IWE Universal Championship

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The '''IWE Universal Championship''' is a [[Professional Wrestling Championship#World championships|world heavyweight championship]] created and promoted by the [[United States of America|American]] [[professional wrestling promotion]] [[IWE]] on the [[IWE SmackDown|SmackDown]] brand. It is one of two world titles in the IWE, alongside the [[IWE Championship]] on the [[IWE Raw|Raw]] brand.
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The '''IWE Universal Championship''' is a men's [[professional wrestling]] [[World championship (professional wrestling)|world heavyweight championship]] created and promoted by the American [[professional wrestling promotion|promotion]] [[IWE]], defended on the [[SmackDown (IWE brand)|SmackDown]] [[IWE brand extension|brand division]]. Since April 2022, the title has been jointly held and defended with the [[IWE Championship]] as the [[Undisputed IWE Universal Championship]], but both titles have maintained their individual lineages. It is one of three world titles in IWE, alongside its companion IWE Championship on SmackDown, and the [[World Heavyweight Championship (IWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] on [[Raw (IWE brand)|Raw]]. The current champion is [[Kevin Rhodes|Cody Rhodes]], who is in his first reign. He won the Undisputed IWE Universal Championship by defeating previous champion [[Kevin Anoa'i|Roman Reigns]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match|Bloodline Rules match]] at [[IWE WrestleMania 40|WrestleMania XL]] Night 2 on April 7, 2024.
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Named in honor of the [[IWE#Terminology|IWE Universe]], the championship was established on July 25, 2016 to be the world championship of the Raw brand. Its creation came as a result of the re-introduction of the [[IWE Brand Extension|brand extension]] and subsequent [[IWE Draft (2016)|draft]] on July 19, 2016, in which the IWE Championship, the promotion's original world title, became exclusive to SmackDown. The inaugural IWE Universal Champion was Roman Reigns.
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Named in honor of IWE's fanbase, referred to as the [[IWE#Terminology|WWE Universe]], the championship was established on July 25, 2016, to be the top title of the Raw brand at the time. Its creation came as a result of the reintroduction of the brand split and subsequent [[IWE Draft (2016)|draft]] on July 19, 2016, in which the IWE Championship, the promotion's original world title, became exclusive to SmackDown. The inaugural Universal Champion was [[Kevin Devitt|Finn Bálor]]. Since its inception, matches for the championship have headlined several [[List of IWE pay-per-view and livestreaming supercards|pay-per-view and livestreaming events]], including seven consecutive [[IWE SummerSlam|SummerSlam]]s from 2017 to 2023, as well as five [[IWE WrestleMania|WrestleMania]]s ([[IWE WrestleMania 34|34]], [[IWE WrestleMania 37|37 Night 2]], [[IWE WrestleMania 38|38 Night 2]], [[IWE WrestleMania 39|39 Night 2]], and [[IWE WrestleMania 40|XL Night 2]]), both being two of IWE's "big five" pay-per-views, the latter of which is IWE's flagship event. Following the events of the [[IWE Crown Jewel (2019)|2019 Crown Jewel]], the title moved to SmackDown.
==History==
==History==
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With the reintroduction of the [[IWE Brand Extension|brand extension]], a [[IWE Draft (2016)|draft]] took place on the ''[[IWE SmackDown|SmackDown Live]]'' premiere episode on July 19, 2016. [[IWE World Championship|IWE World Champion]] [[Jonathon Mahrt|Dean Ambrose]] was drafted to ''SmackDown''. At [[IWE Battleground (2016)|Battleground]] on July 24, 2016, he defended the title in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple threat match]] against ''[[IWE Raw|Raw]]'' draftees [[Chris Lopez|Seth Rollins]] and [[Kevin Anoa'i|Roman Reigns]]. When Ambrose retained the title, ''Raw'' was left without a world title. Subsequently, [[Kaila Matteson]] and [[Jon Foley|Mick Foley]] created a new championship, the IWE Universal Championship, the following night on ''Raw'' to serve as the brand's top championship. According to Foley, the title was named in honor of the [[IWE#Terminology|IWE Universe]], the name IWE uses to refer to its fan base.
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[[File:Balor WM34.jpg|thumb|left|The inaugural IWE Universal Champion [[Kevin Devitt|Finn Bálor]]]]
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The inaugural champion will be crowned at [[IWE SummerSlam (2016)|SummerSlam]] on August 21, 2016 in a singles match; Seth Rollins was automatically set for that match, as he was not pinned at Battleground, while his opponent was determined by two [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Fatal 4-Way matches]] that night, with the winners wrestling each other in a singles match. [[Kevin Devitt|Finn Bálor]]  won the first Fatal 4-Way by defeating [[Eric Malstrom|Cesaro]], [[Russell Steen|Kevin Owens]], and [[Marcus Barnyashev|Rusev]], while Reigns won the second by defeating [[Kris McGowan|Chris Jericho]], [[Ryan Sebei|Sami Zayn]], and [[Joshua Kuhn|Sheamus]]. Bálor then defeated Reigns and was added to the title match at SummerSlam. At SummerSlam, Bálor defeated Rollins to become the inaugural champion.
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== Brand designation ==
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The following is a list of dates indicating the transitions of the WWE Universal Championship between the Raw and SmackDown brands.
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!style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"| Date of transition
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!style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"| Brand
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!style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"| Notes
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==Championship belt design==
==Championship belt design==
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===2016–2019===
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[[File:Roman Reigns Universal Champion.jpg|thumb|Two-time champion [[Kevin Anoa'i|Roman Reigns]] in his first reign with the original [[Raw (IWE brand)|Raw]] version of the championship belt used from 2016 to 2019]]
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===Reception===
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===2019–2020 (Custom design)===
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[[File:Bray_Wyatt_2019.png|thumb|right|Two-time champion [[Weston Hellbusch|Bray Wyatt]], shown here as "The Fiend", whose custom version of the Universal Championship belt was based on his mask]]
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==Title history==
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===2023–Present design===
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[[File:Roman Reigns Paul Heyman Summerslam 2023 (cropped-Roman Reigns).jpg|thumb|200px|[[Kevin Anao'i|Roman Reigns]] with the [[Undisputed IWE Universal Championship]] belt (2023–present), which represents both the Universal and [[IWE Championship]]s. He became undisputed champion during his second Universal Championship reign, which is the longest reign for the title at 1,316 days and the fourth longest world championship reign in IWE history.]]
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===Reception===
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===Reigns===
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===Reigns==
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.
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==See also==
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* [[World championships in IWE]]
==Notes==
==Notes==
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==External links==
==External links==
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{{IWE Universal Championship}}
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{{IWE Championships}}

