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WWE World Heavyweight Title History

  Was also owned by NWA and WCW


NWA World Heavyweight Title

 
# Date Champion Defeated / Event Places
1 14-Jul-1948 Orville Brown (1)   N/A

**

Brown was the reigning Midwest Wrestling Association champion when the NWA was formed, and was recognized as the first NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
2 27-Nov-1949 Lou Thesz (1) Awarded St. Louis, MO

**

On 20-Jul-1948, Lou Thesz defeated Wild Bill Longson in St. Louis to win the National Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Title. A unification match between Thesz and Brown was supposed to take place but was canceled when Brown was hurt in a car accident on 01-Nov-1949. On 27-Nov-1949, the NWA awards the title to Lou Thesz at its convention in St. Louis.
3 15-Mar-1956 "Whipper" Billy Watson (1) Lou Thesz Toronto, ONT
4 09-Nov-1956 Lou Thesz (2) "Whipper" Billy Watson St. Louis, MO
5 14-Jun-1957 Edouard Carpentier (1) Lou Thesz Chicago, IL

**

Carpentier defeats Lou Thesz when Thesz cannot continue due to injury. The NWA Board of Directors rules, however, that the title cannot change hands through an injury and gives the title back to Thesz. Carpentier remains recognized as a champion in various territories.
6 17-Aug-1957 Lou Thesz (3) Edouard Carpentier N/A
7 14-Nov-1957 Dick Hutton (1) Lou Thesz Toronto, ONT
8 09-Jan-1959 Pat O'Connor (1) Dick Hutton St. Louis, MO
9 30-Jun-1960 Buddy Rogers (1) Pat O'Connor Chicago, IL

**

On 02-Aug-1962, Bruno Sammartino was awarded the title after defeating Buddy Rogers in Toronto. Sammartino refuses the title since Rogers wrestled with an injury.
10 24-Jan-1963 Lou Thesz (4) Promoters in the Northeast U.S. refuse to accept this title change, and form the  WWE, with Buddy Rogers as their champion. Toronto, ONT
11 07-Jan-1966 Gene Kiniski (1) Lou Thesz St. Louis, MO
12 11-Feb-1969 Dory Funk, Jr. (1) Gene Kiniski Tampa, FL
13 24-Mar-1973 Harley Race (1) Dory Funk, Jr. Kansas City, MO
14 20-Jul-1973 Jack Brisco (1) Harley Race Houston, TX
15 02-Dec-1974 Giant Baba (1) Jack Brisco Kagoshima, Japan
16 09-Dec-1974 Jack Brisco (1) Giant Baba Toyohashi, Japan
17 10-Dec-1975 Terry Funk (1) Jack Brisco Miami, FL
18 06-Feb-1977 Harley Race (2) Terry Funk Toyohashi, Japan
19 21-Aug-1979 Dusty Rhodes (1) Harley Race Tampa, FL
20 26-Aug-1979 Harley Race (3) Dusty Rhodes Orlando, FL
21 31-Oct-1979 Giant Baba (2) Harley Race Nagoya, Japan
22 07-Nov-1979 Harley Race (4) Giant Baba Amagasaki, Japan
23 04-Sep-1980 Giant Baba (3) Harley Race Saga, Japan
24 09-Sep-1980 Harley Race (5) Giant Baba Ohtsu, Japan
25 27-Apr-1981 Tommy Rich (1) Harley Race Augusta, GA
26 01-May-1981 Harley Race (6) Tommy Rich Gainsville, GA
27 21-Jun-1981 Dusty Rhodes (2) Harley Race Atlanta, GA
28 17-Sep-1981 Ric Flair (1)   Kansas City, MO

**

On 09-Feb-1982, Midnight Rider (Dusty Rhodes) defeated Ric Flair in Tampa, but NWA President Bob Geigel ruled that a masked man cannot hold the title. Flair was still recognized as champion.

Kansas City, MO

29 10-Jun-1983 Harley Race (7) Ric Flair St. Louis, MO
30 24-Nov-1983 Ric Flair (2) Harley Race Greensboro, NC
31 21-Mar-1984 Harley Race (8) Ric Flair Wellington, New Zealand
32 23-Mar-1984 Ric Flair (3) Harley Race Kallang, Singapore
33 06-May-1984 Kerry von Erich (1) Ric Flair Irving, TX
34 24-May-1984 Ric Flair (4) Kerry von Erich Yokosuka, Japan
35 25-Jul-1986 Dusty Rhodes (3) Ric Flair Greensboro, NC
36 07-Aug-1986 Ric Flair (5) Dusty Rhodes St. Louis, MO
37 25-Sep-1987 Ronnie Garvin (1) Ric Flair Detroit, MI
38 26-Nov-1987 Ric Flair (6) Ronnie Garvin Chicago, IL
39 20-Feb-1989 Ricky Steamboat (1) Ric Flair Chicago, IL
40 07-May-1989 Ric Flair (7) Ricky Steamboat Nashville, TN
41 07-Jul-1990 Sting (1) Ric Flair                                           Music City Showdown Baltimore, MD

WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

# Date Champion Defeated / Event Places

**

11-Jan-1991

In early 1991, with all but a few of the original NWA territories no longer operating, the title begins to be referred to as the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) World Heavyweight Title by WCW television announcers, using the 11-Jan-1991 bout between Flair/Sting as their starting point. Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Ric Flair on 21-Mar-1991 in Tokyo Japan, but Fujinami was only recognized as the NWA Champion; the WCW still considered Ric Flair their champion, splitting the title. When Ric Flair defeated Fujinami in the rematch on 19-May-1991 in St. Petersburg, FL, the titles were reunified. On 08-Sep-1991, Flair is stripped of the NWA title when he enters the WWE. I have combined the WCW title with the NWA title history at the 11-Jan-1991 date. Other title histories will vary.

