In the world of WWE, numerous championship titles have been contested throughout its storied history, and the first championship win for a wrestler is always a memorable moment.
This article will discuss the most decorated WWE wrestlers. While we may be well-acquainted with the ten wrestlers who have accumulated the most championship wins in WWE, let’s delve into the stories of their initial championship victories. It’s worth noting that this top 10 list excludes the 24/7 Championship and the Hardcore Championship.
List of 10 Most Decorated WWE Wrestlers
10. The Rock – Intercontinental Championship
The Rock, despite not being a full-time wrestler for an extended period, boasts an impressive tally of 17 title victories, including ten World Championships, two Intercontinental Championships, and five Tag Team Championships. The Rock’s maiden championship triumph in WWE occurred when he portrayed the babyface character Rocky Maivia. On the February 13, 1997 episode of Raw, he defeated Hunter Hearst Helmsley to clinch the Intercontinental Championship.
9. Christian – Light Heavyweight Championship
Christian, known for his lengthy tenure in WWE and his iconic tag team partnership with Edge, secured 19 championship wins, including nine tag team title reigns is one of the decorated WWE wrestlers. His debut in WWE took place at the Breakdown: In Your House PPV, where he assisted Edge. Christian swiftly captured his first championship belt at Judgement Day: In Your House by defeating Taka Michinoku to become the Light Heavyweight Champion.
8. Jeff Hardy – WWE World Tag Team Championship
Jeff Hardy, renowned for his success as a singles competitor and his partnership with his brother, Matt Hardy, in the Hardy Boyz tag team, amassed an impressive 20 title victories, nine of which were tag team championships is also in the list of one of decorated WWE wrestlers. The Hardy Boyz transitioned from jobbers to top contenders in 1999, securing their first World Tag Team Titles on the July 5, 1999 edition of Raw by defeating The Acolytes.
7. The Miz – WWE Tag Team Championship
The Miz, while not achieving legendary status in WWE, established a Hall of Fame-worthy career with 20 championship victories. His accolades include eight Intercontinental Championships, eight Tag Team Championships, two United States Championships, and two WWE Championships. Miz faced early career struggles but finally achieved his breakthrough in November 2007 when he and John Morrison won the WWE Tag Team Championship on Smackdown, defeating Matt Hardy and MVP.
6. Randy Orton – Intercontinental Championship
Randy Orton, a fixture in WWE since 2002, boasts a strong position within the company, with 20 title victories comprising 14 World Championships, four Tag Team Championships, one United States Championship, and one Intercontinental Championship. Orton’s initial taste of WWE gold came at Armageddon 2003 when he vanquished Rob Van Dam to claim the Intercontinental Championship.
5. Kofi Kingston – Intercontinental Championship
Kofi Kingston, predominantly known for his tag team accomplishments, surprisingly began his championship journey with the Intercontinental Championship is also in the list of best decorated WWE wrestlers. Despite achieving 22 championship wins in WWE, including 14 tag team titles, Kofi’s first solo championship was the Intercontinental Title. After being drafted to the Raw brand in 2008, he quickly made his mark by dethroning Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title at Night of Champions.
4. Triple H – Intercontinental Championship
Triple H, a perennial main eventer and prominent figure during the Ruthless Aggression Era, boasts 24 championship reigns, including 14 World Title victories. Debuting in WWE in 1995 as “Hunter Hearst Helmsley,” Triple H secured his first championship just a year later in 1996. He defeated Marc Mero to clinch the Intercontinental Title, marking the inception of his illustrious career.
3. Chris Jericho – Intercontinental Championship
Chris Jericho, currently a prominent figure in AEW, enjoyed a successful WWE career with 25 championship reigns. He holds the record for the most Intercontinental Title reigns, with nine to his name. In 1999, during his debut year in WWE, Jericho captured the Intercontinental Title by defeating Chyna at the Armageddon PPV, thereby kickstarting his championship legacy.
2. John Cena – United States Championship
John Cena, one of the most recognizable faces in WWE history, boasts a remarkable 25 championship reigns is undoubtedly is on the top of the list of most decorated WWE wrestlers. His 16 WWE World Championships tie with Ric Flair for the highest number of World Title reigns recognized by WWE. Cena’s championship journey commenced at WrestleMania 20, where he overcame The Big Show to become the United States Champion.
1. Edge – Intercontinental Championship
The Rated-R Superstar Edge currently holds the record for the most championship victories in WWE, with an astonishing 31 title victories. His illustrious career features a wide array of championship accomplishments. Edge’s initial championship win traces back to 1999 when he triumphed over Jeff Jarrett to capture the Intercontinental Title in a house show held in Edge’s hometown of Toronto. The match concluded differently than initially planned, as WWE improvised to award Edge his first title victory.