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The WWE Championship changed hands for the first time in over 12 months on this past episode of Smackdown Live on November 13, 2018.
Daniel Bryan defeated AJ Styles to win his fourth WWE Championship in an impromptu title match in an electric main event.
Bryan, in a surprise, turned heel in winning the title, low blowing the champion, Styles to win the famous title.
Where Bryan goes from here is anyone's guess at this point, but the turn to the dark side has breathed new life into his character and the WWE Championship gives him the ideal opportunity to build upon a legacy he already has with the title.
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Bryan, one of the most popular baby-faces of all time has had a love/hate relationship with the title. His first title win over John Cena at Summerslam 2013 was an instant classic, but WWE not believing in him as a top guy elected to put the strap on Money in the Bank briefcase holder and perennial title contender, Randy Orton.
It wasn't until fan support swelled to such a degree that WWE could no longer ignore it that Bryan was given the title crowning he deserved at Wrestlemania XXX. Unfortunately for Bryan, an injury derailed what was originally planned to be a lengthy reign.
Now, champion, once again, Bryan's legacy can be assured.
The WWE Championship began life in April 1963 when WWE split from the NWA amid a dispute over the whom the NWA World Champion should be. When Lou Thesz won the NWA Championship from Buddy Rogers, WWE did not recognise the title change and withdrew from the organisation and named Rogers their first champion.
Some 55 years later and the WWE Championship is the most important and prestigious title in wrestling. SK looks at the 10 best champions in the long history of the belt.
#10 Randy Orton
Randy Orton became the youngest World Champion in WWE history when he defeated Chris Benoit at Summerslam 2004 at the tender age of 24. However, it wasn't until No Mercy 2007 where he won his first WWE Championship.
His first title was awarded to him after John Cena had vacated it due to injury. His reign lasted around 10 minutes when he immediately lost it to Triple H in his first defence.
Orton would achieve a measure of revenge against Triple H when he would regain the title later the same night in a thrilling Last Man Standing encounter.
Orton would cement his place as champion with fine victories over Shawn Michaels at Cyber Sunday and Survivor Series. In fact, Orton would remain as champion until April of 2008 when he finally dropped the strap to Triple H once more.
Orton won the 2009 Royal Rumble and challenged Triple H again at Wrestlemania 25, but would come up short in his quest to regain the gold. It was a temporary setback as Orton punted Triple H in the head to win a specially stipulated six-man tag team match at Backlash 2009 with the title at stake.
Orton would win the title another two times in 2009 as he traded title victories with Cena and Batista.
The third generation superstar supplanted Cena as the company's top babyface in the summer of 2010 and was rewarded with the WWE Championship in the main event of Night of Champions 2010 when he won a six-way bout to reclaim the gold. He lost the title in a hugely memorable angle when The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on him to steal away the title.
Orton turned to the dark side with his seventh and eighth reigns as he became Corporate Champion and screwed fan favourite, Daniel Bryan out of the gold. That run ended when Bryan won an incredible contest at Wrestlemania XXX which also involved Batista.
His final reign commencing in a dull encounter at Wrestlemania 33 with Bray Wyatt and culminating with an even worse bout with his successor, Jinder Mahal at Backlash 2017 just six weeks later.
His best days may be behind him but Orton's credentials as one of the finest WWE Champions of all time are rivalled by few.
#9 John Cena
No man has won more World titles that John Cena. Only one other man has won the same amount; 16 time World Champion, Ric Flair.
Of Cena's 16 reigns, 13 came as WWE Champion; a company record that will likely never be broken.
Cena's title runs span an incredible 12 years, with his first reign beginning on April 3, 2005, and his 13th reign ending on February 12, 2017.
Between those two landmarks, Cena wrestled in title matches at eight separate Wrestlemania's. A record that is only bettered by Triple H.
Cena, for all his detractors, boasts an incredible record in quality big time title matches with the likes of Daniel Bryan, Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles, Triple H to name a few.
Cena's charisma and appeal to women and children made him an attractive (and lucrative) figurehead for the promotion.
