5 things you didn't know about the WWE Championship

The WWE Championship is the most prestigious championship in the world. It's a part of the company since 1963, and so far, more than 100 champions have been crowned.

The championship has now become pretty old, and there's a high chance that many new wrestling fans don't know a lot about this title. In this article, I will list some rare things about the WWE Championship that you may not know. Now, it's possible that you may know already know about some of these things, but I will try my best to avoid listing known facts.

So without further ado, let's take a look at 5 unknown things about the WWE Championship.

#5 The WWE Championship previously had 7 different names

The WWWF Championship

Many of the new wrestling fans already know that the WWE was once the WWF. They had to change their name because of a lawsuit by the World Wildlife Fund. The title was previously called the WWF Heavyweight Championship, but this isn't just it.

This title actually had 7 other names as well. But, the fans may not know about every one of them.

In 1963, the company introduced the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. Then in 1971, the title was reintroduced as the WWWF Heavyweight Championship.

After 8 years, the company again changed the name of this title to the WWF Heavyweight Championship. Sometime later in the same year, the company shortened the name of this title to the WWF Championship.

After that, from 2001 to 2002, the title got three more name changes. In 2001 the company rebranded the championship as the Undisputed WWF Championship, then in 2002 it was titled as the Undisputed WWE Championship, and just a few weeks later, the title was renamed as the WWE Championship.

The WWE Championship then got a name change in 2013. It was renamed as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

After 3 years, in 2016, the title got two more name changes. Firstly the company re-titled it as the WWE World Championship and then as the WWE Championship.

The title actually got a name change for 8 times but only 7 of the names were unique. The last one happened because of the WWE Draft and that time the company also introduced Universal Championship to the WWE Universe.

#4 It changed hands 11 times in 1999

Mankind and The Rock

If you were an Attitude Era fan, then you must have known that the WWE Championship had changed hands a lot of times in this period.

Only in 1999 alone, the title changed hands for a total of 11 times. Yes, this is indeed true!

In early 1999, The Rock won the title by defeating Mankind but only held it for two days. Then Mankind him and kept the title for 20 days before getting defeated again by The Rock who then stayed as the champion for another 41 days.

Now, it was Stone Cold Steve Austin who won the title by defeating The Rock and continued his reign for 56 days before getting crushed by The Undertaker.

The Deadman then stayed as the champion for the next 36 days before Austin regained his title. For the next 55 days, he kept the title and then dropped it to Mankind. However, Foley then lost the title just one day after winning it to Triple H.

The Game lost the title to Vince McMahon after 22 days. Then, the chairman kept the title for six days before vacating it.

After that, Triple H defeated Kane, Mankind, Big Show, The British Bulldog and The Rock at Unforgiven 1999 to win the championship.

The final title change of the year happens on November 14th when Big Show defeated The Rock and Triple H at Survivor Series to keep the title for the next 50 days. (Statistics by CageMatch)

Collect this info was as hard for me as it is for you to believe that this fact is true!

#3 There was no WWE Title match in the first WrestleMania

Main event match of that night

The first Wrestlemania happened in March 1985 at MSG, New York. Even though this pay-per-view wasn’t good as compared to shows of these days, it was everything for the WWE at that time.

The inaugural Wrestlemania was unique in its own way and there was no WWE title match in the event.

In that time, there was no Universal Championship in the company, and the WWE Championship was the biggest championship in the wrestling industry. Still, there was no match booked for it.

The main event match of the night was between Mr T and Hulk Hogan vs Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Hogan was the champion at that time, and because he was already fighting that night, the WWE didn’t book him in another match.

This was the only WrestleMania where WWE Championship match didn’t happen as now the company books a match for this title in every possible pay-per-view.

#2 Andre The Giant's 48 seconds Championship reign

Andre's first and last WWE Title reign

Andre The Giant is a legend, and there's no doubt in it. He may not be the best talker or in-ring performer in the WWE, but still, he had his fair share in this industry.

He is known for dominating over wrestlers. During his career, he has won many championships, but he never won the WWF Championship twice.

The first and last time he did this was against Hulk Hogan, who was the champion in 1998. Andre defeated Hogan in their Wrestlemania 3 rematch in 9 minutes and became the new champion. However, his title reign lasted for just 48 seconds.

How?

After Andre's victory, Ted DiBiase purchased the title from him. But, this title reign isn't recognised by the WWE, and then they vacated it. This was also the most watched televised wrestling match in the history of America.

#1 After winning the championship, Ivan Koloff didn’t receive it in the ring

Bruno Sammartino vs Ivan Koloff

Bruno Sammartino is undoubtedly one of the most iconic wrestlers in WWE history. He did a lot of big things for the company during his time, and this is why everyone respects him.

However, during the early days of his career, he was suspended in US many territories for not attending shows. Sammartino at the time didn’t work for Vince McMahon Sr. until 1963, when the latter requested him to wrestle. McMahon also paid for his suspension fee, which was only $500.

Bruno agreed to return but demanded a title match against then-champion Buddy Rogers.

He won the championship by defeating Rogers in mere 48 seconds. Sammartino then continued his reign for next 2803 days (7.6 years approx) before getting defeating by Ivan Koloff.

Even though Koloff won the championship that night, the announcer didn’t give the title to him in the ring as he feared that fans would get into a rampage.

Bruno was so famous that time and this is why many of the fans in the arena even started to cry just because of his title loss. However, he later won it again in 1973 and this time continued his reign for more than 3 years.