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WWE currently has multiple world championships available to its roster. The women challenge for the RAW, SmackDown and NXT Women's Championships. The men can challenge for the legendary WWE Championship on RAW, the WWE Universal Championship on SmackDown Live, and WWE NXT Championship on NXT 2.0.
Of course, other promotions have their own world championships. Some of the most prestigious titles amongst them are the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, informally referred to as "10 lbs of gold", the Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship and the recently created IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
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Many members of the WWE roster previously performed in other promotions, and some of them were successful enough to win world championships before they entered the WWE ring. Here is a list of 5 such superstars who won world championships outside the confines of the Vince McMahon-led promotion.
A top AEW star just called one of his colleagues 'spoiled' and 'narcissistic' HERE.
#5. Former WWE United States Champion R-Truth (NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship)
R-Truth is one of the most successful comedic characters WWE fans have witnessed in recent times. Charismatic and seemingly timeless, Truth can bring attention and laughter to any program he is part of. The 24/7 chases have become as stale as they can be, but Truth's facial expressions are always on point.
However, in between his two WWE stints, Truth wrestled as Ron "The Truth" Killings. He was one of the first main-event stars of TNA, where he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship twice. Killings was the first African-American to win the historic championship and the first African-American to win a world championship in TNA history.
Truth has rarely been treated as a world championship contender in WWE, but he is valued as a comedic worker and is beloved in the locker room, who once famously celebrated his birthday in the ring.
#4. Former WWE NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai (World Of Stardom Championship)
Io Shirai was one of the finest professional wrestlers of the 2010s, regardless of gender, and while WWE had second thoughts about her concussion and cardiac issues, the company ultimately provided her with a contract.
Since receiving a WWE contract, Shirai has become one of NXT's top stars by providing excellent matches on TakeOver shows and exhibiting her signature charisma.
Before joining WWE, Shirai mostly wrestled in World Wonder Ring Stardom, which is the top Joshi promotion in Japan today. Shirai, similar to Hiroshi Tanahashi in NJPW, was considered the "ace" of the company and won the World Championship twice.
#3. Former WWE Champion AJ Styles (multiple, including NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship)
AJ Styles has split from the gigantic Omos and is once again a singles star. He has recently made some noise with Grayson Waller on NXT 2.0.
Styles is a former WWE Champion with many more world title reigns outside the company.
One of the biggest names in the professional wrestling industry in the past two decades, Styles won the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and the IWGP Heavyweight Championship before joining WWE.
Since his memorable Royal Rumble debut, Styles has been presented as a major star and has become an integral and reliable part of the WWE roster.
#2. Former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley (Impact World Heavyweight Championship)
Bobby Lashley's first WWE run didn't see him reach his full potential, despite him winning the ECW World Championship. He reinvented himself in MMA and the indies, winning the top championship of TNA/Impact Wrestling four times.
Since his return to the Vince McMahon-led promotion, Lashley has been booked as a dominant star and has won the WWE Championship recently. His achievements include being the second wrestler -- the other being Rob Van Dam -- to win the WWE, ECW and TNA/Impact World Championships.
#1. Current WWE Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura (IWGP Heavyweight Championship)
Shinsuke Nakamura is the current WWE Intercontinental Champion but he no longer is the "King of Strong Style". Nakamura has adapted to the WWE style of wrestling and rarely provides to the audience the awe-inspiring matches seen from his days in NJPW.
Nakamura may never win a world championship in WWE, but he will always have older glories he can look back on when he finally hangs up his boots.
Nakamura, one of NJPW's new Three Musketeers, is a three-time former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. He also won the IGF version of the championship and famously raised the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to main event status.
