10 Greatest world title celebrations in WWE history

WWE has witnessed several memorable title-winning celebrations
WWE has witnessed several memorable title-winning celebrations

Pro wrestling, at its very core, is a business/sport characterized by a myriad of fantastic moments.

Speaking of which, seldom is an occasion more memorable for a professional wrestling performer, than the milestone of winning a major world title in the sport. Whether it's his very first or his 17th title, title-wins serve towards establishing a wrestler's livelihood.

In fact, in the modern homogenized wrestling market, WWE buffs will tune-in in droves to witness the awe-inducing performances of the company's biggest stars--most of which end with the top Superstars holding up the shiny title belt.

After all, gold is what we're all after, aren't we?

The WWE Championship has always been a fixture at such moments, right since this game's commencement.

Though we, as fans, may not have consistently treated the title victors with the best showings of respect and admiration, particularly in the PG era--it's indeed hard to find something more enthralling than the huge, cathartic moment when a wrestler overcomes the odds, and carries home the richest prize in pro-wrestling--a WWE World title.

That really is what the WWE Superstars invest their lives fighting for. When they get to the very best, it truly is validation for the blood, sweat and tears they've shed to arrive there.

Together with great successes, come great parties!

Massive triumphs always prompt a memorable display of emotions, and also perhaps the wrestler's aim is to share their moment with the fans.

So, without further ado, here are the 10 top world title parties in WWE history--


#10 Seth Rollins RAW (24th August, 2015)

youtube-cover

This RAW episode was highlighted by Sting holding the dais proudly, and Seth Rollins scurrying away to safety. Things did not work out the way Rollins had intended.

The segment started with Rollins and The Authority in the ring waiting to unveil his statue--when the drum-roll cued and the curtain was hauled off. But alas...It was not a statue which was introduced--it was Sting!

"The Icon" ambushed Rollins and put him out with a Stinger Splash, sending The Authority scampering off on what should have been Rollins' huge night. Although the party ended in embarrassment for WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, this was a hugely satisfying moment for the WWE Universe.

The idea to have a statue was grandiose, over-the-top, and made solely to display the winner's self-admiration and rile up the fans. Though the actual statue would finally be unveiled the following week, Sting rescued the WWE Universe from the ordeal of having to sit through Rollins' self-indulgence.

Nevertheless, the celebration was topped off with the exclamation point of Sting stealing the show from Rollins on RAW.

#9 Brock Lesnar (No Mercy 2002)

youtube-cover

Although his party came after a successful title-defense as opposed to an assist from The Authority, Lesnar's celebration at No Mercy in 2002 was one to remember.

The Beast cut a rather imposing, dominant figure as he stood beneath the most notorious arrangement in pro-wrestling history--Hell In A Cell--having defeated one of WWE's biggest legends The Undertaker.

Lesnar disposed off The Undertaker by turning an attempted Tombstone Piledriver to the F-5, however, rather than heading up the ramp, Brock had other plans. After ascending atop the Hell In A Cell structure, Lesnar stood high above--hoisting the WWE Championship proudly above his shoulders.

Thereby, perpetuating one of the most iconic images in pro-wrestling history.

#8 Bret Hart (WrestleMania 10)

youtube-cover

WrestleMania X was perhaps one of the most interesting 'Manias of all time. The very fact that the WWE Championship was defended on not one, but two separate occasions on the same night is what made the event so very memorable.

In addition to which, the fact that both matches featured a ton of suspense and drama--with the second match being followed by an iconic celebration--served to cement how great the event was overall.

The occurrences at WrestleMania 10 can be attributed to the genius of Vince McMahon, and his staff--including, of course, the in-ring performers who tore the house down with their amazing matches. It was early on in the card that Bret Hart lost a singles match to his brother Owen Hart.

Meanwhile, reigning WWF Champion Yokozuna successfully defended his title against Lex Luger--albeit using some rather nefarious means. Regardless, Yokozuna then put his WWF Championship on the line on the same night, against Bret Hart--in a matchup which Hart won.

Hart's WWF Championship-winning performance was followed by a now-iconic celebration--with his fellow WWE wrestlers lifting him on their shoulders as he celebrated with the title and closed out the show.

#7 Stone Cold Steve Austin (WrestleMania 17)

youtube-cover

WrestleMania 17 witnessed one of the most shocking moments in WWE's rich and storied history.

The headlining match of the show was a WWE Championship Match between defending champion The Rock and number-1 contender "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. The conclusion of this matchup and WrestleMania 17 as a whole shall always go down as one of the more memorable occurrences in professional wrestling history.

The aforementioned contest was a "No Disqualification" matchup--one which saw both Rocky and Austin bend the rules to the maximum. It was towards the latter half of the showdown, that Vince McMahon aka Mr. McMahon--Austin's arch nemesis--assisted Austin in his bid to defeat The Rock.

McMahon handed Austin a steel chair--following which, Austin proceeded to savagely beat up The Rock--defeating the latter and capturing the WWE Championship. Austin and McMahon then engaged in one of the most iconic "Stone Cold" beer-drinking celebrations of all time.

#6 CM Punk (Money In The Bank 2011)

youtube-cover

The uncertainty of not knowing whether or not Punk was actually staying with WWE, led to this storyline turning out to be a great one--And, perhaps led to the most iconic moment of Punk's storied WWE career. This absolutely was the storyline which took Punk's career to the next level.

