13 WWE Wrestlers With The Most WWE Championship Reigns, Ranked By Total Number Of Days
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- The WWE Championship is one of the most prestigious championships in WWE history. Every wrestler aspires to win the WWE Championship, but some wrestlers have crumbled under the pressure as the reigning WWE Champion. There is tons of responsibility to deliver as WWE Champion as you represent the company undertaking media interviews and generally headlining major premium live events. Roman Reigns is the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, and he has held the WWE Championship for the entire calendar year in 2023. He became the first man since two-time WWE Champion CM Punk to achieve that feat. There's been a plethora of outstanding multiple-time WWE Champions who have managed to have long runs with the WWE Championship.
In 1963, "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers became the inaugural WWE Champion. There have been 54 different men who have got their hands on the WWE Championship. One wrestler can reach the pinnacle by holding the WWE Championship. However, some wrestlers have failed miserably in their WWE Championship reigns. Nevertheless, several wrestlers have etched their names in the history books with the longest WWE Championship reigns in history.
10 WWE World Champions Who Were Not True Main Eventers
These pro wrestlers might be former WWE World Champions, but they were never true main eventers in the company.The likes of CM Punk and Shawn Michaels have held the WWE Championship multiple times and some of their WWE Championship runs have been longer than wrestlers who have held the gold four times or more, but they will be omitted from this list. Nevertheless holding the WWE Championship at least once is a phenomenal achievement, but some of the all-time greats had countless runs with the gold.
UPDATE: 2024/01/09 20:12 EST BY TEVON KING
The WWE Championship is one of the most prestigious championships in WWE history. Every wrestler aspires to win the WWE Championship, but some wrestlers have crumbled under the pressure as the reigning WWE Champion. There is tons of responsibility to deliver as WWE Champion as you represent the company undertaking media interviews and generally headlining major premium live events. Roman Reigns is the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, and he has held the WWE Championship for the entire calendar year in 2023. He became the first man since two-time WWE Champion CM Punk to achieve that feat. There's been a plethora of outstanding multiple-time WWE Champions who have managed to have long runs with the WWE Championship.
13 Edge Won The WWE Championship 4 Times
Total Length: 139 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Cena | John Cena | 21 Days |
2 | Rob Van Dam | John Cena | 76 Days |
3 | Triple H | Jeff Hardy | 21 Days |
4 | Jeff Hardy | Triple H | 21 Days |
Edge won the WWE Championship four times throughout his WWE career, but for someone of his caliber, his WWE Championship reigns were largely underwhelming. The Rated-R Superstar defeated John Cena at New Year's Revolution 2006 by way of Money in the Bank cash-in for his maiden WWE Championship run.
Edge dropped the title to Cena three weeks later at the 2006 Royal Rumble. He regained it in the summer of 2006 which was his longest WWE Championship reign. Edge's final two WWE Championship runs in 2008 and 2009 lasted just a month, and he collectively held the WWE Championship for 139 days which is surprising.
12 Daniel Bryan Won The WWE Championship 4 Times
Total Length: 210 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | John Cena | Randy Orton | <1 Day |
2 | Randy Orton | Title Became Vacant | 1 Day |
3 | Randy Orton | Title Became Vacant | 65 Days |
4 | AJ Styles | Kofi Kingston | 144 Days |
Daniel Bryan defeated two of the all-time greats John Cena at SummerSlam 2013 and Randy Orton at Night of Champions 2013 for his first two WWE Championship reigns. Both reigns were short-lived as Bryan was defeated by Orton with a Money in the Bank cash-in moments later at SummerSlam, and he was stripped of the gold on the Raw after Night of Champions.
Bryan won the WWE Championship for the third time in the main event of WrestleMania 30 and fans rejoiced when he won the title. Unfortunately, he relinquished the title because of a neck injury. Four years later, Bryan defeated AJ Styles for his fourth and final WWE Championship reign. Bryan had a good WWE Championship run as a heel, and he dropped the title to Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania 35.
