October 4, 2009 Newark, NJ Hell in a Cell |
- | Hell in a Cell match. |
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