The stakes couldn't have been higher, as the narrative obscured the lines between kayfabe and reality--with CM Punk becoming one of the most popular performers in WWE. The headlining matchup of WWE's Money In The Bank PPV in 2011, witnessed Punk defeat John Cena for the WWE Championship.

While the match, in and of itself, was mired with several outside interference sequences, Mr. McMahon instructed Alberto Del Rio to cash in his RAW Money In The Bank briefcase on newly-crowned WWE Champion CM Punk.

Punk, wise to Mr. McMahon's plans, tagged Del Rio with a thunderous kick. He then proceeded to blow a kiss toward Mr. McMahon--following which, the WWE Universe witnessed Punk flee away from the arena with the WWE Championship.

Punk's rebellious celebration was incredibly well-received, particularly given the fact that the pro-wrestling rumor mill was abuzz with rumors that Punk, at the time, was legitimately looking to leave the WWE.

The very thought of Punk quitting WWE, as the WWE Champion, drove the entire pro-wrestling industry wild with feelings of confusion and excitement abound.

#5 Chris Benoit (WrestleMania 20)

youtube-cover

WrestleMania 20 was capped off by arguably the single greatest title-winning celebration in WWE history.

Chris Benoit faced reigning World Heavyweight Champion Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a Triple Threat Match, with the big gold belt on the line. The matchup, in and of itself, was incredible.

Regardless, the final sequence of the showdown saw Triple H fail on his Pedigree attempt--following which, "The Game" got caught in a Crippler Crossface by Benoit.

Benoit submitted Triple H, and achieved his lifelong dream of winning championship gold at WrestleMania!

The audience went nuts, and Benoit simply could not hold back the tears. After years and years playing being regarded as an also-ran, he was World Heavyweight Champion!

Furthermore, alive was his fantasy of being at the peak of the wrestling mountain. His old buddy Eddie Guerrero joined him in the ring minutes afterwards, and with confetti raining down, it was a indeed an iconic moment in professional wrestling history.

#4 Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania 30)

youtube-cover

From one highly-emotional moment to another--Daniel Bryan's WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory at WrestleMania XXX was indeed a jaw-dropping occurrence--one that sent shock-waves throughout the professional wrestling world.

Defeating Triple H in the PPV's opening match, Bryan received the right to compete against Randy Orton and Royal Rumble winner Batista for the WWE Championship in a Triple Threat Match.

The aforementioned matchup headlined WrestleMania 30, and witnessed Bryan force Batista to tap-out with the Yes! Lock and bag the biggest win of his career.

Together with 75,000 people chanting "YES! YES! YES!"--Bryan hoisted both the WWE Championship belt and the World Heavyweight title belt in the air. Bryan's WrestleMania 30 celebration is regarded by many as one of the best moments in pro-wrestling history.

#3 Ric Flair (Royal Rumble 1992)

youtube-cover

Back in the early 1990s, several fans were of the view that with the growth of younger superstars such as Sting, Ric Flair was eventually on the downswing. However, after Flair having entered the WWE realm, he quickly ascended to the top of the heap.

His performance at the 1992 Royal Rumble stands out as one of his very best in the WWE. The end of the aforementioned matchup, saw Sid Justice turn against Hulk Hogan--and Flair then pitching Sid over the top rope amidst the confusion to win the match.

The fans went crazy, and minutes later, Flair delivered among the finest promos of all time.

Fiery, enthusiastic, and convinced, it was classic promo from one of the very best mic workers in pro-wrestling history. Wooo!!!

#2 Mankind wins WWE Championship (January 4th, 1999)

youtube-cover

Known in professional wrestling circles as the night that won WWE the Monday night ratings war against WCW; the January 4th, 1999 episode of RAW witnessed hordes of fans change the channel from WCW Nitro to WWE RAW, after WCW head honcho Eric Bischoff publicized the spoiler of Mick Foley having won the WWF Championship on RAW.

One ought to note that while the aforementioned edition of Nitro aired live, RAW was pre-taped, and Bischoff in cahoots with his WCW superiors attempted to put WWE out of business by trying to sabotage RAW for the fans.

Nevertheless, the course of nature had different plans, as Bischoff's schemes backfired--leading to droves of fans tuning in to RAW, so as to watch Mick Foley aka Mankind achieve his lifelong dream of becoming WWE Champion.

Mankind's emotional celebration after capturing the WWF Championship from The Rock was the cherry on top, as WWE would eventually go on to topple WCW--with Vince McMahon subsequently buying out WCW in 2001.

#1 Eddie Guerrero (No Way Out 2004)

youtube-cover

Eddie Guerrero faced a mountainous task at No Way Out back in 2004, when "Latino Heat" challenged "The Next Big Thing" Brock Lesnar for the latter's WWE Championship.

After being rag-dolled by Lesnar for most of the matchup, a referee bump spot allowed Goldberg to interfere in the showdown--following which, he delivered a hellacious spear on Lesnar. Guerrero then countered Lesnar's attempted signature move, an F5 attempt to be precise--hitting The Beast with a DDT onto the WWE title belt.

Guerrero pinned a dazed Lesnar, and then proceeded to engage in one of the most memorable celebrations in professional wrestling history.

Latino Heat truly stole the show at No Way Out in 2004.

Viva La Raza!