Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

[El Fangel]

This option won the decisive victory in the poll to become the first Top 10 list to be comprised by the people of TPWW, I would like nominations for who you think is the Best WWE/WWF Champion of All Time, So if you could, each comprise a list of your own top 10 best, and I will tally up the scores after everyone has made their opinions known.

I ask that this be keep to a serious manner, as I am hoping to have this list eventually put up on the main page, suggestions for the next Top 10 would be nice also, or I could use the next highest in the poll (Top 10 Best Looking Titles)

Thanks guys, lets do this.

[El Fangel]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

[El Fangel]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. The Rock
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
3. Triple H
4. Hulk Hogan
5. Kurt Angle
6. Chris Jericho
7. Chris Benoit
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Ric Flair
10. Eddie Guerrero

[Juan]

1. Hulk Hogan (hate to do it)
2. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
3. Bret Hart
4. Shawn Michael
5. Triple H
6. The Rock
7. The Undertaker
8. Mankind
9. Chris Jericho
10. Kurt Angle

[MCEazy]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. Steve Austin
2. Bret Hart
3. The Rock
4. Hulk Hogan (ugh)
5. Shawn Michaels
6. The Undertaker
7. Kurt Angle
8. Ric Flair (simply for RR 92)
9. Randy Savage
10. Chris Jericho

[DaVe]

1. Steve Austin ("STONE COLD! STONE COLD!")
2. The Rock
3. Hulk Hogan
4. Shawn Michaels
5. Bret Hart
6. Undertaker
7. Kurt Angle
8. Triple H
9. Eddie Guerrero (Fallen Angel made me remember him, thanks)
10. Mankind

[Ben Rodrigues]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. Steve Austin
2. Hulk Hogan
3. Triple H
4. The Rock
5. Bret Hart
6. Shawn Michaels
7. The Undertaker
8. Kurt Angle
9. John Cena
10. Randy Savage

[addy2hotty]

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin
2. The Rock
3. Shawn Michaels
4. Triple H
5. Kurt Angle
6. Eddie Guerrero
7. Chris Jericho
8. Bret Hart
9. Undertaker
10. Mick Foley

[Russenmafia]

1. Hulk Hogan
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
3. The Rock
4. Bret Hart
5. HBK
6. Undertaker
7. HHH
8. Brock Lesnar
9. Kurt Angle
10. Chris Jericho

[Jeritron]

Anyone who doesn't put Hulk Hogan at the top of their list, as much as I hate him, is quite simply wrong

[Dark-Slicer Diago]

1. The Rock
2. Bret Hart
3. Hulk Hogan
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin
5. Chris Jericho
6. Brock Lesnar
7. Kurt Angle
8. Eddie Guerrero
9. HBK
10. HHH

[BigDaddyCool]

1. HBK
2. HHH
3. Nash
4. everyone else is a jobber.

[Fox]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. Bret "Hitman" Hart
2. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
3. The Rock
4. Kurt Angle
5. Hulk Hogan
6. Brock Lesnar
7. Triple H (circa 2000)
8. Ultimate Warrior
9. Edge
10. Shawn Michaels

[Gertner]

1. Hulk Hogan
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
3. The Rock
4. HHH
5. Bret Hart
6. HBK
7. Edge
8. Undertaker
9. Yokozuna
10. Bob Backlund

[Mr. Nerfect]

1. HBK
2. HHH
3. Nash
4. everyone else is a jobber.

Please do not count this, Fallen.

My list:

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin
2. Bret Hart
3. The Rock
4. Hulk Hogan
5. Bob Backlund
6. Shawn Michaels
7. Kurt Angle
8. Brock Lesnar
9. Chris Jericho
10. Triple H

Honourable Mentions: Eddie Guerrero, Edge, Andre the Giant, Mick Foley, Bruno Sammartino

I tried to find a place for The Brian Kendrick, but Triple H just nudged him out. :shifty:

Seriously, though, this list has a wide array of criteria. Some of my picks are based on kayfabe happenings (Chris Jericho unifying the WWE and WCW Championships, for example, which is very important).

[#1-norm-fan]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin
2. Hulk Hogan
3. The Rock
4. Shawn Michaels
5. Bret Hart
6. Bob Backlund
7. Triple H
8. Bruno Sammartino
9. John Cena
10. The Undertaker

[thedamndest]

1) Stone Cold Steve Austin
2) Hulk Hogan
3) Shawn Michaels
4) Bret "Hitman Hart
5) The Rock
6) Bruno Sammartino
7) HHH
8) Chris Jericho
9) Eddie Guerrero
10) Kurt Angle

Wanted to put Flair in, but I don't think his WWF reigns were really noteworthy.

