25 Greatest WWE World Champions - The Results!

First topic message reminder :

So after collating the results from everybody that voted on this list. Lots of people sent me their top ten WWE World Champions, and I used that list to work out who 606v2 considered to be the best WWE World Champion of all time. Number 1 in people's list was given 10 points, then number 10 was given 1, with all in between being given 9, 8, 7 etc.

24=. Diesel - 1 point

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 1
Combined length of Title reigns: 358 days

Diesel, or Kevin Nash, was voted in the top ten just one time, and at number 10, but it is just enough to get him into the top 25. Diesel won the World Title on the 26th of November 1994 beating Bob Backlund in a record-breaking fast match, squashing the three day old world champion to win his first and to date, only world championship in the WWE. He would hold it for nearly a year only finally losing it on the 19th of November 1995 to Bret 'The Hitman' Hart.

24=. Kane - 1 point

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 2
Combined length of Title reigns: 155 days

Kane's first world title reign was a disaster, and certainly not the reason that he makes the 25 Greatest World Championships. His first reign with the WWE Championship in 1998 lasted just one day, beating Stone Cold Steve Austin at King of the Ring, but then lost it the night later on Raw. His second world title reign, 12 years later, with the World Heavyweight Championship was significantly more popular and successful. Paid for his dues over the years, Kane's reign lasted 154 days. Kane cashed in his Money in the Bank opportunity the night he won it to beat Rey Mysterio for the world title, eventually losing it to Edge in a Tables, Ladder and Chairs match at the TLC Pay-Per View.

23. Goldberg - 3 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 1
Combined length of Title reigns: 84 days

Bill Goldberg is better remembered for his run in WCW where he was much more successful in terms of winning world titles. Goldberg burst onto the WWE scene in 2003, but had to wait six months to win his first and only world title in the WWE. Goldberg beat Triple H at Unforgiven to win his first world title and it lasted 84 days before he lost the title to Triple H at the Armageddon show.

22. Chris Benoit - 4 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 1
Combined length of Title reigns: 154 days

Clearly Chris Benoit will always be remembered for his final actions, but his WWE career still gets some plaudits. Benoit's only world title reign in the WWE had a good length of 154 days. Winning the title in an emotional match with Triple H and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XX. Eventually Benoit would lose the world title to Randy Orton at Summerslam and he would never regain a world title until his death in 2007.

21. Bob Backlund - 8 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 2
Combined length of Title reigns: 3,234 days

An amazing combined length of title reigns there from just two title reigns and even more amazingly, his second title reign lasted just 3 days in 1994. His first title reign lasted 8 years, 10 months and 6 days, it is inconceivable that this could happen in this day and age. Backlund won his first world title by beating Billy Graham in controversial fashion as Graham did actually have his foot on the ropes as the three count was met. However this wouldn't stop Backlund from dominating for close to a decade in the WWF eventually losing the title to The Iron Sheik after Backlund's manager threw the white towel in for him. Backlund's second reign was significantly less successful, Backlund managed to roll back the years to beat Bret Hart to regain the world title but would last just three days as Diesel destroyed him to win the title.

20. Chris Jericho - 10 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 6
Combined length of Title reigns: 219 days

In a surprisingly low position in the list, WWE's first ever Undisputed World Champion is 20th in the list of the greatest WWE World Champions. Y2J first won the WCW World Championship in the WWE beating The Rock to win it, only to lose it to the Rock. Famously however Jericho would beat both The Rock, to regain his WCW World Title, and Stone Cold Steve Austin in the same night to unify the two world titles. Jericho would not win a world title again until his return in 2007 where he would win three more World Heavyweight titles, winning the first of these by entering in the place of the actual world champion CM Punk in the Championship Scramble match to win it. Jericho would lose the title to Batista, only to win it back eight days later beginning his second reign, before subsequently losing out to John Cena. Jericho would win the World Heavyweight Title in the Elimination Chamber in 2010, then retain it at Wrestlemania against former partner Edge, but losing out to Jack Swagger on a taped Smackdown after Swagger cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.