11 The Undertaker Won The WWE Championship 4 Times
Total Length: 238 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hulk Hogan | Hulk Hogan | 6 Days |
2 | Sycho Sid | Bret Hart | 133 Days |
3 | Steve Austin | Steve Austin | 36 Days |
4 | Hulk Hogan | The Rock | 63 Days |
The Undertaker may not be remembered for his World Championship reigns, but the Deadman won the WWE Championship four times. Undertaker defeated Hulk Hogan for his first and fourth WWE Championship reigns at Survivor Series 1991 and Judgment Day 2002 respectively.
Undertaker's second WWE Championship reign was his longest and the best. He defeated Sycho Sid for the title in the main event of WrestleMania 13, and he was champion for 133 days with Bret Hart dethroning him at SummerSlam 1997.
10 Kurt Angle Won The WWE Championship 4 Times
Total Length: 299 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Rock | The Rock | 126 Days |
2 | Steve Austin | Steve Austin | 15 Days |
3 | Big Show | Brock Lesnar | 105 Days |
4 | Brock Lesnar | Brock Lesnar | 53 Days |
Kurt Angle's four WWE Championship reign lasted 299 days in total. The Olympic Gold Medalist's maiden WWE Championship reign was solid as he beat the likes of The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, and Steve Austin. His reign was ended by Rock at No Way Out 2001.
Every WWE Champion Of The Attitude Era, Ranked By Their Finisher
A number of wrestlers were WWE Champion during the Attitude Era, with finishers that drastically varied in quality.Angle's second WWE Championship victory was emotional as he beat Steve Austin in front of his hometown fans in Pittsburgh at Unforgiven 2001. Angle's final two WWE Championship reigns were both curtailed by Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 19 and in a 60-minute Iron Man match on the September 18, 2003 edition of SmackDown.
9 The Rock Won The WWE Championship 8 Times
Total Length: 378 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mankind | Mankind | 50 Days |
2 | Mankind | Mankind | 7 Days |
3 | Mankind | Steve Austin | 41 Days |
4 | Triple H | Triple H | 21 Days |
5 | Triple H | Kurt Angle | 119 Days |
6 | Kurt Angle | Steve Austin | 35 Days |
7 | The Undertaker | Brock Lesnar | 35 Days |
8 | CM Punk | John Cena | 70 Days |
The Rock is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and at Vengeance 2002, he made history as the first man to win the WWE Championship seven times. Rock defeated Mankind three times, Triple H twice, Kurt Angle, The Undertaker, and CM Punk for his eight WWE Championship reigns.
Rock's rivalry with Steve Austin, Triple H, and Mankind over the WWE Championship produced some outstanding matchups. Rock held the WWE Championship for a total of 378 days, and John Cena ended Rock's eighth WWE Championship run at WrestleMania 29 in an underwhelming rematch.
8 Steve Austin Won The WWE Championship 6 Times
Total Length: 529 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Shawn Michaels | Kane | 91 Days |
2 | Kane | Title Became Vacant | 90 Days |
3 | The Rock | The Undertaker | 56 Days |
4 | The Undertaker | Mankind | 55 Days |
5 | The Rock | Kurt Angle | 175 Days |
6 | Kurt Angle | Chris Jericho | 62 Days |
Unquestionably, Steve Austin is one of the best WWE Champions in the history of WWE. The Texas Rattlesnake won the WWE Championship six times with three of his WWE Title wins coming at WrestleMania at Shawn Michaels and The Rock's expenses. He also beat Kane, The Undertaker, and Kurt Angle for three WWE Championship runs on Raw.
Austin feuded with the likes of The Rock, The Undertaker, Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho over the WWE Championship. Austin was the WWE Champion for a total of 529 days which is a fantastic achievement.
