The WWE European Championship is a former professional wrestling title competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The title was created on February 26, 1997.[1] The first champion was The British Bulldog who defeated Owen Hart in a tournament final.[2] The title was retired briefly in April 1999 by then-champion Shane McMahon, who wanted to retire as an "undefeated champion". McMahon reintroduced the championship two months later and gave it to Mideon, who saw the title belt in Shane's travel bag and asked if he could have it.[3][4] The title was finally retired on July 22, 2002, when WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam defeated European Champion Jeff Hardy to unify the European title into the Intercontinental title.[5] Over the title's 5 year, 4 month, and 26 day history there have been a total of 27 recognized champions who were a combined 37 official reigns among 27 different wrestlers. This is a chronological list of wrestlers that have been WWE European Champion by ring name.
Reigns
Names
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| WWF European Championship | February 26, 1997 – May 6, 2002 |
| WWE European Championship | May 6, 2002 – July 22, 2002 |
Reigns
| No. | Overall reign number |
|---|---|
| Reign | Reign number for the specific champion |
| Days | Number of days held |
| Days recog. | Number of days held recognized by the promotion |
| † | Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion |
| <1 | Reign lasted less than a day |
| No. | Champion | Championship change | Reign statistics | Notes | Ref. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Event | Location | Reign | Days | Days recog. | |||||
| World Wrestling Federation (WWF) | ||||||||||
| 1 | The British Bulldog | February 26, 1997[1] | Raw | Berlin, Germany | 1 | 206 | 205 | Defeated Owen Hart in a tournament final to become the first champion. Aired on March 3, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | [2][6] | |
| 2 | Shawn Michaels | September 20, 1997 | One Night Only | Birmingham, England | 1 | 82 | 92 | WWE recognizes Michaels' reign as ending on December 22, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | [7][8][9] | |
| 3 | Triple H | December 11, 1997 | Raw | Lowell, MA | 1 | 40 | 30 | Michaels was ordered to defend the title against Helmsley by WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter. Michaels intentionally lost the match, because he also held the WWF World Heavyweight Championship having won that title on November 9, 1997. Aired December 22. WWE recognizes Triple H's reign as beginning on December 22, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [10][11] | |
| 4 | Owen Hart | January 20, 1998 | Raw | Davis, CA | 1 | 55 | 52 | Defeated The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust, who was dressed as Triple H. Commissioner Slaughter awards the title to Hart considering Goldust as a substitution for Triple H. WWE recognizes Hart's reign as beginning on January 22, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [12][13] | |
| 5 | Triple H | March 16, 1998 | Raw | Phoenix, AZ | 2 | 120 | 119 | Defeated an injured Owen Hart in an impromptu match originally scheduled for WrestleMania XIV. | [14][15] | |
| 6 | D'Lo Brown | July 14, 1998 | Raw | Binghamton, NY | 1 | 63 | 56 | WWE recognizes Brown's reign as beginning on July 20, when the episode aired on tape delay.[16] WWE recognizes Brown's reigns as lasting 57 days. |
[17][18] | |
| 7 | X-Pac | September 15, 1998 | Raw | Sacramento, CA | 1 | 14 | 13 | WWE recognizes X-Pac's reign as beginning on September 21 and as ending on October 5, when the following episodes aired on tape delay. | [19][20] | |
| 8 | D'Lo Brown | September 29, 1998 | Raw | East Lansing, MI | 2 | 19 | 12 | WWE recognizes Brown's reign as beginning on October 5, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [21][22] | |
| 9 | X-Pac | October 18, 1998 | Judgment Day: In Your House | Rosemont, IL | 2 | 120 | 120 | [23][24] | ||
| 10 | Shane McMahon | February 15, 1999 | Raw | Birmingham, AL | 1 | 43 | 47 | Defeated X-Pac in a tag team match with Shane McMahon and Kane vs. Triple H and X-Pac. WWE recognizes McMahon's reign as ending on April 4, when the episode aired on tape delay. |
[3][25] | |
| — | Deactivated | March 30, 1999 | Sunday Night Heat | Uniondale, NY | — | — | — | Shane McMahon "retired as champion." Aired April 4, when the episode on tape delay. | [3] | |
| 11 | Mideon | June 21, 1999 | Raw | Memphis, TN | 1 | 34 | 33 | Shane McMahon awarded Mideon the title after he found it in McMahon's travel bag. | [4] | |
| 12 | D'Lo Brown | July 25, 1999 | Fully Loaded | Buffalo, NY | 3 | 28 | 27 | [26][27] | ||
| 13 | Jeff Jarrett | August 22, 1999 | SummerSlam | Minneapolis, MN | 1 | 1 | <1 | This was also for D'Lo Brown's Intercontinental Championship. | [28][29] | |
| 14 | Mark Henry | August 23, 1999 | Raw | Ames, IA | 1 | 34 | 33 | Jeff Jarrett gave the title to Henry as a gift for his assisting Jarrett in defeating D'lo Brown at SummerSlam. | [30] | |
