On this page, you find the full Title History for the World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13), with all Championship Info, Statistics, the Belt Design changes through the years, and the full list of Title Reigns, along with dates, events, and reign durations.
The World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13) was a World Title contested in World Wrestling Entertainment, by men wrestlers.
The championship was first established on September 22, 2002, and the inaugural champion was Triple H.
This is a newer version of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, with its own distinct lineage.
The World Heavyweight Championship was brought to Raw by former General Manager Eric Bischoff after WWE Champion Brock Lesnar became exclusive to SmackDown.
The World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13) was retired on December 15, 2013, when it was unified into the WWE Championship, with the final champion being Randy Orton.
A similar championship, the World Heavyweight Championship, has been later introduced, which does not share the lineage with this title.
World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13): Title History
For the Title History of the newer version of this championship, see the page for the World Heavyweight Championship.
For the Title History of the championship in which this title was unified into, see the page for the WWE Championship.
World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13): Title Reigns
N. Image Champion Reign World Wrestling Entertainment Unified into the WWE Championship
- December 15, 2013
- Houston, TX
- | WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2013
- 4264+ days
Then-WWE Champion Randy Orton defeated John Cena to unify the World Heavyweight Title with the WWE Title. The World Heavyweight Title was retired.55 
Randy Orton 4
- December 15, 2013
- Houston, TX
- | WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2013
- 0 days
0- days
54 
John Cena 3
- October 27, 2013
- Miami, FL
- | WWE Hell in a Cell 2013
- 49 days
49- days
53 
Alberto Del Rio 2
- June 16, 2013
- Rosemont, IL
- | WWE Payback 2013
- 133 days
133- days
52 
Dolph Ziggler 2
- April 8, 2013
- East Rutherford, NJ
- | Raw
- 69 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract.69- days
51 
Alberto Del Rio 1
- January 11, 2013
- Miami, FL
- | SmackDown
- 87 days
87- days
50 
Big Show 2
- October 28, 2012
- Atlanta, GA
- | WWE Hell in a Cell 2012
- 75 days
75- days
49 
Sheamus 1
- April 1, 2012
- Miami, FL
- | WWE WrestleMania 28
- 210 days
210- days
48 
Daniel Bryan 1
- December 18, 2011
- Baltimore, MD
- | WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2011
- 105 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract.105- days
47 
Big Show 1
- December 18, 2011
- Baltimore, MD
- | WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2011
- 0 days
0- days
46 
Mark Henry 1
- September 18, 2011
- Buffalo, NY
- | WWE Night of Champions 2011
- 91 days
91- days
45 
Randy Orton 3
- August 14, 2011
- Los Angeles, CA
- | WWE SummerSlam 2011
- 35 days
On August 29, 2011, the brand extension ended, allowing the World Heavyweight Title to be defended on both Raw and SmackDown.35- days
World Wrestling Entertainment: SmackDown 44 
Christian 2
- July 17, 2011
- Rosemont, IL
- | WWE Money in the Bank 2011
- 28 days
28- days
43 Randy Orton 2
- May 6, 2011
- Orlando, FL
- | SmackDown
- 72 days
72- days
42 Christian 1
- May 1, 2011
- Tampa, FL
- | WWE Extreme Rules 2011
- 5 days
Defeated Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match to win the vacant title.5- days
Vacant
- April 15, 2011
- Albany, NY
- | SmackDown
- 16 days
Edge relinquished the title when he announced his immediate retirement as a result of being diagnosed with spinal stenosis.16- days
41 
Edge 7
- February 18, 2011
- San Diego, CA
- | SmackDown
- 56 days
56- days
40 
Dolph Ziggler 1
- February 18, 2011
- San Diego, CA
- | SmackDown
- 0 days
SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero awarded Ziggler the title.0- days
Vacant
- February 18, 2011
- San Diego, CA
- | SmackDown
- 0 days
Edge was stripped of the title by SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero as a result of using the spear (which had been banned).0- days
39 Edge 6
- December 19, 2010