7 Triple H Won The WWE Championship 9 Times
Total Length: 611 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mankind | Mr. McMahon | 24 Days |
2 | Won A Six-Pack Challenge | Big Show | 49 Days |
3 | Big Show | The Rock | 118 Days |
4 | The Rock | The Rock | 35 Days |
5 | Chris Jericho | Hulk Hogan | 35 Days |
6 | Randy Orton | Randy Orton | <1 Day |
7 | Randy Orton | Edge | 210 Days |
8 | Edge | Randy Orton | 70 Days |
9 | Roman Reigns | Roman Reigns | 70 Days |
Triple H is a 14-time WWE World Champion with nine of his World Championship reigns being as the WWE Champion. The Game thrived at being the WWE Champion as he was the top heel in 2000, and he feuded with The Rock over the gold.
Triple H's Definitive 10 Best WWE Matches, Ranked
Before becoming the head of creative for WWE, Triple H had a legendary in-ring career. Here are The Game's ten best WWE matches, ranked.The Cerebral Assassin's longest WWE Championship reign was in 2008, and he held the championship for 210 days. Triple H defended the title against the likes of Edge, The Great Khali, Vladimir Kozlov, and Jeff Hardy during his time on SmackDown. Triple H's final WWE Championship reign was by winning his second Royal Rumble match in 2016 but he lost the title to Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 32.
6 Bret Hart Won The WWE Championship 5 Times
Total Length: 654 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ric Flair | Yokozuna | 174 Days |
2 | Yokozuna | Bob Backlund | 248 Days |
3 | Diesel | Shawn Michaels | 133 Days |
4 | Fatal-4-Way Match | Sycho Sid | 1 Day |
5 | The Undertaker | Shawn Michaels | 175 Days |
Bret "The Hitman" Hart is arguably the greatest technical wrestler to lace up a pair of boots. Hart won the WWE Championship five times throughout his career, and he had some legendary WWE Championship bouts.
He feuded with the likes of Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Yokozuna, Owen Hart, and The British Bulldog over the WWE Championship. Hart was one of the top stars in the New Generation Era, and his fifth WWE Title run was ended in controversial circumstances by Michaels at the 1997 Survivor Series.
5 Randy Orton Won The WWE Championship 10 Times
Total Length: 680 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Awarded The WWE Championship By Vince McMahon After John Cena Was Injured | Triple H | <1 Day |
2 | Triple H | Triple H | 203 Days |
3 | Triple H | Batista | 42 Days |
4 | Won Vacant Title In A Fatal-4-Way Match | John Cena | 90 Days |
5 | John Cena | John Cena | 21 Days |
6 | Sheamus | The Miz | 64 Days |
7 | Daniel Bryan | Daniel Bryan | 28 Days |
8 | Defeated Daniel Bryan For The Vacant Title In A Hell In A Cell Match | Daniel Bryan | 161 Days |
9 | Bray Wyatt | Jinder Mahal | 49 Days |
10 | Drew McIntyre | Drew McIntyre | 22 Days |
Randy Orton has enjoyed 10 reigns as WWE Champion, and he is overall a 14-time WWE World Champion. The Viper's first WWE Championship run didn't go according to plan as he dropped the WWE Championship to Triple H at No Mercy 2007 but won it back in the main event in a Last Man Standing match.
10 Backstage Tales About Randy Orton Fans Should Know
With Randy Orton's long and successful WWE career comes a plethora of backstage stories fans should know about The Viper.Orton has feuded with the likes of John Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Jeff Hardy, Drew McIntyre, and many more icons over the WWE Championship. It remains to be seen if Orton will add more WWE Championship reigns to his tally before he retires.
4 Roman Reigns Won The WWE Championship 4 Times
Total Length: 763+ Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Dean Ambrose For The Vacant Title At Survivor Series 2015 | Sheamus | <1 Day |
2 | Sheamus | Triple H | 41 Days |
3 | Triple H | Seth Rollins | 77 Days |
4 | Brock Lesnar | Current Champion | 645+ Days |
Roman Reigns is the longest-reigning Universal Champion in WWE history, and the Tribal Chief is enjoying a long run as WWE Champion. Reigns won the WWE Championship four times, and ironically his first and fourth reigns both kickstarted at the AT&T Stadium.
