Unified into the WWF Championship
- December 9, 2001
- San Diego, CA
- 8387+ days
After defeating The Rock for the World Championship, Chris Jericho defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin to unify the World Championship into the WWF Championship. The World Championship was retired.
Chris Jericho 2
- December 9, 2001
- San Diego, CA
- | WWF Vengeance 2001
- 0 days
- days
The Rock 2
- November 5, 2001
- Uniondale, NY
- | Raw Is War
- 34 days
The title was referred to as World Championship from November 19, 2001, after the demise of The Alliance.
34
- days
Chris Jericho 1
- October 21, 2001
- St. Louis, MO
- | WWF No Mercy 2001
- 15 days
15
- days
The Rock 1
- August 19, 2001
- San Jose, CA
- | WWF SummerSlam 2001
- 63 days
63
- days
Booker T 5
- July 30, 2001
- Philadelphia, PA
- | Raw Is War
- 20 days
20
- days
Kurt Angle 1
- July 26, 2001
- Pittsburgh, PA
- | SmackDown!
- 4 days
4
- days
Booker T 4
- March 26, 2001
- Panama City, FL
- | WCW Nitro
- 122 days
This was the final episode of Nitro, as WCW had been purchased by WWF on March 23, 2001. The title was then defended on WWF programming, where it was referred to as WCW Championship.
122
- days
Scott Steiner 1
- November 26, 2000
- Milwaukee, WI
- | WCW Mayhem 2000
- 120 days
120
- days
Booker T 3
- October 2, 2000
- San Francisco, CA
- | WCW Nitro
- 55 days
Defeated Jeff Jarrett in a San Francisco 49ers match for the vacant title.
55
- days
Vacant
- October 2, 2000
- San Francisco, CA
- | WCW Nitro
- 0 days
Vince Russo decided he was not a wrestler and he did not want the title, so he vacated it.
- days
Vince Russo 1
- September 25, 2000
- Uniondale, NY
- | WCW Nitro
- 7 days
7
- days
Booker T 2
- September 17, 2000
- Buffalo, NY
- | WCW Fall Brawl 2000
- 8 days
8
- days
Kevin Nash 5
- August 28, 2000
- Las Cruces, NM
- | WCW Nitro
- 20 days
20
- days
Booker T 1
- July 9, 2000
- Daytona Beach, FL
- | WCW Bash at the Beach 2000
- 50 days
Earlier that night, Hollywood Hulk Hogan faced Jeff Jarrett for the title in a controversial match that ended in a shoot. In reality, Vince Russo wanted Hogan to lose to Jarrett, who would then lose to Booker T. However, Hogan refused to job to Jarrett, so Russo told Jarrett to just lie down and let Hogan win. Jarrett lay down and Russo threw the belt in the ring at a confused Hogan, telling Hogan to take the belt. After Hogan pinned Jarrett and was declared new champion, he called out Russo for his poor booking decisions before walking out of WCW. Russo reversed the decision, declaring that Jarrett was still champion. Jarrett then lost the title to Booker T in an impromptu match.
50
- days
Jeff Jarrett 4
- May 29, 2000
- Salt Lake City, UT
- | WCW Nitro
- 41 days
41
- days
Ric Flair 7
- May 29, 2000
- Salt Lake City, UT
- | WCW Nitro
- 0 days
Kevin Nash / Diesel gave the title to Flair.
- days
Kevin Nash 4
- May 24, 2000
- Saginaw, MI
- | WCW Thunder
- 5 days
5
- days
Jeff Jarrett 3
- May 22, 2000
- Grand Rapids, MI
- | WCW Nitro
- 2 days
Vince Russo awarded the vacant title to Jarrett.
2
- days
Vacant
- May 22, 2000
- Grand Rapids, MI
- | WCW Nitro
- 0 days
Vince Russo stripped Ric Flair of the title.
- days
Ric Flair 6
- May 15, 2000
- Biloxi, MS
- | WCW Nitro
- 7 days
7
- days
Jeff Jarrett 2
- May 7, 2000
- Kansas City, MO
- | WCW Slamboree 2000
- 8 days
8
- days
David Arquette 1
- April 26, 2000
- Syracuse, NY
- | WCW Thunder
- 11 days
This was a tag team match pitting Arquette & Diamond Dallas Page against Eric Bischoff & Jeff Jarrett, in which whoever scored the fall would become champion. Arquette pinned Bischoff to win Page's title.
