5 times new WWE Champions were crowned in January

Mankind on WWE RAW
Mankind on WWE RAW

3) New WWE Champion: The Rock, January 2013

The Rock as WWE Champion in January 2013.
The Rock as WWE Champion in January 2013.

When The Rock returned to WWE in 2011, there was no guarantee that he would step back into the ring for a match. Sure, many fans wanted to see the "once in a lifetime" battle with John Cena. Though it initially wasn't guaranteed to happen, the two iconic stars eventually clashed in an unforgettable match at WWE WrestleMania 28.

With The Rock coming out on top in that bout, WWE kept the door open for a sequel. In January 2013, the pieces began to fall into place for this rematch. At the time, CM Punk was enjoying one of the most memorable and lengthy WWE Championship reigns in the title's prestigious history.

But WWE opted to curtail Punk’s run and give the title to "The Great One." The Rock defeated Punk at Royal Rumble 2013. From there, it was only a matter of time until "The Brahma Bull" defended the gold against Cena at WWE WrestleMania 29. There, Cena defeated The Rock to win the title and even the score.

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Edited by Colin Tessier
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