List of WWE Champions

Here is a list of some of the WWE Champions throughout the history of the championship. Keep in mind that the WWE Championship has been defended and won by many superstars since its inception in 1963, and it has had several reigns and transitions.

List of WWE Champions (Selected):

1. Buddy Rogers (1963 – 1964)
   • The first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion after the title was created.
2. Bruno Sammartino (1963 – 1971)
   • Held the longest reign in WWE history with over 2,800 days as champion.
3. Pedro Morales (1971 – 1973)
   • The first-ever Latino WWE Champion.
4. Stan Stasiak (1973)
   • Brief reign, defeating Bruno Sammartino.
5. Bob Backlund (1978 – 1983)
   • Held the title for over 2,100 days.
6. Hulk Hogan (1984 – 1988)
   • One of the most iconic WWE Champions, contributing to the rise of WWE as a global brand.
7. André the Giant (1988)
   • Famous for defeating Hogan in a record-setting match at WrestleMania 3.
8. Randy Savage (1988 – 1991)
   • Known for his rivalry with Hulk Hogan and memorable matches.
9. The Ultimate Warrior (1990)
   • Became the champion after defeating Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 6.
10. Shawn Michaels (1996 – 1997)
    • Had memorable feuds with Bret Hart and others, cementing his legacy in WWE history.
11. Bret Hart (1992 – 1993)
    • Considered one of the greatest technical wrestlers, he had multiple reigns as champion.
12. Steve Austin (1998 – 1999)
    • “Stone Cold” Steve Austin is one of the most popular and successful WWE Champions ever, contributing to the Attitude Era.
13. The Rock (1998 – 2004, 2011)
    • A multiple-time champion, The Rock also became one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
14. Triple H (1999 – 2002)
    • A dominant force in WWE, with several reigns as champion and a major part of the Attitude Era.
15. John Cena (2005 – 2017)
    • Known for his “Never Give Up” mantra, Cena is one of the most decorated champions in WWE history.
16. CM Punk (2011 – 2013)
    • Held the championship for a record 434 days, which is the longest reign in the modern era.
17. Daniel Bryan (2014)
    • A fan favorite, Bryan won the championship at WrestleMania 30 in an iconic moment.
18. Brock Lesnar (2002 – 2004, 2014 – Present)
    • Known for his dominant presence and part-time schedule, Lesnar has held the title multiple times, including a reign lasting over 500 days.
19. Roman Reigns (2020 – Present)
    • One of the most dominant champions in WWE today, holding both the Universal and WWE Championships simultaneously as part of the “Tribal Chief” storyline.
20. Edge (2006 – 2010)
    • A multiple-time champion known for his ability to reinvent his character and his memorable feuds.

Notable WWE Champion Stats:

• Bruno Sammartino holds the record for the longest single reign with 2,803 days.
• John Cena and Ric Flair are tied for the most WWE Championship wins, with 16 each.
• Roman Reigns is currently in a historic reign as Universal Champion, having held it for over 1,000 days (as of 2025).

Changes and Evolutions:

The WWE Championship has evolved over the years, with the most notable changes being the creation of the WWE Universal Championship in 2016, which is a separate title from the WWE Championship, though both are often featured in major storylines, especially with dual champions like Roman Reigns.

There have been many more champions and reigns, but these are some of the most iconic and significant in WWE history. Would you like more details on any particular champion or time period in WWE?