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399 Views Share:World Heavyweight Championship History in WWE
Person list created by jordanwiles94 
7
0
8.4
0
November 17, 2002 - December 15, 2002 (28 days)
This was the first Elimination Chamber match, also involving Chris Jericho, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, and Kane.
Triple H (2-Times)
December 15, 2002 - September 21, 2003 (280 days)
6
0
September 21, 2003 - December 14, 2003 (84 days)
Triple H (3-times)
December 14, 2003 - March 14, 2004 (91 days)
7.2
0
March 14, 2004 - August 15, 2004 (154 days)
This was a triple threat match, also involving Shawn Michaels.
7.5
0
August 15, 2004 - September 12, 2004 (28 days)
Triple H (4-times)
September 12, 2004 - December 6, 2004 (85 days)
Vacanted
December 6, 2004
The championship was vacated after a double fall occurred in a triple threat match, also involving Chris Benoit and Edge.
January 9, 2005 - April 3, 2005 (84 days)
Triple H (5th times)
Defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Batista, and Edge in an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant title. Shawn Michaels was the special guest referee.
6.9
0
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand following the 2005 WWE draft lottery.
Vacated
January 10, 2006
Batista vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legit triceps injury.
Aired on tape delay on January 13, 2006.
7.3
0
This was a 20-man battle royal for the vacant title.
Aired on tape delay on January 13, 2006.
7.4
0
This was a triple threat match, also involving Randy Orton. The championship was referred to as the "World Championship", due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight.
6
0
July 23, 2006 - November 26, 2006 (126 days)
Batista (2-times)
November 26, 2006 - April 1, 2007 (126 days)
This was a Last Chance match. If King Booker was disqualified or counted out, he would lose the title.
8.4
0
7.8
0
Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Following the win, Edge transferred from Raw to SmackDown!.
Aired on tape delay on May 11, 2007.
Vacated
July 17, 2007
Edge vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legit pectoral injury.
Aired on tape delay on July 20, 2007.
5.6
0
This was a 20-man battle royal for the vacant title.
Aired on tape delay on July 20, 2007.
Batista (3-times)
September 16, 2007 - December 16, 2007 (91 days)
This was a triple threat match, also involving Rey Mysterio.
Edge (2-times)
December 16, 2007 - March 30, 2008 (105 days)
This was a triple threat match, also involving The Undertaker.
The Undertaker (2-times)
March 30, 2008 - April 29, 2008 (30 days)
WWE recognizes The Undertaker's reign as ending on May 2, 2008, when the following episode aired on tape delay.
Vacated
April 29, 2008
SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero stripped The Undertaker of the title for using the Hell's Gate submission hold, which she deemed to be dangerous.
Aired on tape delay on May 2, 2008.
Edge (3-times)
June 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008 (29 days)
Defeated The Undertaker in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match to win the vacant title. Per the pre-match stipulation, Undertaker was (kayfabe) banished from WWE.
7.7
0
Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
The title moved to Raw due to Punk's status as a Raw wrestler.
7.7
0
September 7, 2008 - October 26, 2008 (49 days)
This was a Championship Scramble, also involving John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Batista, Rey Mysterio, and Kane. Jericho was a late replacement for champion CM Punk, who was attacked by Legacy prior to the match.
Batista (4-times)
October 26, 2008 - November 3, 2008 (8 days)
Stone Cold Steve Austin was the special guest referee.
Chris Jericho (2-times)
November 3, 2008 - November 23, 2008 (20 days)
This was a Steel Cage Match
7.4
0
November 23, 2008 - February 15, 2009 (84 days)
Edge (4-times)
February 15, 2009 - April 5, 2009 (49 days)
This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Mike Knox, and Kane. Edge, a member of the SmackDown roster, attacked Kofi Kingston and replaced him in the match.
The title became exclusive to SmackDown due to Edge's status as a SmackDown wrestler.
John Cena (2-times)
April 5, 2009 - April 26, 2009 (21 days)
This was a triple threat match, also involving Big Show.
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Cena's status as a Raw wrestler.
Edge (5-times)
April 26, 2009 - June 7, 2009 (42 days)
This was a Last Man Standing match.
The title was returned to SmackDown due to Edge's status as a SmackDown wrestler.
