How Many WWE World Heavyweight Champions Have There Been?By Coder| September 28, 2023 Wrestling Blogs How Many WWE World Heavyweight Champions Have There Been? The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is one of the most prestigious titles in professional wrestling. Throughout its history, there have been several superstars who have held this coveted title. Let’s take a detailed look at the number of WWE World Heavyweight Champions over the years. The Beginnings The WWE World Heavyweight Championship traces its roots back to 1963 when it was first established as the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. The inaugural champion was Buddy Rogers. Since then, this championship has undergone various name changes and evolutions. Unified Titles In 2001, the WWE purchased its biggest competitor, WCW (World Championship Wrestling). As a result, the company introduced the Undisputed WWF Championship, which merged both the WWF and WCW world titles into one. The first Undisputed Champion was Chris Jericho. The Brand Split In 2002, the WWE introduced a brand split, dividing its roster into two separate brands – Raw and SmackDown. This led to two world championships being created – the WWE Championship for Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship for SmackDown. Current Era In 2013, after years of brand exclusivity, both championships were unified at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view event. Randy Orton defeated John Cena to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, thus creating a single top-tier title again. Total Number of Champions Since its inception in 1963 up until now, there have been a total of 54 different individuals who have held either version of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Longest Reign The longest reign in the history of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship is held by Bruno Sammartino, who held the title for an astonishing 2,803 days between 1963 and 1971. Shortest Reign The shortest reign belongs to Andre the Giant, who won the title in 1988 and relinquished it immediately to Ted DiBiase due to a controversial storyline involving The Million Dollar Man’s interference. List of WWE World Heavyweight Champions Buddy Rogers Bruno Sammartino Ivan Koloff Pedro Morales Stan Stasiak Billy Graham Bob Backlund This is just a small glimpse into the rich history of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Each champion has left their mark on professional wrestling and contributed to its legacy. The list continues to grow as new superstars rise to claim this prestigious title.
