The oldest WWE title is the WWE Championship.
Established on April 11, 1963, the WWE Championship stands as the longest-running and most prestigious title in the company's history. It predates other major world championships that were eventually brought under the WWE umbrella, such as the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.
Origins of WWE World Championships
The WWE Championship was first awarded to Buddy Rogers. Over the decades, it has been defended by a lineage of legendary Superstars, marking its continuous presence as the pinnacle of achievement in WWE. While other world titles existed and were eventually recognized or absorbed by WWE, their origins are significantly more recent than the WWE Championship.
Key World Championships and Their Inaugural Dates
To illustrate the age of various world championships that have been part of WWE's history, consider the following timeline of their inaugural dates:
| Championship | Inaugural Holder(s) | Date |
|---|---|---|
| WWE Championship | Buddy Rogers | April 11, 1963 |
| WCW World Heavyweight Championship | Ric Flair | January 11, 1991 |
| ECW World Heavyweight Championship | Jimmy Snuka | April 25, 1992 |
As demonstrated by the dates, the WWE Championship's inception in 1963 firmly establishes it as the oldest world championship recognized and actively used by WWE.