No one can argue his place is secured in the history of greatest WWE Champions of all time.
#8 CM Punk
434 days. That is how long CM Punk's second WWE Championship reign lasted. The longest championship run since Hulk Hogan's first title reign between 1984-88 was an incredible achievement in the modern era of monthly pay per views and weekly television shows.
His first WWE Championship win came in one of the greatest matches of all time at Money in the Bank 2011, when Punk, on his last contracted night in the company, won the title from John Cena in an electrifying encounter and left the company with the belt.
Although that reign would be short-lived, Punk more than made up for it with his second. Defeating Alberto Del Rio via submission at the 2011 Survivor Series, Punk defended successfully against a wide array of opponents including Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan and others before losing to The Rock in controversial fashion at the 2013 Royal Rumble.
Punk's dominance with the famous belt is unmatched in the modern era and is a lasting legacy. His dynamic promo's and superior wrestling ability are the icings on the cake.
#7 Triple H
Triple is the "King of Kings" and looking at his WWE Championship record, it is impossible to suggest he doesn't deserve that moniker.
Triple H has won 14 world titles in total, 9 of which were WWE Championship reigns. Long pegged as a career mid-carder, Triple H excelled in the rebellious faction, D-Generation X and successfully ascended the card to become WWE Champion for the first time in August 1999.
That win was not without controversy. The original plan called for Stone Cold to put over "The Game" at Summerslam 1999; however Stone Cold didn't think Triple H was an aggressive enough performer to be champion and refused point blank to lose to him.
WWE were forced to bring back an injured Mick Foley to add to the title match so Stone Cold could drop the belt to him instead (Stone Cold had no issue losing to Foley). The next night on Raw, Triple H beat Mick Foley to end a ridiculous merry go round to get the title on him.
It wasn't until Triple H's third reign, that he truly established himself as a main eventer in a terrifically violent and entertaining Street Fight with Foley at Royal Rumble 2000. Triple H followed that performance with another blinder inside Hell in a Cell, once again versus Foley at No Way Out 2000 a month later.
Triple H's fourth and fifth reigns as champion only lasted a month apiece. His sixth didn't even last a day.
It wasn't until his seventh reign that Triple H had any great success with the belt. He held the title for seven months which included memorable bouts with Randy Orton, John Cena, Edge and Great Khali. Triple H dropped the belt at Survivor Series 2008 when Vickie Guerrero abruptly added her husband, Edge to the match to steal the win and the title.
Triple H had a brief eighth reign in 2009 before stunningly winning the belt in the 2016 Royal Rumble Match at the age of 46. Triple H's Championship history ended at Wrestlemania that year when he lost to Roman Reigns in the main event.
With nine title reigns and literally dozens upon dozens of classic bouts, Triple H deserves to be recognised as one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time.
#6 The Rock
The Rock was destined for wrestling superstardom ever since a young age, given his father Rocky Johnson was a former WWE Tag Team Champion and his grandfather, one of the most feared wrestlers of all time, "High Chief" Peter Maivia.
The Rock surpassed both of their achievements and then some.
Just two years after his WWE debut, The Rock reached the summit of the business and became WWE Champion when he won a one-night tournament at Survivor Series 1998 with a little help from Vince and Shane McMahon to become a Corporate Champion.
The Rock was a three-time WWE Champion before he turned 27, winning thrilling bouts versus Mankind in a brutal I Quit Match at Royal Rumble 1999 to win his second strap and a Ladder Match on Raw to win title number three.
After dropping the WWE Championship to Stone Cold in the main event of Wrestlemania XV, Rock had to wait a year before he would reclaim the belt, ironically with assistance from Stone Cold in the thrilling headliner of Backlash 2000 versus Triple H. Backlash 2000 was then the highest drawing non-Wrestlemania pay per view in WWE history pulling an incredible 675,000 orders.
