The First and the Last by Jesse H. Reign

Was given by André the Giant, after he surrendered the title at Main Event I.

The title was immediately declared vacant. Immediately after winning the title from Hogan, André surrendered the title to Ted DiBiase.

According to the official WWE Championship history, Backlund's reign lasted from Februto Decemand was never interrupted.īacklund's manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel while Backlund was in the Sheik's Camel clutch. Title held up on Octoafter a match against Greg Valentine in which the referee gave the title to Valentine after Backlund pinned him.ĭefeated Valentine in a rematch to win the held up title. Later in a rematch in Tokyo, Japan on DecemBacklund pinned Inoki for the title, but then-WWF president Hisashi Shinma declared the match a no-contest because of the interference of Tiger Jeet Singh.Īntonio Inoki refused the championship on Decemfollowing Shinma's decision, and the title was declared vacant.ĭefeated Bobby Duncum in a Texas Death match to win the vacant title. The title was renamed the WWF Heavyweight Championship when the World Wide Wrestling Federation became the World Wrestling Federation in March 1979. The championship loses World status when the 29 Held title for eight years, a record for professional wrestling world champions. Rogers was awarded the title with the explanation that he defeated Antonio Rocca in the finals of a tournament in March 1963 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to become the first WWWF World Heavyweight Champion.

The following champion history features the WWE Championship. WWE Championship/Champion history General

The First and the Last by Jesse H. Reign