[St. Jimmy]

1. Shawn Michaels
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
3. Triple H
4. Kurt Angle
5. Chris Jericho
6. The Undertaker
7. Brock Lesnar
8. The Rock
9. John Cena
10. Edge

[Loose Cannon]

Noid,

Andre was champ for all of 3 minutes. didn't know if you knew that or not. it might change how you view him as champion.

[St. Jimmy]

Honorable Mention:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n59/awstevans/rko.jpg

[Xero]

That Panda still has the title after 6 years.

[Indifferent Clox]

1. Shawn Michaels
2. Bret Hart
3. Ric Flair
4. Stone Cold Steve Austin
5. The Rock
6. Triple H
7. Chris Jericho
8. Edge
9. Kurt Angle
10. Hulk Hogan

[OverTaker]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. The Rock
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
3. Triple H
4. Hulk Hogan
5. Kurt Angle
6. Taker
7. Nash
8. Shawn Michaels
9. Ric Flair
10. Bret Hart

[St. Jimmy]

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[Heyman]

Just a QUESTION - is there any difference between the top 10 WWE/WWF champions, and the top 10 WWE/WWF legends? Or are length of title reigns (and number of title reigns) also a factor?!

Just off the top of my head though, here are my considerations:

1) Hulk Hogan
2) Ric Flair
3) Triple H
4) Stone Cold Steve Austin
5) Bret Hart
6) The Rock
7) John Cena
8) Shawn Michaels
9) John Bradshaw Layfield (I'll regret mentioning him but whatever :-\)
10) Diesel


Ultimate Warrior, Randy Savage = (dis?)honourable mentions

This will probably be the worst list out of the ones mentioned, but I am confused as to what the definition of "best" is in this case. :?:

[Fabien Barthez]

1, Hogan
2, The Rock
3, Steve Austin
4, Bret Hart
5, HHH
6, HBK
7, Lesnar
8, JBL
9, Taker
10, Angle

[Rob]

1. Austin
2. Rock
3. Hogan
4. Hart
5. Undertaker
6. Sammartino
7. Savage
8. Michaels
9. Cena
10. HHH

[addy2hotty]

Anyone who doesn't put Hulk Hogan at the top of their list, as much as I hate him, is quite simply wrong

No they aren't, they just have a differing opinion to you. :roll:

[Fox]

Yeah, last time I checked an opinion wasn't something that could be "wrong" unless contradicted by fact. And "best WWE Champion" is not something based on facts - it's based on personal preference.

I am officially removing Hogan from my line-up and replacing him with... oh, let's say Bob Backlund. So,

5. Bob Backlund

[Xero]

Well, "Best WWE Champion" can be based on drawing power, staying power, etc.

There has to be a best WWE champion by process of elimination. And honestly, Hogan has to be in the top 2 at least, of course depending on criteria.

[Savio]

Rey Mysterio
Kane
Andre the giant
Vinnie Mac
Big Show
Sid
Yokozuna
Goldberg
Ultimate warrior
Iron Sheik

[Tazz Dan]

1. HBK
2. Austin
3. Hogan
4. Bret Hart
5. Rock
6. HHH
7. Undertaker
8. Kurt Angle
9. Edge
10. Kevin Nash

[Juan]

Rey Mysterio
Kane
Andre the giant
Vinnie Mac
Big Show
Sid
Yokozuna
Goldberg
Ultimate warrior
Iron Sheik

C'mon now

[Rob]

Anyone who doesn't put Hulk Hogan at the top of their list, as much as I hate him, is quite simply wrong

Why is that then?

Top 4 I'll give you but #1? I need to know the reasoning here.

[Xero]

Goldberg was never even WWE champion, lol.

[thedamndest]

Why is that then?

Top 4 I'll give you but #1? I need to know the reasoning here.

Hogan was the Stone Cold of the 80's. That was my reasoning anyway and I put him at number 2. In terms of time he was probably champion longer than Austin, but Austin was dealing with monthly PPVs (a pretty much more aggressive schedule story-wise).

[Fabien Barthez]

Just because I don't like the guy now, doesn't mean he wasn't my hero for my entire childhood. His tenure, his drawing power, the way he was hyped..... Hogan was more or less champion for a decade. That's my reasoning. If Rock or Austin lasted half as long, they would have been higher for being better characters and workers. But they weren't, so they aren't.

[FourFifty]

For the record, I'm pretty sure The Rock held the WWF/E title for no longer than 4 months at a time.

[rojas]

Top 10 Best WWE/WWF Champions of All Time

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin
2. Hulk Hogan
3. The Rock
4. Triple H
5. Shawn Michaels
6. Macho Man Randy Savage
7. Bret Hart
8. The Undertaker
9. Chris Jericho
10. Randy Orton

I was close to putting Hogan on top but Stone Cold IMO was just better overall.