| 15 | D'Lo Brown | September 26, 1999 | Unforgiven | Charlotte, NC | 4 | 30 | 31 | WWE recognizes Brown's reign as ending on October 28. | [31][32] | |
| 16 | The British Bulldog | October 26, 1999 | SmackDown! | Springfield, MA | 2 | 47 | 44 | WWE recognizes Bulldog's reign as beginning on October 28, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [33][34] | |
| 17 | Val Venis | December 12, 1999 | Armageddon | Sunrise, FL | 1 | 58 | 59 | This was a triple threat match also involving D'Lo Brown. | [35][36] | |
| 18 | Kurt Angle | February 8, 2000 | SmackDown! | Austin, TX | 1 | 54 | 51 | WWE recognizes Angle's reign as beginning on February 10, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [37][38] | |
| 19 | Chris Jericho | April 2, 2000 | WrestleMania 2000 | Anaheim, CA | 1 | 1 | <1 | Won second fall of two-fall triple threat match also involving Chris Benoit (first fall was for Intercontinental Championship); pinned Benoit to claim championship. | [39][40] | |
| 20 | Eddie Guerrero | April 3, 2000 | Raw | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | 111 | 110 | [41][42] | ||
| 21 | Perry Saturn | July 23, 2000 | Fully Loaded | Dallas, TX | 1 | 37 | 38 | [43] | ||
| 22 | Al Snow | August 29, 2000 | SmackDown! | Fayetteville, NC | 1 | 48 | 45 | WWE recognizes Snow's reign as beginning on August 31, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [44] | |
| 23 | William Regal | October 16, 2000 | Raw | Detroit, MI | 1 | 47 | 46 | [45] | ||
| 24 | Crash Holly | December 2, 2000 | Rebellion | Sheffield, England | 1 | 2 | 1 | [46] | ||
| 25 | William Regal | December 4, 2000 | Raw | East Rutherford, NJ | 2 | 49 | 48 | [47] | ||
| 26 | Test | January 22, 2001 | Raw | Lafayette, LA | 1 | 69 | 68 | [48] | ||
| 27 | Eddie Guerrero | April 1, 2001 | WrestleMania X-Seven | Houston, TX | 2 | 23 | 24 | WWE recognizes Guerrero's reign as ending on April 26, when the following episode aired on tape delay. | [49] | |
| 28 | Matt Hardy | April 24, 2001 | SmackDown! | Denver, CO | 1 | 125 | 122 | WWE recognizes Hardy's reign as beginning on April 26, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [50] | |
| 29 | The Hurricane | August 27, 2001 | Raw | Grand Rapids, MI | 1 | 56 | 55 | [51] | ||
| 30 | Bradshaw | October 22, 2001 | Raw | Kansas City, MO | 1 | 8 | 9 | [52] | ||
| 31 | Christian | October 30, 2001 | SmackDown! | Cincinnati, OH | 1 | 91 | 90 | WWE recognizes Christian's reign as beginning on November 1, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [53] | |
| 32 | Diamond Dallas Page | January 29, 2002 | SmackDown! | Norfolk, VA | 1 | 49 | 48 | WWE recognizes Page's reign as beginning on January 31, when the episode aired on tape delay. | [54] | |
| World Wrestling Federation (WWF): Raw | ||||||||||
| 33 | William Regal | March 19, 2002 | SmackDown! | Ottawa, ON | 3 | 20 | 17 | WWE recognizes Regal's reign as beginning on March 21, when the episode aired on tape delay. The championship became exclusive to Raw when Regal was drafted to the Raw brand on March 26, 2002. | [55] | |
| World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE): Raw | ||||||||||
| 34 | Spike Dudley | April 8, 2002 | Raw | Phoenix, AZ | 1 | 28 | 27 | Renamed the WWE European Championship on May 5, 2002 | [56][57] | |
| 35 | William Regal | May 6, 2002 | Raw | Hartford, CT | 4 | 63 | 62 | [58] | ||
| 36 | Jeff Hardy | July 8, 2002 | Raw | Philadelphia, PA | 1 | 14 | 13 | WWE mistakenly recognizes Hardy's reign as ending on July 21. | [5] | |
| 37 | Rob Van Dam | July 22, 2002 | Raw | Grand Rapids, MI | 1 | <1 | <1 | This was a unification match for Van Dam's WWE Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match. The reign is not recognized in WWE's official European Champion listings, but his wwe.com profile and the official WWE encyclopedia list him as European Champion. | [59][60] | |
| — | Unified | July 22, 2002 | Raw | Grand Rapids, MI | — | — | — | Unified with the Intercontinental Championship. | ||
Combined reigns
Record tying 4-time WWE European Champion D'Lo Brown
| Rank | Champion | No. of reigns |
Combined days |
Combined days recognized by WWE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The British Bulldog | 2 | 253 | 249 | |
| 2 | William Regal | 4 | 179 | 173 | |
| 3 | Triple H | 2 | 160 | 149 | |
| 4 | D'Lo Brown | 4 | 140 | 126 | |
| 5 | Eddie Guerrero | 2 | 134 | 134 | |
| X-Pac | 2 | 134 | 132 | ||
| 7 | Matt Hardy | 1 | 125 | 122 | |
| 8 | Christian | 1 | 91 | 90 | |
| 9 | Shawn Michaels | 1 | 82 | 92 | |
| 10 | Test | 1 | 69 | 68 | |
| 11 | Val Venis | 1 | 58 | 59 | |
| 12 | The Hurricane | 1 | 56 | 55 | |
| 13 | Owen Hart | 1 | 55 | 52 | |
| 14 | Kurt Angle | 1 | 54 | 51 | |
| 15 | Diamond Dallas Page | 1 | 49 | 48 | |
| 16 | Al Snow | 1 | 48 | 45 | |
| 17 | Shane McMahon | 1 | 43 | 47 | |
| 18 | Perry Saturn | 1 | 37 | 38 | |
| 19 | Mideon | 1 | 34 | 33 | |
| Mark Henry | 1 | 34 | 33 | ||
| 21 | Spike Dudley | 1 | 28 | 27 | |
| 22 | Jeff Hardy | 1 | 14 | 12 | |
| 23 | Bradshaw | 1 | 8 | 9 | |
