January 24, 1963: "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers is recognized as the first WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) champion.

May 17, 1963: Bruno Sammartino defeats Rogers in New York City, NY.

July 15, 1967: Ray "the Crippler" Stevens beats Sammartino by countout and is declared champion, but it is never recognized.

January 18, 1971: "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff ends a near 8-year Sammartino title reign in New York, NY.

February 8, 1971: Pedro Morales over Koloff in New York, NY.

December 1, 1973: Stan "the Man" Stasiak defeats Morales, ending a title reign of over two years, in Philadelphia, PA.

December 10, 1973: Just over a week later, Bruno Sammartino regains the title from Stasiak in New York, NY.

April 30, 1977: "Superstar" Billy Graham upsets Sammartino, ending a reign of over 3 years, in Baltimore, Maryland.

February 20, 1978: Bob Backlund over Graham in New York, NY.

Summer of 1979: The WWWF is renamed the WWF (World Wrestling Federation)

November 30, 1979: Antonio Inoki defeats Backlund in Tokushima, Japan.

December 6, 1979: The WWF title is declared vacant.

December 7, 1979: Bob Backlund is once again awarded the title (the initial loss and vacancy are never recognized).

December 26, 1983: The Iron Sheik over Bob Backlund, ending what was recognized as being a reign of over 5 years, in NY.

January 23, 1984: Hulk Hogan replaces an injured Backlund and defeats the Sheik in New York, NY. "Hulkamania" is born.

February 5, 1988: Andre the Giant over Hogan (The Main Event) in Indianapolis, IN. The Giant presents the title to Ted DiBiase.

February 6, 1988: DiBiase wrestles a tag match with Andre against Hogan and Bam Bam Bigelow; he is acknowledged as champ.

February 7, 1988: DiBiase is stripped of the title (he was never recognized as champion); it is declared vacant.

March 27, 1988: "Macho Man" Randy Savage wins the title in a tourney final over DiBiase at Wrestlemania IV, Atlantic City, NJ.

April 2, 1989: Hulk Hogan defeats Savage at Wrestlemania V in Atlantic City, NJ.

April 1, 1990: The Ultimate Warrior beats Hogan at Wrestlemania VI in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

January 19, 1991: Sgt. Slaughter over the Warrior at the Royal Rumble in Miami, Florida.

March 24, 1991: Hulk Hogan defeats Slaughter at Wrestlemania VII, Los Angeles, California.

November 27, 1991: The Undertaker over Hogan at the Survivor Series, Detroit, MI.

December 3, 1991: Hulk Hogan over the Undertaker at "Tuesday in Texas", San Antonio, TX.

December 4, 1991: President Jack Tunney states that Hogan used underhanded tactics to win the title; declares it vacant.

January 19, 1992: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair wins the Royal Rumble and thus the title, in Albany, NY.

April 5, 1992: "Macho Man" Randy Savage over Flair at Wrestlemania VII, Indianapolis, IN.

September 1, 1992: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair regains the title from Savage, Hershey, PA.

October 12, 1992: Bret "Hitman" Hart defeats Flair in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

April 4, 1993: Yokozuna beats Hart at Wrestlemania IX, Las Vegas, Nevada.

April 4, 1993: Hulk Hogan defeats Yokozuna in a sudden challenge match at Wrestlemania IX, Las Vegas, Nevada.

June 13, 1993: Yokozuna regains the title from Hogan at the King of the Ring, Dayton, Ohio.

March 20, 1994: Bret "Hitman" Hart over Yokozuna at Wrestlemania X, in New York, NY.

November 23, 1994: Bob Backlund beats Hart at the Survivor Series, San Antonio, Texas.

November 26, 1994: "Big Daddy Cool" Diesel over Backlund in New York, NY.

November 19, 1995: Bret "Hitman" Hart defeats Diesel at the Survivor Series, Washington, DC.

March 31, 1996: "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels beats Hart at Wrestlemania XII, Anaheim, CA.

November 23, 1996: Sycho Sid over Michaels at the Survivor Series, New York, NY.

January 19, 1997: "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels regains the title from Sid at the Royal Rumble, San Antonio, TX.

February 13, 1997: Michaels forfeits the title due to injury; it is declared vacant.

February 16, 1997: Bret "Hitman" Hart wins the title in the "Final Four" match at In Your House, Chattanooga, TN.

February 17, 1997: Sycho Sid over Hart (WWF Monday Night Raw), Nashville, TN.

March 23, 1997: The Undertaker defeats Sid at Wrestlemania XIII, Chicago, IL.

August 3, 1997: Bret "Hitman" Hart beats the Undertaker at Summerslam, East Rutherford, NJ.

November 9, 1997: "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels over Bret Hart at the Survivor Series, Montreal, Quebec.

March 29, 1998: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin beats Michaels at Wrestlemania 14, Boston, Massachusettes.

June 28, 1998: Kane over Austin at the King of the Ring, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

June 29, 1998: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin beats Kane on WWF Raw is War, Cleveland, Ohio.

September 27, 1998: The Undertaker and Kane double-pin Steve Austin in a Triple Threat Match at In Your House: Breakdown, Hamilton, Ontario. The title is vacated, and it is announced that the winner of a Undertaker vs. Kane match will be deemed the new champion.

October, 1998: The Undertaker and Kane face off at IYH: Judgment Day for the WWF title. No winner is determined. A tournament is announced.

November 15, 1998: "The Rock" Rocky Maivia defeats the Big Bossman, Ken Shamrock, the Undertaker and Mankind in one night at the Survivor Series to win the tournament and hence the WWF title.

January 4, 1999: Mick "Mankind" Foley over The Rock in a No Disqualification Match, Raw is War (taped December 29, 1998), Worcester, Massachusetts.

January 24, 1999: The Rock beats Foley in an "I Quit" Match, The Royal Rumble, Anaheim, California.

January 31, 1999: Mankind regains the title from The Rock in an empty arena rematch, Halftime Heat, Tucson, Arizona (taped on January 26, 1999.).

February 15, 1999: The Rock defeats Mankind in a Ladder Match, Raw is War, Burmingham, Alabama.

March 28, 1999: "Stone Cold" Steve Austin over The Rock at Wrestlemania XV, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

May 23, 1999: The Undertaker over "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at Over the Edge, Kansas City, Missouri.