List of WWE European Champions

The WWE European Championship is a former professional wrestling title competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The title was created on February 26, 1997.[1] The first champion was The British Bulldog who defeated Owen Hart in a tournament final.[2] The title was retired briefly in April 1999 by then-champion Shane McMahon, who wanted to retire as an "undefeated champion". McMahon reintroduced the championship two months later and gave it to Mideon, who saw the title belt in Shane's travel bag and asked if he could have it.[3][4] The title was finally retired on July 22, 2002, when WWE Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam defeated European Champion Jeff Hardy to unify the European title into the Intercontinental title.[5] Over the title's 5 year, 4 month, and 26 day history there have been a total of 27 recognized champions who were a combined 37 official reigns among 27 different wrestlers. This is a chronological list of wrestlers that have been WWE European Champion by ring name.

Reigns

Names

NameYears
WWF European ChampionshipFebruary 26, 1997 – May 6, 2002
WWE European ChampionshipMay 6, 2002 – July 22, 2002

Reigns

Key
No.Overall reign number
ReignReign number for the specific champion
DaysNumber of days held
Days recog.Number of days held recognized by the promotion
Championship change is unrecognized by the promotion
<1Reign lasted less than a day
No.ChampionChampionship changeReign statisticsNotesRef.
DateEventLocationReignDaysDays recog.
World Wrestling Federation (WWF)
1The British BulldogFebruary 26, 1997[1]RawBerlin, Germany1206205Defeated Owen Hart in a tournament final to become the first champion. Aired on March 3, when the following episode aired on tape delay.[2][6]
2Shawn MichaelsSeptember 20, 1997One Night OnlyBirmingham, England18292WWE recognizes Michaels' reign as ending on December 22, when the following episode aired on tape delay.[7][8][9]
3Triple HDecember 11, 1997RawLowell, MA14030Michaels was ordered to defend the title against Helmsley by WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter. Michaels intentionally lost the match, because he also held the WWF World Heavyweight Championship having won that title on November 9, 1997. Aired December 22. WWE recognizes Triple H's reign as beginning on December 22, when the episode aired on tape delay.[10][11]
4Owen HartJanuary 20, 1998RawDavis, CA15552Defeated The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust, who was dressed as Triple H. Commissioner Slaughter awards the title to Hart considering Goldust as a substitution for Triple H. WWE recognizes Hart's reign as beginning on January 22, when the episode aired on tape delay.[12][13]
5Triple HMarch 16, 1998RawPhoenix, AZ2120119Defeated an injured Owen Hart in an impromptu match originally scheduled for WrestleMania XIV.[14][15]
6D'Lo BrownJuly 14, 1998RawBinghamton, NY16356WWE recognizes Brown's reign as beginning on July 20, when the episode aired on tape delay.[16]
WWE recognizes Brown's reigns as lasting 57 days.
[17][18]
7 X-PacSeptember 15, 1998RawSacramento, CA11413WWE recognizes X-Pac's reign as beginning on September 21 and as ending on October 5, when the following episodes aired on tape delay.[19][20]
8D'Lo BrownSeptember 29, 1998RawEast Lansing, MI21912WWE recognizes Brown's reign as beginning on October 5, when the episode aired on tape delay.[21][22]
9 X-PacOctober 18, 1998Judgment Day: In Your HouseRosemont, IL2120120[23][24]
10Shane McMahonFebruary 15, 1999RawBirmingham, AL14347Defeated X-Pac in a tag team match with Shane McMahon and Kane vs. Triple H and X-Pac.
WWE recognizes McMahon's reign as ending on April 4, when the episode aired on tape delay.
[3][25]
DeactivatedMarch 30, 1999Sunday Night HeatUniondale, NYShane McMahon "retired as champion." Aired April 4, when the episode on tape delay.[3]
11 MideonJune 21, 1999RawMemphis, TN13433Shane McMahon awarded Mideon the title after he found it in McMahon's travel bag.[4]
12D'Lo BrownJuly 25, 1999Fully LoadedBuffalo, NY32827[26][27]
