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The WWE Championship has to be the most prestigious title in wrestling today. The lineage dates back to 1963 and just 54 men have held the top prize in the biggest wrestling promotion in the world. The title has undergone several changes over the years in design and in the talent competing for it.
The WWE Championship reigns are what has helped build the reputation and legacy for the title. Whether it be for the classic matches and the length of the reign or for who the person who won is, several runs with the championship could be described as unforgettable for better or worse. They stand the test of time and stay in the memories of every fan that witnessed the greatness.
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Big E is the current WWE Champion and is currently trying to etch his name into the annals of history. With 53 previous superstars holding the title before the New Day member, it is difficult to distinguish the best of the best from the pack. In this article, let's take a look at five unforgettable WWE Title reigns.
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5) Former Five-Time WWE Champion Brock Lesnar (August 17, 2014 - March 29, 2015)
Brock Lesnar came into the WWE as a decorated athlete being a former NCAA Heavyweight Champion. His rookie year in the company was monumental with "The Next Big Thing," winning the King of the Ring and becoming the youngest WWE Champion in history by beating The Rock at SummerSlam 2002. Brock would win the top prize two more times before leaving the company.
Eight years after his departure, Lesnar returned to the WWE following WrestleMania 28. Brock would go on to pick up the biggest win of his career at WrestleMania 30 by defeating The Undertaker and ending his vaunted undefeated streak. This led to another WWE Championship run at SummerSlam 2014 when he convincingly demolished John Cena.
This reign was marred by controversy due to Brock Lesnar's part-time status with WWE and lack of appearances throughout his seven months as champion. Despite those facts, Lesnar elevated the gold and brought the WWE Championship back into an attraction fans had to pay to see. When Brock did show up, it was in high profile segments on RAW and main event PPV encounters.
The aforementioned WWE Championship win over Cena at SummerSlam is considered one of the greatest squash matches in wrestling history. Brock would go on to take part in one of the best triple threat matches in the company's history against Cena and Seth Rollins at Royal Rumble 2015. The reign also ended in dramatic fashion when Rollins cashed in Money In The Bank at WrestleMania 31 to win the title.
4) Former 13-Time WWE Champion John Cena (April 3, 2005 - January 8, 2006)
John Cena is in the conversation for the greatest WWE Champion of all time. He has won the richest prize in the company more times than anyone with 13 reigns and stands at fourth all-time for combined days as champion. With a legacy like that, it might be difficult for one reign to stand out from another. However, Cena's first run with the gold might have been his best.
John Cena defeated JBL to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21. It was an impressive reign that followed, kicking off with a bloody I Quit war against JBL at Judgment Day 2005 before successful defenses against Chris Jericho, Christian and Kurt Angle. Cena's reign ended spectacularly with Edge cashing in the Money In The Bank contract for the first time ever at New Year's Revolution.
3) Former Two-Time WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino (May 17, 1963 - January 18, 1971)
Bruno Sammartino was widely considered the professional wrestler who helped build Madison Square Garden. During the early years of the WWE in the 1960s, he was the face of the company. This all started with his first run on the mountaintop of the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Sammartino defeated "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers to win the gold at the May 17, 1963 Madison Square Garden house show.
This run with the WWE Championship helped Bruno Sammartino become a household name and celebrity. It also helped the WWE become a ticket-selling success in the New York City market. This elevated the title in a major way and established the foundation for which its prestige would be built on.
2) Former Six-Time WWE Champion Hulk Hogan (January 23, 1984 - February 5, 1988)
After Bruno Sammartino's time on top was over, WWE went through a long transition period where Bob Backlund failed to catch on the same way. Hulk Hogan came into the company from AWA and was thrust into the spotlight. He defeated the Iron Sheik in New York City's Madison Square Garden to win the WWE Championship. This proved to be a landmark moment in wrestling.
Hogan was coming off his appearances in Rocky III and boasted a significant boost in popularity. Vince McMahon pushed the entire WWE promotional machine behind the Hulkster and sold loads of merchandise in the process. The run on top lasted four years with many memorable feuds against the likes of Rowdy Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff and Andre The Giant.
Similar to Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan's first reign as WWE Champion proved to be truly monumental for the company. This took the promotion to the mainstream with Hogan and other stars mixing it up on MTV and with singer Cyndi Lauper. Hogan was in the main event of the first three WrestleManias.
Hulk Hogan's legendary clash with Andre the Giant transpired during this run as well. The bodyslam on the seven-foot mammoth is probably the most replayed highlight in wrestling history. Hogan would go on to hold the title five more times later. It is safe to say that WWE and WrestleMania would not be what they are today without that first WWE Championship reign of Hulk Hogan.
1) Former Six-Time WWE Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin (March 29, 1998 - June 28, 1998)
When thinking about WWE Title reigns that truly changed the superstar, the title and the company, the debate begins and ends with the first WWE Championship run of Stone Cold Steve Austin. In a lot of fans' minds, this kickstarted the most lucrative period in wrestling history, the Attitude Era.
Austin was brought into WWE as the Ringmaster under the management of Million Dollar Man Ted Dibiase. This was shortlived before he underwent a character change and became Stone Cold Steve Austin. The events of the Curtain Call led to Austin filling in and winning the King of the Ring crown. He went on to cut the iconic Austin 3:16 promo that sparked his rise to the top.
Stone Cold Steve Austin was in an epic feud with Bret "The Hitman" Hart that was blown off in the incredible Submission Match at WrestleMania 13. The contest turned Austin into a babyface and Hart into a heel. The next year saw Stone Cold's popularity skyrocket and led to his WWE Championship victory over Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14.
His win escalated the simmering rivalry with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. The feud became the catalyst for WWE's comeback in the ratings during the Monday Night Wars with WCW. Business was at an all-time high during this reign. Austin constantly rebelled against the Chairman's authority and fought a litany of obstacles from McMahon.
Stone Cold found himself in the crossfire of the ongoing war between the Brothers of Destruction, The Undertaker and Kane. Taker would cost Austin the WWE Championship in a First Blood Match at King of the Ring 1998 before Stone Cold won the gold back the next night. He went on to win the title six times in total.
