Trill Co$by
Believes in The Shield!
Doing one of just the WWF or even WCW titles would be too easy, and doesn't bold too much claim as to who is the best. However, because so many promotions out there want to call claim to World titles, I'm going to lessen the list a bit of eligible claims for this list. Anybody who's held a World HEAVYWEIGHT title for NWA, WCW, WCCW, ECW, USWA, WWF, WWWF, WWE, AWA, and TNA are eligible for this list. So if they're not on that list, then they don't count.
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10.Jerry "The King" Lawler - 28x USWA Unified World Champion
I will admit that being born in Tennessee and raised on USWA, I have a strong bias towards Jerry. He's the guy that I would go up to the Nashville shows and watch wrestle. He's the guy that I would cheer for, even when he was the bad guy. I watched Jerry from the time I was a kid, until even in today's time period. Even as a WWE commentator, he's still not afraid to lace up a pair of boots and entertain small crowds... afterall, how many of Vince's contracted workers can say that they're able to still work independent shows full time? Even more shocking? He's still able to not only draw big crowds, but work really great matches. He single handedly made The Miz's title reign as unique as it was.
9. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WWF Championship 6x
Some will say he belongs higher, and I would concede normally... if this were a list for simply the WWF/WWE title. But it's not. It's a list of the best world champions, and while he's definitely top 10, he's no where near top 5 in my honest opinion. That said, I'm still a huge fan of his and believe he's definitely worthy of the career he was given.
8. Bruno Sammartino - 2x WWWF World Champion
Held the title twice for a combined 11 years in total... second to only Lou Thesz. His eight year title reign is often considered the longest in wrestling history, or at least to the modern generation of fans. Though that is highly untrue, what is true is the fact that before Hulk Hogan was ever even thought of, Sammartino was running things for Vinny Mac and for very good reason.
7. Sting - 14x World Champion (WCW [World/International World] 8x, TNA World 4x, NWA 2x)
If you're going to count it by technicalities, then Sting is a 15 time world champion with the addition of WWA's world title. However, since that doesn't merit the list of promotions, he can't honestly be listed as such. Even still, that doesn't deny the fact that he is and forever will be one of the most exciting individuals to watch perform in a squared circle. Not to mention, being able to withstand the money of Vinny Mac, Sting has made himself a mainstay to casual fans by never EVER stepping foot inside of a WWE ring... and he probably never will.
6. Bruno Sammartino - 2x WWWF World Champion
Held the title twice for a combined 11 years in total... second to only Lou Thesz. His eight year title reign is often considered the longest in wrestling history, or at least to the modern generation of fans. Though that is highly untrue, what is true is the fact that before Hulk Hogan was ever even thought of, Sammartino was running things for Vinny Mac and for very good reason.
5. Dusty Rhodes - 3x NWA World Championship
He's the American Dream for a reason... and there's absolutely no denying that Cody Rhodes and Goldust are without a doubt blessed to have such a lineage in their lives. Possibly the greatest rival in Ric Flair's storied career, and undoubtedly one of the most colorful world champions to ever lace up a pair of boots. Dusty Rhodes was NWA's resident face and heel at the times when they truly needed him to be, and for that he gets high praises.
4. Macho Man Randy Savage - 7x Worlds Champion (in qualifying promotions)
The one man who could easily enter an arena and call claim to being the "Most Electrifying Man" and have the movie star say nothing, and absolutely one of the business's most loved performers of all time. Randy is one of the best to lace up a pair of boots, and the fact that he's been a world champion nearly everywhere only proves that moreso.
3. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair - 22x World Champion [don't let them lie to you] (NWA World title 13x, WCW World title 7x, WWF World title 2x)
"WOOOOOOO!"
The record that they claim is 16x World Champion, but the truth of the matter is, 22 times is the real number of times that Ric Flair has locked in that dreaded figure four and walked out the World Heavyweight Champion. And the legacy tells for itself, for he's the only man to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice! Without a doubt, one of the most intense competitors in the ring, Ric Flair has become known as simply "the best" in all of professional wrestling.
2. Hulk Hogan - 12x World Champion (6x in both WCW & WWF/E)
"Whatcha gonna do, when the Hulkster and all the Hulkamaniacs run wild on you!"
The real American who brought wrestling into the limelight. Hulk is the guy that is unanimous with the business. From the Silverscreen to the Vitamins to the nWo and even to TNA's General Manager... Hulk Hogan has done it all. He's absolutely the greatest man to ever lace up a pair as far as wrestling's fame is concerned. And for four years, he dominated as champion in the 80s... but when it comes down to it, there's still one man who in my opinion can top his reign.
1. Lou Thesz - NWA World Championship 3x (for a total of 3,749 days combined)
Hulk Hogan may have ushered in fame, but that doesn't deny the fact that Lou Thesz is still the greatest of all time bar none. Ric Flair may have 16 World titles, but he's never even come close to the lengthy reign of Lou Thesz... One could argue that Thesz had an "easier" time in his day, but it's hard to argue with the facts that for 10 years straight, he was the guy that many promoters agreed should carry the title. For 10 years, he was the back bone of professional wrestling. The only name that can claim to be better than that is Bruno Sammartino, however his first reign only lasted eight years... plus Thesz traveled a lot more than Sammartino ever had to, proving he was a legit world champion.
