The WWE Championship is a men's professional wrestling world heavyweight championship created and promoted by the American promotion WWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. Since April 2022, the title has been jointly held and defended with the WWE Universal Championship as the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, but both titles have maintained their individual lineages. It is one of three world titles in WWE, alongside its companion Universal Championship on SmackDown, and the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw. The current champion is Cody Rhodes, who is in his first reign. He won the undisputed title by defeating previous champion Roman Reigns in a Bloodline Rules match at WrestleMania XL Night 2 on April 7, 2024.
Two-time champion Bruno Sammartino. His first reign is the longest at over seven years (2,803 days) and he has the longest combined reign (4,040 days); he is pictured here in his second reign (1973–1982 belt design) when the title was known as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship.
Record 13-time WWE Champion John Cena – shown with the "Spinner Belt", which was used to represent the title from 2005 to 2013
Four-time champion Daniel Bryan, shown with the 2013–2014 version of the championship belt (in his right hand) and the Big Gold Belt, which were used in tandem to represent the unified WWE World Heavyweight Championship from December 2013 to August 2014
Roman Reigns with the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship belt (2023–present), which represents both the WWE and Universal Championships.
Professional wrestling championship
A championship or title in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in predetermined rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various competitors, which cast them as villains and heroes. The bookers in a company will place the title on the most accomplished performer, or whom they believe will generate fan interest in terms of event attendance and television viewership.
Jim Londos had the longest reign with the original World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship
Four-times NWA World Women's Championship The Fabulous Moolah whose combined regime of that title stands at 9,925 days, that is approximately 28 years
Diamond Dallas Page as WCW World Heavyweight Champion. The title is represented by the Big Gold Belt, which represented six different championships.
Bruno Sammartino, the longest reigning WWWF World Heavyweight Champion, was able to keep his championship while inactive for part of 1976