13Jeff JarrettAugust 22, 1999SummerSlamMinneapolis, MN11<1This was also for D'Lo Brown's Intercontinental Championship.[28][29]
14Mark HenryAugust 23, 1999RawAmes, IA13433Jeff Jarrett gave the title to Henry as a gift for his assisting Jarrett in defeating D'lo Brown at SummerSlam.[30]
15D'Lo BrownSeptember 26, 1999UnforgivenCharlotte, NC43031WWE recognizes Brown's reign as ending on October 28.[31][32]
16The British BulldogOctober 26, 1999SmackDown!Springfield, MA24744WWE recognizes Bulldog's reign as beginning on October 28, when the episode aired on tape delay.[33][34]
17Val VenisDecember 12, 1999ArmageddonSunrise, FL15859This was a triple threat match also involving D'Lo Brown.[35][36]
18Kurt AngleFebruary 8, 2000SmackDown!Austin, TX15451WWE recognizes Angle's reign as beginning on February 10, when the episode aired on tape delay.[37][38]
19Chris JerichoApril 2, 2000WrestleMania 2000Anaheim, CA11<1Won second fall of two-fall triple threat match also involving Chris Benoit (first fall was for Intercontinental Championship); pinned Benoit to claim championship.[39][40]
20Eddie GuerreroApril 3, 2000RawLos Angeles, CA1111110[41][42]
21Perry SaturnJuly 23, 2000Fully LoadedDallas, TX13738[43]
22Al SnowAugust 29, 2000SmackDown!Fayetteville, NC14845WWE recognizes Snow's reign as beginning on August 31, when the episode aired on tape delay.[44]
23William RegalOctober 16, 2000RawDetroit, MI14746[45]
24Crash HollyDecember 2, 2000RebellionSheffield, England121[46]
25William RegalDecember 4, 2000RawEast Rutherford, NJ24948[47]
26 TestJanuary 22, 2001RawLafayette, LA16968[48]
27Eddie GuerreroApril 1, 2001WrestleMania X-SevenHouston, TX22324WWE recognizes Guerrero's reign as ending on April 26, when the following episode aired on tape delay.[49]
28Matt HardyApril 24, 2001SmackDown!Denver, CO1125122WWE recognizes Hardy's reign as beginning on April 26, when the episode aired on tape delay.[50]
29The HurricaneAugust 27, 2001RawGrand Rapids, MI15655[51]
30 BradshawOctober 22, 2001RawKansas City, MO189[52]
31 ChristianOctober 30, 2001SmackDown!Cincinnati, OH19190WWE recognizes Christian's reign as beginning on November 1, when the episode aired on tape delay.[53]
32Diamond Dallas PageJanuary 29, 2002SmackDown!Norfolk, VA14948WWE recognizes Page's reign as beginning on January 31, when the episode aired on tape delay.[54]
World Wrestling Federation (WWF): Raw
33William RegalMarch 19, 2002SmackDown!Ottawa, ON32017WWE recognizes Regal's reign as beginning on March 21, when the episode aired on tape delay. The championship became exclusive to Raw when Regal was drafted to the Raw brand on March 26, 2002.[55]
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE): Raw
34Spike DudleyApril 8, 2002RawPhoenix, AZ12827Renamed the WWE European Championship on May 5, 2002[56][57]
35William RegalMay 6, 2002RawHartford, CT46362[58]
36Jeff HardyJuly 8, 2002RawPhiladelphia, PA11413WWE mistakenly recognizes Hardy's reign as ending on July 21.[5]
37Rob Van DamJuly 22, 2002RawGrand Rapids, MI1<1<1This was a unification match for Van Dam's WWE Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match. The reign is not recognized in WWE's official European Champion listings, but his wwe.com profile and the official WWE encyclopedia list him as European Champion.[59][60]
UnifiedJuly 22, 2002RawGrand Rapids, MIUnified with the Intercontinental Championship.

Combined reigns

Record tying 4-time WWE European Champion D'Lo Brown
RankChampionNo. of
reigns
Combined
days
Combined days
recognized by WWE
1The British Bulldog2253249
2William Regal4179173
3Triple H2160149
4D'Lo Brown4140126
5Eddie Guerrero2134134
X-Pac2134132
7Matt Hardy1125122
8 Christian19190
9Shawn Michaels18292
10 Test16968
11Val Venis15859
12The Hurricane15655
13Owen Hart15552
14Kurt Angle15451
15Diamond Dallas Page14948
16Al Snow14845
17Shane McMahon14347
18Perry Saturn13738
19 Mideon13433
Mark Henry13433
21Spike Dudley12827
22Jeff Hardy11412
23 Bradshaw189
24Crash Holly121
25Jeff Jarrett11<1
Chris Jericho11<1
27Rob Van Dam1<1

See also

References

External links