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10.Jerry "The King" Lawler - 28x USWA Unified World Champion
I will admit that being born in Tennessee and raised on USWA, I have a strong bias towards Jerry. He's the guy that I would go up to the Nashville shows and watch wrestle. He's the guy that I would cheer for, even when he was the bad guy. I watched Jerry from the time I was a kid, until even in today's time period. Even as a WWE commentator, he's still not afraid to lace up a pair of boots and entertain small crowds... afterall, how many of Vince's contracted workers can say that they're able to still work independent shows full time? Even more shocking? He's still able to not only draw big crowds, but work really great matches. He single handedly made The Miz's title reign as unique as it was.
9. Stone Cold Steve Austin - WWF Championship 6x
Some will say he belongs higher, and I would concede normally... if this were a list for simply the WWF/WWE title. But it's not. It's a list of the best world champions, and while he's definitely top 10, he's no where near top 5 in my honest opinion. That said, I'm still a huge fan of his and believe he's definitely worthy of the career he was given.
8. Bruno Sammartino - 2x WWWF World Champion
Held the title twice for a combined 11 years in total... second to only Lou Thesz. His eight year title reign is often considered the longest in wrestling history, or at least to the modern generation of fans. Though that is highly untrue, what is true is the fact that before Hulk Hogan was ever even thought of, Sammartino was running things for Vinny Mac and for very good reason.
7. Sting - 14x World Champion (WCW [World/International World] 8x, TNA World 4x, NWA 2x)
If you're going to count it by technicalities, then Sting is a 15 time world champion with the addition of WWA's world title. However, since that doesn't merit the list of promotions, he can't honestly be listed as such. Even still, that doesn't deny the fact that he is and forever will be one of the most exciting individuals to watch perform in a squared circle. Not to mention, being able to withstand the money of Vinny Mac, Sting has made himself a mainstay to casual fans by never EVER stepping foot inside of a WWE ring... and he probably never will.
6. Bruno Sammartino - 2x WWWF World Champion
Held the title twice for a combined 11 years in total... second to only Lou Thesz. His eight year title reign is often considered the longest in wrestling history, or at least to the modern generation of fans. Though that is highly untrue, what is true is the fact that before Hulk Hogan was ever even thought of, Sammartino was running things for Vinny Mac and for very good reason.
5. Dusty Rhodes - 3x NWA World Championship
He's the American Dream for a reason... and there's absolutely no denying that Cody Rhodes and Goldust are without a doubt blessed to have such a lineage in their lives. Possibly the greatest rival in Ric Flair's storied career, and undoubtedly one of the most colorful world champions to ever lace up a pair of boots. Dusty Rhodes was NWA's resident face and heel at the times when they truly needed him to be, and for that he gets high praises.
4. Macho Man Randy Savage - 7x Worlds Champion (in qualifying promotions)
The one man who could easily enter an arena and call claim to being the "Most Electrifying Man" and have the movie star say nothing, and absolutely one of the business's most loved performers of all time. Randy is one of the best to lace up a pair of boots, and the fact that he's been a world champion nearly everywhere only proves that moreso.
3. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair - 22x World Champion [don't let them lie to you] (NWA World title 13x, WCW World title 7x, WWF World title 2x)
"WOOOOOOO!"
The record that they claim is 16x World Champion, but the truth of the matter is, 22 times is the real number of times that Ric Flair has locked in that dreaded figure four and walked out the World Heavyweight Champion. And the legacy tells for itself, for he's the only man to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice! Without a doubt, one of the most intense competitors in the ring, Ric Flair has become known as simply "the best" in all of professional wrestling.
2. Hulk Hogan - 12x World Champion (6x in both WCW & WWF/E)
"Whatcha gonna do, when the Hulkster and all the Hulkamaniacs run wild on you!"
The real American who brought wrestling into the limelight. Hulk is the guy that is unanimous with the business. From the Silverscreen to the Vitamins to the nWo and even to TNA's General Manager... Hulk Hogan has done it all. He's absolutely the greatest man to ever lace up a pair as far as wrestling's fame is concerned. And for four years, he dominated as champion in the 80s... but when it comes down to it, there's still one man who in my opinion can top his reign.
1. Lou Thesz - NWA World Championship 3x (for a total of 3,749 days combined)
Hulk Hogan may have ushered in fame, but that doesn't deny the fact that Lou Thesz is still the greatest of all time bar none. Ric Flair may have 16 World titles, but he's never even come close to the lengthy reign of Lou Thesz... One could argue that Thesz had an "easier" time in his day, but it's hard to argue with the facts that for 10 years straight, he was the guy that many promoters agreed should carry the title. For 10 years, he was the back bone of professional wrestling. The only name that can claim to be better than that is Bruno Sammartino, however his first reign only lasted eight years... plus Thesz traveled a lot more than Sammartino ever had to, proving he was a legit world champion.