On this page, you find the full Title History for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, with all Championship Info, Statistics, the Belt Design changes through the years, and the full list of Title Reigns, along with dates, events, and reign durations.
The WCW World Heavyweight Championship was a World Title contested in World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling and National Wrestling Alliance, by men wrestlers.
The championship was first established on January 11, 1991, and the inaugural champion was Ric Flair.
The prestigious lineage of the World Heavyweight Championship can be traced back all the way to George Hackenschmidt and 1904. For years, it was known as the NWA Championship; then when WCW pulled out of the NWA in the early 1990s, Ric Flair was recognized as the first-ever WCW Champion. Since that time, top names such as Hulk Hogan, Ron Simmons and Bret Hart carried the championship prior to WCW's demise.
The WCW International World Heavyweight Championship was previously unified into this championship.
The WCW World Heavyweight Championship was retired on December 9, 2001, when it was unified into the WWE Championship, with the final champion being Chris Jericho.
A similar championship, the World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13), has been later introduced, which does not share the lineage with this title.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Title History
For the Title History of the newer version of this championship, see the page for the World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13).
For the Title History of the championship in which this title was unified into, see the page for the WWE Championship.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Title Reigns
N. Image Champion Reign World Wrestling Entertainment Unified into the Undisputed WWF Championship
December 9, 2001 San Diego, CAAfter defeating The Rock for the World Championship, Chris Jericho defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin to unify the World Championship into the WWF Championship. The World Championship was retired.63 
Chris Jericho 2
0days62 
The Rock 2
The title was referred to as World Championship from November 19, 2001, after the demise of The Alliance.34days61 Chris Jericho 1
15days60 The Rock 1
63days59 
Booker T 5
20days58 
Kurt Angle 1
4days57 Booker T 4
This was the final episode of Nitro, as WCW had been purchased by WWF on March 23, 2001. The title was then defended on WWF programming, where it was referred to as WCW Championship.122days56 
Scott Steiner 1
120daysWorld Championship Wrestling 55 Booker T 3
Defeated Jeff Jarrett in a San Francisco 49ers match for the vacant title.55days
Vacant
Vince Russo decided he was not a wrestler and he did not want the title, so he vacated it.0days54 
Vince Russo 1
7days53 Booker T 2
8days52 
Kevin Nash 5
20days51 Booker T 1
Earlier that night, Hollywood Hulk Hogan faced Jeff Jarrett for the title in a controversial match that ended in a shoot. In reality, Vince Russo wanted Hogan to lose to Jarrett, who would then lose to Booker T. However, Hogan refused to job to Jarrett, so Russo told Jarrett to just lie down and let Hogan win. Jarrett lay down and Russo threw the belt in the ring at a confused Hogan, telling Hogan to take the belt. After Hogan pinned Jarrett and was declared new champion, he called out Russo for his poor booking decisions before walking out of WCW. Russo reversed the decision, declaring that Jarrett was still champion. Jarrett then lost the title to Booker T in an impromptu match.50days50 
Jeff Jarrett 4
41days49 
Ric Flair 8
Kevin Nash / Diesel gave the title to Flair.0days48 Kevin Nash 4
5days47 Jeff Jarrett 3
Vince Russo awarded the vacant title to Jarrett.2daysVacant
Vince Russo stripped Ric Flair of the title.0days46 Ric Flair 7
7days45 Jeff Jarrett 2
8days44 
David Arquette 1
This was a tag team match pitting Arquette & Diamond Dallas Page against Eric Bischoff & Jeff Jarrett, in which whoever scored the fall would become champion. Arquette pinned Bischoff to win Page's title.11days43 
Diamond Dallas Page 3
2days42 Jeff Jarrett 1
Defeated Diamond Dallas Page in tournament final for the vacant title.8daysVacant
All WCW titles were declared vacant by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff after WCW was rebooted.6days41 
Sid Vicious 2
75days40 Kevin Nash 3
As Commissioner, Nash awarded himself the title.0daysVacant
Sid Vicious was stripped of the title by Commissioner Kevin Nash / Diesel due to Sid pinning the wrong Harris Brother.0days39 Sid Vicious 1
Defeated The Harris Brothers for the right to face Kevin Nash / Diesel, then defeated Nash for the vacant title.2daysVacant
In storyline, Chris Benoit was stripped of the title because he won the match although Sid Vicious' foot was under the rope during the submission. In reality, Benoit forfeited the title and left for WWF after dispute with management.7days38 
Chris Benoit 1
Defeated Sid Vicious for the vacant title.1dayVacant
Hart vacated the title due to a legitimate injury that eventually forced him to retire nine months later.0days37 
Bret Hart 2
Defeated Goldberg in a rematch for the vacant title.27daysVacant
Hart vacated the title due to the controversial end to a match with Goldberg at Starrcade.0days36 Bret Hart 1
Defeated Chris Benoit in a tournament final for the vacant title.29daysVacant
Sting was stripped of the title after losing an unsanctioned match against Goldberg and attacking referee Charles Robinson at Halloween Havoc.27days35 
Sting 6
43days34 
Hulk Hogan 6
62days33 
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 4
