WWE: CM Punk and the 15 Most Shocking WWE Championship Title Changes in History

Over the course of WWE’s history, 41 different superstars have held the company’s most prestigious title, the WWE Championship. It all started when Buddy Rogers beat Antonino Rocca to become the first ever WWE Champion in 1963.

Since then, the title has changed hands 103 times with the most recent being CM Punk’s victory over John Cena at Money in the Bank on Sunday.

Of those 103 title changes, many have been somewhat predictable, but there have been some absolute shockers as well. Going against the grain has kept wrestling fans interested for decades, and no company has done that more effectively than the WWE.

Because of so many surprising winners and unbelievable circumstances surrounding certain matches, the WWE Championship has a very rich lineage.

Some federations such as WCW have gone through with title changes based purely upon shock value, however, with no direction planned afterward. The most obvious case that comes to mind is David Arquette. The best part of WWE’s title changes has been that, for the most part, there is always a bigger picture.

Here are the top 15 most shocking WWE Championship title changes in WWE history.

15. Mankind defeats The Rock, RAW, 1/4/1999

If not for the fact that this title change took place on a taped episode of Monday Night RAW, Mankind’s defeat of The Rock for his first WWE Championship would be higher on the list.

This match was the result of Vince McMahon turning on Mankind in the finals to crown a new WWE Champion at Survivor Series. McMahon aligned himself with The Rock, turning Mankind face in the process.

Before this particular match aired WCW, as it often did, revealed the result of Mankind winning the WWE Championship. When WCW announcer Tony Schiavone revealed that Mankind had won the title, he sarcastically said, “That’ll put a lot of butts in the seats.

The joke was on Schiavone and WCW, however, as the WWE beat WCW in the ratings battle that night, proving fans indeed wanted to see Mankind reach the pinnacle of sports entertainment.

14. Eddie Guerrero defeats Brock Lesnar, No Way Out, 2/15/2004

Eddie Guerrero’s first and only WWE Championship came as a shock to many as he beat the man who had quickly became the face of WWE, the monstrous Brock Lesnar.

After having his first tenure with WWE cut short due to substance abuse issues, it looked as if Guerrero would never be a world champion. He was quickly elevated upon his return, though, and was in the title picture after less than two years.

Guerrero won a 15-man Royal Rumble-style match on SmackDown in January 2004 to receive a shot at Lesnar’s WWE Championship. This came on the heels of Guerrero’s friend Chris Benoit winning the actual Royal Rumble and deciding to challenge Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship.

Guerrero went on to beat Lesnar at No Way Out, and although he only reigned as champion for four months, Guerrero had the privilege of being WWE Champion before his untimely death in 2005.

13. Chris Jericho defeats “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Vengeance, 12/9/2001

Upon his debut with WWE in 1999, Chris Jericho was immediately a main-event talent, something which had eluded him in WCW. Jericho immediately feuded with stars such as The Rock and Chris Benoit and it wasn’t long before he was in the world title picture.

During the WCW/ECW Invasion, Jericho sided with WWE and won the WCW Championship from The Rock during that time. Jericho eventually dropped the title back to The Rock, but it helped set up one of the greatest individual accomplishments in WWE history.

At the Vengeance pay-per-view in 2001, Jericho beat “Stone Cold” Steve Austin for the WWE Championship. In and of itself, that may not seem shocking, but when you consider the fact that he beat The Rock for the WCW Championship in a previous match that night, it’s quite incredible.

This meant that Jericho was the first man to ever hold both titles simultaneously and he became the first WWE Undisputed Champion.

12. The Miz defeats Randy Orton, RAW, 11/22/2010

The advent of the Money in the Bank ladder match has certainly helped create the possibility for some shocking title changes. One such shocking change occurred late last year when The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Randy Orton.

While it’s basically expected that anyone who wins Money in the Bank will eventually become a world champion, the means by which The Miz won his first title was quite surprising.

Randy Orton had to defend his WWE Championship against then-Nexus leader Wade Barrett on an episode of RAW. Prior to the match, Orton was attacked by Nexus, planting the seed for what would soon occur. Orton was able to beat Barrett, but his knee was severely “injured” due to the attack.

This prompted The Miz to come down and cash in his contract. Although it looked like Orton might snuff out The Miz’s hopes with an RKO, The Miz countered with a Skull Crushing Finale and won his first WWE Championship.

11. Sgt. Slaughter defeats Ultimate Warrior, Royal Rumble, 1/19/1991

For many years Sgt. Slaughter was among the top faces in many wrestling companies, including the WWE. Slaughter was with the company from 1980 to 1984 before wrestling in the AWA in 1990.

At that time, Vince McMahon brought Slaughter back and gave him the gimmick of an Iraqi sympathizer as the WWE was short on top heels at the time. Slaughter played the role to perfection as he quickly became one of the most hated heels in wrestling history.