That is the first five of the list, keep watching this thread to see us get all the way up to number 1!

His name is TheBrahmaBull.

I know who my money would be on.

Hero wrote:His name is TheBrahmaBull.

I know who my money would be on.

clearly a miz mark

This is a great read and really interesting! One question though...how can Sammartino have the record for longest reign at 7 years when Bob Backlund held it for 8 years? Am I reading it right?! :S

Bull Buchanan never won the big one did he?

no i hate rocky as my number 1.

TheBrahmaBull wrote:no i hate rocky as my number 1.

8. Kurt Angle - 91 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 5
Combined length of Title reigns: 379 days

At 8th is Kurt Angle, perhaps surprisingly considered he has only had 5 title reigns which all together account for 379 days, but it's enough to get him into the top 8 of all time. Kurt Angle won his first world title at No Mercy 2000 beating The Rock, he would last 136 days before conceding the title back to The Rock. Kurt Angle would beat Steve Austin for his next world title before losing it on Raw just 15 days later. Angle would next win the world title in 2002, beating Big Show at Armageddon, this reign would last 105 days before he dropped the world title to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XX. Kurt would eventually regain the title from Brock, before dropping it back to Lesnar in the highly acclaimed 60 minute Iron Man match from Smackdown. Angle would not win another world title until 2006 where he won a 20 man battle royal to shockingly become World Heavyweight Champion for the first time, he would hold the title for 82 days before losing to Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match at Wrestlemania 22 never to win a world title again.

longrangeeffort wrote:This is a great read and really interesting! One question though...how can Sammartino have the record for longest reign at 7 years when Bob Backlund held it for 8 years? Am I reading it right?! :S

I think because officially Backlund's title reign had a short part where it was interrupted. Essentially nobody else held the title for over 8 years other than Backlund.

So far I've had Foley, Jericho, Angle and Edge.

Again kudos for a great thread. Wonder if theres any surprises to come.

7. The Undertaker - 130 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 7
Combined length of Title reigns: 445 days

So the Deadman makes it to number 7 in the list, the longest-serving current member of the WWE roster having debuted in 1990 has a surprisingly low number of title reigns and a small combined length as well. The Undertaker won his first world title on the 27th November 1991, 11 years ago now. He beat Hulk Hogan for it at Survivor Series, a year after his début, but would hold the title for a mere 6 days before dropping it back to Hogan. Undertaker's next title reign would be 6 years later in 1997 when he beat Sid at Wrestlemania 13. This reign was significantly longer than his original reign as he lasted 133 days before he lost the title to Bret Hart. Undertaker would have to wait 2 more years before he could regain the title, beating Stone Cold Steve Austin at Over the Edge in 1999, but could only hold the title for just over a month before losing it to Stone Cold. Undertaker would win his last WWE Championship 3 years later in 2002 when he beat Hulk Hogan at Judgement Day, only to drop the title to The Rock two months later. Undertaker's next title reign would come in 2007 when he beat Batista at Wrestlemania 23 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship and his fifth world championship overall. Undertaker would last just over a month before he lost to Edge who cashed in his Money in the Bank opportunity. Undertaker regained the title at Wrestlemania XIV beating Edge in a Hell in a Cell match, Undertaker had to vacate the title a month later. Undertaker's last world title reign came in 2009 when he beat CM Punk in a Hell in a Cell match, Undertaker would last 140 days, his longest world title reign, before losing it in an Elimination Chamber match.

longrangeeffort wrote:This is a great read and really interesting! One question though...how can Sammartino have the record for longest reign at 7 years when Bob Backlund held it for 8 years? Am I reading it right?! :S

Sammartino had the longest single reign.

This is way more exciting that it should be

My #6,7,9 & 10 have all gone. Meaning my Top 5 are either pretty much the consensus, or not even on the list...

Both Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel have both won a World Title before right?

Electric Demon wrote:This is way more exciting that it should be

My #6,7,9 & 10 have all gone. Meaning my Top 5 are either pretty much the consensus, or not even on the list...

Both Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel have both won a World Title before right?