Rock's ability to draw huge numbers put him on a par with his great rival, Stone Cold and his title bouts at Judgment Day 2000 (420,000 orders), King of the Ring 2000 (475,000 orders), Fully Loaded 2000 (420,000 orders), Summerslam 2000 (570,000 orders), Unforgiven 2000 (605,000 orders) and No Mercy 2000 (550,000 orders) were all incredible financial successes.
Although Rock's longest reign, his fifth, only lasted 119 days, his success during the period he reigned as champion, merit his position on this list.
His sixth title victory over Kurt Angle at No Way Out 2001 pulled a whopping 590,000 buy rate and his unsuccessful title defence versus Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania X-7 pulled a then-record 1.1 million orders.
Rock's heavily hyped return to the WWE Championship picture at Royal Rumble 2013, almost 12 years since his last title reign earned 498,000 buys, the highest number for the 'Rumble event since 2008.
The Rock's electrifying charisma did huge business for WWE and his reigns yielded tons of excitement and thrilling matches.
Despite the brevity of his title runs, Rock is unquestionably one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time.
#5 Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar was tagged for superstardom ever since he signed for WWE in the year 2000.
At six feet four inches and 280 Ibs he had the physique which WWE boss, Vince McMahon looks for in his headliners.
A skilled amateur wrestler; Lesnar had been a two time NCAA Division 1 Heavyweight Champion and was a world-class athlete.
WWE immediately pushed Lesnar to the moon, when he debuted in the company on the post-Wrestlemania X-8 Raw, with the legendary manager, Paul Heyman assigned as his mentor.
Three months after his debut, Lesnar won the King of the Ring tournament which earned him a title opportunity versus The Rock at Summerslam 2002.
Rock vs Brock was an excellent match, with the New York crowd loudly behind the heel, Lesnar as the crowd began to resent The Rock for his ever-increasing Hollywood schedule.
Lesnar was then granted a clean victory over another WWE legend, The Undertaker inside Hell in a Cell at No Mercy 2002, wherein the "Next Big Thing" won a bloodbath versus "The Phenom."
Bafflingly, The Bigshow was chosen to terminate Lesnar's reign a month later at Survivor Series, but the title loss was a means to initiate a face turn for the now former champion, who only lost, due to the betrayal of his manager, Heyman.
Lesnar's meteoric rise continued when he regained the strap in the main event of Wrestlemania XIX versus Kurt Angle in a classic encounter, only to drop it back to the Olympic Gold Medallist, four months later.
The Lesnar-Angle feud continued when Lesnar regained the title in an Ironman match in September. He would hold the belt until No Way Out in February 2004 when he lost to Eddie Guerrero in a colossal upset.
One month later, Lesnar left the company, unhappy with the travel schedule and lack of immediate plans for him to regain the title.
It would be a further eight years before Lesnar returned to WWE and another two before he would hold WWE gold. In a one sided bout, Lesnar destroyed John Cena with suplexes for 15 minutes before pinning the champion to win his fourth WWE Championship.
Lesnar, would ultimately drop the belt at Wrestlemania 31, when Seth Rollins interrupted his title defence versus Roman Reigns to steal the title, successfully cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase.
A huge pay per view draw, excellent in ring technician and a superstar aura; Lesnar has it all and it is no surprise he has repeatedly been chosen by WWE to represent their company as champion.
#4 "Macho Man" Randy Savage
"Macho Man" Randy Savage had superstar written all over him. In fact, he was the only wrestler with the in-ring skill, box office clout and personality to rival Hulk Hogan at the peak of the "Immortal One's" powers.
Savage was chosen as Hogan's successor and after Hogan's four-year reign as WWE Champion ended in February 1988, it was Savage who won the vacant strap in a tournament at Wrestlemania IV.
Savage drew well at the gate and remained as the champion for a calendar year. He dropped the title back to Hogan in a major box office matchup at Wrestlemania V, which attracted 650,000 orders, a new pay per view record at the time.
Savage became a two-time champion when he won the WWE Championship from Ric Flair at Wrestlemania VIII in the best match at the show. He remained champion until September when dropped the title back to Flair.
