WWE Championship

The World Wrestling Entertainment Championship, commonly known as the WWE Championship, is a professional wrestling championship series for the world heavyweight class. The title was then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation World Heavyweight Championship. The first champion was Buddy Rogers, who defeated Antonio Rocca in the inaugural championship match held in Rio de Jainero, Brazil on April 29, 1963.http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/

In 1979, what was then still referred to as the World Wide Wrestling Federation World Heavyweight Championship, changed its name to the World Wrestling Federation Championship. In 2002, the World Wrestling Federation was renamed as World Wrestling Entertainment. This resulted in the championship title once again being renamed. Since then it has been known as the World Wrestling Entertainment Championship.

On February 21, 2010, the wrestler known as Batista defeated John Cena in the championship match in St. Louis, Missourri, capturing the WWE Championship belt.V

With this championship victory, it marks the second time that Batista has won the WWE Championship..

On April 1, 2002, following the re-branding of the WWF to the WWE, the roster of professional wrestlers were divided into two distinct grouping under the WWE umbrella. This internal sub-branding revolved entirely around the two prime time programs produced by the WWE, Smackdown and Raw.http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_03_27.jsp Each franchise had its own select and exclusive group of wrestlers which were drafted from the full contingency of WWE wrestlers. This selection process is repeated on a yearly basis, including wrestlers, general mangers and referees being drafted similar to drafts in the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB.http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06112007/articles/drafthistory

On February 25, 2010, the WWE announced a new online ticket purchasing portal for all of its live events, including the WWE Championship, as part of its website www.wwe.com. This online ticket hub is in conjunction with TicketMaster.http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2010/WWECorporate-_001.jsp

Also in 2010, the WWE announced $475.2 million in revenues from fiscal year 2009 with a 44% increase in revenues over the last four fiscal years.http://magazine.wsj.com/features/phenomenon/rogues-gallery/ In the same time period, international revenues have risen to account for 27% of all revenues, as the WWE has extended its broadcast to include 145 countries.http://magazine.wsj.com/features/phenomenon/rogues-gallery/

From the inaugural championship match held in Rio de Jainero, Brazil in 1963, through the end of 2009, there have been a total of 96 WWE Championship matches.http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/ In recent decades, it has become standard to hold multiple championship matches per year.

List of Champions

1963 - Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino

1971 - Ivan Koloff, Pedro Morales

1973 - Stan Stasiak

1977 - Superstar Billy Graham

1978 - Bob Backlund

1983 - The Iron Sheik

1984 - Hulk Hogan

1988 - Andre the Giant, Randy Savage

1989 - Hulk Hogan

1990 - Ultimate Warrior

1991 - Sgt. Slaughter, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker

1992 - Ric Flair, Randy Savage

1993 - Yokozuna, Hulk Hogan

1994 - Bret Hart, Bob Backlund

1995 - Bret Hart

1996 - Shawn Michaels

1997 - Shawn Michaels, Sid, Bret Hart

1998 - Stone Cold, Kane, The Rock

1999 - Mankind, The Rock, Stone Cold, Undertaker, Triple H, Big Show

2000 - Triple H, Chris Jericho

2001 - Chris Jericho, Stone Cold

2002 - Triple H, Hulk Hogan, Undertaker, The Rock, Big Show, Kurt Angle

2003 - Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar

2004 - JBL, Eddie Guerrero

2005 - John Cena

2006 - Edge, John Cena, Rob Van Dam

2007 - Randy Orton, Triple H

2008 - Triple H, Edge, Jeff Hardy

2009 - Triple H, Batista, Randy Orton, John Cena, Sheamus