World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)

File:Seth Rollins, WrestleMania XL.jpg]]

On the April 24, 2023, episode of WWE's flagship professional wrestling television program, Monday Night Raw, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque announced the 2023 WWE Draft, a process to assign performers to a brand. He then addressed Roman Reigns and the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Since WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, Reigns had held and defended the promotion's two world championships, the WWE Championship and WWE Universal Championship, as the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship across both the Raw and SmackDown brands. However, due to the terms of his contract, Reigns made infrequent title defenses. Triple H decided that Reigns and his undisputed championship would become exclusive to one brand and that a new World Heavyweight Championship would be defended on the other brand. It was also revealed that the inaugural champion would be crowned at Night of Champions on May 27, 2023.{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|author-link=Wade Keller|title=4/24 WWE Raw results: Keller's report on Triple H announcement, Bad Bunny appearing in person, Rey vs. Priest|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/04/24/4-24-wwe-monday-night-raw-results-kellers-report-on-bad-bunny-appearing-in-person-rey-vs-priest-last-pre-wwe-draft-episode/|date=April 24, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425110018/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/04/24/4-24-wwe-monday-night-raw-results-kellers-report-on-bad-bunny-appearing-in-person-rey-vs-priest-last-pre-wwe-draft-episode/|archive-date=April 25, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/wwe-world-heavyweight-championship-triple-h-introduced-wwe-raw/|title=Triple H Introduces WWE's New World Heavyweight Championship Title|date=April 24, 2023|last=Casey|first=Connor|work=ComicBook.com|access-date=April 24, 2023}} During Night 1 of the draft on the April 28 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Reigns was drafted to SmackDown, subsequently making the World Heavyweight Championship exclusive to Raw.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/results/wwe-smackdown-live-results-wwe-draft-begins|title=WWE SmackDown live results: The WWE Draft begins|date=April 28, 2023|last=Bath|first=Dave|work=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=April 28, 2023}}

During the Backlash press conference on May 5, 2023, Triple H announced a tournament for the title including wrestlers from both brands with a bracket for each brand. The first round and semifinals for each bracket were scheduled for the May 8 and May 12 episodes of Raw and SmackDown, respectively. The first-round matches for each episode consisted of two triple threat matches with the respective winners advancing to the semifinals in a singles match the same night, with those respective winners advancing to the championship match at Night of Champions.{{cite news|last=Tessier|first=Colin|title=Triple H: World Heavyweight Title Tournament Will Begin On 5/8 WWE Raw, Continue On 5/12 SmackDown|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/triple-h-world-heavyweight-title-tournament-will-begin-58-wwe-raw-continue-512-smackdown|work=Fightful|date=May 5, 2023|access-date=May 5, 2023}} According to wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, the reason that SmackDown wrestlers were included in the tournament was due to WWE's attempt to retain viewership for the May 12 episode of SmackDown, as it and other wrestling programs that week were going head-to-head with the 2023 NBA playoffs.{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/wwe/news/wwe-smackdown-world-heavyweight-championship-tournament-nba-playoffs-competition/ |title=Why WWE Added SmackDown to the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament|date=May 9, 2023|last=Casey|first=Connor|work=ComicBook.com|access-date=May 9, 2023}}