[thedamndest]

For the record, I'm pretty sure The Rock held the WWF/E title for no longer than 4 months at a time.

I think you are correct. I have transposed his position and Bret Hart's as a result of this post.

[Juan]

Just because I don't like the guy now, doesn't mean he wasn't my hero for my entire childhood. His tenure, his drawing power, the way he was hyped..... Hogan was more or less champion for a decade. That's my reasoning. If Rock or Austin lasted half as long, they would have been higher for being better characters and workers. But they weren't, so they aren't.

This is why Hogan got the number 1 spot for me. He is basically the reason why I started watching wrestling. We probably wouldn't even be having this discussion of it weren't for Hogan. Who knows what would've become of the WWF if Hogan hadn't exploded like he did. I will admit, however, that Hogan is a douche bag.

[Rob]

How long did Bruno Sammartino hold the belt? Are you gonna change your list to reflect that?

[blake639raw]

I can't believe Bruno isn't on more lists. He was champion forever, and build the WWWF empire on his shoulders. He is at least top 5, imo.

[addy2hotty]

Fallen Angel didn't set any criteria. So I went with how much I was entertained by their reign(s) in each selection.

This will mean that much pre-1991 won't be included.

[Loose Cannon]

Yea, Rob's list is the same as mine, except Hogan would be 1 and Austin 2 and Rock 3.

[AKin3D]

1. Stone Cold Steve Austin
2. The Rock
3. Triple H
4. Shawn Michaels
5. Hulk Hogan
6. Edge
7. Ric Flair
8. Undertaker
9. Chirs Jericho
10. Bret Hart

[Triple Naitch]

WARNING: NOID POST ALERT!


1. The Rock
- Being able to be a great champion as a face and heel is the most important factor in my mind in choosing the best WWE Champion.

2. Hulk Hogan
- Only a 4-time champion, but made the belt what it is today.

3. Stone Cold Steve Austin
- His first title win officially started the Attitude Era.

4. Shawn Michaels
- His first title win is still one of my favorite matches of all time. Was able to be a great champ as a face and heel.

5. Bret Hart
- Hart's Wrestlemania win over Yokozuna after losing to Owen is one of my earliest fondest wrestling memories.

6. Triple H
- His number of titles and lengths of reigns are just impossible to argue with.

7. Bruno Sammartino
- Two-time champ, first reign lasted 8 years and to quote WWE.com
"Bruno Sammartino faced off against the hated Buddy Rogers at Madison Square Garden. Sammartino used a dropkick, backbreaker and a crushing bearhug to dethrone the champ."

8. Undertaker
- Won his first title relatively early in his WWE career and has stayed consistently in the title picture for the next 17 years.

9. Mick Foley/Mankind
- His first title win put WWE in control of the Monday Night Ratings War and they never looked back.

10. Bob Backlund
- Sixteen years between title reigns

Honorable Mentions:
Ted DiBiase
- He almost bought the damn title from Andre The Giant. How great is that?

John Cena
- Love him or hate him he has held that title for fucking ever at times. Next month will be one year since Cena has been champ. Anybody else think that was even possible?

Edge
- Him cashing in the Money In The Bank was my last mark out moment, until recently when The Brian Kendrick scored a pinfall in the Scramble.

[Gertner]

Are we considering WWWF champions? Cause if so then that changes everything. Buddy Rogers would be on my list.

[El Fangel]

I perhaps should have clarified more, I shoudl mention that it is people who made the belt shine and entertained us to the fullest while having the title.

To Heyman, There will be a Top 10 Legends thread later.

It is based on personal preference, but for example saying Kane as the best is a little iffy if you get what I mean, and SCSA has some of the most watched and interesting periods.

I think you guys understand what I mean.

I very much like how DP did his list, as it gives reason as to why he is voting, if everyone wants to, go ahead, it would help clarify, if not I will still of course count your votes.

[CSL]

Rough order

1. Hogan
2. Austin
3. Rock
4. HBK
5. Bret
6. Savage
7. Backlund
8. Taker
9. HHH
10. Sammartino

[Jeritron]

Why is that then?

Top 4 I'll give you but #1? I need to know the reasoning here.

The point I meant to make by "at the top" was in the top 2-3 spots.





Also, addy2hotty....
it's not really a matter of differing opinions, because as I stated I dislike Hogan in every facet. We're likely of the same opinion.
However, when ranking the best champions, he comes at the top of a list and that's practically academic.

