The WWE World Heavyweight Championship represents the pinnacle of excellence on Monday Night Raw, carrying forward the spirit of the legendary “Big Gold Belt” into a new era of professional wrestling. Re-introduced in 2023 by Triple H to ensure every brand has a fighting world champion, this title has quickly become the most coveted prize for the industry’s elite. From its historic crowning of an inaugural champion in Saudi Arabia to the high-stakes drama of the Netflix era, the World Heavyweight Title is the ultimate symbol of resilience and workhorse mentality.

This page provides the definitive history of the championship, including every title change, record-breaking reign, and the legendary battles that have defined its legacy since its inception.

Historical Milestones & Evolution

• The 2023 Resurrection: On April 24, 2023, the championship was unveiled to resolve the “Undisputed” title deadlock. Seth “Freakin” Rollins became the inaugural champion at Night of Champions, defeating AJ Styles in a tournament final that set the bar for the title’s prestige.

• WrestleMania Drama: The title has been a magnet for chaos, most notably at WrestleMania XL, which saw three different men (Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and Damian Priest) technically hold the status of champion or champion-elect in a single night.

• The 2025 Injury Vacancy: In late 2025, the title’s lineage faced a major turning point when two-time champion Seth Rollins was forced to relinquish the gold due to a legitimate shoulder injury, leading to the crowning of CM Punk at the revived Saturday Night’s Main Event.