Top 10 WWE World Heavyweight Champions

If you've ever heard the words "And new WWE World Heavyweight Champion…" and felt the hairs on your arms stand up, then you already know how big a deal this title is. We're not talking about just any belt. This is the top of the food chain in WWE. The one that says you're the guy.

The World Heavyweight Championship has been around in some form for decades, and the names who've held it read like a who's who of wrestling greatness. Winning it isn't just about holding gold. It's about being trusted to carry the company, main event shows, and put butts in seats.

Now, not every champ is created equal. Some held it for a blink. Others ruled for months or even longer and defended it like their life depended on it. Some won it once and made it count. Others racked up reigns like they were collecting trophies. It's not just about who had the belt. It's how they got it, what they did with it, and how they made you feel watching them do it.

This list is your chance to give props to the champions who did it best. The ones who made you cheer, boo, or lose your voice entirely.

1. John Cena

   

   John Felix Anthony Cena Jr. (/ˈsiːnə/. Born April 23, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, rapper, actor, and reality television show host signed to WWE, where he is currently associated with the SmackDown brand.

   Cena began his professional wrestling career in 1999 with Ultimate Pro Wrestling... read more

   John Cena, I am a big, big, and also a big fan of yours. I like you the most of everyone. I am praying to God that he will make me meet you. I love you too much, John Cena.

   He is the best of all time, but one thing is that he never beats others easily. He gets beaten first, just like Yamaha. But he is nice.

   He is a very good, smart, and tough wrestler. He is brave and doesn't let anyone win the battle. He is a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion.

2. Edge

   

   Adam Joseph Copeland is a Canadian actor and professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Edge. A WWE Hall of Famer, Edge is known for his multiple world championship reigns and his involvement in iconic tag teams such as Edge and... read more

   If this list is about the now-defunct World Heavyweight Championship, or the "big gold belt," then Edge definitely belongs at the top. He held the title seven times, which is the record for the most reigns, for a combined total of 411 days. Edge was great as the "Ultimate Opportunist" and had a good babyface run as well. During his time as World Heavyweight Champion, he was part of many memorable matches and feuds with The Undertaker, Batista, John Cena, Jeff Hardy, and Alberto Del Rio.

   I don't care what Cena fanboys or fangirls say. John Cena is not a better World Heavyweight Champion than Edge. He didn't revive the honor of the World Heavyweight Championship after The Great Khali ruined the title. It was Edge.

3. Undertaker

   

   Mark William Calaway (born March 24, 1965), better known by his ring name The Undertaker, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler who signed with WWE in 1990, making him the company's longest-tenured in-ring performer. Calaway began his career in 1984 with World Class Championship Wrestling... read more

   No one can beat Taker unless someone from outside the ring attacks or distracts him. No one can beat him in a face-to-face match without any interference from outside the ring. He is the true legend.

   To be the man, you have to beat the man. He beat EVERY MAN! He beat Hogan while Hogan was in his prime, and from then, he kept on beating every top contender. He is unbeaten in WrestleMania. And he has wrestled for about 3 to 4 decades now and is still credible.

   The only way he loses is because of someone stepping in to ruin his match.

4. Triple H

   

   Paul Michael Levesque, better known by his ring name Triple H, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, corporate executive, and actor. He is currently the Chief Content Officer for WWE, where he has also served as an executive vice president. Triple H is a 14-time world champion and a key... read more

   He is good, the best friend of HBK. Shawn is the best wrestler, but HHH has won more heavyweight belts than Shawn. After all, he is The Game! Ha ha ha!

   This guy looks good with all the titles, and John Cena looks real good with the Divas Championship.

   The Big Gold Belt was recognized by Triple H in WWE. He is a 5-time world champion and the best of the best.

5. Batista

   

   David Michael "Dave" Bautista Jr. (born January 18, 1969) is an American actor and former professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He rose to stardom as a six-time world champion in WWE under the ring name Batista and has starred in films such as "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014) and "Blade Runner... read more

   Without a doubt, Batista will always be the best World Heavyweight Champion ever. He's had four world heavyweight title reigns and has held the title longer than anyone in history - 282 days. He won his first title reign at WrestleMania 21, defeating his mentor Triple H. His second reign was against Booker T, his third defeating both The Great Khali and Rey Mysterio, and his final reign after beating Chris Jericho.

   Not to mention, he's a two-time WWE Champion, three-time Tag Team Champion, and a two-time Royal Rumble winner.

   I have no idea why John Cena is even on this list! He's not a wrestler. He's an entertainer with five moves for kids!

   Batista is one of the greatest WHC! He is "The Animal" and won't back down from anything. Too bad he had to leave WWE. As he said, "WWE is nothing without me." I have to agree with that.

6. Randy Orton

   

   Randal Keith Orton (born April 1, 1980) is an American professional wrestler and actor signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. He is a 12-time world champion, having held the WWE Championship eight times and the World Heavyweight Championship four times. He is a third-generation wrestler... read more

   It was a tough choice between Orton and Batista. But I would choose Orton because "he was the past, he is the present, and he is the future too." And yes, I have to agree that he is the face of WWE. By the way, John and Daniel shouldn't be on the list. They have no such historic achievements compared to Orton, Batista, or any others.