They all have to be there as 24 only got 1 point.

5=. Bret Hart - 158 points
5=. Hulk Hogan - 158 points

Bret Hart

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 5
Combined length of Title reigns: 654 days

The Hitman scrapes into the top five by equalling Hogan's haul of 158 points. The most famous of the Hart family won five world titles before he left the WWE in 1997. Bret Hart won his first word title in 1992, this lasted for 174 days before he was beaten by Yokozuna at Wrestlemania IX. The next time Hart won the world title he would beat Yokozuna and held the title for 248 days eventually being beaten by Bob Backlund. Hart beat Diesel at Survivor Series 1995 to win his third world title, Hart was beaten by Michaels in a 60 minute Iron Man match at Wrestlemania XII. Hart won the title again after it was vacated but lasted a day before being beaten by Sid. Bret Hart beat the Undertaker at Summerslam 1997 to regain the title. He would lose the title in infamous circumstances in the Montreal Screwjob never to be seen in WWE again until his disappointed return in 2010.

Hulk Hogan

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 6
Combined length of Title reigns: 2185 days

Hulkamania ran riot in the votes but not enough to get higher than 5th in the list. Hogan is number two in the length of the combined reigns, with just 6 title reigns. Hogan won his first world title in 1984 and wouldn't drop it for four years, lasting a huge 1474 days. Hogan would lose the title to Andre the Giant eventually but would regain it after a few other people held the title, regaining the title at Wrestlemania V, he then lasted one day short of a year before dropping the title to the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VI. Hogan would then regain the title at Wrestlemania VII, from Sgt. Slaughter, then lasting 248 day until he lost the title to the Undertaker, but he beat the Undertaker again for the title just 6 days later, but lasted a day before he was stripped of the title. Hogan would regain the title at Wrestlemania IX, beating Yokozuna for the title immediately after he had won it. Hogan would drop the title to Yokozuna 70 days later. This was Hogan's last title reign for 9 years before he beat Triple H for the title, he would only last 28 days before the Undertaker beat him for the title and that's the last time Hogan won the title.

I have had Warrior, Bruno,Edge and Angle so far

Bet you can't guess my number one.

It's so dramatic

Bret Hart same points as Hogan, outraged

I had Hogan higher on my list

I didnt have him on my list at all

So did I

I had Hogan #3, Hart #4

I've had Undertaker, Lesnar, Angle, Bret Hart, Hulk Hogan, Savage & Cena

I had Hogan at 2 and Bret at 6.

What tension!

Had Hogan at 30 something

4. Triple H - 171 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 13
Combined length of Title reigns: 1155 days

The Game is 4th in the list, missing out on the top three, but with 13 reigns, he has had more WWE world title wins than anybody else on the list. Triple H's first reign came 1999 beating Mankind on Raw but he lost it 22 days later to Vince McMahon on an episode of Smackdown. Triple H regained the world title at Unforgiven in 1999 in a Six Pack Challenge, Triple H would drop the title to Big Show and then regain it from him. The Rock beat Triple H for the title only to drop it back to Triple H who would go on to lose to The Rock again. Triple H would beat Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania X8 to regain the title, but would drop it a month later to Hulk Hogan. The next time Triple H won the world title it was the World Heavyweight Championship awarded to the Cerebral Assassin by Eric Bischoff. Triple H lost the world title to Shawn Michaels at Survivor Series in the first Elimination Chamber match but would beat the Heartbreak Kid soon after in a Three Stages of Hell match. Triple H would then lose the world title to Goldberg, regained it and then lost to Chris Benoit. Triple H would beat former protegee Randy Orton to regain the world title, the title was vacated, but when put on the line in an Elimination Chamber match, Triple H regained the title. He would hold the title for 84 days before dropping it to Batista at Wrestlemania 22. Triple H would win the WWE Championship two years later at No Mercy against Randy Orton, only to lose it to Randy Orton the same night. Triple H would regain the title April 2008 by winning a Fatal Fourway taking the title from Orton and holding onto the title for 210 days, eventually dropping it to Edge. Triple H would win the title for the 8th and last time so far at No Way Out 2009 where he won the Elimination Chamber match to become WWE Champion, retained it at Wrestlemania 25 before dropping it to Randy Orton at Backlash.

