In April 1963, Buddy Rogers made history as the first man to hold the WWE Championship. The WWE Championship is the most coveted prize in the business, and Steve Austin has stated in the past if wrestlers don't aspire to win the WWE Championship, they shouldn't be in the industry. Of course, not every competitor is fortunate enough to hold the WWE Championship during their wrestling careers. Moreover, whilst wrestlers generally lose a championship by pinfall or submission, that isn't always the case as far as the WWE Championship is concerned.

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There's never a good time to get injured, but some reigning WWE Champions got hurt at the wrong time during their run with the title. WWE recognizes Bob Backlund's first run as WWE Champion as one continuous reign, and WWE does not recognize Antonio Inoki's run as WWE Champion with a vacancy. Nonetheless, it's always a shame to see the WWE Championship being vacated, but some reasons were more logical than others.

11 February 5, 1988: Ted DiBiase Purchases The WWE Championship

Ted DiBiase WWE Champion Cropped

"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase had an obsession with becoming WWE Champion but he could never get over the line in his clashes with Hulk Hogan. However, DiBiase would find a shortcut to win the WWE Championship as he thinks that money talks.

In most instances it does, but his plan failed on February 5, 1988. Andre the Giant controversially ended Hulk Hogan's 1,474-day reign as WWE Champion. DiBiase "bought" the WWE Championship from Andre and he wore it around his waist. Moreover, President Jack Tunney announced on Superstars, eight days later that the WWE Championship was vacant, and a tournament was formed at WrestleMania 4 to crown a new WWE Champion which Randy Savage won by beating Ted DiBiase in the final.

10 December 7, 1991: Controversial Title Changes Between The Undertaker & Hulk Hogan

Undertaker v Hogan This Tuesday In Texas 1991 Cropped

The Undertaker did the unthinkable at Survivor Series 1991 when he beat Hulk Hogan to become the youngest WWE Champion at the age of 26 years and 8 months. The Deadman had some help from his manager Paul Bearer and Ric Flair, who placed the steel chair in the ring when he executed the Tombstone.

Just six days later, Undertaker dropped the WWE Championship back to Hogan at This Tuesday in Texas. Hogan's run with the WWE Championship was abrupt, and Jack Tunney stripped Hogan from holding the title because of the controversy surrounding both title changes.

9 February 13, 1997: Shawn Michaels Loses His Smile

Shawn Michaels WWF Champion 1997 Cropped

Shawn Michaels threw a curveball in the WWE Championship title picture leading up to WrestleMania 13. On a special taping of Raw titled Thursday Raw Thursday, Michaels cut an emotional promo in the ring alongside Mr. McMahon and Gorilla Monsoon, and HBK vacated the WWE Championship.

The Showstopper infamously "lost his smile" and he was suffering a knee injury. Although, many believed that Michaels was feigning injury so he didn't have to lose the championship to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13. Nevertheless, Bret Hart, Sycho Sid, and The Undertaker were the beneficiaries as they all held the WWE Championship within a month.

8 Breakdown: In Your House, 1998: Kane & The Undertaker Pin Steve Austin Simultaneously

Stone Cold v Undertaker v Kane Breakdown 1998 Cropped

The deck was stacked against Steve Austin as he defended the WWE Championship against both Kane and The Undertaker in a triple threat match at Breakdown: In Your House in September 1998. Mr. McMahon was a man with a plan as Kane and Undertaker could not pin each other to win the WWE Championship.

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It was virtually a handicap match with Kane and The Undertaker working as a cohesive unit. There was tension between the pair as both wanted to win the WWE Championship. Ultimately, both chokeslammed Austin, and they pinned him simultaneously which saw Austin lose the gold. The title was vacant for two months until The Rock won the WWE Championship at Survivor Series 1998 in the Deadly Game tournament.

7 September 20, 1999: Mr. McMahon Remembers He Should Not Be On TV

Vince McMahon WWF Champion Cropped

Mr. McMahon shocked the world when he defeated Triple H for the WWE Championship on a taped episode of SmackDown with a helping hand from Steve Austin. McMahon became the oldest WWE Champion in history at the age of 54.