42 11-Jan-1991

Ric Flair (1)

  East Rutherford, NJ

**

01-Jul-1991

Ric Flair was stripped of the title when he entered the WWE as the "Real World's Champion." He appeared on WWE TV with the WCW title belt, which he owned at the time. He later sold it back to the company.

43

14-Jul-1991

Lex Luger (1) Ric Flair                                     Great American Bash Baltimore, MD
44 29-Feb-1992 Sting (1) Lex Luger SuperBrawl Milwaukee, WI
45 12-Jul-1992 Big Van Vader (1) Sting                                     Great American Bash Albany, GA
46 02-Aug-1992 Ron Simmons (1) Big Van Vader Baltimore, MD
47 30-Dec-1992 Big Van Vader (2) Ron Simmons Baltimore, MD
48 11-Mar-1993 Sting (2) Big Van Vader London, UK
49 17-Mar-1993 Big Van Vader (3) Sting Dublin, Ireland
50 27-Dec-1993 Ric Flair (2) Big Van Vader Charlotte, NC
** 23-Apr-1994 Title was held up after a match with Ricky Steamboat as the result of a double pin. Chicago, IL
51 24-Apr-1994 Ric Flair (3)   Atlanta, GA
52 17-Jul-1994 Hulk Hogan (1) Ric Flair                  Bash at The Beach Orlando, FL
53 29-Oct-1995 The Big Show (1) Hulk Hogan  Halloween Havoc Detroit, MI
** 06-Nov-1995 The Giant won the title via DQ, since Jimmy Hart (Hogan's manager) made it possible for the title to change hands that way. WCW stripped the Giant of the title.
54 26-Nov-1995 Randy Savage (1) Won a Battle Royal World War 3 Norfolk, VA
55 27-Dec-1995 Ric Flair (4) Randy Savage                    Starcade Nashville, TN
56 22-Jan-1996 Randy Savage (2) Ric Flair                     Nitro Las Vegas, NV
57 11-Feb-1996 Ric Flair (5) Randy Savage Superbrawl St. Petersburg, FL
58 22-Apr-1996 The Giant (2) Ric Flair                     Nitro Albany, GA
59 10-Aug-1996 Hulk Hogan (2) The Giant            Hog Wild Sturgis, SD
60 04-Aug-1997 Lex Luger (2) Hulk Hogan                Nitro Detroit, MI
61 09-Aug-1997 Hulk Hogan (3) Lex Luger                 Road Wild Sturgis, SD
62 28-Dec-1997 Sting (3) Hulk Hogan Starrcade Washington, DC
** 08-Jan-1998 Title declared vacant on 08-Jan-1998 in Daytona Beach, FL by J.J. Dillon, chairman of WCW Executive committee, due to the controversial endings for the 28-Dec-1997 show in Washington, DC and the 29-Dec-1997 card in Baltimore, MD. Daytona Beach, FL
63 22-Feb-1998

Sting (4)

Hulk Hogan for the vacant title SuperBrawl San Francisco, CA
64 19-Apr-1998 Randy Savage (3) Sting                                   Spring Stampede Denver, CO
65 20-Apr-1998 Hulk Hogan (4) Randy Savage     Nitro Colorado Springs, CO
66 06-Jul-1998 Bill Goldberg (1) Hulk Hogan            Nitro Atlanta, GA
67 27-Dec-1998 Kevin Nash (1) Bill Goldberg Starrcade Washington, DC
68 04-Jan-1999 Hulk Hogan (5) Kevin Nash              Nitro Atlanta, GA
69 14-Mar-1999 Ric Flair (6) Hulk Hogan Uncensored Louisville, KY
70 11-Apr-1999 Diamond Dallas Page (1) defeated Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Sting                      Spring Stampede Louisville, KY
71 26-Apr-1999 Sting (5) Diamond Dallas Page                      Nitro Fargo, ND
72 26-Apr-1999 Diamond Dallas Page (2) Kevin Nash, Goldberg, Sting  Nitro Fargo, ND
73 09-May-1999 Kevin Nash (2) Diamond Dallas Page               Slamboree St. Louis, MO
74 11-Jul-1999 Randy Savage (4) Kevin Nash         Bash at The Beach Ft. Lauderdale, FL
75 12-Jul-1999 Hulk Hogan (6) Randy Savage           Nitro Jacksonville, FL
76 12-Sep-1999 Sting (6) Hulk Hogan          Fall Brawl Winston-Salem, NC
** 25-Oct-1999 Title was declared vacant after Sting attacked referee Charles Robinson
77 21-Nov-1999

