Top 20 World Champions:
Longest Combined Title Reigns
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
Nowadays you'll hear wrestling superstars throughout various promotions tout unrivaled success as their title reigns grow longer by the day. The WWE keeps a record of who's held their world championship the longest, however that list includes neither the WCW nor NWA World Heavyweight titles. In some cases, it doesn't even include the WWE's own retired big gold belt, the world heavyweight championship. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Mark Adam Haggerty and after I added the missing championships to the WWE's current list, I came up with a surprising "Top 20 World Champions: Longest Combined Title Reigns."
Note: This list includes all WWE world titles including but not limited to: WWWF Championship, WWF Championship, WWF Undisputed Championship, WWE Championship, World Heavyweight Championship, and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It also includes the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, as well as the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from its inception in 1948 until September 13, 1993 when World Championship Wrestling left the National Wrestling Alliance. I do not include any TNA/NWA world title reigns, nor current NWA activities involving wrestlers like Rob Conway or Adam Pearce. Sorry.
20. Dave Batista – 544 Days
"The Animal" made his wrestling debut in 2000 and after defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania 21 in 2005, embarked on a championship career that would include six world title reigns. With (2) WWE and (4) WWE World titles to his name, Dave Batista's combined 544 days as champion is just three days shy of exactly one and a half years. He might be last on our list, but he'll go down in history for his longevity as champion.
19. Brock Lesnar – 558 Days and counting…
Brock Lesnar is a highly-decorated multi-sport athlete who entered the WWE in 2002. He became the youngest champion in history, and left the company shortly thereafter to pursue other interests. He returned to the WWE in 2012, where he is currently the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. "The Beast" Brock Lesnar never held the "Big Gold Belt," but his (4) distinct WWE title runs have helped earn him a lasting place in history. Just 15 days shy of #18, it is assumed that Brock Lesnar will move up the ranks regardless of what happens at Wrestlemania 31.
18. "Macho Man" Randy Savage – 573 Days
Randy "Macho Man" Savage won his first world championship after defeating Ted DiBiase in a one-night tournament at Wrestlemania IV. He would lose the gold after a year to Hulk Hogan, and go on to capture it once more before leaving the WWE for supposedly greener pastures. While signed to WCW, the "Macho Man" was positioned as the champion on a number of occasions, winning his first title at World War 3 in 1995. Over the course of his twenty years in the ring, the Macho Man amassed six world titles, (2) in the WWE and (4) in WCW.
17. "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers – 595 Days
Vince McMahon's favorite wrestler is Buddy Rogers, but unfortunately, the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion only held his title for a measly 22 days before being vanquished by Bruno Sammartino. But when taking his reign as NWA World Champion into account, suddenly the original "Nature Boy" is back in the game. For over a year and a half, Buddy Rogers controlled the most prestigious world title in wrestling, and set his 573-day record with just (1) NWA championship run.
16. CM Punk – 622 Days
The longest reigning champion in modern WWE would most certainly be CM Punk who held onto his WWE Heavyweight title for an unprecedented 434 days. While lasting so long without losing one's belt is groundbreaking in itself, added to his (3) world championships, the (2-time) WWE champion has been at the top of the WWE for 622 days. Although no longer competing in the squared circle, it could be quite some time before anybody, past or present, surpasses the leader of the "Straight Edge Society."
15. Orville Brown – 692 Days
Orville Brown defeated Sonny Myers in January 1948 to become the first-ever NWA World Heavyweight Champion. He grew up on a farm in Kansas where he only attended school for one year, because his family couldn't afford anything else. An amateur wrestling manager noticed Orville toward the end of the 1920s, and thought he might have a future as a professional. Orville debuted in 1929 and after nearly 20 years of success, was honored by the newly established National Wrestling Alliance. Orville was just a (1-time) champion, but held onto the strap for 692 days before dropping it to Lou Thesz in November 1949.
