2.) Hulk Hogan (6 Reigns)--
Hulkamania began in 1984 when the Hulkster defeated the Iron Sheik to claim his first WWF Title. It would last until February of 1988 when he would lose the belt to Andre the Giant, who immediately tried to give it to Ted Dibiase.
He would engage in an epic feud with Randy Savage leading up to Wrestlemania V, taking the title from Savage. After holding the belt all year, a match for the ages was set up as Hogan took on Intercontinental Champion the Ultimate Warrior in a title vs title match at Wrestlemania VI, which was won by the Warrior.
Main eventing his third straight Wrestlemania, Hogan would win the title for the third time, defeating Sargeant Slaughter at Wrestlemania VII. He would swap the title with the Undertaker before vacating it due to the controversial nature of the matches.
After a time out of the spotlight due to the steroids trial that nearly destroyed Vince McMahon, Hogan made a surprise return at Wrestlemania IX to defeat the Japanese mammoth, Yokozuna. But just two months later, Hogan would drop it back to Yoko and would depart the WWF, eventually landing in WCW.
He would make his return to the WWF in 2002, winning the Undisputed Championship, holding it a month before losing to The Undertaker.
Hogan will forever be remembered for first taking wrestling main stream but also for the way he would seemingly over come the odds at any time. He set the stage for John Cena, for better or worse.
1.) Stone Cold Steve Austin (6 Reigns)--
The most important WWF champion ever and for good reason--the company was in major trouble in it's battle with WCW and Austin's immense popularity helped catapult the company back to the top after his win at Wrestlemania XIV.
He would quickly swap the belt with Kane in the summer of 1998 before losing it in a triple threat match with Kane and the Undertaker. He wouldn't regain the title until Wrestlemania XV, defeating The Rock to begin his third reign.
He and the Undertaker would trade the title in 1999 with Austin eventually going on hiatus before returning in 2000. He would win his fifth title in dramatic fashion, turning heel and uniting with Mr.McMahon after beating The Rock at Wrestlemania 17.
His final reign would come after he lost the belt to Kurt Angle in October of 2001, regaining the title one month later before losing to Chris Jericho in a title unification match.
Austin's first few title runs were the catalyst in the triumphant return to the top for the WWF. Without him, the WWF might not be in business today and there would be no WWF/E title to speak of.
Next up--I'll cover the ten greatest WCW Champions of all-time.
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