Slaughter eventually received a shot at the Ultimate Warrior’s WWE Championship at the 1991 Royal Rumble. Slaughter was not expected to win, but “Macho King” Randy Savage interfered on his behalf since Warrior refused to grant him a future title shot. Savage broke his scepter over Warrior’s head, allowing Slaughter to beat him with a camel clutch.

This win was particularly shocking as Warrior was red hot and Slaughter was getting up there in years, and had never been trusted with WWE’s main title previously.

10. Iron Sheik defeats Bob Backlund, MSG, 12/26/1983

Bob Backlund first won the WWE Championship by beating “Superstar” Billy Graham in 1978. He became the second-longest tenured champion in WWE history by holding the title for nearly five years. The man who ended his incredible reign was the Iron Sheik.

Backlund had supposedly grown stale with the fans, and Vince McMahon wanted to put the title on Hulk Hogan. In order to do that, however, he needed a heel to be the transitional champion.

The Iron Sheik had recently returned to the WWE from the NWA and seemed to be the right candidate. It was said that Backlund entered the match injured after being attacked by Sheik in a previous incident.

With Backlund unable to fight back, his manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel when he was locked into the camel clutch to avoid further injury. This gave the Iron Sheik the win and ended one of the greatest title reigns in WWE history.

9. Hulk Hogan defeats Yokozuna, WrestleMania IX, 4/4/1993

Although this is considered one of the most ridiculous WWE Championship title changes in WWE history, it doesn’t change the fact that it was quite shocking.

After winning the Royal Rumble, Yokozuna challenged Bret Hart for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania IX in 1993. Yokozuna came out on top, winning his first world title in the process. Hulk Hogan came to the ring and immediately challenged Yokozuna to a match, however. He accepted and Hogan won the WWE Championship for the fifth time.

This was particularly shocking because the match was unannounced and Hogan had competed in a tag team match earlier in the night, teaming with Brutus Beefcake against Money Inc. Hogan convinced Vince McMahon that WrestleMania should end with a face winning in order to send the fans home happy.

Rather than just allow Hart to retain, Hogan beat shockingly beat Yokozuna. Hogan dropped the title back to Yokozuna two months later at King of the Ring prior to his departure for WCW, making this one of the more pointless title changes of all time.

8. JBL defeats Eddie Guerrero, The Great American Bash, 6/27/2004

Not very often over the course of wrestling history has a wrestler gone from afterthought to world champion in a matter of a few months. This is exactly what happened to John Bradshaw Layfield, though. JBL had long been wrestling as Bradshaw and teaming with Faarooq to form the APA.

When Faarooq was pulled from being an on-screen character, Bradshaw underwent a complete gimmick change and became a wealthy stock trader rather than the beer-drinking tough guy most had grown accustomed to.

JBL became a top contender for the WWE Championship in no time. He beat the champion Eddie Guerrero by disqualification and earned a rematch at The Great American Bash. He went on to beat Guerrero in a Texas Bull Rope match and became the new WWE Champion.

This was viewed as flash in the pan by many, but JBL went on to have one of longest title reigns in years, holding the WWE Championship for over nine months. While the WWE brass may have jumped the gun in putting the title on JBL so quickly, he was able to prove that he was, in fact, a main event talent.

7. Batista defeats John Cena, Elimination Chamber, 2/21/2010

While it wasn’t particularly shocking that Batista became WWE Champion, the means by which he did it were. Batista turned heel in late 2009 and helped Vince McMahon in his feud with Bret Hart by assaulting Hart.

Cena attempted to help Hart, but Batista beat him down as well, thus putting Cena on McMahon’s radar. After winning the WWE Championship at the 2010 Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, McMahon made a surprising announcement.

To thank Batista for his help in attacking Hart, McMahon allowed Batista to challenge Cena for the title immediately after the Elimination Chamber match. Batista took advantage and became the new WWE Champion. Due to the fact that there was no indication of this match occurring, it came as a true shock to most fans.

The title change also led to an entertaining feud between Batista and Cena that eventually saw Cena come out on top and Batista leave the WWE to pursue other interests.

6. Edge defeats John Cena, New Year’s Revolution, 1/8/2006

After winning the first Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXI, Edge held on to his contract for nine months. Despite the fact that he was running out of time to cash it in, it came as a complete shock when he decided to do it against John Cena at New Year’s Revolution in 2006.

Cena was battered and bloodied after defending his title in an Elimination Chamber match when Vince McMahon announced that Edge would be cashing in his Money in the Bank contract.

Edge scored the victory after hitting Cena with two spears and became WWE Champion for the first time. Since no previous precedent had been set in terms of cashing in Money in the Bank, it was shocking that Edge would do it after Cena had just competed in a grueling match.

This is the norm now, but Edge was the first to do it, making it the best and most surprising cash-in to date.