14. Bret "The Hitman" Hart – 710 Days
The most prolific championship contender of my childhood was none other than "The Hitman" himself. Bret Hart entered the WWE as an afterthought and quickly climbed the tag team ranks alongside his brother-in-law Jim Neidhart. By 1992, Bret was already a 2-time intercontinental champion and well on his way to winning the world title. He captured the WWE World Heavyweight Champion for the first time in 1992 after defeating Ric Flair, and would go on to become a (5-time) WWE champion, as well as (2-time) world champion with WCW.
13. Randy Orton – 748 Days
The first competitor on our countdown to reach 2-years as champion is the "Legend Killer" Randy Orton. Randy Orton won his first World Heavyweight Champion in 2004 by defeating Chris Benoit to become the youngest World Champion up until that time. Orton has surpassed all expectations during his 15-year career on top of the WWE. He has headlined countless events as a twelve-time heavyweight champion—a (4-time) recipient of the Big Gold Belt, and (8-time) WWE heavyweight title holder.
12. Jack Brisco – 866 Days
The Hall of Fame Brisco Brothers were a formidable tag team and pair of promotors who ran Georgia Championship Wrestling. While the WWE Universe is far more familiar with Gerry, his big brother Jack was the one who held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship an astonishing 866 days. Brisco won the belt from Harley Race after some questionable politics from the Funk Family, but went on to prove himself worthy as a (2-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
11. Pat O'Connor – 903 Days
Throughout the storied legacy of the National Wrestling Alliance, New Zealand-native Pat O'Connor was only the fifth man to be trusted enough to carry the championship belt. He defeated Dick Hutton on January 9, 1959 and proceeded to hold his championship until dropping it to Buddy Rogers in the summer of 1961. O'Connor was caught between promotors in 1960 when Verne Gagne withdrew from the NWA and named O'Connor his champion. Pat O'Connor never defended the AWA belt, and maintained his loyalty as (1-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion.
10. Gene Kiniski – 1,131 Days
Gene Kiniski spent forty years inside the squared-circle and is still one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the history of the business. What's most impressive about Kiniski's unprecedented 1,131 days as champion, is that he did it without losing his title once. That's right—Gene Kiniski is a (1-time) NWA World Heavyweight title holder and the first man on our countdown to break three years as champion. Gene beat Lou Thesz on January 7, 1966 in St. Louis, Missouri. Thesz would never hold the championship again, but Gene Kiniski successfully defended it until being bested by Dory Funk Jr. on February 11, 1969.
9. Triple H – 1,155 Days
Former (13-time) World Heavyweight Champion Triple H has more to worry about these days than winning and losing matches, as he was recently elected to the WWE Board of Directors. But that's not to say his 1,155 days as champion weren't something to be proud of. Triple H first won the WWF World Heavyweight Champion in August of 1999 from Mick Foley, and has since set the record for third-most title reigns with thirteen. He was gifted the "Big Gold Belt" by Eric Bischoff and became a (5-time) World Heavyweight Champion; along with being a former (8-time) WWE title holder, Triple H has ruled as WWE champion for more than three years.
8. John Cena – 1,394 Days
Despite his divisive effect on wrestling fans around the world, nobody can deny the success John Cena has enjoyed over the past ten years. Coming in at number eight, Cena is the highest-ranking current wrestler on our countdown and holds the record for second-most title reigns with fifteen. His first championship came at Wrestlemania 21 in 2005 and his most recent run as title holder was during the summer of 2015. He is a (3-time) World Heavyweight Champion AKA the "Big Gold Belt," as well as a (12-time) WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It's safe to assume John Cena will be champion again, and if he can hang onto the belt for 169 days, he'll be sure to move up to number seven.
7. Dory Funk Jr. – 1,563 Days
Another man who earned his hallowed reputation as a (1-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion was the man who defeated the record-setting Gene Kiniski in 1969, the incomparable Dory Funk Jr. The Funk Family is noted for having the only set of sibling champions in NWA history, Dory and his younger brother Terry. The Family was led by beloved patriarch Dory Sr. who sought to establish his sons as the premiere professional wrestlers in the industry. Dory's 1,563 days as champion lasted from 1969 to 1973, and is the second-longest uninterrupted NWA title reign in history.