11
- days
Diamond Dallas Page 3
- April 24, 2000
- Rochester, NY
- | WCW Nitro
- 2 days
2
- days
Jeff Jarrett 1
- April 16, 2000
- Chicago, IL
- | WCW Spring Stampede 2000
- 8 days
Defeated Diamond Dallas Page in tournament final for the vacant title.
8
- days
Vacant
- April 10, 2000
- Denver, CO
- | WCW Nitro
- 6 days
All WCW titles were declared vacant by Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff after WCW was rebooted.
6
- days
Sid Vicious 2
- January 26, 2000
- Las Vegas, NV
- | WCW Thunder
- 75 days
75
- days
Kevin Nash 3
- January 26, 2000
- Las Vegas, NV
- | WCW Thunder
- 0 days
As Commissioner, Nash awarded himself the title.
- days
Vacant
- January 26, 2000
- Las Vegas, NV
- | WCW Thunder
- 0 days
Sid Vicious was stripped of the title by Commissioner Kevin Nash / Diesel due to Sid pinning the wrong Harris Brother.
- days
Sid Vicious 1
- January 24, 2000
- Los Angeles, CA
- | WCW Nitro
- 2 days
Defeated The Harris Brothers for the right to face Kevin Nash / Diesel, then defeated Nash for the vacant title.
2
- days
Vacant
- January 17, 2000
- Cincinnati, OH
- | WCW Nitro
- 7 days
In storyline, Chris Benoit was stripped of the title because he won the match although Sid Vicious' foot was under the rope during the submission. In reality, Benoit forfeited the title and left for WWF after dispute with management.
7
- days
Chris Benoit 1
- January 16, 2000
- Cincinnati, OH
- | WCW Souled Out 2000
- 1 day
Defeated Sid Vicious for the vacant title.
1
- day
Vacant
- January 16, 2000
- Cincinnati, OH
- | WCW Souled Out 2000
- 0 days
Hart vacated the title due to a legitimate injury that eventually forced him to retire nine months later.
- days
Bret "The Hitman" Hart 2
- December 20, 1999
- Baltimore, MD
- | WCW Nitro
- 27 days
Defeated Goldberg in a rematch for the vacant title.
27
- days
Vacant
- December 20, 1999
- Baltimore, MD
- | WCW Nitro
- 0 days
Hart vacated the title due to the controversial end to a match with Goldberg at Starrcade.
- days
Bret "The Hitman" Hart 1
- November 21, 1999
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- | WCW Mayhem 1999
- 29 days
Defeated Chris Benoit in a tournament final for the vacant title.
29
- days
Vacant
- October 25, 1999
- Phoenix, AZ
- | WCW Nitro
- 27 days
Sting was stripped of the title after losing an unsanctioned match against Goldberg and attacking referee Charles Robinson at Halloween Havoc.
27
- days
Sting 6
- September 12, 1999
- Winston-Salem, NC
- | WCW Fall Brawl 1999
- 43 days
43
- days
Hulk Hogan 6
- July 12, 1999
- Jacksonville, FL
- | WCW Nitro
- 62 days
62
- days
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 4
- July 11, 1999
- Ft. Lauderdale, FL
- | WCW Bash at the Beach 1999
- 1 day
1
- day
Kevin Nash 2
- May 9, 1999
- St. Louis, MO
- | WCW Slamboree 1999
- 63 days
63
- days
Diamond Dallas Page 2
- April 26, 1999
- Fargo, ND
- | WCW Nitro
- 13 days
13
- days
Sting 5
- April 26, 1999
- Fargo, ND
- | WCW Nitro
- 0 days
- days
Diamond Dallas Page 1
- April 11, 1999
- Tacoma, WA
- | WCW Spring Stampede 1999
- 15 days
15
- days
Ric Flair 5
- March 14, 1999
- Loiusville, KY
- | WCW/nWo Uncensored 1999
- 28 days
28
- days
Hollywood Hogan 5
- January 4, 1999
- Atlanta, GA
- | WCW Nitro
- 69 days
This was The Fingerpoke of Doom: Hogan (leader of nWo) poke Nash in the chest with his index finger, prompting Nash to theatrically throw himself onto the mat and allow Hogan to pin him.
69
- days
Kevin Nash 1
- December 27, 1998
- Washington, D.C.