| 24 | Crash Holly | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| 25 | Jeff Jarrett | 1 | 1 | <1 | |
| Chris Jericho | 1 | 1 | <1 | ||
| 27 | Rob Van Dam | 1 | <1 | ||
See also
References
- 1 2 "History of the European Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- 1 2 "The British Bulldog's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- 1 2 3 "Shane McMahon's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- 1 2 "Mideon's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- 1 2 "Jeff Hardy's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 26, 1997). "WWF Monday Night RAW #199". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Shawn Michaels' first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Hoops, Brian (September 20, 2015). "On this date in pro wrestling history (9/20): Flair defeats McDaniel, Gagne beats Von Raschke". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 20, 1997). "WWF One Night Only (1997)". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Triple H's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 11, 1997). "WWF RAW is WAR #239". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Owen Hart's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (January 20, 1998). "WWF RAW is WAR #244". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Triple H's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (March 16, 1998). "WWF RAW is WAR #251". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ Hoops, Brian (July 20, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history: Brisco beats Race for NWA title, Gagne beats Crusher for AWA title, Robinson vs. Gagen". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
- ↑ "D'Lo Brown's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 14, 1998). "WWF RAW is WAR #269". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "X-Pac's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 15, 1998). "WWF RAW is WAR #278". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "D'Lo Brown's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 29, 1998). "WWF RAW is WAR #280". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "X-Pac's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 18, 1998). "WWF In Your House 25: Judgment Day". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 15, 1999). "WWF RAW is WAR #299". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "D'Lo Brown's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 25, 1999). "WWF Fully Loaded 1999". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Jeff Jarrett's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (August 22, 1999). "WWF SummerSlam 1999 - "An Out Of Body Experience"". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Mark Henry's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "D'Lo Brown's fourth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (September 26, 1999). "WWF Unforgiven 1999". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "The British Bulldog's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 26, 1999). "WWF SmackDown #11". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Val Venis' first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 12, 1999). "WWF Armageddon 1999". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Kurt Angle's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 8, 2000). "WWF SmackDown #26". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Chris Jericho's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 2, 2000). "WWF WrestleMania 2000 - "A McMahon In Every Corner"". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Eddie Guerrero's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ Kreikenbohm, Philip (April 3, 2000). "WWF RAW is WAR #358". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
- ↑ "Perry Saturn's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Al Snow's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "William Regal's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Crash Holly's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "William Regal's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Test's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Eddie Guerrero's second reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Matt Hardy's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "The Hurricane's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Bradshaw's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Christian's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Diamond Dallas Page's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "William Regal's third reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "European Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Spike Dudley's first reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "William Regal's fourth reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
- ↑ "Rob van Dam".
- ↑ "Rob Van Dam: Profile". WWE. Archived from the original on February 3, 2006.
External links
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