Some wrestlers strive and work their entire career to become the world champion. To be the guy that the promotion puts their number one title on. Some guys get lucky and that huge milestone is reached before they’ve even turned thirty. Despite the plethora of wrestlers that have come out of the pipe over the years, that is a huge achievement.
For these superstars, on their way to legendary status, they would win the world title at an age where most mere mortals are starting their careers, continuing their education, or starting their families. The great thing about each of these future legends is that none of them were flashes in the pan.
9 Seth Rollins - 29 Years, 10 Months, 1 Day
While Seth Rollins might be amongst the oldest of the youngest champions, he is the first ever member of the roster to win the world title at WrestleMania - and be younger than the event itself! At just 29 years old, Rollins headed into WrestleMania 31 with the Money In The Bank briefcase and to date, is the only one to successfully cash it in mid-match and walk away with the gold. He has held the world title since then and his cash-in is one of the most memorable moments in WrestleMania history.
8 John Cena - 27 Years, 11 Months, 11 Days
With the exception of The Rock, John Cena is the only other “face of the company” to win the WWE title in his 20s. Everyone from Hogan to even Roman Reigns all won their first title in the 30s.
But for The Face That Runs The Place, that big moment came for him at the ripe young age of 27. At WrestleMania 21, he would defeat JBL and never look back, becoming the last great megastar that WWE has produced.
7 The Big Show - 27 Years, 9 Months, 6 Days / 23 Years, 8 Months. 21 Days
Whether he’s The Giant, The Big Show, or No More BS Paul Wight, the massive man has spent his entire career making history. There are not a lot of people who can say they became the world champion in their debut match. But after surviving an attempted murder by Hulk Hogan, The Giant captured the WCW title in his very first match at just 23 years old. Four years and one month later, The Big Show was a surprise entrant in the 1999 Survivor Series Three Way, where he would capture the WWE title as well.
6 Bruno Sammartino - 27 Years, 7 Months, 11 Days
The legend of Bruno Sammartino continues to grow year after year. For over a decade combined, the Hall Of Famer was the epitome of bajillion adjectives Paul Heyman now used to describe Roman Reigns - reigning, defending, incontrovertible, sun entire WWE revolves around. That was Bruno. The longest reigning WWE Champion began his inaugural eight year run by defeating Nature Boy Buddy Rogers at just 27 years old. He would carry that torch through much of the next decade.
5 The Undertaker - 26 Years, 8 Months, 3 Days
After a year of destruction and leaving capacity crowds in awe of him, The Undertaker stalked his way into the 1991 Survivor Series to challenge Hulk Hogan for the WWE title. The Gravest Challenge would end in chicanery and tomfoolery on behalf of Ric Flair’s interference. That interference would force a rematch and eventually lead to the WWE title being vacant. But for a brief moment in time, The Undertaker was actually the youngest WWE champion of all time at just 26 years old.
4 The Rock - 26 Years, 6 Months, 13 Days
From his debut with Chai Pet on his head and the fans eventually chanting for him to die, it was less than auspicious beginning for “the blue chipper,” Rocky Maivia. But when he returned from injury and turned heel to join The Nation, the Rock as we knew him began to form. He was gaining a lot of steam as a hot young babyface.
But during The Attitude Era, that meant to turn him heel and make him one of the most hated in the business, which is what happened in the finale of The Deadly Game tournament. The Rock joined The Corporation to become the WWE champion at 26 years old.
3 Yokozuna - 26 Years, 6 Months, 2 Days
For years, the WWE would tout that The Great One was the youngest WWE champion of all time. But he was actually surpassed by a little over a week by one of his cousins. The Mighty Yokozuna debuted in WWE in late 1992 and obliterated everyone in his path on his way to winning the 1993 Royal Rumble and defeating Bret Hart at WrestleMania IX, where he briefly became the WWE Champion, also at 26 years old.
2 Brock Lesnar - 25 Years, 1 Month, 13 Days
Debuting the night after WrestleMania X8, Brock Lesnar immediately made an impact and assaulted and accosted everyone in his path. It was clear that the WWE had immediately invested in the guy dubbed The Next Big Thing.
He defeated Hogan, Flair, both Hardys, and RVD amongst countless others until he came across The Rock at SummerSlam 2002. Barely 25 years old and already a monster, Lesnar was able to defeat The Brahma Bull and win his first ever WWE title.
1 Randy Orton - 24 Years, 4 Months, 15 Days
It isn’t spoken about (for fairly obvious reasons if one were to dig), and it isn’t even listed in WWE articles like this one, but Randy Orton’s epic run at the top began at the young age of 24. At SummerSlam 2004, he was able to become WWE Champion for the very first time. He is possibly the best all around wrestler in the entire world right now (reaching the potential that seemingly everyone inside the business knew was there), but it all began at 24, and he's been one of WWE's biggest stars for nearly 20 years.