The Complex History of WWE's Era of Unification: photos
When WWE purchased WCW in 2001, there was an influx of championships from the Atlanta-based organization. Over the following two years, WWE unified many of the active titles, retired others and created even more. Check out these photos featuring the most historic moments of this highly complicated period in sports-entertainment.
On the July 30, 2001, edition of Raw, X-Pac, the WWE Light Heavyweight Champion, defeated Billy Kidman, the WCW Cruiserweight Champion, to unify the two titles.
X-Pac unified the titles once again by defeating Tajiri at SummerSlam 2001.
Two weeks before Survivor Series 2001, Edge – the recently crowned King of the Ring – lost the WWE Intercontinental Championship to Test on Raw.
One week later, Edge won the WCW United States Championship and then defeated Test at Survivor Series to unify the titles.
The Undertaker & Kane won the WCW Tag Team Championship on the Aug. 9, 2001, edition of SmackDown. On the same night, WCW competitors Diamond Dallas Page & Kanyon defeated The APA to become WWE World Tag Team Champions.
The two new titleholding teams met in a Steel Cage Match at SummerSlam to rectify this bizarro universe by unifying the titles.
The Brothers of Destruction emerged victorious at SummerSlam, but soon lost both sets of titles to individual teams.
The Dudleys defeated their longtime adversaries The Hardy Boyz in a Steel Cage Match to unify the championships at Survivor Series.
Bubba and D-Von are the only tag team in history to hold the titles of the three major sports-entertainment organizations – WWE, WCW and ECW.
Chris Jericho won’t let anyone forget at Vengeance in December 2001.
Jericho defeated The Rock to win the WCW Championship and was immediately faced with the task of battling "Stone Cold" Steve Austin for the WWE Championship.
Y2J emerged victorious – thanks to a bit of assistance from Mr. McMahon.
On that night, Jericho earned the right to brag that he is “the best in the world at what he does” by defeating two of sports-entertainment’s most iconic stars in one night.
After Jericho was defeated by Triple H at WrestleMania X8, the two titles were merged into the WWE Undisputed Championship.
Ric Flair did the honors of presenting The King of Kings with the brand new title on the April 1, 2002, edition of Raw.
Two of the championships that defined the Attitude Era were put to rest in summer 2002 by Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam.
After RVD defeated European Champion Jeff Hardy in a Ladder Match to retire the European Title, he battled Hardcore Champion Tommy Dreamer.
The two ECW icons competed in a brutal bout that saw The Whole Dam Show once again emerge victorious.
With WWE Champion Brock Lesnar refusing to show up on Raw, it left WWE’s flagship broadcast without a champion. That void was quickly filled by Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff.
Bischoff opened a briefcase and awarded the newly created World Heavyweight Championship and to Triple H
SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon introduced the WWE Tag Team Championship, represented by titles emblazoned with the bright blue color so associated with SmackDown’s look.
Reverend D-Von & Ron Simmons battled the team of Billy Gunn & Chuck Palumbo in the first round of the WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament on SmackDown.
Kurt Angle advanced to the finals of the WWE Tag Team Championship Tournameny by defeating grapplers including Eddie Guerrero and John Cena.
In a unique matchup of the WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament, Brock Lesnar & Tajiri battled the team of Edge & Rey Mysterio.
Brock went on a rampage after coming out on the losing end of the contest.
Kurt Angle applied his patented submission hold onto Eddie Guerrero during the WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament.
Kurt Angle faced off with Rey Mysterio in the finals of the WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament at No Mercy 2002.
Edge turned the tables on Kurt Angle at No Mercy.
Kurt Angle was one half of the first-ever WWE Tag Team Champions.
Kane, who had recently won the Intercontinental Championship from Chris Jericho, faced off with Triple H at No Mercy 2002.
The Game was the reigning World Heavyweight Championship, and the bout was to unify the two titles.
Triple H was victorious and the Intercontinental Championship was retired for seven months.
Seven months after No Mercy 2002, co-General Manager "Stone Cold" Steve Austin reinstated the title.
Christian won a Battle Royal at Judgment Day to win the vacant Intercontinental Title.
In June 2003, SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon announced the reinstatement of the United States Championship.
Stephanie announced the new champion would be crowned in a tournament that would culminate at Vengeance 2003.
Eddie Guerrero met Ultimo Dragon in a clash with international flavor during the first round of the United States Championship Tournament on SmackDown.
After defeating Ultimo Dragon, Eddie Guerrero also defeated Billy Gunn to advance to the finals.
Latino Heat won it all at Vengeance to win the vacant United States Championship.
Hornswoggle shockingly entered and won the Cruiserweight Open at The Great American Bash 2007 to become Cruiserweight Champion.
Hornswoggle was forced by Vickie Guerrero to vacate the title two months later.
WWE Tag Team Champions Primo & Carlito prepared to face off with World Tag Team Champions John Morrison & The Miz in a Lumberjack Match to unify the titles at The 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania.
The Colons won the bout and became the first-ever Unified Tag Team Champions.
Bret Hart was tasked with debuting the new WWE Tag Team Championship titles on the Aug. 16, 2010 edition of Raw.
The Hart Dynasty was the first team to hold the new titles.
