The World Heavyweight Championship that has been carried by such greats as Batista and Triple H got its start in WWE back in 2002. But its prestigious lineage can actually be traced back all the way to George Hackenschmidt and 1904. For years, it was known as the NWA Championship; then when WCW pulled out of the NWA in the early 1990s, Ric Flair was recognized as the first-ever WCW Champion. Since that time, top names such as Hulk Hogan, Ron Simmons and Bret Hart carried the championship prior to WCW's demise.

Championship Holders over time

2000 - 2009
Championship Holders
26
Longest Reign

119 days

Shortest Reign

<1 day

ChampionDate of Reign | Time Held

Chris Jericho

Dec 9, 2001

<1 day

The Rock

Nov 5, 2001 - Dec 9, 2001

33 days

Chris Jericho

Oct 21, 2001 - Nov 5, 2001

14 days

The Rock

Aug 19, 2001 - Oct 21, 2001

62 days

Booker T

Jul 30, 2001 - Aug 19, 2001

19 days

Kurt Angle

Jul 24, 2001 - Jul 30, 2001

5 days

Booker T

Mar 26, 2001 - Jul 24, 2001

119 days

Scott Steiner

Nov 26, 2000 - Mar 26, 2001

119 days

Booker T

Oct 2, 2000 - Nov 26, 2000

54 days

Vince Russo

Sep 25, 2000 - Oct 2, 2000

6 days

Booker T

Sep 17, 2000 - Sep 25, 2000

7 days

Kevin Nash

Aug 28, 2000 - Sep 17, 2000

19 days

Booker T

Jul 9, 2000 - Aug 28, 2000

49 days

Jeff Jarrett

May 29, 2000 - Jul 9, 2000

40 days

Ric Flair

May 29, 2000

<1 day

Kevin Nash

May 24, 2000 - May 29, 2000

4 days

Jeff Jarrett

May 22, 2000 - May 24, 2000

1 day

Ric Flair

May 15, 2000 - May 22, 2000

6 days

Jeff Jarrett

May 7, 2000 - May 15, 2000

7 days

David Arquette

Apr 25, 2000 - May 7, 2000

11 days

Diamond Dallas Page

Apr 24, 2000 - Apr 25, 2000

<1 day

Jeff Jarrett

Apr 16, 2000 - Apr 24, 2000

7 days

Sid Vicious

Jan 26, 2000 - Apr 10, 2000

74 days

Sid Vicious

Jan 24, 2000 - Jan 26, 2000

1 day

Chris Benoit

Jan 16, 2000 - Jan 17, 2000

<1 day

Bret Hart

Dec 20, 1999 - Jan 16, 2000

26 days

(reign began in previous decade)

See more
1990 - 1999
Championship Holders
36
Longest Reign

468 days

Shortest Reign

<1 day

ChampionDate of Reign | Time Held

Bret Hart

Dec 20, 1999 - Jan 16, 2000

26 days

(reign ends in next decade)

Bret Hart

Nov 21, 1999 - Dec 20, 1999

28 days

Sting

Sep 12, 1999 - Oct 25, 1999

42 days

Hulk Hogan

Jul 12, 1999 - Sep 12, 1999

61 days

Randy Savage

Jul 11, 1999 - Jul 12, 1999

<1 day

Kevin Nash

May 9, 1999 - Jul 11, 1999

62 days

Diamond Dallas Page

Apr 26, 1999 - May 9, 1999

13 days

Sting

Apr 26, 1999 - Apr 29, 1999

3 days

Diamond Dallas Page

Apr 11, 1999 - Apr 26, 1999

14 days

Ric Flair

Mar 14, 1999 - Apr 11, 1999

27 days

Hulk Hogan

Jan 4, 1999 - Mar 14, 1999

68 days

Kevin Nash

Dec 27, 1998 - Jan 4, 1999

7 days

Goldberg

Jul 6, 1998 - Dec 27, 1998

173 days

Hulk Hogan

Apr 20, 1998 - Jul 6, 1998

76 days

Randy Savage

Apr 19, 1998 - Apr 20, 1998

<1 day

Sting

Feb 22, 1998 - Apr 19, 1998

55 days

Sting

Dec 28, 1997 - Jan 8, 1998

10 days

Hulk Hogan

Aug 9, 1997 - Dec 28, 1997

140 days

Lex Luger

Aug 4, 1997 - Aug 9, 1997

4 days

Hulk Hogan

Aug 10, 1996 - Aug 4, 1997

358 days

The Giant

Apr 22, 1996 - Aug 10, 1996

109 days

Ric Flair

Feb 11, 1996 - Apr 22, 1996

70 days

Randy Savage

Jan 22, 1996 - Feb 11, 1996

19 days

Ric Flair

Dec 27, 1995 - Jan 22, 1996

25 days

Randy Savage

Nov 26, 1995 - Dec 27, 1995

30 days

The Giant

Oct 29, 1995 - Nov 6, 1995

7 days

Hulk Hogan

Jul 17, 1994 - Oct 29, 1995

468 days

Ric Flair

Dec 27, 1993 - Jul 17, 1994

201 days

Vader

Mar 17, 1993 - Dec 27, 1993

284 days

Sting

Mar 11, 1993 - Mar 17, 1993

5 days

Vader

Dec 30, 1992 - Mar 11, 1993

70 days

Ron Simmons

Aug 2, 1992 - Dec 30, 1992

149 days

Vader

Jul 12, 1992 - Aug 2, 1992

20 days

Sting

Feb 29, 1992 - Jul 12, 1992

133 days

Lex Luger

Jul 14, 1991 - Feb 29, 1992

229 days

Ric Flair

Jan 11, 1991 - Jul 1, 1991

170 days

See more