McMahon appeared on the following episode of Raw to relinquish the WWE Championship. Steve Austin beat Undertaker in an End of an Era First Blood match at Fully Loaded, which meant that McMahon should not be appearing on WWE programming for the foreseeable, and McMahon honored that by giving up the WWE Championship.

6 October 2, 2007: John Cena Tears His Pectoral Muscle

John Cena WWE Champion Cropped

John Cena was in the midst of a 380-day run as WWE Champion, but unfortunately, Cena tore his pectoral muscle in his match with Mr. Kennedy which required surgery. Mr. McMahon appeared on ECW, 24 hours later on October 2, 2007, and he announced that the WWE Championship was vacant.

McMahon guaranteed that No Mercy 2007 would be a historical night, and he wasn't wrong as he awarded Randy Orton the WWE Championship. Orton and Triple H would trade the title a couple more times by the time the night came to an end.

5 June 9, 2009: Batista Sustains A Bicep Injury

Batista WWE Champion 1st reign 2009 Cropped

Batista is no stranger to relinquishing World Championships because of injuries, and that's what happened with his first reign as WWE Champion. The Animal dethroned his former Evolution stablemate, Randy Orton, in a steel cage match at Extreme Rules.

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Unfortunately, that's as good as it got for Batista in his maiden WWE Championship reign as he tore his left bicep. He was written out of storylines as he was attacked by Legacy, and Batista's WWE Championship reign lasted just a couple of days.

4 July 17, 2011: CM Punks Walks Out With The WWE Championship

CM Punk Money In The Bank 2011 Cropped

CM Punk returned to his hometown of Chicago, and he departed with the WWE Championship as he beat John Cena for the title at Money in the Bank 2011 in a five-star epic. However, a tournament was held to crown a new WWE Champion with Punk's contract "expiring."

Rey Mysterio defeated The Miz in the tournament final to secure his first WWE Championship reign. Mysterio's joy was short-lived as Cena invoked his rematch clause, and he beat Mysterio for the title. Things got interesting, and CM Punk returned as he was still recognized as WWE Champion with two men holding the title at the same time.

3 September 16, 2013: Triple H Strips Daniel Bryan Of The WWE Title

Daniel Bryan WWE Champion 2013 2nd Reign Cropped

The Authority made Daniel Bryan's life a living hell after Bryan regained the WWE Championship from Randy Orton at Night of Champions 2013. However, there was a controversial finish, and Triple H demanded that Bryan would hand over the WWE Championship.

Bryan refused and he repeatedly shouted no. The former WWE Champion Orton entered the ring, and he RKO'd Bryan. The Game took the WWE Championship with him, and Orton beat Bryan for the vacant title a month later inside Hell in a Cell much to the annoyance of Bryan's biggest supporters.

2 June 9, 2014: Daniel Bryan's Legitimate Neck Injury

Daniel Bryan WWE Champion 2014 Cropped

Fans had to be incredibly patient to see Daniel Bryan win the WWE Championship again but it was worth the wait. Bryan defeated Randy Orton and Batista in an excellent triple threat match for the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 30.

Bryan was expected to go on a long run with the WWE Championship but he suffered a legitimate neck injury. Bryan was unable to defend his title at Money in the Bank 2014, and the Authority stripped him once again from the WWE Championship in June 2014.

1 November 5, 2015: Seth Rollins Tears His ACL & MCL

Seth Rollins WWE Champion 2015 Cropped

Seth Rollins was in the form of his life in 2015. The Architect cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 31 by interrupting Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns' WWE Championship match. It was the Heist of the Century, and Rollins clinched the WWE Championship for the first time.

Almost 8 months later, Rollins tore his ACL and MCL and he damaged his meniscus during a European tour. It would have been heartbreaking for Rollins' 220-day run as WWE Champion to end in this manner. Reigns and Sheamus would be his successors at the end of Survivor Series.