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(Redirected from WWE Champion)
:''This article is about the championship that is currently defended on the RAW brand of WWE. For SmackDown!'s top championship, see World Heavyweight Championship (WWE).''
The 'World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship' is a professional wrestling world championship in World Wrestling Entertainment. It is the original world title of WWE. Currently, it is the highest ranked championship on the RAW brand.
The WWE Championship was originally known as the 'World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) World Heavyweight Championship'. However, in 1971, the title was demoted in "World" status when the WWWF rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance. Then, in 1979, the name of the promotion was changed to World Wrestling Federation, thus the title was referred to as the 'World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Heavyweight Championship'. After the WWF left the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, the title regained its "World" status and became known as the 'WWF World Heavyweight Championship'. The title began to be referred to simply as the 'WWF Championship' when the "Attitude Era/Big Eagle" belt design was introduced in 1998 with the words "World Wrestling Federation Champion", no longer making use of the words "World Heavyweight".
In March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following this, the "Invasion" storyline was orchestrated, in which WCW was ultimately dismantled. After the "Invasion" concluded, it was agreed to unify the WCW Championship with the WWF Championship at Vengeance 2001. At the event Chris Jericho defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WCW/World Championship and the WWF Championship respectively. As a result, Chris Jericho became the first Undisputed Champion in the World Wrestling Federation. [1] With only one champion, the unified title became known as the '"Undisputed" Championship'.
The belts stayed unified throughout the WWF/WWE name change and the WWE Brand Extension, which allowed the Undisputed title to be defended on the RAW and SmackDown! brands. However, when Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed Championship, he signed an exclusive contract to appear and defend the title on the SmackDown! brand only, thus leaving the RAW brand without a top championship. Following Lesnar's actions, RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff introduced the World Heavyweight Championship and commissioned it to be the main title for the RAW brand. He awarded the title to Triple H and stated that the Undisputed Championship could no longer be "Undisputed" because it belonged to only one brand. Immediately afterwards, the title returned to being the 'WWE Championship'.
The WWE Championship remained exclusive to the SmackDown! brand from August 26 2002 until June 6 2005, when the WWE Champion, John Cena, was drafted to the RAW brand during the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery. This left the RAW brand with the two top titles until the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista, was drafted to the SmackDown! brand on June 30 2005.
Special custom belts have been created for at least five different champions: Billy Graham (slightly different plate art and a red strap), the Ultimate Warrior (white, blue, and purple straps), Stone Cold Steve Austin (entirely custom "Smokin' Skull" belt), John Cena (entirely custom "Spinner" belt), and Edge (similar to Cena's but with a "Rated R" spinner). A belt with an exceptionally long strap was created for André the Giant before WrestleMania III, however, he never wore it as champion. Though Edge had originally designed a different custom belt for his reign, the plans were scrapped due to time constraints.[2].
The current WWE Champion is John Cena, who is in his third reign. He defeated Edge at Unforgiven 2006 in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match on September 17, 2006 in Toronto.
★ List of WWE Champions
★ List of WWE Championship reigns by length
★ WCW World Heavyweight Championship
1. WWWF/WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Title
2. Edge Interview Jon Robinson
★ WWE Championship Title History
:''This article is about the championship that is currently defended on the RAW brand of WWE. For SmackDown!'s top championship, see World Heavyweight Championship (WWE).''
The 'World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship' is a professional wrestling world championship in World Wrestling Entertainment. It is the original world title of WWE. Currently, it is the highest ranked championship on the RAW brand.
| Contents |
| History |
| Custom belt designs |
| Current champion |
| See also |
| References |
| External links |
History
The WWE Championship was originally known as the 'World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) World Heavyweight Championship'. However, in 1971, the title was demoted in "World" status when the WWWF rejoined the National Wrestling Alliance. Then, in 1979, the name of the promotion was changed to World Wrestling Federation, thus the title was referred to as the 'World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Heavyweight Championship'. After the WWF left the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, the title regained its "World" status and became known as the 'WWF World Heavyweight Championship'. The title began to be referred to simply as the 'WWF Championship' when the "Attitude Era/Big Eagle" belt design was introduced in 1998 with the words "World Wrestling Federation Champion", no longer making use of the words "World Heavyweight".
In March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation purchased World Championship Wrestling. Following this, the "Invasion" storyline was orchestrated, in which WCW was ultimately dismantled. After the "Invasion" concluded, it was agreed to unify the WCW Championship with the WWF Championship at Vengeance 2001. At the event Chris Jericho defeated The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WCW/World Championship and the WWF Championship respectively. As a result, Chris Jericho became the first Undisputed Champion in the World Wrestling Federation. [1] With only one champion, the unified title became known as the '"Undisputed" Championship'.
The belts stayed unified throughout the WWF/WWE name change and the WWE Brand Extension, which allowed the Undisputed title to be defended on the RAW and SmackDown! brands. However, when Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed Championship, he signed an exclusive contract to appear and defend the title on the SmackDown! brand only, thus leaving the RAW brand without a top championship. Following Lesnar's actions, RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff introduced the World Heavyweight Championship and commissioned it to be the main title for the RAW brand. He awarded the title to Triple H and stated that the Undisputed Championship could no longer be "Undisputed" because it belonged to only one brand. Immediately afterwards, the title returned to being the 'WWE Championship'.
The WWE Championship remained exclusive to the SmackDown! brand from August 26 2002 until June 6 2005, when the WWE Champion, John Cena, was drafted to the RAW brand during the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery. This left the RAW brand with the two top titles until the World Heavyweight Champion, Batista, was drafted to the SmackDown! brand on June 30 2005.
Custom belt designs
Special custom belts have been created for at least five different champions: Billy Graham (slightly different plate art and a red strap), the Ultimate Warrior (white, blue, and purple straps), Stone Cold Steve Austin (entirely custom "Smokin' Skull" belt), John Cena (entirely custom "Spinner" belt), and Edge (similar to Cena's but with a "Rated R" spinner). A belt with an exceptionally long strap was created for André the Giant before WrestleMania III, however, he never wore it as champion. Though Edge had originally designed a different custom belt for his reign, the plans were scrapped due to time constraints.[2].
Current champion
Current champion, John Cena
The current WWE Champion is John Cena, who is in his third reign. He defeated Edge at Unforgiven 2006 in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match on September 17, 2006 in Toronto.
See also
★ List of WWE Champions
★ List of WWE Championship reigns by length
★ WCW World Heavyweight Championship
References
1. WWWF/WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Title
2. Edge Interview Jon Robinson
External links
★ WWE Championship Title History
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