The participants for the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament were revealed on May 7 on WWE's YouTube channel: Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Finn Bálor, Shinsuke Nakamura, and The Miz from Raw, and AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley, Edge, Rey Mysterio, and Sheamus from SmackDown.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/wwe/wwe-reveals-participants-for-world-heavyweight-title-tournament|title=WWE reveals participants for World Heavyweight title tournament|date=May 7, 2023|last=Carey|first=Ian|work=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=May 7, 2023}} On the May 8 episode of Raw, Rollins defeated Nakamura and Priest in the first triple threat while Bálor defeated Miz and Rhodes in the second. Rollins subsequently defeated Bálor in the semifinals to win Raw's bracket.{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|title=WWE Raw Results (5-8-2023): Keller's report with analysis of World Title Tournament matches, Backlash fallout, Trish|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/05/08/wwe-raw-results-5-8-2023-kellers-report-with-analysis-of-world-title-tournament-matches-backlash-fallout-trish/|date=May 8, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=May 8, 2023}} On the May 12 episode of SmackDown, Styles defeated Edge and Mysterio in the first triple threat while Lashley defeated Sheamus and Theory in the second. Styles subsequently defeated Lashley in the semifinals to win SmackDown's bracket, thus setting up the tournament final between Rollins and Styles.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=5/12 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns' return, AJ Styles vs. Edge vs. Rey Mysterio, and Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Sheamus tournament matches, winners meet for a spot in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/05/12/5-12-wwe-friday-night-smackdown-results-powells-review-of-roman-reigns-return-aj-styles-vs-edge-vs-rey-mysterio-and-austin-theory-vs-bobby-lashley-vs-sheamus-tournament-matches-winners-mee/|date=May 12, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=May 12, 2023}} At Night of Champions, Rollins defeated Styles to become the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/seth-rollins-becomes-inaugural-wwe-world-heavyweight-champion-wwe-night-champions|title=Seth Rollins Becomes Inaugural WWE World Heavyweight Champion At WWE Night Of Champions|date=May 27, 2023|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|work=Fightful|access-date=May 28, 2023}} The title was defended for the first time on the June 5 episode of Raw.{{cite web|last=Keller|first=Wade|author-link=Wade Keller|title=WWE Raw results (6/5): Keller's report with analysis of Seth defending World Title against Damian Priest, Cody Rhodes on Miz TV, MITB qualifiers|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2023/06/05/wwe-raw-results-6-5-kellers-report-with-analysis-of-seth-defending-world-title-against-damian-priest-cody-rhodes-on-miz-tv-mitb-qualifiers/|date=June 5, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|access-date=June 5, 2023}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Sting flair big gold.jpg

| image2 = Damian Priest, WrestleMania XL.jpg

| footer = Sting and Ric Flair (left) with the original Big Gold Belt and Damian Priest (right) with the current World Heavyweight Championship—designed in homage to the iconic Big Gold Belt.

}}

The World Heavyweight Championship belt has a design that pays homage to the historic Big Gold Belt, which was used for WWE's previous World Heavyweight Championship (2002–2013) as well as the WCW Championship before that. It also features tributes to previous designs of the company's original world championship, the WWE Championship (1963–present).{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb_WBZrleWo&t=1s|title=Get a closer look at the new World Heavyweight Championship|date=May 3, 2023|author=WWE|publisher=YouTube|access-date=May 9, 2023}}

Like the historic Big Gold Belt, the title has three large gold plates on a black leather strap. All three plates include traditional filigree with each plate outlined in a rope trim to represent the three ropes of a wrestling ring. Like all of WWE's other championship belts, the side plates include a removable round center section which can be replaced with the reigning champion's logo in lieu of the nameplate that was found on the original Big Gold Belt; the default side plates feature a gold WWE logo over a globe (customizable side plates were introduced with the 2013–2014 version of the WWE Championship belt).

At the center of the center plate, there is a large globe that has WWE's logo over top of it. The WWE logo is silver with black filled in the blank spaces of the globe. The globe itself represents that the title is defended around the world. Above the globe is a banner with the text "WORLD" written in silver with a banner below the globe that says "CHAMPION", also in silver. Also on the center plate are three lions, which represent the McMahon family crest (as WWE was founded and owned by the McMahon family until September 2023); there is a full-bodied lion on each opposing side of the globe facing outwards while the third is a lion's head at the very bottom of the center plate (the McMahon family crest was previously included on the side plates of the WWE Championship belts from 1998 to 2005). At the top of the center plate right above the "WORLD" banner is a crown, a nod to Bruno Sammartino's WWE Championship belt during his long reign (there was also a crown on the Big Gold Belt). Right above the crown is an eagle, which is an homage to the various WWE Championship belts that included an eagle up until 2013, most notably the Winged Eagle championship belt design (1988–1998). There are a total of 60 diamonds across the three plates; these were in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of WWE, as the company was founded in April 1963 and the title was unveiled in April 2023.