5. Vince McMahon defeats Triple H, SmackDown, 9/16/1999

After “Stone Cold” Steve Austin defeated The Undertaker in a match in the summer of 1999, Vince McMahon was barred from appearing on WWE television per a stipulation. Months later, McMahon returned as a face and entered a feud with Triple H, who Stephanie McMahon had unknowingly married.

McMahon competed against Triple H in a match for the WWE Championship on a September 1999 episode of SmackDown with Shane McMahon as the special guest referee.

Triple H knocked out Shane and was destroying Vince for much of the match by putting him through a table, hitting him with a steel chair and more. Eventually Austin ambushed Triple H and gave him a Stone Cold Stunner. He then draped Vince over Triple H and revived Shane who made the three count and gave Vince the WWE Championship.

As shocking as the win was, it was short lived as Vince vacated the title in the ensuing episode of RAW.

4. Bob Backlund defeats Bret Hart, Survivor Series, 11/23/1994

After dropping the WWE Championship to the Iron Sheik and ending his five-year title reign in 1983, Bob Backlund’s tenure in the WWE was essentially over. He disappeared into relative obscurity between 1984 and 1992, periodically appearing in other promotions such as Pro Wrestling USA and the UWF.

Backlund officially returned to the WWF in 1992, although he was used quite sparingly for a couple years. His character underwent a massive change in 1994, however, making him heel for the first time. Backlund’s gimmick was that of a psychotic person.

 He entered into a feud with Bret Hart and challenged him for the WWE Championship at the 1994 Survivor Series. They competed in a “throw in the towel match” in which the only way to win was for the other corner to throw in the towel, just as Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland had done 11 years prior.

Owen Hart tricked his mother Helen into throwing in the towel when Backlund had Hart in the crossface chicken wing for over eight minutes. Backlund’s second title reign didn’t last nearly as long as his first, though, as he lost the title to Diesel in a matter of seconds just three days later.

3. Sheamus defeats John Cena, TLC, 12/13/2009

There aren’t many superstars who have burst onto the scene like Sheamus. He made his debut on the June 30, 2009 episode of ECW, then WWE’s “C-show.” Within six months, Sheamus was atop the company as WWE Champion.

Sheamus first appeared on RAW on Oct. 26, 2009 and made an immediate impact. He soon won a breakthrough battle royal to become the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship held by John Cena.

The two met at the TLC pay-per-view in a tables match in which the only way to win was to put the other superstar through a table. Sheamus winning the match was designed to look like a fluke as Cena slipped and fell off the ropes while trying to execute a move against Sheamus. Cena fell through a table, making Sheamus the WWE Champion.

The result was so shocking that many speculated that the finish was botched. This of course wasn’t true, but it highlights the WWE’s capability of booking a shocking finish.

2. CM Punk defeats John Cena, Money in the Bank, 7/17/2011

This match is certainly fresh in everyone’s minds, but it doesn’t make the result any less surprising. With CM Punk’s contract supposedly about to expire, he faced John Cena for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank on Sunday.

The match was staged in front of an extremely pro-Punk crowd in his hometown of Chicago. Despite that, the majority of wrestling fans figured that Cena would be given the clean win and that Punk would ride into the sunset. What we received instead, however, was a classic match and outcome.

After over a half hour of great action Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis came to the ring in an attempt to screw Punk. Cena wouldn’t allow it to happen, however, as he punched out Laurinaitis. When he went back into the ring, Punk caught him with a Go to Sleep and picked up the win.

Vince tried to get Alberto Del Rio to cash his Money in the Bank contract in on Punk, but Punk kicked him in the head and fled through the crowd with the WWE Championship in tow. Although this storyline has yet to play out fully, this shocking title win could be the start of something incredible.

1. Shawn Michaels Defeats Bret Hart, Survivor Series, 11/9/1997

Christened as “The Montreal Screwjob,” Shawn Michaels’ win over Bret Hart at the 1997 Survivor Series is undoubtedly the most shocking WWE Championship title change in WWE history. The fact that Michaels beat Hart wasn’t particularly surprising at all, but the way everything went down certainly was.

With Hart’s contract expiring, Vince McMahon was worried that he would take the WWE Championship with him to WCW. With Hart unwilling to drop the title to Michaels, Vince felt as though he had to screw Hart out of it or else risk the ultimate embarrassment.

In the latter stages of the match, Michaels locked Hart into his own finishing move, the Sharpshooter. McMahon signaled referee Earl Hebner to call for the bell despite Hart not submitting. Hart, realizing what had just happened, spit in the face of McMahon out of disgust. Hart also sought out McMahon in the back after the match and punched him.

This was without question one of the most infamous moments in wrestling history. Hart wasn’t seen in a WWE ring again until 2010 when he and McMahon finally reconciled.