The WWE Championship has been in operation since 1963. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers was the first man that had the privilege of holding the WWE Championship. Moreover, John Cena has the record of an outstanding 13 WWE Championship reigns to his name, and Randy Orton is not far behind with 10.
It was a big deal when the WWE Championship changed hands, and it's changed at the biggest of stages such as the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and Survivor Series. However, there seems to be a good time of the year to win the WWE Championship with title changes happening several times more often than others.
10 August - 8
Considering SummerSlam has taken place in August, the WWE Championship has only changed hands eight times in August which is surprising. Brock Lesnar won two of his WWE Championships at SummerSlam by beating The Rock in 2002, and he decimated John Cena, 12 years later.
Triple H won his first WWE Championship on the Raw after SummerSlam 1999. Bret Hart clinched his fifth and final WWE Championship at The Undertaker's expense. Daniel Bryan won the WWE Championship for the first time at SummerSlam 2013, but Randy Orton had the last laugh as he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase to regain the WWE Title.
9 December - 10
December is the final month of the year full of festivities but it doesn't mean that professional wrestling stops. Stan Stasiak's transitional WWE Championship reign began in 1973, and he dropped the title, nine days later to Bruno Sammartino who kickstarted his second WWE Title run that lasted over three years.
The likes of Mankind and Jeff Hardy won the WWE Championship for the first time, which were popular title victories. Sheamus upset John Cena at TLC 2009 to get his hands on the WWE Championship for the first time. Hulk Hogan and Kurt Angle added more WWE Championship reigns to their collection, and Chris Jericho became the first-ever Undisputed WWE Champion at Vengeance 2001.
8 October - 12
There were a dozen of WWE Championship title changes that occurred in October. Bret Hart's maiden WWE Championship reign began this month when he saw off Ric Flair in 1992. Surprisingly, it would be another eight years until the WWE Title changed hands in October with Kurt Angle dethroning The Rock to become WWE Champion for the first time.
Steve Austin clinched his sixth and final WWE Championship in October 2001. There was a historical night at No Mercy 2007 with the WWE Championship changing hands three times in one night between Randy Orton and Triple H. Orton racked up three more WWE Championship wins in October all coming in Hell in a Cell matches which included his 10th WWE Championship win at Hell in a Cell 2020.
7 March - 12
March is WrestleMania season, and a slew of wrestlers have captured the WWE Championship for the first time at WrestleMania. Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, Seth Rollins, and Drew McIntyre (albeit by recording) all clinched their first WWE Championships at WrestleMania in March.
Hulk Hogan won two WWE Championships at WrestleMania 5 and 7. The Undertaker, Austin, Triple H, Brock Lesnar, and John Cena added to their WWE Championship collection when WrestleMania was held in March.
6 September - 12
Mr. McMahon became the oldest WWE Champion at the age of 54 when he shocked Triple H for the title in September 1999. That was arguably the most shocking WWE Championship title change to take place in September.
Ric Flair clinched his second WWE Championship in September 1992 when he regained the gold from Randy Savage. John Cena won the WWE Championship three times in September. Triple H, Kurt Angle, and Brock Lesnar also won the WWE Title in September. AJ Styles clinched his maiden WWE Title in September when he dethroned Dean Ambrose, and Big E cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase by beating Bobby Lashley for the title.
5 June - 13
A slew of WWE Championship title changes occurred in June as it happened 13 times. Steve Austin won two WWE Championships in June 1998 and 1999 both times on the Raw after King of the Ring. Rob Van Dam and Dean Ambrose became WWE Champions for the first time after they cashed in their Money in the Bank contracts in 2006 and 2016 respectively.
Yokozuna regained the WWE Championship from Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring 1993, and The Rock regained the title at the same event in 2000. Kane's one-day WWE Championship reign began at King of the Ring 1998, and Randy Orton and John Cena captured the WWE Championship once more in June. Batista captured the WWE Championship for the first time at Extreme Rules 2009, but he had to relinquish the title, a couple of days later with an injury.
4 February - 14
February has traditionally been seen as the final pitstop on the road to WrestleMania. There have been 14 WWE Championship title changes in February which has seen the title picture change when it comes down to the WWE Title match at WrestleMania.
The Rock clinched his third and sixth WWE Championships in February before WrestleMania took on Steve Austin. Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund began their long WWE Title reigns in the second month of the year. Eddie Guerrero won the WWE Championship for the first time at Brock Lesnar's expense at No Way Out 2004. Moreover, the likes of Triple H, John Cena, Bray Wyatt, and Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship in Elimination Chamber matches.
3 January - 16
A plethora of wrestlers would like to get their years off to fantastic starts in January. There have been no fewer than 16 WWE Championship title changes with nine coming at the Royal Rumble. The Rock won the WWE Title twice at the Rumble in 1999 and 2013 as did John Cena in 2006 and 2017, which was his 16th World Championship reign. Hulk Hogan's four-year WWE Championship reign began in January 1984 when he dethroned the Iron Sheik.
Ric Flair and Triple H won Royal Rumble matches for the WWE Title in 1992 and 2016 respectively. Shawn Michaels won his second WWE Championship at the 1997 Royal Rumble. Edge won his first WWE Championship at New Year's Revolution 2006 in the first Money in the Bank cash in and he beat Jeff Hardy for the WWE Title at the 2009 Royal Rumble.
2 November - 17
November is Thanksgiving season in the United States, and Survivor Series has been a Thanksgiving tradition. Nevertheless, a whopping 17 title changes took place in November. The Undertaker and The Rock made their WWE debuts at Survivor Series in 1990 and 1996 respectively, but they both won their first WWE Championships at the event in 1991 and 1998 respectively.
Big Show won both of his WWE Championships at Survivor Series in 1999 and 2002. Bob Backlund, Bret Hart, Sycho Sid, and Shawn Michaels also claimed the WWE Championship between 1994-1997 at Survivor Series. Moreover, the likes of AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan won their WWE Titles unexpectedly on episodes of SmackDown close to Survivor Series. Edge won the WWE Championship at the 2008 iteration of the event, and CM Punk's historic 434-day run as WWE Champion began at Survivor Series 2011. Roman Reigns won his first WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2015 although his joy was short-lived with Sheamus cashing in his Money in the Bank contract.
1 April - 19
There's no surprise that April has played host to the most WWE Championship title changes. WrestleMania generally takes place in April, and a lot of wrestlers have got their hands on the WWE Championship at the Showcase of the Immortals.
The Ultimate Warrior, Yokozuna, John Cena, and Kofi Kingston won their first WWE Championships at WrestleMania when it was held in April. However, Daniel Bryan's WWE Championship win at WrestleMania 30 was fantastic. Ironically, Roman Reigns' third and fourth WWE Championship victories at WrestleMania 32 and 38 both happened inside AT&T Stadium.