On this page, you find the full Title History for the WWF European Championship, 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 WWF European Championship was a secondary title contested in World Wrestling Entertainment, by men wrestlers.
The championship was first established on February 26, 1997, and the inaugural champion was The British Bulldog.
Introduced in 1997, the European Championship crowned its first title holder in a tournament. In the finals, appropriately right in the heart of Europe, in Berlin, Germany, the British Bulldog prevailed over Owen Hart. The championship didn't make regular appearances in the United States, however, until after Shawn Michaels defeated the British Bulldog in Birmingham, England at One Night Only. After Michaels won the title, the European Championship began being defended on U.S. soil more often.
The European Championship was retired on April 4, 1999, after Shane McMahon defeated X-Pac, but it was then brought back and awarded to Mideon in June of that same year. The European Championship became a coveted title and was strapped around the waists of some of the top WWE Superstars including the likes of Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero. But after Rob Van Dam defeated European Champion Jeff Hardy to unify the Intercontinental and European Championships, the European Championship was once again deemed inactive.
The WWF European Championship was retired on July 22, 2002, when it was unified into the WWE Intercontinental Championship, with the final champion being Rob Van Dam.
WWF European Championship: Title History
For the Title History of the championship in which this title was unified into, see the page for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
WWF European Championship: Title Reigns
N. Image Champion Reign Unified into the WWE Intercontinental Championship
After Rob Van Dam unified the title into the Intercontinental Title defeating Jeff Hardy, the European Title was retired.37 Rob Van Dam 1
Rob Van Dam unified the title into the Intercontinental Title defeating Jeff Hardy in a unification ladder match. While this reign is not listed in the WWE.com Title History, Rob Van Dam is listed as former European Champion on his WWE.com profile.0days36 Jeff Hardy 1
14days35 William Regal 4
63days34 Spike Dudley 1
The title was renamed WWE European Championship on May 5, 2002.28days33 William Regal 3
The title became exclusive to Raw when Regal was drafted to the Raw brand on March 26, 2002.18days32 Diamond Dallas Page 1
49days31 Christian 1
91days30 Bradshaw 1
10days29 The Hurricane 1
56days28 Matt Hardy 1
123days27 Eddie Guerrero 2
25days26 Test 1
69days25 William Regal 2
49days24 Crash Holly 1
2days23 William Regal 1
47days22 Al Snow 1
46days21 Perry Saturn 1
39days20 Eddie Guerrero 1
111days19 Chris Jericho 1
1day18 Kurt Angle 1
52days17 Val Venis 1
60days16 The British Bulldog 2
45days15 D'Lo Brown 4
32days14 Mark Henry 1
Jeff Jarrett gave the title to Henry as a gift for his assisting Jarrett in defeating D'Lo Brown at SummerSlam (Jarrett also won the Intercontinental Title).34days13 Jeff Jarrett 1
1day12 D'Lo Brown 3
28days11 Mideon 1
Shane McMahon awarded Mideon the title after he found it in McMahon's travel bag.34daysDeactivated
Shane McMahon "retired as champion".10 Shane McMahon 1
48days9 X-Pac 2
120days8 D'Lo Brown 2
13days7 X-Pac 1
14days6 D'Lo Brown 1
63days5 Triple H 2
Defeated an injured Owen Hart in an impromptu match originally scheduled for WrestleMania XIV.126days4 Owen Hart 1
Defeated The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust / Dustin Rhodes, who was dressed as Triple H; however, Commissioner Slaughter awards the title to Hart considering Goldust / Dustin Rhodes as a substitution for Triple H.53days3 Triple H 1
Michaels was ordered to defend the title against Triple H by WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter, and he intentionally lost the match, because he also held the WWF World Heavyweight Title.31days2 Shawn Michaels 1
93days1 The British Bulldog 1
Defeated Owen Hart in a tournament final to become the first champion.201days
WWF European Championship: Names & Belt Designs
WWF European Championship: Statistics
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion
WWFFebruary 26, 1997 July 22, 2002 -
Defended With
- WWF Intercontinental Championship - WWF Euro-Continental Championship (February 27, 2000 - April 1, 2000)
- WWF Intercontinental Championship - WWF Euro-Continental Championship (July 26, 1999 - August 23, 1999)
- Promotion
World Wrestling Entertainment - TerritoryWorld Tier 2
- DivisionSecondary
- GenderMale
- Date EstablishedFebruary 26, 1997
- Date RetiredJuly 22, 2002
- Unified Into
WWE Intercontinental Championship
- First Champion
The British Bulldog - Final Champion
Rob Van Dam
Most Number of Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | William Regal | 4 |
| 2 | D'Lo Brown | 4 |
| 3 | The British Bulldog | 2 |
| 4 | Triple H | 2 |
| 5 | Eddie Guerrero | 2 |
| 6 | X-Pac | 2 |
Most Combined Days
| Rank | Wrestler | Days |
|---|---|---|
| The British Bulldog | 246 | |
| William Regal | 177 | |
| Triple H | 157 | |
| Eddie Guerrero | 136 | |
| D'Lo Brown | 136 |
Longest Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reign | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| The British Bulldog | March 3, 1997 - September 20, 1997 | 201 | |
| Triple H | March 16, 1998 - July 20, 1998 | 126 | |
| Matt Hardy | April 26, 2001 - August 27, 2001 | 123 | |
| X-Pac | October 18, 1998 - February 15, 1999 | 120 | |
| Eddie Guerrero | April 3, 2000 - July 23, 2000 | 111 |































