After the WWE rebranded itself from the WWF in 2002, the company's decision to split its roster into two separate brands, Raw and SmackDown, significantly impacted the status and history of the WWF (now WWE) World Heavyweight Championship. This brand extension led to the creation of multiple world championships and changed how the titles were presented, defended, and perceived.
1. The Brand Split and the Creation of the World Heavyweight Championship (2002-2005):
WWE Championship and the Introduction of the World Heavyweight Championship (2002):
The Brand Split (2002): In March 2002, WWE initiated the brand extension or "brand split," which divided the roster into two separate shows: Raw and SmackDown. At that time, the Undisputed WWE Championship was the sole world title in WWE, and it was defended across both brands.
Brock Lesnar’s Exclusivity to SmackDown (August 2002): In August 2002, Brock Lesnar won the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam by defeating The Rock. Shortly thereafter, he was declared exclusive to SmackDown by WWE's storyline General Manager, Stephanie McMahon. This left Raw without a world champion.
Creation of the World Heavyweight Championship (September 2002): To address the absence of a world title on Raw, Eric Bischoff, Raw's General Manager, introduced the World Heavyweight Championship on September 2, 2002. The title was awarded to Triple H, establishing a new world championship for Raw. The World Heavyweight Championship was represented by the classic "Big Gold Belt," which had previously been the belt used for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
2. Dual Championships and Title Changes (2002-2013):
The WWE Championship on SmackDown (2002-2005):
WWE Championship on SmackDown (2002-2005): With the introduction of the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw, the WWE Championship became exclusive to SmackDown. The WWE Championship saw a number of high-profile reigns, including those by Brock Lesnar, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL), and John Cena.
The Rise of the World Heavyweight Championship (2002-2005):
Triple H’s Dominance (2002-2005): During the early years of the brand split, Triple H was positioned as the face of the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw. His reigns and rivalries against stars like Shawn Michaels, Goldberg, Kevin Nash, Chris Benoit, and Randy Orton were key storylines. Triple H held the title five times between 2002 and 2005, making him synonymous with the championship during this era.
Notable Reigns: Other notable World Heavyweight Champions during this period included Goldberg, Chris Benoit, Batista, and Randy Orton. In particular, Chris Benoit’s victory at WrestleMania XX in 2004, where he defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a triple-threat match, was a significant moment for the championship.
3. The Championships During the Ruthless Aggression and PG Era (2005-2011):
Unification and Separation of Championships (2005-2008):
WWE Championship Moves to Raw (2005): After John Cena won the WWE Championship from JBL at WrestleMania 21 in 2005, he was drafted to Raw, bringing the WWE Championship with him. Meanwhile, the World Heavyweight Championship became the main title on SmackDown. This switch further established the WWE Championship on Raw and the World Heavyweight Championship on SmackDown.
Dual Championship Era (2005-2008): For several years, the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships were defended separately on their respective brands. Notable WWE Champions during this period included John Cena, Edge, Randy Orton, Triple H, and Rob Van Dam. Meanwhile, the World Heavyweight Championship saw reigns by Batista, The Undertaker, Edge, Rey Mysterio, and CM Punk.
Unified WWE Championship Era (2008-2011):
Championship Swaps and Drafts: In 2008, the WWE Championship became exclusive to SmackDown when Triple H was drafted to SmackDown. Later that year, CM Punk brought the World Heavyweight Championship to Raw after winning the title via a cash-in on Edge. These swaps continued to emphasize the importance of both championships within their respective brands.
Jeff Hardy and CM Punk Rivalry (2009): A notable feud for the World Heavyweight Championship occurred between Jeff Hardy and CM Punk in 2009. Punk’s controversial heel turn and feud with Hardy brought significant attention to the title.
4. The Unification and the Modern Era (2011-Present):
Unification of the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships (2013):
Unification of Titles (2013): In late 2013, WWE decided to unify the two world championships. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 15, 2013, Randy Orton defeated John Cena in a title unification match, combining the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship to create the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. This unification ended the era of having two separate world champions in WWE.
Unified Title and Defenses (2014-2016): The newly unified championship continued to be defended across both brands until 2016. Notable champions during this period included Daniel Bryan, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns.
Reintroduction of the Brand Split and the Universal Championship (2016-Present):
Reintroduction of the Brand Split (2016): In 2016, WWE reintroduced the brand split, once again separating Raw and SmackDown into distinct brands with their own rosters. As a result, the WWE World Heavyweight Championship was renamed back to the WWE Championship and became exclusive to SmackDown.
Creation of the Universal Championship (2016): To compensate for Raw losing the WWE Championship, WWE created a new world title, the WWE Universal Championship, for the Raw brand. Finn Bálor became the first Universal Champion by defeating Seth Rollins at SummerSlam 2016, although he had to vacate the title due to injury the next day.
The Current Era and Unified Titles (2016-Present):
Dual Championships (2016-2022): From 2016 to 2022, the WWE Championship remained on SmackDown, while the Universal Championship became the main title on Raw. Both championships were defended by top stars, including AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Daniel Bryan, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship, and Kevin Owens, Goldberg, Braun Strowman, and Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship.
Roman Reigns' Dominance (2020-Present): Roman Reigns won the Universal Championship in August 2020 and has since become the face of WWE. At WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to unify the WWE Championship and Universal Championship, becoming the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Reigns has maintained a dominant reign, defeating top contenders and establishing himself as one of the longest-reigning champions in modern history.
5. Plans for the Future:
Current Landscape: The WWE Championship and Universal Championship, now unified under Roman Reigns, are the central focus of WWE's main event scene. WWE continues to promote and elevate both titles across all its brands, with significant matches at its major annual events like WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble.
Potential Future Directions: WWE could eventually decide to split the titles again or introduce new championship designs to reflect the evolving landscape of professional wrestling. Additionally, emerging talents from NXT and around the world could provide new opportunities for dynamic championship feuds and storylines.
The history of the WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Championships since the split is a testament to the company’s adaptability and creative evolution, constantly reimagining its championships to remain relevant and compelling to its global audience.
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