REIGN NO. 6: WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION, SEPT. 2, 2002
"This was Eric Bischoff basically saying what was the truth, which was that 'there is nobody in this business who is champion more than Triple H. He defines what being a champion is, and that’s why I made him champion.' It’s the ultimate show of respect." —Triple H
Prior to Sept. 2, 2002, WWE recognized only one World Champion, and that champion represented both Raw and SmackDown. Just after SummerSlam, however, champion Brock Lesnar inked a deal to become exclusive to SmackDown, leaving Raw without a champion.
Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff then declared that since Lesnar had left for SmackDown that Raw needed its own champion. So with that, he opened a briefcase and pulled out the old WCW Championship and gave it to Triple H, naming him the first World Heavyweight Champion.
Upset that Triple H was merely handed the championship, Ric Flair disputed the decision noting that he was a 16-time Champion and not once had anything handed to him. Triple H agreed to face Flair later that evening in his first title defense. The Nature Boy gave it a valiant effort, but “The Game” hit the Pedigree for the pin.