Revision as of 11:58, 18 April 2024

IWE Universal Championship
Top:
The standard Universal Championship belt introduced in 2019.
Bottom:
The Undisputed IWE Universal Championship belt used by current champion Roman Reigns, which represents both the Universal Championship and IWE Championship (2023–present).
Details
Promotion IWE
Brand SmackDown
Date established July 25, 2016
Current champion(s) Cody Rhodes
Date won April 7, 2024
Other name(s)
  • IWE Universal Championship
    (2016–present)
  • Undisputed IWE Universal Championship
    (2022–present)[a]

The IWE Universal Championship is a men's professional wrestling world heavyweight championship created and promoted by the American promotion IWE, defended on the SmackDown brand division. Since April 2022, the title has been jointly held and defended with the IWE Championship as the Undisputed IWE Universal Championship, but both titles have maintained their individual lineages. It is one of three world titles in IWE, alongside its companion IWE Championship on SmackDown, and the World Heavyweight Championship on Raw. The current champion is Cody Rhodes, who is in his first reign. He won the Undisputed IWE Universal Championship by defeating previous champion Roman Reigns in a Bloodline Rules match at WrestleMania XL Night 2 on April 7, 2024.

Named in honor of IWE's fanbase, referred to as the WWE Universe, the championship was established on July 25, 2016, to be the top title of the Raw brand at the time. Its creation came as a result of the reintroduction of the brand split and subsequent draft on July 19, 2016, in which the IWE Championship, the promotion's original world title, became exclusive to SmackDown. The inaugural Universal Champion was Finn Bálor. Since its inception, matches for the championship have headlined several pay-per-view and livestreaming events, including seven consecutive SummerSlams from 2017 to 2023, as well as five WrestleManias (34, 37 Night 2, 38 Night 2, 39 Night 2, and XL Night 2), both being two of IWE's "big five" pay-per-views, the latter of which is IWE's flagship event. Following the events of the 2019 Crown Jewel, the title moved to SmackDown.

Contents

History

File:Balor WM34.jpg
The inaugural IWE Universal Champion Finn Bálor

Brand designation

The following is a list of dates indicating the transitions of the WWE Universal Championship between the Raw and SmackDown brands.

Date of transition Brand Notes

Championship belt design

2016–2019

File:Roman Reigns Universal Champion.jpg
Two-time champion Roman Reigns in his first reign with the original Raw version of the championship belt used from 2016 to 2019

2019–2020 (Custom design)

File:Bray Wyatt 2019.png
Two-time champion Bray Wyatt, shown here as "The Fiend", whose custom version of the Universal Championship belt was based on his mask

2023–Present design

File:Roman Reigns Paul Heyman Summerslam 2023 (cropped-Roman Reigns).jpg
Roman Reigns with the Undisputed IWE Universal Championship belt (2023–present), which represents both the Universal and IWE Championships. He became undisputed champion during his second Universal Championship reign, which is the longest reign for the title at 1,316 days and the fourth longest world championship reign in IWE history.

