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The World Heavyweight Championship that has been carried by such greats as Batista and Triple H got its start in WWE back in 2002. But its prestigious lineage can actually be traced back all the way to George Hackenschmidt and 1904. For years, it was known as the NWA Championship; then when WCW pulled out of the NWA in the early 1990s, Ric Flair was recognized as the first-ever WCW Champion. Since that time, top names such as Hulk Hogan, Ron Simmons and Bret Hart carried the championship prior to WCW's demise.
Championship Holders over time
119 days
<1 day
Champion | Date of Reign | | Time Held |
---|---|---|
Chris Jericho | Dec 9, 2001 | <1 day |
The Rock | Nov 5, 2001 - Dec 9, 2001 | 33 days |
Chris Jericho | Oct 21, 2001 - Nov 5, 2001 | 14 days |
The Rock | Aug 19, 2001 - Oct 21, 2001 | 62 days |
Booker T | Jul 30, 2001 - Aug 19, 2001 | 19 days |
Kurt Angle | Jul 24, 2001 - Jul 30, 2001 | 5 days |
Booker T | Mar 26, 2001 - Jul 24, 2001 | 119 days |
Scott Steiner | Nov 26, 2000 - Mar 26, 2001 | 119 days |
Booker T | Oct 2, 2000 - Nov 26, 2000 | 54 days |
Vince Russo | Sep 25, 2000 - Oct 2, 2000 | 6 days |
Booker T | Sep 17, 2000 - Sep 25, 2000 | 7 days |
Kevin Nash | Aug 28, 2000 - Sep 17, 2000 | 19 days |
Booker T | Jul 9, 2000 - Aug 28, 2000 | 49 days |
Jeff Jarrett | May 29, 2000 - Jul 9, 2000 | 40 days |
Ric Flair | May 29, 2000 | <1 day |
Kevin Nash | May 24, 2000 - May 29, 2000 | 4 days |
Jeff Jarrett | May 22, 2000 - May 24, 2000 | 1 day |
Ric Flair | May 15, 2000 - May 22, 2000 | 6 days |
Jeff Jarrett | May 7, 2000 - May 15, 2000 | 7 days |
David Arquette | Apr 25, 2000 - May 7, 2000 | 11 days |
Diamond Dallas Page | Apr 24, 2000 - Apr 25, 2000 | <1 day |
Jeff Jarrett | Apr 16, 2000 - Apr 24, 2000 | 7 days |
Sid Vicious | Jan 26, 2000 - Apr 10, 2000 | 74 days |
Sid Vicious | Jan 24, 2000 - Jan 26, 2000 | 1 day |
Chris Benoit | Jan 16, 2000 - Jan 17, 2000 | <1 day |
Bret Hart | Dec 20, 1999 - Jan 16, 2000 | 26 days† (reign began in previous decade) |
468 days
<1 day
Champion | Date of Reign | | Time Held |
---|---|---|
Bret Hart | Dec 20, 1999 - Jan 16, 2000 | 26 days† (reign ends in next decade) |
Bret Hart | Nov 21, 1999 - Dec 20, 1999 | 28 days |
Sting | Sep 12, 1999 - Oct 25, 1999 | 42 days |
Hulk Hogan | Jul 12, 1999 - Sep 12, 1999 | 61 days |
Randy Savage | Jul 11, 1999 - Jul 12, 1999 | <1 day |
Kevin Nash | May 9, 1999 - Jul 11, 1999 | 62 days |
Diamond Dallas Page | Apr 26, 1999 - May 9, 1999 | 13 days |
Sting | Apr 26, 1999 - Apr 29, 1999 | 3 days |
Diamond Dallas Page | Apr 11, 1999 - Apr 26, 1999 | 14 days |
Ric Flair | Mar 14, 1999 - Apr 11, 1999 | 27 days |
Hulk Hogan | Jan 4, 1999 - Mar 14, 1999 | 68 days |
Kevin Nash | Dec 27, 1998 - Jan 4, 1999 | 7 days |
Goldberg | Jul 6, 1998 - Dec 27, 1998 | 173 days |
Hulk Hogan | Apr 20, 1998 - Jul 6, 1998 | 76 days |
Randy Savage | Apr 19, 1998 - Apr 20, 1998 | <1 day |
Sting | Feb 22, 1998 - Apr 19, 1998 | 55 days |
Sting | Dec 28, 1997 - Jan 8, 1998 | 10 days |
Hulk Hogan | Aug 9, 1997 - Dec 28, 1997 | 140 days |
Lex Luger | Aug 4, 1997 - Aug 9, 1997 | 4 days |
Hulk Hogan | Aug 10, 1996 - Aug 4, 1997 | 358 days |
The Giant | Apr 22, 1996 - Aug 10, 1996 | 109 days |
Ric Flair | Feb 11, 1996 - Apr 22, 1996 | 70 days |
Randy Savage | Jan 22, 1996 - Feb 11, 1996 | 19 days |
Ric Flair | Dec 27, 1995 - Jan 22, 1996 | 25 days |
Randy Savage | Nov 26, 1995 - Dec 27, 1995 | 30 days |
The Giant | Oct 29, 1995 - Nov 6, 1995 | 7 days |
Hulk Hogan | Jul 17, 1994 - Oct 29, 1995 | 468 days |
Ric Flair | Dec 27, 1993 - Jul 17, 1994 | 201 days |
Vader | Mar 17, 1993 - Dec 27, 1993 | 284 days |
Sting | Mar 11, 1993 - Mar 17, 1993 | 5 days |
Vader | Dec 30, 1992 - Mar 11, 1993 | 70 days |
Ron Simmons | Aug 2, 1992 - Dec 30, 1992 | 149 days |
Vader | Jul 12, 1992 - Aug 2, 1992 | 20 days |
Sting | Feb 29, 1992 - Jul 12, 1992 | 133 days |
Lex Luger | Jul 14, 1991 - Feb 29, 1992 | 229 days |
Ric Flair | Jan 11, 1991 - Jul 1, 1991 | 170 days |