Bret Hart (1)

Won a Tournament Mayhem

Toronto, ONT

** 12-Dec-1999 Bret Hart vacated the title
78 20-Dec-1999

Bret Hart (1)

Goldberg to win the vacated title                                         Nitro

Baltimore, MD
** 16-Jan-2000 Bret Hart vacated the title due to injury
79

16-Jan-2000

Chris Benoit (1)

Defeated Sid Vicious           Souled Out

Cincinnati, OH

** 17-Jan-2000 Vacates title the next day because Benoit, Saturn, Malenko, and Guerrero leave for the WWE
80 24-Jan-2000

Sid Vicious (1)

Defeated Kevin Nash for the vacant title                             Nitro

Los Angeles, CA

81 25-Jan-2000

Kevin Nash (3)

Kevin Nash, who was WCW Commissioner at the time, strips Sid of the title and gives it to himself.                                 Thunder

Las Vegas, NV

82 25-Jan-2000

Sid Vicious (2)

defeated Kevin Nash and Ron Harris in a steel cage match Thunder

Las Vegas, NV

** 10-Apr-2000 Title declared vacant by WCW executives Eric Bischoff and Vince Russo. Denver, CO
83

16-Apr-2000

Jeff Jarrett (1)

defeated Diamond Dallas Page Spring Stampede

Chicago, IL
84

24-Apr-2000

Diamond Dallas Page (3)

Jeff Jarrett                             Nitro

Rochester, NY

85

25-Apr-2000

David Arquette (1)

Arquette, an actor, teamed with DDP and pinned Eric Bischoff, who was teamed with Jeff Jarrett.                                Thunder

Syracuse, NY

86

07-May-2000

Jeff Jarrett (2)

Arquette and DDP          Slamboree

Kansas City, MO

87

15-May-2000

Ric Flair (7)

Jeff Jarrett                               Nitro

Columbus, OH

** 22-May-2000 Vince Russo strips the title  
88

22-May-2000

Jeff Jarrett (3)

Defeated Kevin Nash              Nitro

Grand Rapids, MI

89

23-May-2000

Kevin Nash (4)

Defeats Jeff Jarrett and Scott Steiner                             Thunder

Saginaw, MI

90

29-May-2000

Ric Flair (8)

Returns the belt to Ric Flair       Nitro

Salt Lake City, UT

 91

29-May-2000

Jeff Jarrett (4)

Ric Flair                                      Nitro

Salt Lake City, UT

92

09-Jul-2000

Booker T (1)

Jeff Jarrett                            Bash at The Beach

Daytona Beach, FL

93

28-Aug-2000

Kevin Nash (5)

Booker T                                  Nitro

Las Cruces, NM

94

17-Sep-2000

Booker T (2)

Kevin Nash                              Fall Brawl

Buffalo, NY

95

25-Sep-2000

Vince Russo (1)

Booker T                                 Nitro

Uniondale, NY

96

02-Oct-2000

Booker T (3)

Defeated Jeff Jarrett              Nitro

San Francisco, CA

97

26-Nov-2000

Scott Steiner (1)

Booker T                          Mayhem

Milwaukee, WI

98

26-Mar-2001

Booker T (4)

Scott Steiner                           The Last Nitro 

Panama City Beach, FL

WWE/WCW & ECW ALLIANCE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

 

# Date Champion Defeated / Event Places
99

24-Jul-2001

Kurt Angle (1)

Booker T                              Smackdown!

Pittsburgh, PA

100

30-Jul-2001

Booker T (5)

Kurt Angle                                 Raw is War

Philadelphia, PA

101

19-Aug-2001

The Rock (1)

Booker T                                    Summer Slam  

San Jose, CA

102

21-Oct-2001

Chris Jericho (1)

The Rock                                      No Mercy

St. Louis, MO

103

05-Nov-2001

The Rock (2)

Chris Jericho                            Raw

Uniondale, NY

104

09-Dec-2001

Chris Jericho (2)

The Rock                                 Vengeance

San Diego, CA

WWE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

 

# Date Champion Defeated / Event Places
105

02-Sept-2002

Triple H (1)

Awarded

Milwaukee, WA

106

17-Oct-2002

Shawn Michaels (1)

Triple H                                   Survivor Series

New York City, NY

107

15-Dec-2002

Triple H (2)

Shawn Michaels          Armageddon

Fortlaurderdale, FL

108

21-Sept-2003

Goldberg (1)

Triple H                                   Unforgiven

Heresy, PA

109 14-Dec-2003

Triple H (3)

Goldberg                      Armageddon

Orlando, Florida

110

14-Mar-2004

Chris Benoit (1)

Shawn Michaels, Triple H Wrestlemania 20

New York City, New York

111 15-Aug-04

Randy Orton (1)

Chris Benoit
Summer Slam

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

112 12-Sep-04 Triple H (5) Randy Orton
Unforgiven
Portland, Orgegon
       
       
       

http://www.inlewd.com/champions/