7.1
0
This was a Ladder Match
CM Punk (2-times)
June 7, 2009 - July 26, 2009 (49 days)
Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
Jeff Hardy (2-times)
July 26, 2009 - August 23, 2009 (28 days)
CM Punk (3-times)
August 23, 2009 - October 4, 2009 (42 days)
This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match
The Undertaker (3-times)
October 4, 2009 - February 21, 2010 (140 days)
This was a Hell in a Cell Match
Chris Jericho (3-times)
February 21, 2010 - March 30, 2010 (37 days)
This was an Elimination Chamber match, also involving John Morrison, R-Truth, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio.
WWE recognizes Jericho's reign as ending on April 2, 2010, when the following episode aired on tape delay.
5.4
0
March 30, 2010 - June 20, 2010 (82 days)
Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract. Swagger transferred from Raw to SmackDown upon winning the title.
WWE recognizes Swagger's reign as beginning on April 2, 2010, when the episode aired on tape delay.
Rey Mysterio (2-times)
June 20, 2010 - July 18, 2010 (28 days)
This was a fatal four-way match, also involving Big Show and CM Punk. The championship was referred to as the "World Championship" due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight.
7.8
0
Edge (6-times)
December 19, 2010 - February 15, 2011 (58 days)
February 15, 2011
Edge was stripped of the title by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero as a result of using the spear (which had been banned) in a previous match.
Aired on tape delay on February 18, 2011.
5.3
0
February 15, 2011 - February 15, 2011 (<1 day)
Awarded the title by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero.
Aired on tape delay on February 18, 2011, the date WWE recognizes for the reign.
Edge (7-times)
February 15, 2011 - April 12, 2011 (56 days)
WWE recognizes Edge's reign as beginning on February 18, 2011, and ending on April 15, 2011, both episodes of which aired on tape delay.
Vacated
April 12, 2011
Edge relinquished the title when he announced his immediate retirement as a result of being diagnosed with spinal stenosis.
Aired on tape delay on April 15, 2011.
5.7
0
Defeated Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match to win the vacant title.
WWE recognizes Christian's reign as ending on May 6, 2011, when the following episode aired on tape delay.
Randy Orton (2-times)
May 3, 2011 - July 17, 2011 (75 days)
WWE recognizes Orton's reign as beginning on May 6, 2011, when the episode aired on tape delay.
Christian (2-times)
July 17, 2011 - August 14, 2011 (28 days)
Defeated Randy Orton by disqualification after being hit with a low-blow. The stipulations of the match allowed the title to change hands via disqualification.
Randy Orton (3-times)
August 14, 2011 - September 18, 2011 (35 days)
This was a No Holds Barred match. On August 29, 2011, the first brand extension ended, allowing the World Heavyweight Champion to appear on both Raw and SmackDown.
5.9
0
September 18, 2011 - December 18, 2011 (91 days)
6.4
0
This was a Chair Match
8
0
Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
8
0
April 1, 2012 - October 28, 2012 (210 days)
Big Show (2-times)
October 28, 2012 - January 8, 2013 (72 days)
6.7
0
January 8, 2013 - April 8, 2013 (90 days)
This was a Last Man Standing match.
Aired on tape delay on January 11, 2013.
Dolph Ziggler (2-times)
April 8, 2013 - June 16, 2013 (69 days)
Cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
Alberto Del Rio (2-times)
June 16, 2013 - October 27, 2013 (133 days)
John Cena (3-times)
October 27, 2013 - December 15, 2013 (49 days)
Randy Orton (4-times)
December 15, 2013 - December 15, 2013 (<1 day)
This was a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs title unification match, in which Orton also defended his WWE Championship.
Unified
December 15, 2013
Randy Orton defeated John Cena to unify the World Heavyweight Championship with the WWE Championship. The World Heavyweight Championship was retired and the WWE Championship became the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
At the TLC pay-per-view on December 15, 2013, when WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated World Heavyweight Champion John Cena, the World Heavyweight Championship was unified with the WWE Championship, resulting in the retiring of the former, and the renaming of the latter to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
The championship was contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants execute scripted finishes. The first champion was Triple H, who was awarded the title on September 2, 2002 by Eric Bischoff, then-General Manager of Raw, and he also holds the record for longest combined reign at 616 days. Overall, there have been 25 different official champions, with Edge having the most reigns at seven. The longest single reign was held by Batista, lasting 282 days. The final holder was Randy Orton, who was also the youngest champion at the age of 24 when he first won the championship. The Undertaker was the oldest champion when he won the title for the third time at the age of 44 years.
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