1day32 Kevin Nash 2
63days31 
Diamond Dallas Page 2
13days30 Sting 5
0days29 
Diamond Dallas Page 1
15days28 Ric Flair 6
28days27 
Hollywood Hogan 5
This was The Fingerpoke of Doom: Hogan (leader of nWo) poke Nash in the chest with his index finger, prompting Nash to theatrically throw himself onto the mat and allow Hogan to pin him.69days26 Kevin Nash 1
8days25 
Goldberg 1
174days24 
Hollywood Hogan 4
77days23 
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 3
1day22 
Sting 4
Defeated Hollywood Hogan in a rematch for the vacant title.56daysVacant
Sting was stripped of the title due to the controversy over the finishes of the Starrcade match and the rematch which took place the following night.45days21 Sting 3
11days20 Hollywood Hogan 3
141days19 
Lex Luger 2
5days18 Hollywood Hogan 2
During this reign, the title was often announced as the nWo/WCW World Heavyweight Championship, though never officially renamed.359days17 
The Giant 2
103days16 Ric Flair 5
78days15 
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 2
20days14 Ric Flair 4
26days13 "Macho Man" Randy Savage 1
Won the first-ever World War 3 match to win the vacant title.31daysVacant
The Giant was stripped of the title due to the controversial finish of the Halloween Havoc match (he won the title via DQ due to a contract clause, after some interferences).20days12 The Giant 1
8days11 
Hulk Hogan 1
469days10 
Ric Flair 3
April 21, 1994Ric Flair defeated Steamboat in a rematch for the vacant title. This reign was recognized by WCW, but is not recognized by WWE, presenting Flair's reign as one continuous reign. During this reign in June 1994, Flair also unified the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship into this title. The Big Gold Belt once again represented the World Championship.87daysVacant
A title match between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat ended in a double pin, which resulted in the title being vacated.4days9 Ric Flair 2
111days8 
Vader 3
March 17, 1993 Dublin, Ireland | House showDuring this reign, in September 1, 1993, WCW conclusively left NWA.285daysWorld Championship Wrestling & National Wrestling Alliance 7 
Sting 2
March 11, 1993 London, England | House show6days6 
Vader 2
December 30, 1992 Baltimore, MD | House show71days5 
Ron Simmons 1
August 16, 1992 Baltimore, MD | Main EventDue to injury, Sting was unable to have a rematch with Vader, so a raffle was done to take Sting's place as the number one contender; Ron Simmons won the raffle.136days4 Vader 1
35days3 Sting 1
134days2 
Lex Luger 1
Luger was originally the number one contender to face Ric Flair, but after Flair left WCW for WWF and the title declared vacant, Barry Windham was named the number two contender. Luger defeated Windham in a steel cage match for the vacant title.230daysVacant
July 1, 1991Flair left for WWF and was stripped of the title.13days1 
Ric Flair 1
January 11, 1991 East Rutherford, NJ | House showDefeated Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and WCW also began recognizing Flair as WCW World Heavyweight Champion while still using the NWA belt (the Big Gold Belt). WWE recognizes this as a single World Championship reign, counting the NWA reign but not the WCW one.171days
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Names & Belt Designs
- World ChampionshipNovember 19, 2001December 9, 2001
- WCW ChampionshipJune 24, 2001November 18, 2001
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipMarch 14, 1999June 23, 2001
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship (nWo Wolfpack - Hollywood Hogan)January 4, 1999March 13, 1999
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 6, 1998January 3, 1999
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship (nWo - Hollywood Hogan)April 20, 1998July 5, 1998
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipDecember 18, 1997April 19, 1998
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship (nWo - Hollywood Hogan)August 9, 1997December 17, 1997
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipAugust 5, 1997August 8, 1997
- WCW World Heavyweight Championship (nWo - Hollywood Hogan)August 12, 1996August 4, 1997
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJune 24, 1994August 11, 1996
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 15, 1991June 23, 1994
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJuly 14, 1991July 14, 1991
- WCW World Heavyweight ChampionshipJanuary 11, 1991July 13, 1991
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Statistics
WWF
NWA- Promotion
World Championship Wrestling - TerritoryWorld Tier 1
- DivisionPrimary
- GenderMale
- Date EstablishedJanuary 11, 1991
- Date RetiredDecember 9, 2001
- Unified With
WCW International World Heavyweight Championship - Unified Into
Undisputed WWF Championship - Followed By
World Heavyweight Championship ('02-'13)
- First ChampionRic Flair
- Final ChampionChris Jericho
Most Number of Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ric Flair | 8 |
| 2 | Hulk Hogan | 6 |
| 3 | Sting | 6 |
| 4 | Booker T | 5 |
| 5 | Kevin Nash | 5 |
Most Combined Days
| Rank | Wrestler | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Hulk Hogan | 1177 | |
| Ric Flair | 508 | |
| Vader | 391 | |
| Booker T | 255 | |
| Sting | 250 |
Longest Reigns
| Rank | Wrestler | Reign | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hulk Hogan | July 17, 1994 - October 29, 1995 | 469 | |
| Hollywood Hogan | August 10, 1996 - August 4, 1997 | 359 | |
| Vader | March 17, 1993 - December 27, 1993 | 285 | |
| Lex Luger | July 14, 1991 - February 29, 1992 | 230 | |
| Goldberg | July 6, 1998 - December 27, 1998 | 174 |