Perhaps I interpreted the thread title differently, but I think "best" is a more official ranking than "favorite"

In the english language, by ranking someone higher than another on a "best" list, that in turn means they are "better than".
I like Jericho or RVD or even ReyRey more than Hogan. But were they BETTER champions? I'm afraid I can't dillude myself to answer yes.
As long as we're speaking the same language here, which I sometimes question, it's not really a matter of opinion.

[Jeritron]

My list by the way:

1. Austin (pretty much a tie with Hogan in all departments, except he made more people look better and pulled a company out of a rut with his own schtick, rather than luckily being part of a genius plan to build said company)
2. Hogan
3. The Rock
4. Hart
5. Michaels (champ at a rough time, but kept a struggling company alive)
6. Bruno Sanmartino
7. Savage. (He should have gotten more of a chance. The fact that he didn't is a result of the reasons that made Hogan inferior to Austin)
8. The Undertaker (Has been a very popular and bankable champion in every era of post-hulkamania WWE)
9. HHH. (one of the stronger heel champions, and as a result very important to the success of The Rock, and WWE at the turn of the century.)
10. Cena (a workhorse, and like it or not the champion of a new generation)

[addy2hotty]

Also, addy2hotty....
it's not really a matter of differing opinions, because as I stated I dislike Hogan in every facet. We're likely of the same opinion.
However, when ranking the best champions, he comes at the top of a list and that's practically academic.

Perhaps I interpreted the thread title differently, but I think "best" is a more official ranking than "favorite"

In the english language, by ranking someone higher than another on a "best" list, that in turn means they are "better than".
I like Jericho or RVD or even ReyRey more than Hogan. But were they BETTER champions? I'm afraid I can't dillude myself to answer yes.
As long as we're speaking the same language here, which I sometimes question, it's not really a matter of opinion.

Speak whatever language you want Jeritron, it's not your speaking that seems the problem, just your reading:-

So if you could, each comprise a list of your own top 10 best, and I will tally up the scores after everyone has made their opinions known.

Seems pretty clear to me. FA even mentions 'personal preference' when he revised the rules.

My personal preference is not to have Hogan near the top of the list as he didn't particularly entertain me in any of his championship runs since I began watching in late 1991.

[Rob]

5. Michaels (champ at a rough time, but kept a struggling company alive)


If you are talking his 1996 (and I assume you are) then this couldn't be further from the truth. Michaels at that point was the worst drawing champion in the WWF's history (second was his buddy Kevin Nash). Business was seriously in the red and the thought of the company going under was in people's heads within the company.

Had the clique not had power over Vince, he would have lost that belt in a matter of weeks and they couldn't wait to get it to Sid Vicious once he came in.

Unbelievable worker though.

[HeartBreakMan2k]

1. Austin
2. Rock
3. Hogan
4. Michaels
5. Rogers
6. Sammartino
7. Savage
8. Hart
9. Undertaker
10. HHH

[Ruien]

1. Shawn Michaels
2. Stone Cold Steve Austin
3. Triple H
4. Kurt Angle
5. Chris Jericho
6. The Undertaker
7. Brock Lesnar
8. The Rock
9. John Cena
10. Edge

o.O Please tell me this was a joke?

[Jeritron]

Speak whatever language you want Jeritron, it's not your speaking that seems the problem, just your reading:-



That's your rebuttal? What are you even talking about? Weak as hell.

[Rob]

o.O Please tell me this was a joke?

I know.

I mean John Cena at #9? Come on now!

[therocksays]

1.hogan
2.bret hart
3.stone cold
4.the rock
5.undertaker
6.hbk
7.yokozuna
8.macho man
9.HHH
10.Diesel

[El Fangel]

Ok, voting closed, I am adding up the scores now, how the scoring is done is 1) is worth 10 points, 2) is worth 9 points, etc.

[addy2hotty]

That's your rebuttal? What are you even talking about? Weak as hell.

I'm not 'rebutting' anything. It's clear and concise from the original post. Fallen Angel asked for opinions on 'your own' top 10, you can't obviously see that, I've attempted and failed in making you see this, despite it being in front of your face. That's not only weak, that's pretty dumb.

[Jeritron]

It's clearly explained as "who you think is the best". The conventional wisdom for 'best' should have some bearing on the thinking involved, unless of course it's of the wishful variety. Or perhaps no thinking at all?

[Jeritron]

Kane is the best WWF champion of all time. I put a lot of thought into that vote.

[Shisen Kopf]

1-Great Khali
2-Sgt. Slaughter
3-Kane
4-Vince McMahon
5-Ultimate Warrior
6-Andre the Giant

and I can't be bothered to list anymore, that list is 100% correct and if you disagree you are a mongoloid.