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The History of the WWF Championship


At the start of 1963, the National Wrestling Alliance Champion was Buddy Rogers. Buddy Rogers matches were booked by promoter Toots Mondt. Promoters within the NWA promotion were upset with Mondt because he would rarely let Rogers defend the title outside of the Northeastern, which was Mondt's territory. Mondt and another promoter Vince McMahon Sr. wanted to break away from the NWA, keep Rogers as their champion and the NWA title. But Buddy Rogers had a $25,000 deposit on the belt and did not want to forfeit it by leaving. On January 24, 1963, Buddy Rogers dropped the NWA title to Lou Thesz in Toronto, OT. Soon after both Mondt and McMahon began their own promotion independent from the NWA. It was called the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). The story that was later given to the fans was that the promoters within the NWA had disputed the decision in the Rogers/Thesz match. In that match, Thesz "won" the title in a one-fall match rather than the standard best-of-three falls. In mid-April of 1963 Rogers was recognized as the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion. He had "won" a fictitious tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Buddy Rogers


Bruno Sammartino pinned Rogers on May 17, 1963


In 1971, the WWWF rejoined the NWA as a regional promotion. All of The WWWF World Titles were dropped in status to a regional title. The NWA Champion was recognized as the World Champion only.


Ivan Koloff pinned Sammartino on Jan 18, 1971


Pedro Morales defeated Koloff on Feb 8, 1971


Stan Stasiak pinned Morales on Dec 1, 1973


Bruno Sammartino defeated Stasiak on Dec 10, 1973


Superstar Billy Graham defeat Sammartino on April 30, 1974


Bob Backlund pinned Graham on Feb 20, 1978


In 1979, the WWWF changed its name to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The name change had nothing to do with the ownership, that would change in 1982 when Vince McMahon Jr. purchased Capitol Wrestling Corporation from his father and formed Titan Sports as the parent company of the promotion.


Antonio Inoki defeated baclund on Nov 30, 1979; The win was not acknowledged in North America.


Bob Backlund On Dec 7, 1979, Backlund pins Inoki in a rematch in Tokyo, Japan, but WWF president Hisashi Shinma declares the match to be no/contest because of the interference of Tiger Jeet Singh. Shinma gives the belt back to Inoki, but he does not accept it.


In 1983, the WWF withdrew from the NWA completely for the second time.


Iron Sheik won the WWF title when Arnold Skaaland throws in the towel while Backland is in the Camel Clutch on Dec 26, 1983


Hulk Hogan pinned the Iron Sheik on Jan 24, 1984


Andre the Giant pinned Hogan on Feb 5, 1988; Andre immediately gives the belt to Ted DiBiase, but WWF president Jack Tunney announces the title cannot be given away and by doing so. Andre officially vacated the championship.


Randy Savage defeats Ted DiBiase in tournament final at Wrestlemania 4 on March 27, 1988


Hulk Hogan pinned Savage at Wrestlemania 5 on April 2, 1989


Ultimate Warrior As Intercontinental Champion pinned Hulk Hogan At Wrestlemaina 6 on April 1, 1990


Sgt. Slaughter pinned Warrior on Jan 19, 1991


Hulk Hogan defeated Slaughter at Wrestlemania 7, March 24, 1991


Undertaker pinned Hogan on Nov 27, 1991


Hulk Hogan pinned Undertakes on Dec 3, 1991 at the PPV Tuesday in Texas


Ric Flair won the WWF title by winning the WWF Royal Rumble Match on Jan 19,1992; Title belt was vacated due to controversial decisions between the Undertaker and Hulk Hogan. The winner of the 92 Royal Rumble would be declared new world heavyweight champion.


Randy Savage pinned Flair at Wrestlemaina 8 on April 5, 1992


Ric Flair defeated Savage on Sept 1, 1992


Bret Hart beat Flair on Oct 12, 1992


Yokozuna pinned Hart; Hulk Hogan than pinned Yokozuna at Wrestlemaina 9, April 4,1993; Mr. Fuji challenges Hogan immediately after Yokozuna wins the title from Bret Hart. Hogan defeats Yokozuna for the title.


Yokozuna pinned Hogan June 6, 1993


Bret Hart pinned Yokozuna at Wrestlemaina 10, March 20,1994


Bob Backlund defeats Bret Hart when Helen Hart throws in the towel on Nov 23, 1994


Diesel pin Backlund on Nov 26 1994 in 8 seconds at MSG


Bret Hart pinned Diesel, Nov 29 1995


WrestleMania Classic Shawn Michaels pinned Bret Hart at Wrestlemaina 12 in the Iron Man Match on March 31, 1996


Sycho Sid pinned Michaels on Nov 17, 1996


Shawn Michaels pinned Sid on Jan. 19, 1997


Bret Hart wins the Final Four match (Feb 16, 1997) which included The Undertaker, Steve Austin and Vader due to Shawn Michaels forfieting the title on Feb 9, 1997.


Sycho Sid pinned Hart the following night on Raw, Feb 17, 1997


The Undertaker pinned Sid at Wrestlemaina 13 on March 23, 1997


Bret Hart pinned Undertaker on August 3, 1997


Shawn Michaels defeats Bret Hart on Nov 9, 1997 in the famous Montreal Incident


Stone Cold Steve Austin pinned Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemaina 14 on March 29, 1998


Kane defeats Steve Austin in a First Blood match on June 28, 1998


Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats Kane on raw the following night on June 29, 1998


The Rock win the Survivor Series Deadly Games Title Tournament on Nov 15 1998; Austin lost his belt in a controversial 3 way match between he, Undertaker and Kane at Judgment Day. The belt was vacant and in the hands of Vince McMahon for 2 months until a new champion would be crowned in a tournament at Survivor Series. The Rock beat Mankind in the finals to win the title.


Mankind pinned the Rock on Raw on Dec 29 1998


The Rock defeated Mankind in a "I Quit" match at the Royal Rumble on Jan 24, 1999


Mankind pinned the Rock on Jan 26 1999 on Sunday Half Time Heat


The Rock defeated Mankind in a ladder match on Feb 15, 1999


Stone Cold Steve Austin defeated Rock at Wrestlemaina 15 on March 28, 1999


The Undertaker pinned Austin on May 23, 1999 at Over the Edge


Stone Cold Steve Austin pinned Undertaker on June 28, 1999


Mankind wins a triple threat match at Summerslam that included Triple H and Austin on August 22,1999


Triple H pinned Mankind on Raw on August 23, 1999


Vince McMahon pinned Triple H when Austin hit him with a chair on Sept 16, 1999


Triple H won a six-pack challenege match at In Your House - Six-Pac Challenge on Sept 26, 1999; Vince McMahon forfeits the title on Sept 9 1999, stating that someone more deserving should be champion. The winner would be declared from the 6 Pack Challenge. Triple H defeats The Rock, Kane, Mankind, British Bulldog, and Big Show.


The Big Show defeats Triple H and The Rock in a Triple Threat match. Big Show substitutes for injured Steve Austin on Nov 14, 1999


HHH talking Again Triple H pinned the Big Show on Jan 3, 2000


The Rock pinned Triple H after Austin hit him with a chair on April 30, 2000


Triple H defeats the Rock in an Iron Man match at Judgement Day on May 21 2000


The Rock won the title in a six man match that include Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon on June 25 2000


Kurt Angle pinned The Rock on Oct 22 2000


The Rock pinned Kurt Angle on Feb 25 2001


WrestleMania 17 Austin Stone Cold Steve Austin defeats the Rock at Wrestlemaina 17