WWE World Championship victories are always emotional moments. However, some are more emotional than others. Winning a world championship is a special moment for many wrestlers that walk through the doors of WWE. Some wrestlers wait many years for their chance to be at the top of the food chain. The sacrifices that wrestlers have to make, on the way to glory, makes the moment even sweeter.
WWE has always had plenty of special moments that connect the fans and wrestlers alike. The raw emotion from the wrestlers makes fans emotional too as they understand how hard a wrestler has worked for that special moment.
10 The Undertaker Wins The WWF Championship - WrestleMania 13 (1997)
By 1997, The Undertaker was an established main eventer and one of the most loyal Superstars to Vince McMahon. The Phenom did not leave WWE to join WCW and stuck with Vince during tough times in WWE.
At WrestleMania 13, The Undertaker participated in his first WrestleMania main event and challenged Sycho Sid for the WWF Championship. It was not a great match but Undertaker captured his first WWF Championship in over five years. It was an emotional moment as Undertaker walked around the ring and mouthed to the fans, "This is for you."
9 Christian Wins The World Heavyweight Championship - Extreme Rules 2011
Christian is one of the most gifted wrestlers to compete in the WWE. Captain Charisma is synonymous with his legendary partnership with his real-life best friend Edge. However, compared to Edge, Christian was never viewed as much of a main event level talent.
Nonetheless, Extreme Rules 2011 saw Christian win his first World Heavyweight Championship. It was a thoroughly deserved moment for Christian as he had waited patiently to be a world champion in WWE. The victory did come late in his career and should have happened years earlier. Furthermore, the emotion was real as the recently retired Edge had tears in his eyes when he embraced Christian after Christian retrieved the championship.
8 Mankind Wins The WWF Championship - Raw, January 4, 1999
During the Monday Night Wars, WCW would reveal Monday Night Raw's results as Raw was pre-taped. However, WCW had egg on their face when commentator Tony Schiavone revealed that Mankind defeated The Rock to win the WWF Championship on the first Raw in January 1999.
Schiavone famously said, "That's going to put some butts in their seats." It certainly backfired as over 600,000 fans changed the channel to witness Mankind capture his first WWF Championship. It was a shame that Schiavone spoiled the shocking result but it did not matter as Mankind was hoisted on DX's shoulders and ran around the ring with the championship. He was like a kid in a candy store with how he acted, but Foley was over with the fans, and it was one of the most important moments as the pendulum swung in favor of WWE in the Monday Night Wars.
7 Kofi Kingston Wins The WWE Championship - WrestleMania 35 (2019)
Kofi Kingston took advantage of Mustafa Ali's unfortunate concussion by putting in a stellar performance at Elimination Chamber 2019. Kofi had always been an outstanding in-ring performer but had never been a legitimate contender for a world championship.
Finally, at WrestleMania 35, Kofi captured his first WWE Championship by defeating Daniel Bryan. Kofi's WWE Championship victory was a significant one as he became the first African-born WWE Champion in history. It was a feel-good moment as Kingston's hard work paid off, and he celebrated in the ring with his sons and New Day.
6 Jeff Hardy Wins The WWE Championship - Armageddon 2008
Jeff Hardy's stock had risen by late 2007. The Charismatic Enigma had a successful run as Intercontinental Champion but he was ready to take the next step as a world champion. Jeff had an incredible feud with Triple H over the WWE Championship in the fall of 2008.
Unfortunately, Jeff failed to capture the WWE Championship in his matches with The Game but was tantalizingly close. Nonetheless, at Armageddon, Jeff and Triple H challenged Edge for the WWE Championship in a triple threat match. It was one of the best triple threat matches of all time and Jeff finally climbed the mountain and became the new WWE Champion. Jeff absolutely lost it, and he celebrated with the fans, who have backed him for years.
5 Eddie Guerrero Wins The WWE Championship - No Way Out 2004
In 2004, Eddie Guerrero's popularity skyrocketed and he challenged Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at No Way Out. Latino Heat's one of the best in-ring performers to grace a WWE ring. However, Eddie was not perfect as he had his own personal demons to contend with.
Guerrero had a painkiller addiction, which halted his rise to superstardom but he went away to rehab and returned better than ever. Latino Heat regrouped and, at No Way Out, Eddie upset Brock Lesnar to win his lone WWE Championship. The Cow Palace erupted, and Eddie celebrated with the crowd and hugged his mother. Sadly, Eddie passed away a year later, but his WWE Championship win is one of the most memorable moments in wrestling history.
4 CM Punk Wins The WWE Championship - Money In The Bank 2011
The Summer of Punk in 2011 was CM Punk's coming out party. The Second City Saint quietly disassociated himself from The New Nexus and began a feud with John Cena over the WWE Championship. At Money in the Bank, Punk had the hometown support in Chicago in his high-profile championship encounter with Cena.
Punk nailed Cena with a GTS to capture his first WWE Championship and the crowd in Chicago went berserk. The Straight Edge Savior solidified himself as a certified main eventer and blowing a kiss to chairman Vince McMahon was a thing of beauty. Punk's contract "expired" and he delivered on his promise by walking out of the Allstate Arena with the WWE Championship in tow.
3 Shawn Michaels Wins The WWF Championship - WrestleMania XII (1996)
Shawn Michaels' passion for the business is unmatched. In 1996, HBK won his second successive Royal Rumble match, and he earned the right to face his rival Bret Hart for the WWF Championship in the main event of WrestleMania XII.
Their 60-minute Iron Man match was a wrestling clinic. Nonetheless, Shawn overcame Bret in overtime with a devastating Sweet Chin Music. Vince McMahon screamed on commentary "The boyhood dream has come true." It was a changing of the guard moment with Michaels as the new face of the company. Michaels painted a brilliant picture by sitting in the ring, full of emotion, staring at his newly won WWF Championship.
2 Daniel Bryan Wins The WWE World Heavyweight Championship - WrestleMania XXX (2014)
In late 2013, if Daniel Bryan could be featured on every segment on Raw or SmackDown, he would have been. Bryan's popularity was at an all-time high and fans cheered for him all of the time. The leader of the Yes Movement had to overcome so much adversity when he faced The Authority, who forced him to relinquish the WWE Championship.
Poor Rey Mysterio felt the brunt of the fans by becoming the 30th entrant in the 2014 Royal Rumble match as fans desperately wanted Bryan to main event WrestleMania XXX. Fans got their wish as Bryan defeated Triple H in the opening match of WrestleMania XXX and he was added to the championship main event. Bryan forced Batista to submit with the Yes Lock to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Confetti fell and Bryan had his crowning moment with fans, who rejoiced in Bryan's championship victory.
1 Kurt Angle Wins The WWF Championship - Unforgiven 2001
Kurt Angle was on the top of his game in 2001. The Olympic Gold Medalist transitioned from a cocky heel to a comedic babyface. However, Angle was tough and he was a major player in the poorly booked Invasion storyline.
Unfortunately, in September 2001, 9/11 happened, but WWE still provided entertainment for fans in a difficult time. Therefore, at Unforgiven, Angle defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin to win his second WWF Championship. It gave everyone a much-needed boost and it happened in Angle's hometown of Pittsburgh. Superstars came out to congratulate Angle and they hoisted him on their shoulders. An emotional Angle celebrated with his family, friends, and co-workers, in one of the greatest feel-good moments in WWE history.