Crimey wrote:It doesn't matter who Bull voted for, his list is worth nothing.

I see what you have done here. If you smell what the Crime Lord is cooking.

Dodger Dave wrote:

Crimey wrote:It doesn't matter who Bull voted for, his list is worth nothing.

I see what you have done here. If you smell what the Crime Lord is cooking.

Totally unintended.

So far I've had: ric flair, savage, the undertaker, hogan, Brett Hart, Kurt Angle and HHH

My top three are all still to be named.

The top 3 will be The Rock, Stone Cold and HBK. Not sure what order though.

3. Shawn Michaels - 173

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 4
Combined length of Title reigns: 424 days

The Heartbreak Kid narrowly beats his DX compatriot to third place on the list. Yet with just 4 world title reigns at a minuscule combined length of 424 days it's pretty surprising that he got this far. Shawn Michaels won his first world title in 1996 beating Bret Hart in a 60 minute Iron Man match at Wrestlemania XII. Shawn would last 231 days, so more than all his other reigns put together, before he dropped the title to Sid. Shawn Michaels would regain the title two months later, but only lasted 25 days before he vacated the title. Michaels infamously claimed he had "lost his smile". Michaels would win the title again in, arguably, his worst moment in his career as he took part in the Montreal Screwjob to regain the title. When Shawn Michaels was beaten by Steve Austin in the famous match involving Mike Tyson, it would be the last time he held the WWE Championship. It was 1998. Michaels wouldn't hold a WWE Title for four years before he won the World Heavyweight Championship, in the first ever Elimination Chamber, but Michaels only lasted 28 days as world champion before losing it to Triple H. While Michaels only had a small amount of title reigns, they made a big enough impact to leave him as the third greatest WWE World Champion of all time.

Damn it! I had hbk at number 1.

dammit the tension is killing me but i think internet fans would have chosen austin over rocky

2. The Great Khali - 221 points

Not really..


2. The Rock - 221 points

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 9
Combined length of Title reigns: 394 days

IF YOU SMELL WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKING?! 606v2 thinks that The Rock is the second greatest WWE World Champion of all time, well it doesn't matter what 606v2 thinks! The Rock has a surprisingly low combined length at just over a year, the shortest since Kurt Angle at number 8 in fact. This comes from 9 reigns, 7 with the WWE Championship and 2 with the WCW World Championship, but it's enough to get him to second place nonetheless. The Rock won his first world title after it had been vacated and held it for 44 days before losing it to Mick Foley, he beat Foley for it after a month but lost it again just two days later to Foley again. The Rock managed to regain the title for his third world title reign in less than a year by beating Foley again. The Rock would lose the title to Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XV. The Rock would have to wait a year until Backlash 2000 to win the world title again, beating Triple H, he could only hold it for 21 days though before Triple H beat him for it. The Rock won the title back just over 20 days later at King of the Ring 2000 and then held it for 119 days, the longest reign he would ever have. Rock would lose to Kurt Angle, but regained the title eventually at No Way Out 2001, before dropping the world title again to Stone Cold at Wrestlemania X-Seven. The Rock then turned his attention to the WCW World Title, now a WWE Title, and he won his first WCW title when he beat Booker T at Summerslam 2001, The Rock would lose the title to Chris Jericho but a fortnight later regain the title on an episode of Raw, The Rock would drop the title a final time when Chris Jericho unified the world titles. The Rock would then move back to the WWE Championship which he won at Vengeance 2002 beating The Undertaker, he would hold the title for 35 days before dropping it to Brock Lesnar. That would prove to be The Rock's last WWE World Title run....for now...


So that means, that of course, the winner is:

Stone Cold Steve Austin! - 222 points!

