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(as of 11/98)
Buddy Rogers 04/63
Awarded by promoters breaking with the NWA, allegedly
because they didn't recognize Roger's one-fall loss of the
NWA World title to Lou Thesz on 01/24/63; in some accounts;
Rogers allegedly defeats Antonio Rocca in a ficticious
tournament in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, for the title.
Bruno Sammartino 05/17/63 New York, NY
Ivan Koloff 01/18/71 New York, NY
Pedro Morales 02/08/71 New York, NY
Reduced from a World title to a regional title after the
WWWF joins the NWA in 1971.
Stan Stasiak 12/01/73 Philadelphia, PA
Bruno Sammartino [2] 12/10/73 New York, NY
Superstar Billy Graham 04/30/77 Baltimore, MD
Bob Backlund 02/20/78 New York, NY
Renamed to WWF title in 03/1973; wrestles to a double-
countout against AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkle on
03/25/79 in Toronto, Ontario.
Antonio Inoki 11/30/79 Tokushima, Japan
Backlund pins Inoki in rematch in Tokyo, Japan on 12/06/79
but WWF president Hisashi Shinma declares the match to be a
no-contest because of the interference of Tiger Jeet Singh;
Shinma gives the belt back to Inoki, but he does not accept
it.
Bob Backlund [2] 12/12/79 New York, NY
Defeats Bobby Duncum for vacant title; defeats NWA
Heavyweight Champion Harley Race by disqualification on
09/22/80 in New York, NY (no title change); title held up
on 10/19/81 when Greg Valentine is mistakenly given the
belt by a dazed referee after being pinned by Backlund.
Bob Backlund [3] 11/23/81 New York, NY
Defeats Valentine in rematch; wrestles to a double-
countout against NWA World Champion Ric Flair on 07/04/82
in Atlanta, GA; recognized as WWF World Heavyweight
Champion when WWF withdraws from the NWA.
Iron Sheik 12/26/83 New York, NY
Wins title when manager Arnold Skaaland throws in the
towel while Backlund is in the camel clutch.
Hulk Hogan 01/23/84 New York, NY
Iron Sheik [2] 07/08/84 Philadelphia, PA
Sgt. Slaughter 07/09/84 Landover, MD
David Schultz 07/14/84 Rochester, NY
Sgt. Slaughter [2] 07/15/84 Troy, NY
Iron Sheik [3] 07/17/84 New York, NY
Sgt. Slaughter [3] 07/19/84 Erie, PA
Antonio Inoki [2] 08/18/84 St, Louis, MO
Vacated title on 09/18/84 due to inability to defend both
the WWF and IWGP titles.
Paul Orndorff 10/02/84 Buffalo, NY
Defeated Ken Patera in 16-man tournament final.
Randy Savage 03/85 New York, NY
Bob Backlund (4) 08/85 Daytona Beach, FL
Roddy Piper 03/86 Los Angeles, CA
Lex Luger 08/86 Rosemont, IL
Andre the Giant 01/87 Baton Rouge, LA
Vacated title on 08/87 due to neck injury.
Ted DiBiase 08/87 Cedar Rapids, IA
Won 8-man tournament final for vacant title.
Don Muraco 11/87 Richfield, OH
Randy Savage (2) 03/88 Atlantic City, NJ
Dan Severn 03/89 Atlantic City, NJ
Stripped of title in 07/90.
Ric Flair 11/90 Hartford, CT
Won an 8-man tournament for vacant title. Purchased
sole rights to the name World Wrestling Federation
after Vince McMahon merged his WWF into the NWA and
the NWA sold the licensing and marketing rights.
The Undertaker 03/92 Indianapolis, IN
The Ultimate Warrior 03/94 New York, NY
Bret Hart 03/95 Hartford, CT
Dan Severn (2) 09/95 Saginaw, MI
Sid Vicious 11/95 Landover, MD
The Undertaker (2) 03/96 Anaheim, CA
Shawn Michaels 08/96 Cleveland, OH
Sting 01/97 San Antonio, TX
Bret Hart (2) 03/97 Rosemont, IL
Vacated title in 05/97.
Bret Hart (3) 06/97 Providence, RI
Defeated Razor Ramon to become undisputed unified
WWF Champion. Vacated title due to injury.
Diesel (Kevin Nash) 09/97 Louisville, KY
Won 16-man tournament to win vacant title.
Shawn Michaels (2) 03/98 Boston, MA
The Undertaker (3) 11/98 St. Louis, MO
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