With his win at WWE’s Backlash, AJ Styles positioned himself as one of the greatest World Champions ever. He was been a World Champion just about everywhere he has been. Very few stars can make that claim over time in wrestling’s history.
Sure, there are the guys back in the 80’s/90’s who held the WCW & WWF titles, but this list is looking for more than that. Only 6 men can make that claim; Kevin Nash, Bret Hart, Randy Savage, Sid, Ric Flair & Hulk Hogan.
Booker T, Goldberg, & Chris Benoit have WCW title runs and World Heavyweight title runs as well.
Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Damn & AJ Styles are the only men to hold both the TNA title & WWE Title.
Depending on where you place the new WWE Universal title, then that would mean Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, & Kevin Owens are the only men to hold the ROH and WWE World Titles.
Rhyno & Raven have held the original ECW and NWA titles.
While Jerry Lynn also has an ECW and ROH title run on his resume.
This list isn’t about number of reigns with one company, but with reigns based on where talent has been. With that said, here is my list of Top 10 Most Decorated Wold Champions:
Honorable mentions:
RVD: WWE/ECW* Champion at the same time. TNA World Champion (which he never actually lost the title).
Christian: NWA, TNA, ECW*, & World Heavyweight Championship.
Chris Jericho: First ever “undisputed” champion in history in 2001.
10. Jerry “The King” Lawler
It often gets lost in the shuffle, but Lawler has over 30 title reigns. He has a run with the AWA title, World title runs in Memphis, and over 25 runs as USWA Champion.
9. Sting
Sting is another superstar who does not get the recognition as a Champion. Sting has a NWA Title run, multiple WCW reigns, and multiple TNA title runs. A WWE title run might have put Sting either right at or just under the number 1 spot.
8. Big Show
I know what you’re saying, Big Show?
The answer is YES Big Show. Not only does he have multiple WCW & WWE title runs, he does have, even if under the WWE banner, a ECW title run. No one has that on their resume under any version of ECW. He also has a World Heavyweight title run as well to his credit.
7. Samoa Joe
Former ROH, TNA & NXT Champion. It seems when he finally debuts on the main roster he will add a WWE title at some point. That would complete the modern day triple crown, and shoot Joe to the top 2 or 3 on this list.
6. Hulk Hogan
Everyone knows about Hogan’s WWF & WCW runs, but there were two occasions where for the smallest of time he was AWA Champion or so it would appear. Controversy clouded those attempted runs.
5. CM Punk
Besides an ROH title run, multiple World Heavyweight and WWE title runs, Punk has the one thing we may not see for a long time.
His last WWE title run went over 420 days. In an era when titles change hands so easily the fact that Punk was Champ for so long gets him a spot on this list.
4. Brock Lesnar
Lesnar has multiple WWE title runs, an IWGP title run, and a massive run as the UFC Heavyweight Champion. Lesnar being such a hybrid is in a class all his own.
3. Ric Flair
16x between the NWA, WCW, & WWF World Championships. The most recognizable champion ever. An IWGP title run would have ended the list before it even started.
2. AJ Styles
Styles is a former NWA, TNA, IWGP and current WWE Champion. If he ever would claim a ROH World title, he would end this conversation hands down.
1. Kurt Angle
Former WWE, WCW*, TNA, IWGP, & Olympic Gold Medalist.
Angle’s WCW run was done under the WWE banner. Also, none of his TNA title runs came under the NWA banner which would of made this list all the more impressive.
With all his WWE/TNA titles and accomplishments the only thing Angle is missing is a Royal Rumble win. Angle has done and held it all.
There you have it, agree, disagree?
Feel free to share who you would add or remove from this list.
John “JCD” Dimiceli