Is the World Heavyweight Championship still active?

[Cody Trail]

By that I mean, whoever wins it becomes both WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion until they eventually introduce a permanent replacement for both titles.

It's been done before with the Unified Tag Team Championship. The Colons beat Miz & Morrison to unify both titles at WrestleMania 28, but both titles remained active, and they, JeriShow, DX, ShoMiz, and Hart Dynasty were all dual champions. It wasn't until Bret Hart introduced the copper Spartan belts that the World Tag Team titles was deactivated, and it became just the WWE Tag Team Championship.

Orton is holding both titles separately, and is being called WWE World Heavyweight Champion (WWE + World Heavyweight). Does that mean both titles are active until a permanent WWE title replacement is created, or is it already one title now?

 

[Carter123123123]

I believe so. It's the wwe world heavyweight, a combination of both names. They also use both belts. Until they use one belt and it is once again just the wwe title (prob in about a year or so) the whc will continue to be active. I think it's basically one title now, but the 2 that made it are both still recognized separately also.

 

[The Perfect Max]

I thought I'd mention that, while Wikipedia can't always be trusted, it claims the lineage of the World Heavyweight Championship ended at TLC. It calls it deactivated. Surely that must need a reference. It's an important part of the page.

I do believe, however, that it's one championship now. To me, it makes no sense. Younger guys need that step up to the main event. Take Dolph Ziggler's win. Winning the WWE Championship may have been premature, but winning the World Heavyweight Championship was necessary and cool to see.

Regardless, I believe it's one title. I suppose the name is similar to how other companies used their world titles. WCW had the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, while TNA has the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. I always found it interesting WWE never did it to their title. Now it's clear why, as the name would probably over shine the WWE Championship.

Plus, as he isn't defending the World Heavyweight Championship separately at Royal Rumble, it would suggest the title is incorporated, rather than him being a dual champion.

 

[Dagger Dias]

No, WWE lists it on WWE.com as a retired belt. Closed.