5 Superstars whose first Championship in WWE was the world title

The typical path to reaching main event glory in WWE is to start from the bottom of the card and rise up. However, there have been quite a few instances where a superstar has become world champion relatively quickly.

It isn't every day that a WWE Superstar wins the world title first, especially if it is within a year of joining RAW or SmackDown. Where does one go after already reaching the top? Staying there is a challenge, with only a few of the following names remaining a perpetual main eventer in WWE.

This list isn't as obvious as one might think, as some of the company's biggest recent stars had different starts despite getting pushed early on.

Randy Orton's first title was the Intercontinental Championship in 2003, while John Cena won the US Title a few months later. Additionally, Roman Reigns won the Tag Team Titles with Seth Rollins over two years before his first world title win.

However, these five superstars' first Championship in WWE was the top prize in the game.

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#5 One-time WWE Champion Jinder Mahal

It may have happened during his second run, but Jinder Mahal went straight for the world title in WWE. He received the push of a lifetime months after returning to the company where he spent years as a lower card superstar.

Mahal would suddenly capture the WWE Championship in mid-2017, with nobody expecting it to happen at all. The Modern Day Maharaja's rise shocked the world and wasn't exactly sustainable. He won the United States Championship less than a year later, at WrestleMania 34.

It may have happened differently to the others on this list, but the WWE Title was indeed Jinder Mahal's first-ever Championship in the company.

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#4 Three-time WWE World Champion Goldberg

Goldberg's initial run with WWE lasted a year, with him mainly wrestling high-level and televised bouts. That is why it isn't a surprise to see him only go after the World Heavyweight Championship during his time there.

He won the big gold belt from Triple H at Unforgiven 2003, before winning the Universal Championship twice in recent years. Goldberg's wins over Kevin Owens and The Fiend were frustrating, while they added to his world title count.

The short-term nature of his WWE career ensured Goldberg remained a main-eventer throughout it, continuing to do so until today.

#3 Four-time WWE World Champion Sheamus

One of WWE's most stunning main-event rises came in 2009, as Sheamus went from debuting on ECW to dethroning John Cena on RAW in a matter of months. The Celtic Warrior was pushed straight to the top, as he won a Tables Match to become WWE Champion at Cena's expense.

Sheamus may not have remained a permanent headliner in the company, but his early push laid the foundation for a fulfilling career. He won multiple other world titles, as well as the United States and Tag Team Championships.

While he has spent over a decade in Vince McMahon's promotion, Sheamus might be at the top of his game right now. His in-ring form over the past year has been magnificent, with some hard-hitting matches against various stars on RAW.

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#2 Two-time WWE Champion AJ Styles

Another superstar who became WWE Champion before winning everything else, AJ Styles came to the company following an incredible career away from it. He blew expectations out of the water almost instantly.

Styles impressed everybody in his first few months in the promotion, with stellar rivalries with both Roman Reigns and John Cena. The Phenomenal One won the WWE Championship three weeks after pinning Cena clean at SummerSlam 2016, enjoying a brilliant title reign.

The following years saw him move across the card, be it on his own or with a faction or tag team partner. AJ Styles has been Champion every year since he joined WWE, most recently holding tag team gold with Omos.

#1 Eight-time WWE World Champion Brock Lesnar

While it comes as no surprise, Brock Lesnar became the youngest man to win the WWE Championship in 2002. He defeated The Rock five months after making his debut and began the first of his many world title reigns.

The Beast Incarnate has always been a main-eventer in the company, not settling for anything below that level from that point onwards. He won two more world titles before leaving the company in 2004. Lesnar would return eight years later as a bigger star, with even more glory awaiting.

Brock Lesnar won the WWE Championship twice and the Universal Title three times since 2012, with his reigns causing a lot of controversy. The idea of a part-timer becoming world champion was not met with the widest of arms.

The former UFC star would take a few months off at a time while being Champion. Regardless, Lesnar is a very successful man who has sustained a main-event-level career for close to two decades. He continues to headline WWE shows and has the chance to add to his tally at Crown Jewel, taking on Roman Reigns.