The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 21

AJ Styles (November 7, 2017 - November 13, 2018)

AJ Styles reigned as WWE Champion for one year

AJ Styles as WWE Champion was an unusual sight to be sure. To see the figurehead of WWE's long-time rival, TNA, as the company's top star back in 2016 was something that most onlookers never expected to see.

Coupled with the fact that he is from the South, which as most know is a turn off to WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon and does not fit the mould of traditional WWE main eventer, for Styles to win the belt once was an unbridled achievement. To win it twice, was nothing short of miraculous.

Not only did Styles defeat Jinder Mahal to win a second WWE Championship, he held onto that title for over a year.

His win over Mahal was the first-time ever that the belt had changed hands in England and kicked off a superlative title run between the ropes.

Although his title defences with Shinsuke Nakamura could not hold a candle to their earlier New Japan bouts, his subsequent defences against the likes of Rusev, Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan was memorable.

His lengthy reign was finally terminated on SmackDown by the "New" Daniel Bryan in another superlative encounter.

At 42 years old, it is unlikely Styles will win the top title in WWE again, but his contributions to the belt have been immense.