WWE World Heavyweight Championship

The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is widely recognized as the most historic championship in WWE.

Dating back to 1963, the WWE Championship was first awarded to Buddy Rogers after he defeated Antonino Rocca in the finals of a tournament in April. Since that time, the biggest names in the business have held the title, including Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant, Bret Hart, The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.

At WWE TLC on Dec. 15, 2013, WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated World Heavyweight Champion John Cena to unify the two titles, melding the two most vital championship lineages in all of sports-entertainment and creating the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

ChampionDefeatedLocationDateVideo
Buddy RogersAntonino RoccaRio de Janeiro04-25-63
Bruno SammartinoBuddy RogersNew York05-17-63
Ivan KoloffBruno SammartinoNew York01-18-71
Pedro MoralesIvan KoloffNew York02-08-71
Stan StasiakPedro MoralesPhiladelphia12-01-73
Bruno SammartinoStan StasiakNew York12-10-73
Superstar Billy GrahamBruno SammartinoBaltimore04-30-77Watch»
Bob BacklundSuperstar Billy GrahamNew York02-20-78Watch»
The Iron SheikBob BacklundNew York12-26-83Watch»
Hulk HoganThe Iron SheikNew York01-23-84Watch»
Andre the GiantHulk HoganIndianapolis02-05-88Watch»
Randy SavageTed DiBiaseAtlantic City, N.J.03-27-88Watch»
Hulk HoganRandy SavageAtlantic City, N.J.04-02-89Watch»
Ultimate WarriorHulk HoganToronto04-01-90Watch»
Sgt. SlaughterUltimate WarriorMiami01-19-91Watch»
Hulk HoganSgt. SlaughterLos Angeles03-24-91Watch»
UndertakerHulk HoganDetroit11-27-91Watch»
Hulk HoganUndertakerSan Antonio12-03-91Watch»
Ric Flairn/aAlbany, N.Y.01-19-92Watch»
Randy SavageRic FlairIndianapolis04-05-92Watch»
Ric FlairRandy SavageHershey, Pa.09-01-92Watch»
Bret HartRic FlairSaskatoon10-12-92Watch»
YokozunaBret HartLas Vegas04-04-93Watch»
Hulk HoganYokozunaLas Vegas04-04-93Watch»
YokozunaHulk HoganDayton, Ohio06-13-93Watch»
Bret HartYokozunaNew York03-20-94Watch»
Bob BacklundBret HartSan Antonio11-23-94Watch»
DieselBob BacklundNew York11-26-94Watch»
Bret HartDieselLandover, Md.11-19-95Watch»
Shawn MichaelsBret HartAnaheim, Calif.03-31-96Watch»
SidShawn MichaelsNew York11-17-96Watch»
Shawn MichaelsSidSan Antonio01-19-97Watch»
Bret HartUndertakerChattanooga, Tenn.02-16-97Watch»
SidBret HartNashville, Tenn.02-17-97Watch»
UndertakerSidChicago03-23-97Watch»
Bret HartUndertakerEast Rutherford, N.J.08-03-97Watch»
Shawn MichaelsBret HartMontreal11-09-97Watch»
"Stone Cold" Steve AustinShawn MichaelsBoston03-29-98Watch»
Kane"Stone Cold" Steve AustinPittsburgh06-28-98Watch»
"Stone Cold" Steve AustinKaneCleveland06-29-98Watch»
The RockMankindSt. Louis11-15-98Watch»
MankindThe RockWorcester, Mass.01-04-99Watch»
The RockMankindAnaheim, Calif.01-24-99Watch»
MankindThe RockTucson, Ariz.01-31-99Watch»
The RockMankindBirmingham, Ala.02-15-99Watch»
"Stone Cold" Steve AustinThe RockPhiladelphia03-28-99Watch»
Undertaker"Stone Cold" Steve AustinKansas City, Mo.05-23-99
"Stone Cold" Steve AustinUndertakerCharlotte, N.C.06-28-99Watch»
Mankind"Stone Cold" Steve AustinMinneapolis08-22-99Watch»
Triple HMankindAmes, Iowa08-23-99Watch»
Mr. McMahonTriple HLas Vegas09-16-99Watch»
Triple HThe RockCharlotte, N.C.09-26-99Watch»