- Houston, TX
- | WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2010
- 61 days
61- days
38 
Kane 1
- July 18, 2010
- Kansas City, MO
- | WWE Money in the Bank 2010
- 154 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract.154- days
37 
Rey Mysterio 2
- June 20, 2010
- Uniondale, NY
- | WWE Fatal 4-Way
- 28 days
The title was referred to as the "World Championship" due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight.28- days
36 
Jack Swagger 1
- April 2, 2010
- Las Vegas, NV
- | SmackDown
- 79 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract. Swagger transferred from Raw to SmackDown upon winning the title.79- days
35 
Chris Jericho 3
- February 21, 2010
- St. Louis, MO
- | WWE Elimination Chamber 2010
- 40 days
40- days
34 
The Undertaker 3
- October 4, 2009
- Newark, NJ
- | WWE Hell in a Cell 2009
- 140 days
140- days
33 
CM Punk 3
- August 23, 2009
- Los Angeles, CA
- | WWE SummerSlam 2009
- 42 days
42- days
32 
Jeff Hardy 2
- July 26, 2009
- Philadelphia, PA
- | WWE Night of Champions 2009
- 28 days
28- days
31 CM Punk 2
- June 7, 2009
- New Orleans, LA
- | WWE Extreme Rules 2009
- 49 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract.49- days
30 Jeff Hardy 1
- June 7, 2009
- New Orleans, LA
- | WWE Extreme Rules 2009
- 0 days
0- days
29 Edge 5
- April 26, 2009
- Providence, RI
- | WWE Backlash 2009
- 42 days
The title returned exclusive to SmackDown due to Edge's status as a SmackDown wrestler.42- days
28 
John Cena 2
- April 5, 2009
- Houston, TX
- | WWE WrestleMania XXV
- 21 days
The title became exclusive to the Raw brand due to Cena's status as a Raw wrestler.21- days
World Wrestling Entertainment: Raw 27 
Edge 4
- February 15, 2009
- Seattle, WA
- | WWE No Way Out 2009
- 49 days
The title became exclusive to SmackDown due to Edge's status as a SmackDown wrestler.49- days
World Wrestling Entertainment: SmackDown 26 John Cena 1
- November 23, 2008
- Boston, MA
- | WWE Survivor Series 2008
- 84 days
84- days
World Wrestling Entertainment: Raw 25 Chris Jericho 2
- November 3, 2008
- Tampa, FL
- | Raw
- 20 days
20- days
24 
Batista 4
- October 26, 2008
- Phoenix, AZ
- | WWE Cyber Sunday 2008
- 8 days
8- days
23 Chris Jericho 1
- September 7, 2008
- Cleveland, OH
- | WWE Unforgiven 2008
- 49 days
Jericho replaced champion CM Punk, who was attacked prior to the match, in a Championship Scramble to win the title.49- days
22 CM Punk 1
- June 30, 2008
- Oklahoma City, OK
- | Raw
- 69 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract. The title became exclusive to RAW due to Punk's status as a Raw wrestler.69- days
21 
Edge 3
- June 1, 2008
- San Diego, CA
- | WWE One Night Stand 2008
- 29 days
Defeated The Undertaker in a TLC match to win the vacant title.29- days
World Wrestling Entertainment: SmackDown Vacant
- May 2, 2008
- Atlantic City, NJ
- | SmackDown
- 30 days
SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero stripped The Undertaker of the title for using the Hell's Gate submission hold, which she deemed to be dangerous.30- days
20 
The Undertaker 2
- March 30, 2008
- Orlando, FL
- | WWE WrestleMania XXIV
- 33 days
33- days
19 Edge 2
- December 16, 2007
- Pittsburgh, PA
- | WWE Armageddon 2007
- 105 days
105- days
18 Batista 3
- September 16, 2007
- Memphis, TN
- | WWE Unforgiven 2007
- 91 days
91- days
17 
The Great Khali 1
- July 20, 2007
- Laredo, TX
- | SmackDown!
- 58 days
Won a 20-man battle royal for the vacant title.58- days
Vacant
- July 20, 2007
- Laredo, TX
- | SmackDown!
- 0 days
Edge vacated the title after he was sidelined with a pectoral injury.0- days
16 Edge 1
- May 11, 2007
- Pittsburgh, PA
- | SmackDown!
- 70 days
Cashed in the Money in the Bank contract. Following the win, Edge transferred from Raw to SmackDown!70- days
15 The Undertaker 1
- April 1, 2007
- Detroit, MI
- | WWE WrestleMania 23
- 40 days
40- days
14 
Batista 2
- November 26, 2006
- Philadelphia, PA
- | WWE Survivor Series 2006
- 126 days
126- days
13 
King Booker 1
- July 23, 2006
- Indianapolis, IN
- | WWE The Great American Bash 2006
- 126 days
126- days
12 Rey Mysterio 1
- April 2, 2006
- Rosemont, IL
- | WWE WrestleMania 22
- 112 days
The title was referred to as the "World Championship" due to Mysterio not being a heavyweight.112- days
11 
Kurt Angle 1
- January 13, 2006
- Philadelphia, PA
- | SmackDown!
