The World Heavyweight Championship is one of the most prestigious championships in the history of WWE. The legendary Big Gold Belt is recognizable to wrestling fans as it was used in NWA and WCW before WWE used it in 2001 as the WCW Championship and was renamed the World Championship. However, in September 2002, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff reinstated the title, and it was called the World Heavyweight Championship. The title functioned for 11 years before it was retired at TLC 2013 as it was unified with the WWE Championship.
WWE's roster was bloated by 2002, and the brand split allowed for two World Champions to represent Raw and SmackDown. Furthermore, some of the all-time greats have got their hands on the World Heavyweight Championship, and there were some intriguing trivia that wrestling fans should know about the Big Gold Belt.
10 Triple H Was The Inaugural Champion
The Undisputed WWE Championship was no longer disputed as Brock Lesnar moved from Raw to SmackDown, and the title became the WWE Championship, which was exclusive to SmackDown. However, Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff awarded Triple H, the World Heavyweight Championship on the September 2, 2002, edition of Raw.
The Game was the perfect inaugural World Heavyweight Champion as his star power could help establish the championship. His maiden World Heavyweight Championship reign only lasted two months, but Triple H would hold the title, five times, and his "Reign of Terror" began by holding the Big Gold Belt.
9 The Title Was Defended In The First Elimination Chamber Match
The first-ever Elimination Chamber match took place in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden at Survivor Series 2002, and the World Heavyweight Championship was at stake. Triple H put his championship on the line against Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho, Kane, Rob Van Dam, and Booker T.
The inaugural Elimination Chamber match is one of the best that WWE produced. The Game had to be rushed to the hospital afterward as RVD crushed his trachea. Nevertheless, the Heartbreak Kid grabbed the headlines as he executed Sweet Chin Music on Triple H to become World Heavyweight Champion for the first time, which was his fourth and final World Championship reign.
8
Batista Had The Longest Reign
Six-time WWE World Champion Batista is synonymous with the World Heavyweight Championship. The Animal defeated Triple H for his first World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 21. Batista would go on to hold the championship for 282 days.
Batista's run as World Heavyweight Champion is the longest World Heavyweight Championship reign in WWE history. Moreover, Batista did a wonderful job as champion as he beat Triple H in a trilogy of matches, and he saw off the likes of JBL and Eddie Guerrero in his title reign. Unfortunately, he had to relinquish the title in January 2006 as he tore his biceps. He would have held the title for longer had he not sustained an untimely injury.
7 The Title Never Changed Hands At The Royal Rumble
The World Heavyweight Championship was defended at the Royal Rumble in 11 successive Rumbles from 2003-2013, and you would have thought that the title would change hands multiple times at the Rumble. That failed to materialize with champions entering and leaving the event as World Heavyweight Champions.
Triple H from 2003-05, Kurt Angle, Batista, Edge in 2008 and 2011, John Cena, The Undertaker, Daniel Bryan, and Alberto Del Rio were the reigning World Heavyweight Champions who managed to keep a hold of their titles. It was a good omen as the majority of the World Heavyweight Champions who retained at the Rumble walked into WrestleMania as champions except for Cena in 2009 and Undertaker a year later.
6 The Title Changed Hands By Disqualification Once
Championships are traditionally won by pinfall or submission, depending on the stipulation of the match. However, history was made in Randy Orton and Christian's World Heavyweight Championship match at Money in the Bank 2011 as Orton could drop the World Heavyweight Title by disqualification.
Orton and Christian had excellent chemistry, but Captain Charisma utilized the stipulation to his advantage as he spat in Orton's face. The Viper was incensed, and he low-blowed Christian, which was enough for Christian to reclaim the World Heavyweight Championship. It was the first time in WWE history that a World Championship would change hands by disqualification.
5 The Undertaker Was The Oldest Champion
The Undertaker clinched his third and final World Heavyweight Championship by defeating CM Punk in a Hell in a Cell match. Undertaker's victory was a historical one as he became the oldest World Heavyweight Champion at the age of 44 years and 7 months.
The Deadman's final run as World Heavyweight Champion was booked brilliantly as he retained the title against the likes of Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, and Batista. His four-month reign was curtailed by Chris Jericho in an Elimination Chamber match, all thanks to outside interference from Shawn Michaels.
4 The Title Changed Hands At Six WrestleManias In Succession
Major title changes are typically reserved for WrestleMania, and it wasn't good to walk into WrestleMania as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion from 2004-09. The title changed hands in six WrestleManias in a row, with Triple H dropping the championship at WrestleMania 20 to kickstart this run, and he lost it a year later to Batista at WrestleMania 21.
Rey Mysterio won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22, Batista dropped the title to Undertaker at WrestleMania 23, and Edge dropped the World Heavyweight Championship to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 24, and to John Cena at WrestleMania 25. Chris Jericho stopped the rut by consigning Edge to his third consecutive defeat in a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania.26.
3 The First Time A World Championship Changed Hands In A Hell In A Cell Match
Hell in a Cell matches are typically used to blow off feuds and several World Championship matches have taken place in the Devil's Favorite Playground. Surprisingly, it would take 12 years after the first Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels at Badd Blood: In Your House, for a World Title to change hands in a Hell in a Cell match.
The Undertaker and CM Punk opened up proceedings at Hell in a Cell 2009 for the World Heavyweight Championship, and Undertaker defeated Punk in a relatively short match to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, which was the first time a World Championship change hands in a Hell in a Cell match.
2 Randy Orton Had Several Records As World Heavyweight Champion
Randy Orton is one of the most prolific World Champions in WWE history as he is a 14-time WWE World Champion. However, the Viper boasts several records as World Heavyweight Champion. Orton is the youngest World Champion in WWE history as he was just 24 when he won his maiden World Championship at SummerSlam 2004.
TLC 2013 was a historic night for Orton as he was the reigning WWE Champion, and he clashed with old foe John Cena, who was the World Heavyweight Champion in a TLC title unification match. Ultimately, Orton defeated Cena to unify the two titles, and he became the final World Heavyweight Champion and the shortest-reigning World Heavyweight Champion as it was unified with his WWE Championship.
1 The Rated-R Superstar Boasts The Most Reigns
No man in WWE history has held the World Heavyweight Championship more times than Edge. The Rated-R Superstar is a record-setting seven-time World Heavyweight Champion which is a phenomenal achievement. However, Edge's second World Heavyweight Championship reign from Armageddon 2007 to WrestleMania 24 was his longest World Title reign which lasted three months.
Edge's final two World Heavyweight Championship reigns were as a babyface with the majority of his World Title victories coming as a heel. Nevertheless, Edge has won the World Heavyweight Championship twice in TLC matches, he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on The Undertaker, and he beat John Cena for the gold twice in an Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out 2009 and in a competitive Last Man Standing match at Backlash 2009.