Big ShowTriple HDetroit11-14-99Watch»
Triple HBig ShowMiami01-03-00Watch»
The RockTriple HWashington04-30-00Watch»
Triple HThe RockLouisville, Ky.05-21-00Watch»
The RockTriple HBoston06-25-00Watch»
Kurt AngleThe RockAlbany, N.Y.10-22-00Watch»
The RockKurt AngleLas Vegas02-25-01Watch»
"Stone Cold" Steve AustinThe RockHouston04-01-01Watch»
Kurt Angle"Stone Cold" Steve AustinPittsburgh09-23-01Watch»
"Stone Cold" Steve AustinKurt AngleIndianapolis10-08-01Watch»
Chris Jericho"Stone Cold" Steve AustinSan Diego12-09-01Watch»
Triple HChris JerichoToronto03-17-02Watch»
Hollywood HoganTriple HKansas City, Mo.04-21-02Watch»
UndertakerHulk HoganNashville, Tenn.05-19-02Watch»
The RockUndertakerDetroit07-21-02Watch»
Brock LesnarThe RockUniondale, N.Y.08-25-02Watch»
Big ShowBrock LesnarNew York11-17-02Watch»
Kurt AngleBig ShowFort Lauderdale, Fla.12-15-02Watch»
Brock LesnarKurt AngleSeattle03-30-03Watch»
Kurt AngleBrock LesnarDenver07-27-03Watch»
Brock LesnarKurt AngleRaleigh, N.C.09-18-03Watch»
Eddie GuerreroBrock LesnarSan Francisco02-15-04Watch»
JBLEddie GuerreroNorfolk, Va.06-27-04Watch»
John CenaJBLLos Angeles04-03-05Watch»
EdgeJohn CenaAlbany, N.Y.01-08-06Watch»
John CenaEdgeMiami01-29-06Watch»
Rob Van DamJohn CenaNew York06-11-06Watch»
EdgeRVD & John CenaPhiladelphia07-03-06Watch»
John CenaEdgeToronto09-17-06Watch»
Randy Ortonn/aChicago10-07-07
Triple HRandy OrtonChicago10-07-07Watch»
Randy OrtonTriple HChicago10-07-07Watch»
Triple HRandy OrtonBaltimore04-27-08Watch»
EdgeTriple HBoston11-23-08Watch»
Jeff HardyEdgeBuffalo, N.Y.12-14-08Watch»
EdgeJeff HardyDetroit01-25-09Watch»
Triple Hn/aSeattle02-15-09Watch»
Randy OrtonTriple HProvidence, R.I.04-26-09Watch»
BatistaRandy OrtonNew Orleans06-07-09Watch»
Randy OrtonTriple H, John Cena & Big ShowCharlotte, N.C.06-15-09Watch»
John CenaRandy OrtonMontreal09-13-09Watch»
Randy OrtonJohn CenaNewark, N.J.10-04-09Watch»
John CenaRandy OrtonPittsburgh10-25-09Watch»
SheamusJohn CenaSan Antonio12-13-09Watch»
John CenaSheamusSt. Louis02-21-10Watch»
BatistaJohn CenaSt. Louis02-21-10Watch»
John CenaBatistaPhoenix03-28-10Watch»
SheamusJohn Cena, Randy Orton & EdgeUniondale, N.Y.06-20-10Watch»
Randy OrtonSheamusChicago09-19-10Watch»
The MizRandy OrtonOrlando, Fla.11-22-10Watch»
John CenaThe MizTampa, Fla.05-01-11Watch»
CM PunkJohn CenaChicago07-17-11Watch»
Rey MysterioThe MizHampton, Va. 07-25-11Watch»
John CenaRey MysterioHampton, Va.07-25-11Watch»
Alberto Del RioCM PunkLos Angeles08-14-11Watch»
John CenaAlberto Del RioBuffalo, N.Y.09-18-11Watch»
Alberto Del RioCM Punk & John CenaNew Orleans10-02-11Watch»
CM PunkAlberto Del RioNew York11-20-11Watch»
The RockCM PunkPhoenix01-27-13Watch»
John CenaThe RockEast Rutherford, N.J.04-07-13Watch»
Daniel BryanJohn CenaLos Angeles08-18-13
Randy OrtonDaniel BryanLos Angeles08-18-13
Daniel BryanRandy OrtonDetroit09-15-13
Randy Ortonn/aMiami10-27-13
Daniel BryanRandy OrtonNew Orleans04-06-14
John Cenan/aBoston06-29-14
Brock LesnarJohn CenaLos Angeles 08-17-14
Seth RollinsBrock LesnarSanta Clara, Calif.03-29-15

PowerRankings

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25
25

The New Day

24
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Fandango

23
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Stardust

22
22

Neville

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