WWE Champions (1963-1997)

Since 1963, holding the top championship title in the WWE has been a sign or respect and a representation of the wrestling organization. In addition, the holder of the top championship title received the biggest payday and was often seen in the wrestling card's main event. Although there have been "transition champions,*" for the most part the holder of the top title meant a long-term life change for the title holder. 

1. Buddy Rogers, 2. Bruno Sammartino, 3. Ivan Koloff,* 4. Pedro Morales, 5. Stan Stasiak,* 6. Superstar Billy Graham, 7. Bob Backlund, 8. The Iron Sheik,* 9. Hulk Hogan, 10. Andre the Giant*

11. Randy Savage, 12. Ultimate Warrior, 13. Sgt. Slaughter, 14. The Undertaker, 15. Ric Flair, 16. Bret Hart, 17. Yokozuna, 18. Diesel, 19. Shawn Michaels, 20. Sycho Sid 

Merry Christmas from the World Wrestling Federation [Videos]

Lou Albano plays Santa Claus in 1985

TNT on USA Network

Roddy Piper's "Christmas Carol" in 1985

TNT on USA Network

Roddy Piper vs "Santa Claus" Heenan

PRIME TIME WRESTLING

Aired December 25, 1989

Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon exchange gifts

PRIME TIME WRESTLING

Aired December 24, 1990

Bret Hart and Santa Claus

PRIME TIME WRESTLING

Aired December 21, 1992

 

Bret Hart sends Owen Hart a Christmas Message

Aired December 24, 1994

Ric Flair's Christmas Eve Party in 2001

Jake "The Snake" Roberts debuts in the WWF in 1986 [Videos]

With a voice and pattern of speech that expressed intensity, Jake "The Snake" Roberts began his professional wrestling career in the mid-1970s in wrestling territories in the southern United States of America. Roberts saw much success in different wrestling promotions from 1974 to 1986, but his largest success came in the World Wrestling Federation beginning in March 1986.

Jake "The Snake" Roberts with Jesse "The Body" Ventura

March 15, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs SD Jones

March 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs George Wells

April 7, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts interviewed by Jimmy Hart

April 12, 1986

"The Snake" Jake Roberts vs Denis Cyr

April 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

May 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts Interview

June 21, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts speaks with "The Magnificant" Don Morraco

July 21, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts Interview
July 27, 1987

Update on Jake "The Snake" Roberts

August 2, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs Sivi Afi

August 6, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts Interview

August 9, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts interview with Jose Armijo (in Spanish)

August 18, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts and "Macho Man" Randy Savage

September 7, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts speaks about the title he wants from Randy Savage

September 13, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts on TNT on the USA Network

September 17, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts interviews Hulk Hogan

October 11, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts interviews The Honky Tonk Man

October 26, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts interviews Hillbilly Jim

November 30, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs "The Rebel" Dick Slater

December 13, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts interviews "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

December 14, 1986

Jake "The Snake" Roberts vs Hulk Hogan
December 30, 1986

The Honky Tonk Man wins the Intercontinental Championship from Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat [Videos]

In a match that was not planned prior to the day it occurred, The Honky Tonk Man defeated Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the WWF Intercontinental Championship on Tuesday, June 2, 1987. The Honky Tonk Man went on to hold the Intercontinental Championship for 454 days, eventually losing to the Ultimate Warrior at SummerSlam '88.

Promos from Ricky Steamboat and The Honky Tonk Man

Spring 1987

Ricky Steamboat vs The Honky Tonk Man

June 2, 1987 - Buffalo, New York (Orginal Broadcast)

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Jesse Ventura 

The Honky Tonk Man celebrates after the victory

The Honky Tonk Man speaks about the rematch against Ricky Steamboat

July 1987

The Honky Tonk talks about the day of his title victory

Recorded in 2015

Ricky Steamboat discusses his reason for losing the belt
Recorded in 2013

The Iron Sheik - World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion [Videos]

From December 26, 1983, to January 23, 1984, the Iron Sheik (born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) held the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship. Paired with the infamous Freddie Blassie as his manager, the Iron Sheik garnered immediate heat with his anti-American rhetoric and his famous line, "Iran number one!"

During his 28 day WWF Championship reign in late 1983 and early 1984, the Iron Shiek had a number of non-title matches as well as defended the WWF Championship 15 times. Major competitors for the title included older wrestlers at the end of their careers, Pat Patterson and Cheif Jay Strongbow. On a Monday night in New York City, the Iron Sheik eventually lost the title against Hulk Hogan, changing the course of professional wrestling forever.

Although the Iron Sheik's time as World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion was short, he played a significant role as the "evil villain" needed at the right time to be defeated by an all-American hero, Hulk Hogan.

The Iron Sheik defeats Bob Backlund

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Pat Patterson

The Iron Sheik with Ayatollah Freddie Blassie

Interviewer: Lord Alfred Hayes

The Iron Sheik defeats John Callahan (poor video quality)

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Gene Okerlund

The Iron Sheik with Ayatollah Freddie Blassie

Interviewer: Gene Okerlund

The Iron Sheik vs Denny Hill

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Gene Okerlund

The Iron Sheik vs. Tito Santana

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Dick Graham

The Iron Sheik defeated Mike Dorsett

Commentators: Vince McMahon and Gene Okerlund

The Iron Sheik with Ayatollah Freddie Blassie speak about Hulk Hogan

Interviewer: Gene Okerlund

The Iron Sheik with Ayatollah Freddie Blassie at Madison Square Garden

Interviewer: Gene Okerlund

WWF History: Dynamite Kid in the World Wrestling Federation [Videos]

