Top 10 greatest WWE champions in history

These superstars are among the most influential names in professional wrestling

The WWE Championship was established way back in 1963 by the WWE during the WWF days and has a long lineage in the promotion. Since April 2022, the title has been jointly held and defended with the WWE Universal Championship. It is currently known as the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Many WWE Superstars and legends, such as Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, John Cena, and CM Punk among others have held the WWE Championship for extended periods. These wrestlers have left their imprint on the WWE and shaped the sport into what it is today.

10. Pedro Morales

Pedro Morales made his WWE debut in the 1970s during the WWF days and belongs to one of the most elite group of stars who have had a title reign that spanned over 1000 days. Morales had great appeal among his native Puerto Ricans and the wider Latino audience.

Morales won the WWE Championship after defeating Ivan Koloff back in 1971. He held the prestigious championship until Stan Stasiak dethroned him in 1973. Morales had a reign of 1,027 days as a champion and is one of the pioneers of the WWF era.

9. Randy Savage

Dubbed as ‘one of the greatest pro wrestlers who ever lived’ Randy Savage better known by his nickname Macho Man became one of the top stars alongside Hulk Hogan during his time. Randy’s story of capturing the WWE Championship is one of the greatest storylines in the promotion’s history.

Randy won the title for the first time against Ted DiBiase at WrestleMania IV in 1988. Savage regained the title for the second time in his career by defeating Ric Flair at WrestleMania VIII. Macho Man’s feuds during his reign were some of the most compelling in the promotion’s history.

8. Randy Orton

‘The Viper’ Randy Orton is one of the most beloved superstars of the modern era in WWE. Orton’s finishing move RKO still gets one of the loudest pops among crowds. The third-generation wrestler has held the WWE Championship nine times, which is the second-most all-time.

Orton’s reigns have been era-defining as he is one of the most beloved heels of all time. He has been involved in some of the most popular storylines of the modern era. The Viper’s feud with John Cena is among the most popular feuds of the modern era. Apart from that Randy was the youngest World Heavyweight Champion in WWE history.

7. Bruno Sammartino

Bruno Sammartino is not just one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time but is also the longest-reigning champion in WWE history. Bruno held the WWE Championship for an astounding 2,803 days in his second reign with the promotion.

Sammartino sold out Madison Square Garden multiple times which speaks volumes to his popularity. The WWE veteran held the title for a total of 4,040 days, which amounts to more than 11 years in two separate reigns. 

His first reign from May 1963 to January 1971 as WWE champion lasted more than 2,803 days, and his second reign from December 1973 to April 1977 lasted more than 1237 days. Bruno’s title reigns were distinguished by his immense power and durability, coupled with his ability to bring enormous crowds into the arena.

6. Ric Flair

With a career spanning over 50 years in six decades, Ric Flair is regarded as the greatest professional wrestler of all time, by peers as well as fans. ‘The Nature Boy’ is also one of the most recognized wrestlers of all time. He is also the first two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee in WWE history.

The Nature Boy is tied with John Cena as a 16-time world champion, which includes: 8-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, 6-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and 2-time WWF Champion.

5. AJ Styles

AJ Styles is currently on a hiatus due to a fracture in his leg recently during a match against Carmelo Hayes. Despite the setback ‘The Phenomenal One’ has had an illustrious career and is among the few stars who have held multiple WWE titles in recent times.

AJ Styles has held the WWE Championship twice, and his second reign lasted 371 days equaling Randy Savage’s record in the modern WWE era. He won the prestigious championship at the Clash of Championship pay-per-view event in 2017. 

Styles has headlined numerous pay-per-view events and has faced several top-tier wrestlers, including Kevin Owens, John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Shinsuke Nakamura.

4. Hulk Hogan

Hulk Hogan is among the most recognized wrestling stars worldwide. Hogan is known for his charm, larger-than-life personality, and the iconic “Hulkamania” catchphrase. The Hall of Famer initially won the WWE championship in January 1984 and held it for 1,474 days. Hogan’s reign as the WWE Champion is the longest in WWE history. Hogan’s reign was a defining moment in WWE history and it helped the promotion gain global recognition.

Following his win over The Iron Sheikh at Madison Square Garden in 1984, Hogan began a four-year reign that ended due to a strange coincidence. The coincidence unfolded as a sloppy loss to Andre The Giant that was almost immediately overturned by Jack Tunney because the official (who was hired by Ted DiBiase) counted three even though Hogan had raised his shoulder to break the pinfall. 

3. CM Punk

CM Punk is one of the most popular yet polarizing stars of the modern era of the promotion. Punk has the modern era’s longest reign as he held the championship for 434 days. Punk became one of the most popular stars in the WWE throughout his reign. He was lauded for his edgy persona, outstanding mic skills, and high-quality in-ring performances.

Punk was a significant character in the company’s “Reality Era” and won the championship at the 2011 Money in the Bank pay-per-view event. He defended the title against multiple opponents before losing at the 2013 Royal Rumble at the hands of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

2. John Cena

The biggest star in recent times, John Cena has a record-breaking reign as he has captured the title 13 times. Cena held the WWE Championship for 381 days during the contemporary era. He captured the title at the 2006 Unforgiven pay-per-view event.

Cena’s tenure was distinguished by his commitment of being an active champion, routinely defending his title on both brands of RAW and SmackDown. Cena’s last WWE Championship reign was back in 2017 when he won the title at the Royal Rumble and tied Ric Flair for the most world title reigns at 16.

In recent times, Cena has been appearing in a part-time role with the promotion as he has shifted his focus on his acting career in Hollywood.

1. Roman Reigns

‘The Original Tribal Chief’ Roman Reigns decimated challengers who were brave enough to stand in front of him inside the ring during his 1300-day title reign. He has held the WWE Championship four times in his career. During his reign, The OTC has had many notable wins including Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, Drew McIntyre, Jey Uso, and many more. Reigns was defeated by Cody Rhodes in the main event of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

The loss ended the most dominant title reign in WWE history as Reigns’ 1,316 days Universal Championship reign and his fourth WWE Championship reign at 735 days ended.

Reigns is currently involved in a feud with Solo Sikoa and the Rogue Bloodline after his return at SummerSlam 2024. The OTC has been the face of the company since Cena departed from full-time action.

Do you agree with our list of the greatest WWE Champions? Do you think we have missed any stars on the list? Let us know your thoughts and opinions on this topic in the comments section below.

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