The creation of the World Heavyweight Championship was met with mixed reception. Some liked the idea of the title, feeling that it would give new opportunities for several wrestlers, but others were critical. A segment of the fanbase were disappointed that it did not continue the titleholder lineage from the previous World Heavyweight Championship defended in WWE from 2002 to 2013.{{cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/119432-tommy-dreamer-cree-que-el-nuevo-campeonato-de-wwe-parece-un-premio-de-consolacion|title=Tommy Dreamer thinks WWE's new championship looks like a consolation prize|date=April 28, 2023|last=Rodriguez|first=David Gonzalez|work=Solowrestling.com|access-date=May 9, 2023|language=Spanish}}{{cite web |last1=Rodriguez |first1=David Gonzalez |title=Booker T doesn't think the new WWE Championship is a consolation prize |url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/119740-booker-t-no-cree-que-el-nuevo-campeonato-de-wwe-sea-un-premio-de-consolacion |date=May 9, 2023 |work=Solowrestling.com |access-date=May 10, 2023 |language=Spanish}} Dave Scherer of PWInsider felt that since Roman Reigns was not in the inaugural tournament, it made the World Heavyweight Championship seem like a secondary title to his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=170912|title=THE ONE PERSON WHO SHOULD BE IN THE WORLD TITLE TOURNEY BUT ISN'T, WWE IN NYC, THE WORLD IS VINCE'S OYSTER AND MORE|date=May 10, 2023|last=Scherer|first=Dave|work=PWInsider|access-date=May 10, 2023}} Former WWE and Extreme Championship Wrestling wrestler Tommy Dreamer opined that the title's creation felt like a consolation prize, stating that it gave the impression that nobody could beat Reigns. Nonetheless, he praised the design of the belt. Conversely, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T stated that he did not think it felt like a secondary title or consolation prize, agreeing with the sentiment that it would provide new opportunities, especially for younger wrestlers.

WWE commentator Corey Graves said that having the title was great as it would allow Raw and SmackDown to identify as separate brands (as brand division had been lax over the preceding year), but he claimed that until Reigns was defeated, anyone holding the World Heavyweight Championship would feel inferior to Reigns.{{cite web|url=https://solowrestling.mundodeportivo.com/new/119495-corey-graves-cree-que-el-nuevo-campeon-de-peso-pesado-se-vera-inferior-a-roman-reigns|title=Corey Graves believes the new world heavyweight champion will look inferior to Roman Reigns|date=April 30, 2023 |last=Jimenez|first=Mario|work=Solowrestling.com|access-date=May 9, 2023|language=Spanish}} Scherer also felt that whoever would finally beat Reigns, the impact would be lessened due to the existence of the World Heavyweight Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/170616/if-i-were-cm-punk-the-only-part-of-my-body-that-i-would-give-the-elite-is-middle-finger-wrestling-journalism-or-lack-thereof-hhhs-reigns-comments-and-more.html?p=1|title=IF I WERE CM PUNK THE ONLY PART OF MY BODY THAT I WOULD GIVE THE ELITE IS MIDDLE FINGER, WRESTLING JOURNALISM (OR LACK THEREOF), HHH'S REIGNS COMMENTS AND MORE |date=May 1, 2023|last=Scherer|first=Dave|work=PWInsider|access-date=May 9, 2023}} Prior to competing in the tournament final, runner-up AJ Styles said that it was hard to argue that the new title was not secondary compared to Reigns' undisputed championship,{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/aj-styles-says-its-hard-to-argue-wwe-world-heavyweight-title-isnt-secondary/|title=AJ Styles Says It's Hard To Argue WWE World Heavyweight Title Isn't Secondary |last=Lee|first=Joseph|date=May 22, 2023|work=411Mania|access-date=May 22, 2023}} a sentiment shared by WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle, who did, however, praise the design of the belt.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1297225/kurt-angle-wwe-world-heavyweight-title-secondary/|title=Kurt Angle Likes The New WWE World Heavyweight Title, But Says It's Definitely Secondary |last=Ranft |first=Shaun |date=May 25, 2023|work=Wrestling Inc.|access-date=May 25, 2023}}

File:Jey Uso RR25 (1) (cropped).jpg]]

As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, there have been five reigns between five champions. The inaugural champion was Seth "Freakin" Rollins. He also has the longest reign at 316 days, while Drew McIntyre has the shortest reign at 5 minutes and 46 seconds. Damian Priest is the oldest title holder at 41 years old while Gunther is the youngest at 36 years, 349 days.

Jey Uso is the current champion in his first reign. He won the title by defeating Gunther on night one of WrestleMania 41 on April 19, 2025, in Paradise, Nevada.