   He is the youngest World Heavyweight Champion. He defeated a lot of wrestlers. He is the Legend Killer. He defeated John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Triple H, Kofi Kingston, Seth Rollins, Kane, Undertaker, and Dean Ambrose. He is like the best World Heavyweight Champion. He won the 2009 Royal Rumble. He is a 12-time World Heavyweight Champion.

7. Shawn Michaels

   

   Shawn Michaels, born on July 22, 1965, is an American professional wrestler. He is the first wrestler to win every major WWE title available during his era. Known for his charisma and athleticism, his nicknames include HBK (Heartbreak Kid), The Showstopper, Mr. WrestleMania, and The Icon. He was a founding... read more

   He is the best. He is the showstopper, the main event. He is HBK, The Heartbreak Kid, Mr. WrestleMania. He is the best in the world. He almost beat the hell out of Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 and 26.

   The Headliner, Mr. WrestleMania, The Showstoppa, The Heartbreak Kid. Shawn Michaels is indeed the greatest World Heavyweight Champion.

   HBK is my favorite of all time, but that lazy eye is distracting.

8. Chris Benoit

   

   Christopher Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 - June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler whose technically proficient style earned him acclaim in Japan and North America. Over his 22-year career, he won multiple world titles in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment... read more

   One cannot simply forget such a legend like he was. This guy was one of the greatest of all time! Even if WWE tries to bury him, it'll be impossible!

   Should be number 1! He was the most underrated wrestler of all time and deserved the WWE title as well.

   He was one of the best when it came to skill.

9. Ric Flair

   

   Richard Morgan Fliehr (born February 25, 1949), known professionally as Ric Flair, is an American retired professional wrestler and current WWE legend under contract .

   Over a career spanning five decades, Flair is a 16-time world champion, having held titles in the NWA, WCW, and WWF/E. He's renowned... read more

10. Roman Reigns

    

    Leati Joseph "Joe" Anoaʻi was born on May 25, 1985. He is an American professional wrestler and a former professional Canadian football player. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Roman Reigns.... read more

    He is the WWE superstar. He is better than John Cena, Seth Rollins, and Undertaker. I will say that he is the best wrestler in the world.

    I can, I will. Best wrestler I have ever seen. His spears are great.

    There is no doubt. Roman Reigns is the best wrestler of all and a great man. I am his biggest fan. I love you, Roman.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Andre The Giant

    

    André René Roussimoff (May 19, 1946 - January 28, 1993), better known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor dubbed "the Eighth Wonder of the World." He began wrestling in France in 1966 and became a major attraction in North America from the early 1970s through the 1980s, headlining... read more

12. ?

    Stan Stasiak

The Contenders

13. Goldberg

    

    William Scott "Bill" Goldberg (born December 27, 1966) is an American actor, former professional football player, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He became WCW World Heavyweight Champion in 1998 and later won the WWE Universal Championship in 2017. Goldberg has appeared in television series such... read more

    I am just 13, but my friends talk about him. I also watch his matches on YouTube. He was superb.

    Goldberg was the best of the best wrestlers in the world. There are no words for him.

    He is an undefeatable wrestler in WWE. He fought 185 matches in WWE and won all 185.

14. Hulk Hogan

    

    Terry Gene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, was an American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, entrepreneur, and musician. He rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s through his work with the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). Hogan is widely regarded as one of the... read more

15. Chris Jericho

    

    Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian professional wrestler, rock musician, media personality, actor, author, and businessman. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he became the inaugural AEW World Champion in... read more

    This guy is a cruiserweight inside a heavyweight's body. Even at 45, he can still pull off the Lionsault. I tip my hat off to you, good sir.

16. The Great Khali

    

    Dalip Singh Rana, better known by his ring name The Great Khali, is an Indian promoter, actor, powerlifter, and professional wrestler best known for his time with WWE. He debuted with WWE in 2006 and became the first Indian world champion in WWE history. After retiring from full-time wrestling, he was... read more

    Great Khali is the strongest man. He is very popular in India and around the world. I like Khali.

    The man who defeated The Undertaker in his debut! He is the greatest wrestler.

    He is the greatest wrestler and the greatest World Heavyweight Champion. Believe that.

17. Kurt Angle

    

    Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American retired professional wrestler, amateur Olympic gold medalist, actor, and entrepreneur who is widely regarded as one of the greatest in-ring performers in wrestling history. He won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olympics... read more

    This is messed up. Kurt Angle at 15? What's up with that?

18. Bruno Sammartino

    

    Bruno Leopoldo Francesco Sammartino was born in Pizzoferrato, Abruzzo, Italy, on October 6, 1935, to Alfonso and Emilia Sammartino. He died on April 18, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sammartino was known for his powerful bearhug finishing move and is widely considered one of the greatest professional... read more

19. Rey Mysterio

    

    Óscar Gutiérrez, better known by the ring name Rey Mysterio, is a Mexican-American professional wrestler who currently works for WWE on the SmackDown brand. Known for his high-flying lucha libre style, he is considered one of the most influential cruiserweights in wrestling history. Mysterio has held... read more

    I don't know why Rey is so low. This dude is one of the best wrestlers to watch, and his championship match was incredible.