Rest in Peace Dynamite Kid

December 5, 1958-December 5, 2018

On Piper's Pit
October 1984

Dynamite Kid vs Bret Hart

September 1985

Dynamite Kid vs Randy "Macho Man" Savage

November 1985

The British Bulldogs vs The Dream Team

April 1986

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat [Videos]

Born in New York in 1952, Richard Blood became one the best and most popular professional wrestlers in history, as Ricky Steamboat. Born to an English-American father and Japanese-American mother, Steamboat grew up in New York and Florida. After completing training with Verne Gagne, Steamboat began his professional wrestling career in 1976 with the American Wrestling Association. After years of success with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Steamboat signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1985. While in the WWF, Steamboat was given the gimmick of "The Dragon" to play up his Asian heritage. In 1987, Steamboat won the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship but only held the title for a short period of time. Steamboat left the company in 1988 and returned to the NWA in 1989. From 1989 to 1994, Steamboat wrestled for several organizations including a brief return to the WWF in 1991.

During his career, Steamboat had numerous high-quality televised matches, including three well-known matches against Ric Flair in 1989. In what is considered one of the best matches in WWF history, Steamboat also had an amazing match with Randy Savage in 1987 at Wrestlemania III. Steamboat's quality of matches lasted up to his last major match in 1994 against "Stunning" Steve Austin. In what is perhaps one of his lesser known matches, Steamboat's match against Austin would cause him a career-ending injury when he suffered two herniated spinal discs.

For his contribution to the industry, Steamboat has been recognized in numouros Hall of Fames which include the following: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996), Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (Class of 2002), George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame (Class of 2012).

Ricky Steamboat Interview with Gene Okerlund

March 1986

Ricky Steamboat confronts "Stunning" Steve Austin

WCW Saturday Night - July 23, 1994

Interviewer: Mean Gene Okerlund

WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match with Steve Austin

Clash of Champions - August 28, 1994
Commentators: Booby Heenan and Tony Schiavone

WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship

WRESTLEMANIA III - March 29, 1987

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura

WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

April 4, 2009

World Wrestling Federation: Late 1987/Early 1988 [Videos]

1987 WWF Survivor Series Viewer's Choice Countdown [Video]

WWF Survivor Series Countdown

The Best of Owen Hart vs Shawn Michaels [Videos]

Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels were born months apart in 1965 and began their wrestling careers in the early 1980s. Coincidently both wrestlers would make their WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania V in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1989, however, Shawn Michaels and Owen Hart would have very different careers ahead of them.

While both wrestlers would be featured in numerous main event matches in the WWF, Owen would tragically die in the ring on May 23, 1999, shortly after his 34th birthday. Shawn would continue to be associated with the WWE for 30 years, becoming one of the best professional wrestlers of all time.

Below are a series of matches between Owen Hart and Shawn Michaels beginning in 1993 and ending in December 1997.

1993 Match

1993 Survivor Series Match

1994 Interview

1995 Match

1996 Matches

1997 Matches

Owen Hart - Wrestling Organization History

Stampede Wrestling (1983-1987; 1989)

New Japan Pro Wrestling (1987-1988)

World Wrestling Federation (1988-1989; 1991-1999)

Catch Wrestling Association (1990-1991)

Universal Wrestling Association (1991)

World Championship Wrestling (1991)

Shawn Michaels - Wrestling Organization History

National Wrestling Alliance (1984-1985)

Texas All-Star Wrestling (1985-1986)

American Wrestling Association (1986-1987; 1988)

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (1987; 1988-2000; 2002-2018)

Ronda Rousey's Powerful Promo on WWE Raw - October 15, 2018 [Video]

Featuring the Bella Twins

Brie and Nikki

History: WCW Saturday Night and WWF Monday Night Raw in November 1993 [Videos]

In 1993, the two major professional wrestling organizations in the United States, WWF and WCW, saw a lot of transformations: roster changes, organizational adjustments, audience shifts, and major title changes. By late 1993, both major professional wrestling organizations looked very different than they did in January 1993. For example, the early part of November 1993 saw both Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels on the sidelines for the WWF. Hogan's last official match for the WWF was August 6, 1993 in England and Michaels was suspended in September 1993 and would not return until late November. Ric Flair left the WWF in February 1993 and arrived in WCW later that month.

Ric Flair on WWF television in January 1993 and again on WCW later in the year.

In contrast, on November 6, the WCW had a full roster of stars in Ric Flair, Vadar, Steve Austin, Booker T, Paul Orndorff, Ricky Steamboat, Sting, Sid Vicious, The Nasty Boys, Rick Rude, Harley Race, Davey Boy Smith (The British Bulldog), Cactus Jack (Mick Foley), Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, Arn Anderson and with broadcasters Jesse Ventura, "Mean" Gene Okerlund, and Tony Schiavone, leading the way.

While the WCW roster was stacked with classic and new wrestlers, the WWF still had a lot to offer under Vince McMahon. As an example, the quality of video production remained with the WWF as illustrated in the videos showing WCW Saturday Night and Monday Night Raw episodes below.

WCW Saturday Night - November 6, 1993 (Part 1)

WCW Saturday Night - November 6, 1993 (Part 2)

WCW Saturday Night - November 6, 1993 (Part 3)

WCW Saturday Night - November 6, 1993 (Part 4)

WWF Monday Night Raw - November 8, 1993 (Part 1)

WWF Monday Night Raw - November 8, 1993 (Part 2)

WWF Monday Night Raw - November 8, 1993 (Highlight in HD)

WWF Monday Night Raw - November 8, 1993 (Part 3)

*Please note that both episodes can be seen in high quality on the WWE Network.