- | WCW/nWo Starrcade 1998
- 8 days
8
- days
Goldberg 1
- July 6, 1998
- Atlanta, GA
- | WCW Nitro
- 174 days
174
- days
Hollywood Hogan 4
- April 20, 1998
- Colorado Springs, CO
- | WCW Nitro
- 77 days
77
- days
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 3
- April 19, 1998
- Denver, CO
- | WCW/nWo Spring Stampede 1998
- 1 day
1
- day
Sting 4
- February 22, 1998
- San Francisco, CA
- | WCW/nWo SuperBrawl VIII
- 56 days
Defeated Hollywood Hogan in a rematch for the vacant title.
56
- days
Vacant
- January 8, 1998
- Daytona Beach, FL
- | WCW Thunder
- 45 days
Sting was stripped of the title due to the controversy over the finishes of the Starrcade match and the rematch which took place the following night.
45
- days
Sting 3
- December 28, 1997
- Washington, D.C.
- | WCW Starrcade 1997
- 11 days
11
- days
Hollywood Hogan 3
- August 9, 1997
- Sturgis, SD
- | WCW Road Wild 1997
- 141 days
141
- days
Lex Luger 2
- August 4, 1997
- Auburn Hills, MI
- | WCW Nitro
- 5 days
5
- days
Hollywood Hogan 2
- August 10, 1996
- Sturgis, SD
- | WCW Hog Wild 1996
- 359 days
During this reign, the title was often announced as the nWo/WCW World Heavyweight Championship, though never officially renamed.
359
- days
The Giant 2
- April 29, 1996
- Albany, GA
- | WCW Nitro
- 103 days
103
- days
Ric Flair 4
- February 11, 1996
- St. Petersburg, FL
- | WCW SuperBrawl VI
- 78 days
78
- days
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 2
- January 22, 1996
- Las Vegas, NV
- | WCW Nitro
- 20 days
20
- days
Ric Flair 3
- December 27, 1995
- Nashville, TN
- | WCW Starrcade 1995: World Cup of Wrestling
- 26 days
26
- days
"Macho Man" Randy Savage 1
- November 26, 1995
- Norfolk, VA
- | WCW World War 3 1995
- 31 days
Won the first-ever World War 3 match to win the vacant title.
31
- days
Vacant
- November 6, 1995
- Jacksonville, FL
- | WCW Nitro
- 20 days
The Giant was stripped of the title due to the controversial finish of the Halloween Havoc match (he won the title via DQ due to a contract clause, after some interferences).
20
- days
The Giant 1
- October 29, 1995
- Detroit, MI
- | WCW Halloween Havoc 1995
- 8 days
8
- days
Hulk Hogan 1
- July 17, 1994
- Orlando, FL
- | WCW Bash at the Beach 1994
- 469 days
469
- days
Ric Flair 2
- December 27, 1993
- Charlotte, NC
- | WCW Starrcade 1993: 10th Anniversary
- 111 days
During this reign, a title match between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat ended in a double pin, which resulted in the title being vacated. Flair then defeated Steamboat in a rematch for the vacant title, but WWE recognizes this as a single reign. During this reign in June 1994, Flair also unified the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship into this title.
111
- days
Vader 3
- March 17, 1993
- Dublin, Ireland | House show
- 285 days
During this reign, in September 1, 1993, WCW conclusively left NWA.
285
- days
Sting 2
- March 11, 1993
- London, England | House show
- 6 days
6
- days
Vader 2
- December 30, 1992
- Baltimore, MD | House show
- 71 days
71
- days
Ron Simmons 1
- August 16, 1992
- Baltimore, MD | Main Event
- 136 days
Due to injury, Sting was unable to have a rematch with Vader, so a raffle was done to take Sting's place as the number one contender; Ron Simmons won the raffle.
136
- days
Vader 1
- July 12, 1992
- Albany, GA
- | WCW The Great American Bash 1992
- 35 days
35
- days
Sting 1
- February 29, 1992
- Milwaukee, MI
- | WCW SuperBrawl II
- 134 days
134
- days
Lex Luger 1
- July 14, 1991
- Baltimore, MD
- | WCW The Great American Bash 1991
- 230 days
Luger was originally the number one contender to face Ric Flair, but after Flair left WCW for WWF and the title declared vacant, Barry Windham was named the number two contender. Luger defeated Windham in a steel cage match for the vacant title.
230
- days
Vacant
- July 1, 1991
- 13 days
Flair left for WWF and was stripped of the title.
13
- days
Ric Flair 1
- January 11, 1991
- East Rutherford, NJ | House show
- 171 days
Defeated Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and WCW also began recognizing Flair as WCW World Heavyweight Champion while still using the NWA belt (the Big Gold Belt). WWE recognizes this as a single World Championship reign, counting the NWA reign but not the WCW one.
171
- days