    He may be small, but it's the little ones you always have to watch out for.

20. The Rock

    

    Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor, producer, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He gained fame in WWE during the late 1990s and early 2000s before transitioning to a successful Hollywood career, starring in films such as The Fast... read more

    Why is Dwayne The Rock Johnson around 31? Stupid! He should be well ahead of the rubbish Khali. He beat John Cena in approximately 32 minutes. He should be in at least the top ten, not at something like 0.2%. Alright, just get him to the top ten. He deserves the place on this list.

21. Jeff Hardy

    

    Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy (born August 31, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, singer-songwriter, painter, and musician. Alongside his brother Matt, he is a multiple-time WWE and TNA Tag Team Champion, a two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, and a five-time world champion across WWE and TNA... read more

    This list is bull. Orton is in the top ten and no Hardy? This guy has hundreds of great moves!

22. Daniel Bryan

    

    Bryan Lloyd Danielson (born May 22, 1981) is an American professional wrestler best known for his tenure in WWE under the ring name Daniel Bryan. He is a five-time world champion, having held the WWE Championship four times and the World Heavyweight Championship once. He headlined WrestleMania XXX in... read more

23. Kane

    

    Glenn Thomas Jacobs is an American professional wrestler, insurer, and actor. He works for WWE and is best known by his ring name Kane. Jacobs is also the current mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, having been elected in 2018.

    That Tombstone Piledriver seems to finish just about anybody off.

    Hey, to the person who is saying Kane is a coward. First of all, Kane is not a coward, and second, he is stronger than any wrestler in WWE history. Even Brock Lesnar himself said in an interview that in a backstage arm-wrestling match, he was able to beat everybody, even Big Show, but the one man he was not able to beat was Kane. Lesnar said that beating Kane was like pulling a tree with one arm.

    Okay, I admit Taker has better moves like The Last Ride, Hell's Gate, Old School, and not to forget about Chokeslam and Tombstone. But Kane has better in-ring abilities and is more powerful than Taker. Some WWE wrestlers even complain about Taker for not putting younger talents over, while Kane is just the opposite. He puts younger talents over.

    Now I am going to tell you some more records of The Big Red Monster:

    1. Most Total WWE Matches: 1,600!

    2. Most Royal Rumble Matches and Match Time: 19 Royal Rumble match appearances, with a total Royal Rumble match time of 1,115 minutes and 28 seconds!

    3. Most Royal Rumble Eliminations: 42, and most in a single Royal Rumble match: 11. Although this record was broken by Roman Reigns in 2014, Kane's record is still memorable!

    4. Most WWE Unforgiven Matches: The first Unforgiven took place in April 1999 as an In Your House event, which featured the famous Inferno Match between Kane and The Undertaker. Since then, 11 Unforgiven matches have happened under its own branding starting in September 1999. The last Unforgiven pay-per-view took place on September 7, 2008. Kane holds the record for most Unforgiven matches with 10 out of 11! The Devil's Favorite Demon only missed one!

    5. Most Pay-Per-Views: Kane is not only the King of Royal Rumble and Unforgiven matches, but he is also the King of Pay-Per-View. The Big Red Monster has made more WWE Pay-Per-View appearances than any wrestler in history, with an outstanding 171 Pay-Per-Views!... read more

24. CM Punk

    

    Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks, also known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American comic book writer, actor, former mixed martial artist, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his career in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he held multiple championships and was the leader of the New... read more

    After winning the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at WrestleMania XXIV, CM Punk cashed it in on his first episode of Raw since becoming a part of the brand via the 2008 WWE Draft. The Straightedge Superstar made

    He really has talent. He can fight for real.

25. Booker T

    

    Booker Huffman Jr. (born March 1, 1965), better known by his ring name Booker T, is an American professional wrestler, promoter, and commentator. He is a six-time world champion (five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion) and was inducted into the WWE Hall of... read more

    Booker is the best because he was given a gimmick change to run with, and he made it impressive. He is still great in the ring and is better than some stars in the past, as well as those now. As soon as he got to WWE, he was really able to entertain and showed what he was truly about.

    He and Benoit had great matches in WCW and WWE. He made guys such as Hunter look great in the ring for WrestleMania. He should have been given another world title run. His reign helped push the prestige of the title, even though he wasn't handed an 11-time title run. WWE tried to keep him mid-card for so long that when Batista got injured, they didn't have a choice but to let Booker show true talent.

26. Sheamus

    

    Stephen Farrelly, known professionally as Sheamus, is an Irish professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. Sheamus is a former WWE Champion and has held multiple other titles throughout his career.

    He is the United States Champion, having beaten Dean Ambrose and Ryback.

27. Bret Hart

    

    Bret Sergeant Hart, better known by his ring name Bret "The Hitman" Hart, is a Canadian-American writer, actor, and retired professional and amateur wrestler. He is a member of the Hart wrestling family and a second-generation wrestler. Hart is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers... read more