{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes|dayless=yes|days2=yes}}

{{PWtitlereign

|sort number = 0.5

|type = promotion

|name = WWE: Raw

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 1

|champion = Seth "Freakin" Rollins

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|May 27, 2023}}

|days = {{age in days nts|May 27, 2023|April 7, 2024}}

|days2 = yes

|location = Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

|event = Night of Champions

|notes = The title was established and designated to Raw after the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship became exclusive to SmackDown following the 2023 WWE Draft. Rollins defeated AJ Styles in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion.

|ref = {{cite web|last=Miller|first=Gregory|title=Triple H introduces the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://www.wwe.com/article/triple-h-introduces-the-world-heavyweight-championship|work=WWE|date=April 24, 2023|access-date=April 24, 2023}}{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE Night of Champions results: Powell's live review of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles, Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Bianca Belair vs. Asuka for the Raw Women's Title|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/05/27/wwe-night-of-champions-results-powells-live-review-of-kevin-owens-and-sami-zayn-vs-roman-reigns-and-solo-sikoa-for-the-undisputed-wwe-tag-team-titles-brock-lesnar-vs-cody-rhodes-seth-rollins-vs/|date=May 27, 2023|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527173019/https://prowrestling.net/site/2023/05/27/wwe-night-of-champions-results-powells-live-review-of-kevin-owens-and-sami-zayn-vs-roman-reigns-and-solo-sikoa-for-the-undisputed-wwe-tag-team-titles-brock-lesnar-vs-cody-rhodes-seth-rollins-vs/|archive-date=May 27, 2023|url-status=live}}

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 2

|champion = Drew McIntyre

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|April 7, 2024}}

|days = <1

|days2 = yes

|location = Philadelphia, PA

|event = WrestleMania XL
{{small|Night 2}}

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WrestleMania XL results: Powell's live review of night two with Roman Reigns vs. Cody Rhodes for the WWE Universal Championship with Bloodline Rules, Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/04/07/wrestlemania-xl-results-powells-live-review-of-night-two-with-roman-reigns-vs-cody-rhodes-for-the-wwe-universal-championship-with-bloodline-rules-seth-rollins-vs-drew-mcintyre-for-the-world-heav/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=April 7, 2024|access-date=April 7, 2024}}

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 3

|champion = Damian Priest

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|April 7, 2024}}

|days = {{age in days nts|April 7, 2024|August 3, 2024}}

|days2 = {{age in days nts|April 7, 2024|August 3, 2024}}

|location = Philadelphia, PA

|event = WrestleMania XL
{{small|Night 2}}

|notes = This was Priest's Money in the Bank cash-in match.

|ref =

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 4

|champion = Gunther

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|August 3, 2024}}

|days = {{age in days nts|August 3, 2024|April 19, 2025}}

|days2 = {{age in days nts|August 4, 2024|April 19, 2025}}

|location = Cleveland, OH

|event = SummerSlam

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WWE SummerSlam results: Powell's review of Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa in a Bloodline Rules match for the WWE Championship, Damian Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2024/08/03/wwe-summerslam-results-powells-review-of-cody-rhodes-vs-solo-sikoa-in-a-bloodline-rules-match-for-the-wwe-championship-damian-priest-vs-gunther-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=August 3, 2024|access-date=August 3, 2024}}

}}

{{PWtitlereign

|number = 5

|champion = Jey Uso

|reign = 1

|date = {{dts|April 19, 2025}}

|days = {{age in days nts|April 19, 2025}}+

|days2 = {{age in days nts|April 19, 2025}}+

|location = Paradise, NV

|event = WrestleMania 41
{{small|Night 1}}

|notes =

|ref = {{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=WrestleMania 41 results: Powell's live review of night one with Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins, Gunther vs. Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Championship|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2025/04/19/wrestlemania-41-results-powells-live-review-of-night-one-with-roman-reigns-vs-cm-punk-vs-seth-rollins-gunther-vs-jey-uso-for-the-world-heavyweight-championship/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=April 19, 2025|access-date=April 19, 2025}}

}}{{BundleEnd}}

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• World championships in WWE
• World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)
• Big Gold Belt

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/world-heavyweight-championship Official World Heavyweight Championship Title History]

{{WWE Championships}}

{{World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2023–present)}}

Category:World heavyweight wrestling championships

Category:WWE championships

Category:2023 establishments in the United States