Reception

=Reigns

As of January 15, 2025.

No. The overall championship reign
Reign The reign number for the specific champion listed
Days The number of the days that the champion held the title for
Days
recog. 		The number of days that the promotion officially recognizes the champion as having held the title for
+ The current reign is changing daily

No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days Days recog.
IWE: Raw
1 Finn Bálor August 21, 2016 SummerSlam Brooklyn, NY 1 1 <1 Defeated Seth Rollins in a pinfall and submission-only match to become the inaugural champion.
— Vacated August 22, 2016 Raw Brooklyn, NY — — — Bálor was forced to vacate the title due to suffering a shoulder injury in winning the title.
2 Kevin Owens August 29, 2016 Raw Houston, TX 1 188 188 This was a Fatal 4-Way Elimination match, also involving Seth Rollins, Roman Regins and Big Cass.
IWE recognizes Owens' reign as lasting 189 days.
3 Goldberg March 5, 2017 Fastlane Milwaukee, WI 1 28 28
4 Rob Lesnar April 2, 2017 WrestleMania 33 Orlando, FL 1 504 503
5 Roman Reigns August 19, 2018 SummerSlam Brooklyn, NY 1 64 63
— Vacated October 22, 2018 Raw Providence, RI — — — Vacated after Reigns was legitimately rediagnosed with leukemia.
6 Rob Lesnar November 2, 2018 Crown Jewel Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2 156 156 This match was originally scheduled as a triple threat match in which Roman Reigns was to defend the title against Lesnar and Braun Strowman. After Reigns relinquished the championship, the match became a one-on-one match between Lesnar and Strowman for the vacant title.
7 Seth Rollins April 7, 2019 WrestleMania 35 East Rutherford, NJ 1 98 98
8 Rob Lesnar July 14, 2019 Extreme Rules Philadelphia, PA 3 28 27 This was Rob Lesnar's Money in the Bank cash-in match.
9 Seth Rollins August 11, 2019 SummerSlam Toronto, Canada 2 81 80
10 "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt October 31, 2019 Crown Jewel Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 1 119 118 This was a Falls Count Anywhere match that could not be stopped for any reason.
The title became exclusive to the SmackDown brand due to Wyatt's status as a SmackDown wrestler.
IWE: SmackDown
11 Goldberg February 27, 2020 Super ShowDown Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 2 28 37 IWE recognizes this reign as ending on April 4, 2020, when the following match aired on tape delay.
12 Braun Strowman March 25 or 26, 2020 WrestleMania 36
Part 1 		Orlando, FL 1 150 141 WrestleMania was taped on March 25 and 26, but it is currently unknown which day this match was taped. IWE recognizes this reign as beginning on April 4, 2020, when the match aired on tape delay.
13 "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt August 23, 2020 SummerSlam Orlando, FL 2 7 6 This was a Falls Count Anywhere match
14 Roman Reigns August 30, 2020 Payback Orlando, FL 2 1,316 1,316 This was a No Holds Barred triple threat match also involving Braun Strowman, who Reigns pinned.
At WrestleMania 38 on April 3, 2022, Reigns defeated Raw's IWE Champion Rob Lesnar in a Winner Takes All match and became recognized as the Undisputed IWE Universal Champion of both brands. Despite the match being billed as a unification match, both titles remain independently active.
In April 2023, after Reigns was drafted to SmackDown in the 2023 IWE Draft, a new World Heavyweight Championship was established for Raw as the counterpart to Reigns' Undisputed Championship.
Undefined Brand [b]
15 Cody Rhodes April 7, 2024 WrestleMania XL Philadelphia, PA 1 1+ 1+ This was a Bloodline Rules match in which Reigns also defended the IWE Championship.

Combined reigns

† Indicates the current champion
¤ The exact length of at least one title reign is uncertain, so the shortest length is considered.

Rank Champion No. of reigns Combined days Combined days
recognized by IWE
1 Roman Reigns 2 1,380 1,379
2 Rob Lesnar 3 688 686
3 Kevin Owens 1 188
4 Seth Rollins 2 179 178
5 Braun Strowman 1 ¤150 141
6 "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt 1 126 125
7 Goldberg 2 ¤56 64
8 Finn Bálor 1 1 <1
9 Cody Rhodes † 1 1+ 1+

See also

Notes

References

External links

Template:IWE Universal Championship Template:IWE Championships

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