Spoiler:

Number of WWE World Title reigns: 6
Combined length of Title reigns: 529 days

In the end just one point separated first from second but it is the Texas Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin that just about scraped top spot. The Attitude Era hero is 606v2's Greatest WWE World Champion Ever! Steve Austin would win the first of his six world titles at Wrestlemania XIV when he beat Shawn Michaels, the match most recognised as the one with Mike Tyson. This reign would last 91 days before Stone Cold lost the title to Kane, yet it would only be out of his hands for one day, as he beat Kane the next night on Raw to win the title and hold it for a further 90 days. Austin's title was then vacated after both Kane and Undertaker pinned him in a triple threat match. Austin won his third world title when he beat The Rock at Wrestlemania XV, holding the title until The Undertaker beat him, but a month later Austin regained the WWE Championship. Stone Cold wouldn't hold the title for two years before he regained it when he beat The Rock at Wrestlemania X-Seven, Austin would have his longest reign at 175 days before losing to Kurt Angle at Unforgiven. Austin wouldn't lie down for long as he beat Angle just 15 days later for his sixth and final run as WWE Champion which lasted 62 days before Chris Jericho beat him and The Rock in one night to unify the two world titles.

1 point!!!!! =(

So the list in full is:


1. Steve Austin 222
2. The Rock 221
3. Shawn Michaels 173
4. Triple H 171
5=. Hulk Hogan 158
5=. Bret Hart 158
7. The Undertaker 130
8. Kurt Angle 91
9 Randy Savage 73
10. Edge 69
11. Ric Flair 57
12. John Cena 45
13. Brock Lesnar 38
14. Bruno Sammartino 34
15. JBL 23
16=. Eddie Guerrero 20
16=. CM Punk 20
17. Mick Foley 19
18. Ultimate Warrior 18
19. Randy Orton 13
20. Chris Jericho 10
21. Bob Backlund 8
22. Chris Benoit 4
23. Goldberg 3
24=. Kane 1
24=. Diesel 1

Thanks for all your votes, I hope you've liked the list and think it was worthwhile. Keep your eye out on the wrestling board as you may see a few more lists like these, starting with WWE's Worst Ever World Champions.

all the ones i had where on my list!

my vote could of drew with Austin!

TheBrahmaBull wrote:all the ones i had where on my list!

my vote could of drew with Austin!

All the ones I had were on my list as well.

In fact I think its the same for everyone!

Best matches maybe?

That's why I was trying to get you to vote Bull, because I knew who you would put top. But you didn't, so it doesn't matter any more.

Superb effort, Crimey!

Sorry I didn't get a chance to contribute but my votes wouldn't of made a difference! Brilliant read!

I would've had Batista in there!

i wish i voted.

Crimey you could do another for the best wrestler to never be champ etc...

Suprised No batista and edge has my fav number

I'm surprised no Jeff Hardy either!

Awesome Crimey,

My Number 1 - The Game, came in 4th

Austin was my #2. But glad he won.

Great article - interesting insight into the collective mind of v2

I had Triple H as my number 1 too. He was awesome as Champion and I loved how ge said the title is the most important thing in his life.

I'm suprised Shawn Michaels is so high on the list.

Well done Crimey, on all your hard work!

I'm suprised Stone Cold won, as good as he was, I never felt he had the allround game of the Rock. Austin struck gold with his beer drinking no nonsense babyface gimmick, but he failed to make other gimmicks work throughout his career, for instance his infamous heel turn, were as the Rock could play any charecter well, heel or face.

But I suppose il just have to accept the majority, by a point rated Stone Cold higher.

rock would of won if i got my votes in on time!

What's the moral of that tale then Bull?


I voted Austin top, disagree he couldn't make other gimmicks work, Did fine as part of the Hollywood Blondes and during his time in ECW.

GREATEST WRESTLER WITHOUT A WORLD TITLE (which Owen Hart will win)

WROST GIMMICKS

UNLIKELY TAG TEAM PARTNERS (eg Rock 'n' Sock Connection)

Greatest tag team would be the obvious next choice for me.
Apart from that there's options such as...

Interncontinental Champion
Breaking it down by decade so best of the 80's, 90's and so on
Best of the style of wrestler (high flyer, technical)
Best face, heel