Savage was transitioned into an announcer following his title loss which precipitated his defection to WCW in December 1994, something WWE boss, Vince McMahon would never forgive him for.
#3 Bruno Sammartino
Bruno Sammartino was the second WWE Champion in the belt's long history. Defeating inaugural champion, Buddy Rogers in less than two minutes, Sammartino kicked off a record eight-year reign as champion in May 1963, defending against all comers before he famously lost the title to a crowd, literally stunned into silence at Madison Square Garden to Ivan Koloff.
Sammartino sold out the hallowed Madison Square Garden more times than any other wrestler and although his matches weren't pretty from a technical standpoint, he was so incredibly strong with incredible charisma that fans came in drove paying hard earned cash to see him batter opponents on a continual basis.
The Sammartino model was so difficult to replicate that Vince McMahon Sr. paid him an absolute fortune to begin a second title reign, which he did, beginning in December 1973. This time his reign lasted a little over three years until Sammartino tired of the gruelling schedule he had to undertake as company figurehead.
Sammartino is revered today as one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time. It is for good reason, without Sammartino, there likely would not be a WWE in 2018.
#2 Hulk Hogan
Like him or not, Hulk Hogan is synonymous with professional wrestling, WWE and the Heavyweight Championship.
Hogan lifted his first title in January 1984 when he battered The Iron Sheik in under five minutes.
With Hogan as his figurehead, McMahon took his wrestling promotion global and Hogan's unique look and unmatched charisma, led WWE to previously unheard of prosperity and fame.
Hogan's brand of wrestling entertainment was so effective, it saw his first reign last an incredible four years and include three Wrestlemania main events.
Although Hogan took somewhat of a backseat at Wrestlemania IV, he was still instrumental in assisting "Macho Man" Randy Savage win the gold and regained the title from his friend turned enemy at Wrestlemania V.
At 36 years of age, Hogan's thoughts turned to retirement in early 1990, incredible as that seems now and he agreed to drop the title to The Ultimate Warrior in the main event of Wrestlemania VI which was his first clean pinfall loss in the promotion.
Hogan departed to try and make a success for himself in Hollywood. When that proved unsuccessful, he returned to WWE and became the first three-time champion in company history when he defeated Sergeant Slaughter at Wrestlemania VII. A fourth title victory followed in late 1991 when he lost and regained the title from The Undertaker in the space of a six-day period between November and December 1991.
Hogan defeated Yokozuna to win the fifth crown in an impromptu challenge at Wrestlemania IX before he dropped the WWE Championship back to the gargantuan 'Zuna at King of the Ring in June 1993.
It would be a further nine years before Hogan tasted gold in WWE once more, when he lifted the WWE Championship for the sixth and final time in April 2002, defeating Triple H at Backlash before losing the title for the last time to The Undertaker at Judgment Day 2002.
With six championships spanning 18 years, Hogan was an incredible talent who was a tremendous success as champion. In fact, only one man can surpass his achievements.
#1 Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin is the most successful WWE Champion of all time.
Stone Cold's title coronation took place at Wrestlemania XIV when he wrestled the belt away from WWE Champion, Shawn Michaels.
The title win launched Stone Cold into mainstream consciousness and with it led WWE to it's most prosperous period creatively and financially ever, between 1998-2001.
The rebellious Stone Cold character flipped the bird, defied his boss, Vince McMahon, repeatedly used colourful language and raised continual hell.
The excitement Stone Cold's title matches brought were unlike anything ever witnessed before in wrestling.
Stone Cold was a four-time champion, when he was benched by a severe neck injury, the result of the botched Owen Hart piledriver two years earlier at Summerslam 1997.
When he returned, Stone Cold turned to the dark side and aligned with longtime nemesis, McMahon in order to secure his fifth Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania X-7 opposite The Rock.
The heel turn led to a downturn in business although Stone Cold himself delivered the best matches and backstage performances of his entire career.
Stone Cold's sixth and final reign ended at the hands of Chris Jericho at Vengeance 2001 and with it the championship run of the greatest champion WWE ever produced.