6. Harley Race – 1,799 Days
Commonly regarded as the toughest man in the business, Harley Race is also among the most decorated and respected individuals to ever enter a wrestling ring. Former (8-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Harley Race managed to maintain his rule as leader of the locker room for 1,799 days. He was contributory in passing the torch to deserving new stars throughout his career such as Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, and Ric Flair. Harley will be fondly remembered for his stint as "King Harley Race" in the WWE, but it's the tattooed, gravelly-voiced ass-kicker from Kansas City that will leave the most-lasting impression.
5. Bob Backlund – 2,138 Days
Bob Backlund came about during a time when professional wrestling had hit an all-time low. The "Bruno-Era" was long-gone and Hulkamania was still six years away. Bob Backlund is a (2-time) WWE World Heavyweight Champion, who first won the honor by defeating "Superstar" Billy Graham in 1978. Backlund won the belt again sixteen years later when he defeated Bret Hart under questionable circumstances, but only managed to hold the championship for three days. Therefore it's his unbroken 2,135 days as champion from 1978 to 1983 that earned Bob Backlund a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
4. Hulk Hogan – 3,362 Days
Hulk Hogan is perhaps the most successful professional wrestler in history, as his career spanned nearly 30 years and included a dozen world championship honors. Hulk Hogan's first run as WWE World Heavyweight Champion began in 1984 when he defeated the dastardly Iron Sheik. His first reign would last over four years, culminating in a storyline with Andre the Giant and Ted DiBiase. Hogan was a (6-time) WWE World Heavyweight Champion including a final run when he returned in 2002. In addition, Hogan is a (6-time) WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and is the longest reigning WCW champion in history.
3. "Nature Boy" Ric Flar – 3,722 Days
He's not just a "Jet-Flyin' Limousine Rider," he's the record-setting 20-time World Heavyweight Champion, the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Contrary to WWE documentation, Ric Flair's (10) NWA (8) WCW and (2) WWE World Heavyweight Championship titles total TWENTY—not SIXTEEN. Ric Flair is perhaps the most decorated wrestler in all of professional wrestling—in addition to his championship accolades, his career has spanned over 40-years, and he is currently the only 2-time WWE Hall of Famer. His (20) World Heavyweight Championships have totaled 3,722 days—nearly 7 times-as-many days as the last person on our list.
2. Lou Thesz – 3,749 Days
Just 291 days shy of the all-time record, Lou Thesz is the second-longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion in professional wrestling history. As (3-time) NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Lou Thesz was on top of the industry for an astronomical 3,749 days—or just over ten years. He holds the record for both combined championship title reigns as well as single uninterrupted periods as champion for the National Wrestling Alliance. Thesz influenced an entire generation of performers and transcended the "Golden Age" of the sport to help establish a new era for professional wrestling.
1. Bruno Sammartino – 4,040 Days
The WWE is right about one thing—Bruno Sammartino is without question the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion in history. Sammartino immigrated to the United States from Italy in the hopes of capturing the "American Dream," and instead won the world title, which he held for over eleven years. Bruno entered the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013—fifty years removed from first becoming world champion in 1963. Bruno's historic 4,040 day record is comprised of only (2) WWE World Heavyweight title reigns, the first of which lasted 2,803 days.
Will anybody ever come close to Bruno's record, or is Dave Batista's 544-days more attainable for today's Superstars? I think it's interesting that while there are only a handful of modern-day wrestlers on the countdown, all four members of Evolution made the cut. I hope you enjoyed this leisurely stroll through history—until next time this has been Mark Adam Haggerty, reminding you to keep checking out Cheap-Heat and to follow me on Facebook by LIKING "Mark Haggerty's Pro Wrestling."
