The WWE World Championship is the richest prize in the wrestling industry and every championship reign has a story behind it. Here are a few interesting facts and stats about the WWE World Championship that might surprise you.
#4 – CM Punk’s Second WWE Championship Reign Was Longer Than The Rock’s 8 Reigns
CM Punk defeated Alberto Del Rio at Survivor Series back in 2011 to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion when he made Del Rio tap out to the Anaconda Vice. The championship win was a historic victory for CM Punk as he would go on to hold the title for a total of 434 days.
The Rock has had 8 World Championship reigns in the WWE so far, but CM Punk’s 434 day title reign was longer than all of The Rock’s 8 title reigns combined. Over the course of his entire WWE career The Rock held the WWE Championship for a combined total of 367 days.
Ironically enough it was The Rock who took the WWE Title from CM Punk. The Rock challenged Punk for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble in 2013 and he defeated him with The People’s Elbow to end his historic reign.
#3 – Christian Is A Two Time World Champion But He Never Won The Belt By Pinfall Or Submission
Christian won the World Heavyweight Championship twice during his WWE career but he never won the belt by pinfall or submission. Christian’s first World Championship win came at Extreme Rules 2011 when he defeated Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship in a ladder match. Christian won his second World Heavyweight Championship by getting kicked in the nuts.
Randy Orton defended his World Title against Christian at Money in the Bank in 2011 with the stipulation being that if Orton got disqualified the belt would change hands. Christian of course used the stipulation to his advantage when he spit in Orton’s face. Orton then retaliated with a low blow causing the disqualification finish and Christian captured his second World Heavyweight Championship.
#2 – Triple H Is The Only Man To Defend A WWE World Heavyweight Title Against Both Goldberg And Gillberg
Yes, that’s right, Gillberg once faced Triple H in a WWE Championship match. During an episode of SmackDown in 1999 Shane McMahon told Triple H that he would be defending his title against a “bald headed s.o.b.” It was later revealed that Triple H’s opponent was none other than Gillberg. Triple H defeated Gillberg with the Pedigree and then beat him down with a steel chair after the match.
Triple H also defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Goldberg at Unforgiven in 2003 and he lost the title to the former WCW star. He then won it back a few months later by pinning Goldberg at the Armageddon pay-per-view in a triple threat match that also featured Kane.
#1 – Stone Cold Steve Austin Only Ever Won The WWE Championship At WrestleMania Or On Raw
Steve Austin is a 6 time WWE World Champion and he competed in countless title matches throughout the course of his WWE career. But Steve Austin only ever won the belt on Raw or at WrestleMania.
Austin won the WWE Championship when he defeated his opponents at WrestleMania 14, 15 and 17. He also beat Kane for the belt on Raw in June of 1998 and then he defeated The Undertaker for the title on Raw in June of 1999. Steve Austin’s sixth and final WWE Championship reign began on October 8, 2001 when he defeated Kurt Angle for the title on Raw.
Austin’s sixth reign with the belt was his last. He would hold the title for 62 days before losing it to Chris Jericho a few months later. Jericho beat Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night at the Vengeance pay-per-view in 2001 to unify the WCW and WWE World Championship belts.