- 79 days
Won a 20-man battle royal for the vacant title.79- days
Vacant
- January 13, 2006
- Philadelphia, PA
- | SmackDown!
- 0 days
Batista vacated the title after he was sidelined with a legit triceps injury.0- days
10 Batista 1
- April 3, 2005
- Los Angeles, CA
- | WWE WrestleMania 21
- 285 days
The title became exclusive to SmackDown! following the 2005 WWE draft lottery.285- days
World Wrestling Entertainment: Raw 9 
Triple H 5
- January 9, 2005
- San Juan, PR
- | WWE New Year's Revolution 2005
- 84 days
Defeated Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Batista and Edge in an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant title.84- days
Vacant
- December 6, 2004
- Baltimore, MD
- | Raw
- 34 days
The title was vacated after a double fall occurred in a triple threat title match.34- days
8 Triple H 4
- September 12, 2004
- Portland, OR
- | WWE Unforgiven 2004
- 85 days
85- days
7 
Randy Orton 1
- August 15, 2004
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- | WWE SummerSlam 2004
- 28 days
28- days
6 
Chris Benoit 1
- March 14, 2004
- New York, NY
- | WWE WrestleMania XX
- 154 days
154- days
5 Triple H 3
- December 14, 2003
- Orlando, FL
- | WWE Armageddon 2003
- 91 days
91- days
4 
Goldberg 1
- September 21, 2003
- Hershey, PA
- | WWE Unforgiven 2003
- 84 days
84- days
3 Triple H 2
- December 15, 2002
- Sunrise, FL
- | WWE Armageddon 2002
- 280 days
280- days
2 
Shawn Michaels 1
- November 17, 2002
- New York, NY
- | WWE Survivor Series 2002
- 28 days
28- days
1 Triple H 1
- September 2, 2002
- Milwaukee, WI
- | Raw
- 76 days
After the WWE Undisputed Title became exclusive to SmackDown!, Raw GM Eric Bischoff created the World Heavyweight Championship (a revived WWE version of WCW World Heavyweight Championship) to be the world title of Raw and awarded it to Triple H. At No Mercy, Triple H unified the Intercontinental Title into the World Heavyweight Title.76- days
For the Title History of the previous version of this championship, see the page for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13): Names & Belt Designs
-
- World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 23, 2006December 15, 2013
- World ChampionshipApril 3, 2006July 22, 2006
- World Heavyweight ChampionshipSeptember 2, 2002April 2, 2006
World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13): Statistics
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
WWEAugust 29, 2011 December 15, 2013 Promotion WWEBrand
SmackDown
April 26, 2009 August 28, 2011 Promotion WWEBrand
Raw
April 5, 2009 April 25, 2009 Promotion WWEBrand
SmackDown
February 15, 2009 April 4, 2009 Promotion WWEBrand
Raw
June 30, 2008 February 14, 2009 Promotion WWEBrand
SmackDown
June 30, 2005 June 29, 2008 Promotion WWEBrand
Raw
September 2, 2002 June 29, 2005
- Promotion
World Wrestling Entertainment
- GenderMale
- Title TypeMain / World
- Date EstablishedSeptember 22, 2002
- Preceded By
WCW World Heavyweight Championship - Date RetiredDecember 15, 2013
- Unified Into
WWE Championship - Followed By
World Heavyweight Championship
- First ChampionTriple H
- Final ChampionRandy Orton
Most Number of Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edge | 7 |
| 2 | Triple H | 5 |
| 3 | Batista | 4 |
| 4 | Randy Orton | 4 |
| 5 | The Undertaker | 3 |
| 6 | CM Punk | 3 |
| 7 | John Cena | 3 |
| 8 | Chris Jericho | 3 |
Most Combined Days
| Rank | Wrestler | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Triple H | 616 | |
| Batista | 510 | |
| Edge | 412 | |
| Alberto Del Rio | 220 | |
| The Undertaker | 213 |
Longest Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reign | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batista | April 3, 2005 - January 13, 2006 | 285 | |
| Triple H | December 15, 2002 - September 21, 2003 | 280 | |
| Sheamus | April 1, 2012 - October 28, 2012 | 210 | |
| Kane | July 18, 2010 - December 19, 2010 | 154 | |
| Chris Benoit | March 14, 2004 - August 15, 2004 | 154 |