Reigns has collectively held the WWE Championship for 763 days and counting. He's currently seventh in the all-time list of longest-reigning WWE Champions and with his dominance, it won't be a surprise if he continues to rise the ranks.
3 Brock Lesnar Won The WWE Championship 7 Times
Total Length: 828 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Rock | Big Show | 83 Days |
2 | Kurt Angle | Kurt Angle | 118 Days |
3 | Kurt Angle | Eddie Guerrero | 150 Days |
4 | John Cena | Seth Rollins | 223 Days |
5 | Kofi Kingston | Drew McIntrye | 184 Days |
6 | Big E | Bobby Lashley | 27 Days |
7 | Bobby Lashley | Roman Reigns | 43 Days |
It's hard to believe that Brock Lesnar has won the WWE Championship seven times. He won the WWE Championship three times in his original WWE run from 2002-2004. Lesnar decimated John Cena for his fourth WWE Championship reign at SummerSlam 2014, and he squashed Kofi Kingston for his fifth WWE Title reign on the October 4, 2019 edition of SmackDown.
Lesnar is the youngest WWE Champion in WWE history as he beat The Rock for the title at SummerSlam 2002 when he was 25. The Beast Incarnate won the WWE Championship twice in 2022, and he was defeated by Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 38 in a match to crown the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
2 John Cena Won The WWE Championship 13 Times
Total Length: 1,254 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | JBL | Edge | 280 Days |
2 | Edge | Rob Van Dam | 133 Days |
3 | Edge | Vacated The WWE Title Due To Injury | 380 Days |
4 | Randy Orton | Randy Orton | 21 Days |
5 | Randy Orton | Sheamus | 49 Days |
6 | Sheamus | Batista | <1 Day |
7 | Batista | Sheamus | 84 Days |
8 | The Miz | CM Punk | 77 Days |
9 | Rey Mysterio | CM Punk | 20 Days |
10 | Alberto Del Rio | Alberto Del Rio | 14 Days |
11 | The Rock | Daniel Bryan | 133 Days |
12 | Won The Vacant Title In An Eight-Man Ladder Match | Brock Lesnar | 49 Days |
13 | AJ Styles | Bray Wyatt | 14 Days |
No man in WWE history has held the WWE Championship more times than John Cena. The 16-time WWE World Champion has held the WWE Championship a record 13 times. Cena saw off the likes of JBL, Edge, Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, Batista, and AJ Styles among others for his WWE Championship reigns.
Big Match John's 380-day WWE Championship reign from 2006-07 was easily his best WWE Championship run. He was the most polarizing star in WWE, and he beat the likes of Umaga, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, and Edge as some of his main contenders during his WWE Title run.
1 Hulk Hogan Won The WWE Championship 6 Times
Total Length: 2,188 Days
WWE Championship Reign Number | Defeated For Title | Dropped Title To | Length Of Title Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Iron Sheik | Andre the Giant | 1,474 Days |
2 | Randy Savage | The Ultimate Warrior | 364 Days |
3 | Sgt. Slaughter | The Undertaker | 248 Days |
4 | The Undertaker | Title Became Vacant | 4 Days |
5 | Yokozuna | Yokozuna | 70 Days |
6 | Triple H | The Undertaker | 28 Days |
It comes as no surprise that Hulk Hogan's six WWE Championship reigns lasted 2,188 days in total. Hogan's first WWE Championship reign lasted four years, and he was the reigning WWE Champion at the first three WrestleManias.
The Hulkster dropped the WWE Championship to Andre the Giant in controversial circumstances. Nevertheless, Hogan generally held the WWE Championship for a long time when he held the championship. His sixth and final WWE Championship reign was a fairytale as he defeated Triple H at Backlash 2002 for the title with Undertaker ending his WWE Championship reign once again.
